Archery | Two-Finger Draw

Two fingers or three fingers? We discuss the two main variants of the Mediterranean draw.
Bows:
W&W Black Wolf
Mandarin Duck Frontier
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[@CristiNeagu]

I found that the pressure exerted by the ring finger can make a huge difference to where the arrow ends up. It's almost like string walking.

[@mikeburke4625]

Cristi Neagu Agreed! I keep switching finger dominance but can’t find the better system, even within the three finger under style. Perplexed!

[@trungnguyen9860]

I shoot two finger under. Learned it from Alan Eagleton who took WA barebow gold in 2012. he is well trained. I'm mostly self taught with lessons from guys better than me. By the time i had met Alan I had already developed some bad habits including very poor string contact with the ring finger. Alan had a similar issue and moved to two finger. I was shooting poorly prepping for a 900 round and decided it to fool around with it. at 60 yards (54ish meters) it shrank my group about 6 inches just like that. the release is indeed much cleaner and faster. I also saw my point on move up a little. that said there is a big drawback which is if you shoot heavy draw weights and have a poor release you may develop tendonitis until you clean up your release.

[@DerekBartlettBeorn]

I did my digging on the two finger variation where some refer to it as the Flemish/Hungarian draw. I use it for Slavic where my pinky is then only just touching the string rather than holding it, and if I pull back with two then it's less string pinch like the thumb draw so I can pull back to the ear. I read before testing it out; "The two-finger release *can be used on either side of the bow* but is primarily used with a left hand side nocking position bow for mounted and foot use". But yeah along with it being a cleaner shot with less digits to open from over the string it seems to give more flexibility for using either side of the bow as well, which would explain its military usage depicted in the artworks as well. Definitely fun to experiment with.

[@JonniP1]

Interesting video. I tried something new, and made a loop from leather and attached it to the string. Like D loop. I shoot with one finger. It works very nicely, I'm more accurate with it. And I can shoot whole day with it, no pain, and no need for a glove or a tab. I'm just a backyard shooter as you might already figured out. 😅

[@janneheinonen621]

One point you didn't mention, but I think you likely do know: Ring finger helps the release of the middle finger. Especially with shorter bows, it opens the angle of the string for cleaner release.

[@mikeburke4625]

An additional question, sensei. Just learning three finger under. I’m constantly perplexed whether to carry the majority of weight with my index finger, middle finger, or attempt an even spread of weight (with naturally less on my third finger). I assume an equal weight distribution makes drawing heavier weight easier. On the other hand (sorry), it feels like I can more accurately shoot shorter or longer distances by distributing weight to either the index or middle finger as the distance dictates. The down side is I’m obviously losing repeating consistency in aiming point, anchor point, and release feel. Please advise if you would be so kind.

[@jrmathes6567]

I did find it interesting...thank you for it

[@mandarinduck456]

Another great video :)

[@johnbarron4265]

In my experience, the order of the relative strengths of the fingers is as follows: thumb by far the strongest, followed by middle. Then ring, followed very closely by index. And pinky in dead last by a longshot. I can do a chin-up on my ring fingers with a little reserve, but on my index fingers, a chin-up is pretty much the limit of my strength. Not sure how this carries over to archery draws. But I would venture a guess that the two-finger draw is more than two-thirds the relative strength of the three-finger draw, because the you still get to use the relatively stronger middle finger.

[@jonc67uk]

It's good for reducing finger pinch for short bows on long draw. I draw 31" on a 60" bow so the string angle is pretty acute. I get drag on release if I don't keep my 3rd finger off completely or just rest the end of the finger pad against the string.

[@BakaEngel]

This is exactly what I was thinking. I shoot three with my longbows and normal length recurves, but tend to shoot two with a paddle bow or other short bow styles. A #55 paddle bow with three fingers just isn't pleasant. Finger pinch is a real thing!

[@fimbul_]

This was probably one of the mayor reasons the thumb draw were invented. A thumb ring nullifies all finger pinch you can possible get. I can't imagine drawing a Turkish bow over 32" even with a two finger draw.

[@dragonheart130]

Yes, its why I use two fingers on my compound bow (I don't use a release aid with it) and three fingers on my horsebows. I've found that my with compound bow being very short, the string angle is so acute that my third finger just gets in the way of a clean release. Works OK for me even with the compound set to its full #55.

[@jonc67uk]

@@dragonheart130 I've not shot any of my conpounds without release aid tbh, but thumb draw is my favorite style tbh in terms of draw mechanics & clean release..

[@dragonheart130]

@ jonc67uk I've tried a release aid but never got along with it tbh,, probably just one of those things since I've seen plenty of other people use them just fine :) . I've just started learning thumb draw a few weeks ago so I'm using a #20 kids bow with that until I get used to it without making my thumb hurt.

[@larrywallace3637]

Nu Sensei, you have a very nice building to practice in.

[@TheTaufiqkadri]

Some History lessons: As per Mahabharata all Archers use thumb release technique. The best teacher of archery was Guru Drona and he wanted his student Arjuna to be the greatest Archer, but when he met a low cast boy named Eklavya who looked up to Drona and has better skills than Arjuna out of fear he asked Eklavya to donate his thumb to him, so he couldn't be better than Arjuna. Eklavya did. After that he invented 2 finger techniques in Archery, and later he recognised as the best Archer alongside with Arjuna and Karna. They both use their thumb. It's very odd the technique that Eklavya developed to overcome his weakness is the most stable one then thmb release. In the modern era i only see children using thump release for play. All the professional Archer uses Eklavya's 2 finger techniques.

[@djimanufacture7682]

2 fingers clean release but heavier to draw 3 fingers less cleaner but lighter to draw

[@christopyper1287]

Three finger draw, two finger release...

[@djimanufacture7682]

@@christopyper1287 good idea 👍

[@PooMonkeyMan]

Interesting in terms of names. I’ve always known the three finger draw as Mediterranean and the two finger draw as the Flemish draw. I’ve seen my friend do the two finger draw but couldn’t do it myself since my draw weight was heavier.

[@Zegswijze]

I live in Flanders and the two finger release is common around here. When I learned to shoot my first recurve, it was with two fingers. And my teacher learned it the same way. These days I use the three finger release as it is more comfortable when using higher poundage bows.

[@paulgagne1078]

thank you

[@GamelessOne]

I recently started shooting with 2 fingers, because I developed numbness in my ringfinger. I used 3 fingers under before. Atm. i'm considering going to a one finger above and one below method. Interesting to see this video pop up.(btw. I always shot with a glove, but after starting to use a fast flight string, the numbness developed.)

[@mathijs175]

i know of a club that used to teach all their new members 2 finger draw to begin with, being easier to master than 3 finger(ie: quicker result, better feeling so longer staying). even going so far to cut off parts of a tab to prevent them going 3 finger too soon! practising for 2 fingers below the arrow so upper part was snipped

[@bobjimenez4464]

30 years ago I shot 2 fingers under with my 70 pound compound bow and it was comfortable. I tried it again after recently taking up archery again and found that the tip of my middle finger went numb for a few weeks..........so, I'm now using 3 under and have feeling in all of my fingers : )

[@Locutius11]

I have seen two finger under which a friend of mine used very comfortably and effectively particularly on very short recurves where finger pinch might be a problem.

[@gozer87]

With my light fiberglass recurve, I find myself drawing with two fingers instinctively, but once I switch to my heavier 40 and 45 pound bows, I draw with the three finger draw. I'm a backyard shooter, except for the archery I had in gym class and summer camp, back in the day.

[@pgstrailcamera6052]

I am fairly new to archery and this week shooting my recurve bow using two fingers has resulted in a residing pain in the center of my hand. I guess i have damaged some tendons and have had to stop. When my hand has recovered I will definitely be using three. Also adding a site on the bow may have resulted in me holding the draw too long for the perfect aim. My hands are not weak as I used a shovel for 30 years. Any advice is welcome!

[@YatriTrivedi]

When I was younger, a friend I'd shoot with used two fingers because he'd heard of the myth that the offensive two finger gesture originated from the English not having their drawing fingers cut off if they weren't captured (by the French). I don't think there's any truth to that, at least in any way consistent enough to explain the gesture, but it seemed badass enough for him.

[@jonc67uk]

That's the origin of it, "we've still got them" was the basic message behind the gesture. The French had threatened to cut the fingers from the English bowmen, probably because they kept killing french Knights lol.

[@disartster]

I have a question. What could be reasons behind shoulder pain while shooting? The shoulder of hand holding the bow.

[@1000jutsu]

Some internet places call it a "Hungarian Draw", there any historic preference with that? A video on types of draws across the world would be fun.

[@h0tkoko]

Hi @NuSensei , I noticed your bow hand moves to the left after the release. Any comments on this action?

[@shadowveil478]

Im new to archery and ive tried 3 under and split finger im going to try thumb grip next but with split finger it feels more natural and comfy for me, if i use 3 it feels uncomfortable on my hand

[@hongtaoyang3759]

Those limbs on a blackwolf? Well done

[@jackdelvo2702]

I shoot two under since my bows are all 35lbs. Under brings the nock up closer to my eye, two finger reduces finger pinch especially with a shorter recurve allowing for I believe a cleaner release. A long bow over 40 lbs I would go with 3 under.

[@arnab6408]

2 or 3 the most important finger is the middle finger. That is why we have the slang gesture of the middle finger when the French used to cut off the middle finger of the English longbow archers. It's a lore :p

[@garymickus6412]

Any chronograph tests 2 vs. 3?

[@4rchim]

went to the range for the second time. I feel that when I shoot with 2 fingers I had much cleaner release.[the arrow landed left and right] I was curious if there is someone who shoot with 2 fingers. So here I am. Feels like 3 fingers have more benefits if I were to practice more and achieve cleaner release.

[@BooDamnHoo]

I do 3 finger on my recurve, 2 finger on my compound bow (because 3 finger hurts my 3rd finger after a bit of shooting). I started this only recently after seeing some 2 finger on youturd and decided to try it.

[@dragonheart130]

I do the same. I've found that my with compound bow being very short, the string angle is so acute that my third finger just gets in the way of a clean release. Works OK for me even with the compound set to its full #55.

[@erickmora467]

I tried to find a two finger tab but I couldn't find one do you recommend any

[@MONKLJ]

Where did you get that 2 finger tab, not the glove,but the one you showed

[@seanjokela]

just got a recurve and was a bit confused. When I was a kid I used the knuckle on my thumb to as an arrow rest and 2 finger draw. I see the built in rest is on the other side of the bow. I imagine it's supposed to be for balance, but wouldn't that decrease the amount of arrows you can shoot? seems a bit awkward, but I guess i'll figure it out

[@NUSensei]

To put it simply, the conventional Western "finger" draw places the arrow on the left, otherwise the arrow is prone to come off to string. The reverse is true for the Eastern "thumb" draw, which places the arrow on the right for the same reason.

[@GiskardRevenlov]

Personally I prefer 2 finger draw, my ring finger just snags the string otherwise, plus I grew up using only 2 fingers so I'm used to it

[@space.youtube]

A Black Wolf? Yours?

[@gizmonomono]

To be honest, I prefer the one finger draw. And it's a thumb 😁 But when ever I see someone shoot two finger, I think of the lemon kid and his fish hook 😂

[@noorarchery1355]

@NUSensei the sling.. I love it! where did u buy it?

[@Tali_the_banul]

If i shoot with 2 fingers on which side should i keep my arrow?

[@NUSensei]

Knuckle side works best.

[@AlfaRevoluzione]

I draw 2 under. Double Torque Style. Kah mi nuh seh mi wikid n wild. Choh

[@rossmcleod7983]

Martin Spörri how many pounds are you drawing?

[@AlfaRevoluzione]

@@rossmcleod7983 beetween 45 and 55. In my last video 55 wid Kaya FireFox

[@rossmcleod7983]

Martin Spörri I want your fingers!

[@AlfaRevoluzione]

@@rossmcleod7983 I cut em and send it to you?

[@topcat5233]

i broke my ringfinger a month ago, in a bad way, got some metal in there now... so now i must get a light bow about 20 pounds and im gonna have to learn shootin with the 2 fingers lol, thats why im here at leastXD

[@niko9124]

If you own a bow with a 48 lbs draw or more, i don`t think you are able to use two fingers, it is just too heavy, especially if you are shooting long distance like 70 meters or even 90, you have to hold it for a time.

[@rolldysharpshooter6593]

It's not that 2 finger draw doesn't give a clean release but it's more that a well executed 3 finger draw gives you a release with more support. Other than some cases where you draw shorter bows with sharper angles, I don't see why you would ever do 2 finger draw over 3

[@SaneAsylum]

Even among olympic archers look at their third finger. Many don't really use it much in the release (used mostly during the draw).

[@rossmcleod7983]

L Parker I’m going to concentrate on just that today. Makes perfect sense.

[@rolldysharpshooter6593]

It doesnt discount majority of archers who put varying degree of weight on their ring fingers. I know some barely put any weight, but I also see enough who do. If 2 finger release is your deeply established method, I won't twist your arm to change it. But I'd always recommend 3 over 2

[@SaneAsylum]

@@rolldysharpshooter6593 I think you are confusing ackowledging that it is fine to use a two finger release with saying one is better than the other. Many people have weak or smaller hands and fingers and benefit greatly from a three finger draw and release. Some don't need to rely on the third finger and prefer to use two fingers. To quote childhood in the 80's "so sue me!"

[@gizmonomono]

It works. But it just looks wierd to me 😁

[@noorarchery1355]

Wait. I m 3-fingers draw! Who is with me?

[@DrawingTechnical]

This is not a sub for sub by the way, my boy is into archery and I bought him a good quality toy bow a few days ago lol

[@h0tkoko]

Hi @nusensei , is the bow string over your right eye when you draw? or how?

[@MrFirefox]

three finger release nerds just have week fingers