Instinctive Archery - The Deep Hook

A short video of the reasons it is important to utilize a "deep hook" when gripping the bow string.
Acoustic Guitar 1 by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (creativecommon...)
Artist: audionautix.com/

[@l0r4kpl]

You do it exactly as I figured it out for myself. That grip is the most convenient ever.

[@robertbelloff1116]

You are one hell of an archer , sir. Your videos have been extremely helpful for someone who needed to seriously tune their phone instinctive shooting. Hail to the Gods of Traditional Archery . Hail Fred Bear!!!!

[@JeffKavanagh]

Thanks for the kind words. And yes, all hail Fred Bear.

[@UncleDansVintageVinyl]

As always, just great: clean, clear, effective instruction.

[@terrydewayne]

Gotta be best explanation of a release I've ever heard

[@matthewsadgrove2214]

Jeff,Thanks for sharing your skills, I have only been bow hunting since Mid July this year but with your help I have already been able to secure a red deer with a traditional bow. You are so kind to share your knowledge. Thanks again.

[@rickmansberger4136]

Hi Jeff, I came back to archery 1 year ago after a long 30 year absence. I got a compound bow and after awhile the was really no challenge, it was very mechanical. So I broke out my recurve bows and started shooting them at my local range. We even started a recurve league which is fully attended every week. So much so, that we are starting a second night of recurve shooters. I expanded my recurve collection thanks to you and Greg Richards and I now have many light draw target bows. Like you say, light draw weight bows will quickly show you the errors in your form. I worked on my shot cycle but I still could not achieve the consistency needed to be really accurate all the time. I went back to my roots and started to review your videos and I had a light bulb moment when I reviewed the deep hook release. I was always a finger tip shooter because that is how my Dad taught me when I was 10 years old. Just like your video explained, you described me to a tee, swating flies, plucking, and flyers. So I went out and tried for the first time your deep hook. Right away I could tell my whole arm was now in line, no pressure on my hand, and my back tension was automatically engaged. My arm was now a lever doing only one thing and not breaking down. I use my ear as my second anchor and my arrows flew consistently right from the start. I was so excited I shared this revelation with my wife who really didn't know what I was talking about but she was pleased I was overjoyed. Thank you Jeff, thank you again. This was the missing piece that will hopefully put me where I want to be when each arrow is released. I am bending it Kavangh and I will be sharing your deep hook with all my archery friends. Sincerely Rick Mansberger PS. My top target bows are my Hoyt Pro Medalist PM3 @ 34#, my Ben Pearson Palaminos, one at 40#, the other at 30#; and just for you and Mr. Bear I have a Bear Tamberlane at 35# draw which is a nice shooter.

[@JeffKavanagh]

That is wonderful and I am very glad I was able to help you out that way. Please keep me posted.

[@RiverbendlongbowsOutdoors]

Another great video. I will send this one also to some of our NASP students. They seem to listen better to someone on KZbin rather than the person in front of them. Good job on explanation

[@przemysawiwanek5280]

Good tip... When I started with archery I used to use "finger tip" grip. Very soon I started to feel pain in finger tendons. Then I've changed to deeper "hook" grip - helped a lot. Now I'm working on my release.

[@glenn_r_frank_author]

I tried a deep hook tonight after years of not doing it although I had heard of others using the technique. A guy at our local range was talking about it and I gave it a try... amazing results. I could feel the difference and shot better too!

[@protofmaster]

Thank you, Jeff. This video was very hepful and confirming for me, as it was just this evening while shooting that I stumbled across the benefit of using a deep hook. Afterwards I found this video, and it explained perfectly why it was working for me.

[@davidrivera2979]

Thanks very much for responding so quickly to my question and referring me to you deep hook video on gripping the string! It's very clear with sound reasoning. I know it will help me to improve my shooting!!! 👌🎯🏹

[@FredHWalker]

Thank you Jeff for taking the time and concern to selflessly share what you have worked so hard to develop. I am an Ontario archer as well in fact own the only traditional only venue I know of in Ontario. Kawartha Traditional Archery Center close to Lindsay or Fenelon Falls. Several acres of 3D trails a shop lessons camping and rental program. I am instinctive bare bow advocate as well. I like the way you show how things come together. I have up some ideas from you ie. canting the bow, deep hook release and a quicker shot sequence. Am 75 been shooting for decades and still learning. Fresh ideas are always great.

[@EfferusZangetsu]

Thank you for another great video. When it comes to first digits grip one thing I was doing wrong , and noticed other people do is not putting enough tension on the ring finger. And as they pull the string they let the ring finger slip from the hook, that causes them to twist their hand and string, and roll the string. Took me a while to realize what I was doing, but I corrected it quickly, got rid of it in two practices.

[@seanbydawn8243]

Jeff, greetings from Maine. I am getting back into archery after over 15 years "off" and to mirror many here, you are a credit to both KZbin and the sport of archery. Yourself and Grizzly Jim helped a bit there I will confess. Used to shot compounds... I'm going traditional from here forward. May I also say that I have NEVER seen a KZbin creator not only respond to his viewers as frequently as you do but also go so far as to create a video to help a specific viewer who is having an issue. That is a very personal response but it would seem to be who you are as a person. Good health to you and your family. If you keep making videos we will be here watching them.

[@Babakc]

The Olympian Jeff mentions is Khatuna Lorig, in case you want to watch her videos.

[@rickmansberger4136]

Hi Jeff, I hope you are well. We miss your videos. Traditional Archery just posted a thread asking why the Deep Hook? My answer was simple, because Jeff Kavanagh uses it so well and I shared this video. You are the best source for great fundamentals. Thank you all the information you have shared with your viewers. I am a better archer because of you. Be safe, Rick Mansberger Redmond Sports Group PS. 5 years has been too long, can you post a new video just sharing with how you are doing?

[@davidduvall4846]

Great video!I have recently moved from compound to trad and it's a blast!!!I watch your video's the most out of all my archery utube channelsMy biggest challenge so far is the release and hooking the string properly.But your video's have helped me tremendously!!!Thanks for sharing your archery knowledge and I wish you great health and happiness!!!

[@danhefner5557]

Great video as always! Love the new intro/outro music you're using too. Please keep the tips coming!

[@calebtrundy8440]

best video i've seen on the subject! I been shooting with my finger tips and the "speed bump" is definitely present and even causes blood blisters at times. I don't have a glove or anything but I'm going to try the deep hook technique, I've played around with it before but everyone says finger tips so I've been focused on shooting like that.

[@brandonsweere4901]

Another great video Jeff! Thanks for the tips!

[@josephbelk3924]

I deep hook, but I still have a static release and good back tension. Youcan have back tension and a static release. The hard part is not creeping! Hill and Schulz explain back tension with a static release in depth. Great video. Keep posting

[@archer5614]

For me, the deep hook seems equivalent to taking 5ib off of the draw weight of the bow, making it easier to draw. Also gives a better ability to focus on the shot. Great video, many thanks!

[@edwardcaco8534]

Thanks Jeff, good timing on this vid. Ironically, I like a deep hook, three finger under with a glove - but suffer from SRS (Static Release Syndrom). Going to have this vid in mind for my sessions.

[@EGLEsquadrenlonewolf]

Hey Jeff, been watching your vids for a while now. Just want to give a huge thanks to all these great videos. I taught myself how to shoot by watching your videos and takings notes. Great honor to learn the things you have taught. It would be an honor to one day meet and shoot with you. Thanks though.

[@JeffKavanagh]

+Julio Montenegro Jr. thanks for the kind words.

[@EGLEsquadrenlonewolf]

+Jeff Kavanagh No problem sir, like I said, it's an honor to watch and learn from you.

[@Wingman115]

Great stuff Jeff thanks again for sharing.

[@voidremoved]

it didn't feel right at first. but once everything started to come together, I settled with nice deep hook. its the easiest way for me to feel if the string is twisting. for me its become more about learning to do what the bow wants, rather than trying to make the bow work for me.

[@ironpirate8]

I agree completely about the deep hook Jeff. But in my opinion, there will always be a degree of "speed bump" effect with a glove, and the best way to smooth that bump out is with a good finger tab, with at least a couple of layers.

[@JeffKavanagh]

+Iron Pirate I have never liked a tab myself but I agree with you that they can work because they basically unite the three fingers together as one unit. I don't like a tab because I can't "feel" the string when I shoot and a tab wouldn't work well for all the wing shooting and bird hunting I do. With a glove I can very easily find the string and nock on a fast flushing bird. I think of archers in the past and present who use a glove like Fred Bear, Byron Ferguson, Howard Hill, John Schultz, Ron LaClair, etc. Still the best thing to do is find out what works best for you as an individual shooter. When I am teaching someone new to shooting I have both spare gloves here and different types of tabs for them to try.

[@eleanorgrimes]

Jeff Kavanagh z

[@MegaBurndown]

this one helped me a lot !!!! god bless from USA

[@whitetailpoet4243]

Great lesson... Thank you & Peace from Minnesota, DB.

[@reesecopeland2814]

Your videos are very helpful.

[@MaloneNYDeerhunter1]

Keep up the good work Jeff !

[@b4players]

Jeff, thanks for your advice

[@ivobozek]

This video helped me so much! Thank you

[@georgegordon4837]

Thanks Jeff! Very logical

[@kaido4785]

thanks. i like your videos a lot.

[@josephpetty7973]

hi Jeff thank you for the awesome video I was wondering if you could do a video on the difference between a Flemish twist string and a continuous loop or other strings.

[@nikolaybakalov3197]

Thank you Jeff!

[@adrianrobberstad2053]

YOURE AWESOME DUDE!

[@squireren9530]

Excellent, I have a plucking problem! This helped. :-)

[@RasherQuivers]

I have been advised for years that a deep hook is bad for your form. I am going to give the deep hook a shot the next time I get out to shoot.

[@rildn7]

Jeff, for all around fun, and semi serious accuracy, Bear Montana or Bodnik Quick Stick ? My currant longbow is a 53# Bear Polar, lots of fun ! Keep your cool videos coming !

[@JeffKavanagh]

+Don Riley I have never seen a Quick Stick but I have heard they are nice bows

[@mtnman259]

Hi Jeff ! I really enjoy watching and learning new things from your videos as well as finding out that I'm doing many things correctly on my own from when I was taught all those years ago in Boy Scout ( lol ). There is a question going around on Facebook about whether people still use the step through method, the push pull method, or the stringer method of stringing a bow. Now I understand that the optimal method would be the stringer method, but if paying attention to what you're doing and using the step through method ... is that such a bad deal ? Thanks again for being like a mentor here on You Tube ! - Daniel ; )

[@JeffKavanagh]

+Daniel Patrick I just don't take a chance. Yes those other ways of stringing a bow like the step through method for example work. I have done them on occasion myself. I just use a stringer. Kind of like wearing a seat belt. lol I use a stringer.

[@mtnman259]

+Daniel Patrick Thank you sir. - Daniel : )

[@jameshagerman7681]

hey Jeff I was just wondering if you could do another video of you super mag 48, I can't find many good videos about it and would like some more info on it

[@leog6088]

nice video. It has helped a lot. I have a problem that I draw to the corner of my mouth but I feel that I dont maximize the power of the bow. Got advice?

[@Fox8ball.]

A little difficult to perform as i have been on fingertips moreso than deep hook maybe a new shooting glove is required?

[@gvan4730]

Hi Jeff, thanks for this video. Could you please tell us about the amount of pressure which goes on each finger, whether you consider it rather equal or quite different and, if different, by how much (roughly)? On the Net, one finds comments like this: " Concerning traction force 70% of the pressure has to be on the middle finger, 20 % on the forefinger and 10 % on the ring finger". Would you agree with this or do you have a different view/ experience on this matter? Also, some coaches recommend having a strong hook on the middle finger only (which is consistent with an inequal distribution of forces, as described above) while letting the string rest on the fat of the other two fingers. The aim is to limit the amount of contact between the string and the fingers and thereby ensure an easier/ smoother release (in theory at least). Am I getting it wrong, or do you instead recommend having a deep hook on the three fingers, with no difference between the fingers (with a view to limit the use of force in the fingers/ hand)?

[@DANVIIL]

Excellent video. I'm looking for a new glove and yours looks great. Any suggestions on where to buy? Keep up the good work, Jeff.

[@jayman448]

hey jeff. so after looking at this (regarding my stringburn fingers) i actually think i am deep hooking too agressively, curling over my fingers to hook so much and so hard that my forearm tenses right up anf my hand curls over in a half fist rather than staying flat on the back of my hand. ill have to shoot a bit in the next few days and pay real attwntion to see if thats the ticket

[@jayman448]

+jayman448 so i do think that i was deep hooking waay to hard. i was trying to achieve what i had seen depicted online. although i can achieve that, it tenses my hand and forearm right up. i believe it is also the reason i pinch a nerve in my lowest finger

[@JeffKavanagh]

+jayman448 I hook the string right in the first digits.

[@jayman448]

+Jeff Kavanagh well so do i, the thing is i would grip it so hard to try and curl those fingers directly backwards (as depicted as proper on google images) that i would engage muscles right up my arm and hand and the back of my hand would curl into almost a half fist. i just relax more and grip it deep and it is working like a hot damn. im not shooting like a Kavanagh by any means but im getting softball groups (minus fliers) at 25 yards

[@buellosaurusrex]

Jeff, thanks for another informative video! In your parting shot, I notice you (like many other really great instinctive shooters) anchor high on the cheekbone and sight down the arrow shaft. Being right handed and left eye dominant I have found the only way to shoot with both eyes open is to "burn a hole in the target" and anchor the web between thumb and forefinger on my jawbone using a deep curl. (low anchor point) Do you think this will create a problem?

[@JeffKavanagh]

+buellosaurusrex I am also left eye dominant. I did a video on eye dominance and my theories on it a while back. You just need to find out what works for you.

[@JFredbusking]

Hi Jeff! I am a novice at recurve bows. This is probably a silly question, what are the two little puff balls on your bowstring and what do they do?

[@buellosaurusrex]

+Frederic Lucas String silencers. They quiet the string noise on release.

[@mikelrvideos]

When I shoot I have a problem canting my bow to see my target well and maintaining a good deep hoop with my hand parallel to my bow. Any tips?

[@JeffKavanagh]

+Mikel Ramseur I would need to see a photo or a video of what you are doing now. I could take a guess but unfortunately that's all it would be is a guess. I am on Facebook and you can friend me there if you like and I can try and help you out a little better.

[@mikelrvideos]

+Jeff Kavanagh Okay, I sent you a video on facebook.

[@JeffKavanagh]

+Mikel Ramseur I haven't seen it yet so I just wanted to make sure it didn't get lost.

[@humblebug452]

Have you ever tried the Mongolian thumb draw? I'm asking cause I am probably going to try it and just wanted some thoughts if you had any.

[@JeffKavanagh]

+Aze Davis no I have never tried anything like that before. Let me know how you like it.

[@Eagles_Eye]

+Jeff Kavanagh with the thumb draw you need to put the arrow on the other side of the bow, due to string rotation ( or lack of it ) .. yehaa.. something i know but is absolutely useless for how i shoot. edit; because it changes the string rotation ( lack) it changes the arrow paradox, hence the swapping of side, or so i've heard.. im not an expert.

[@jmoney6652]

Who are the mooks that dislike these videos.?

[@crillehood]

Good morning Sir . I think you have to use muscle anyway deephook ore not deep and a lot the best Olympic archers and Rick Whelsh and also Jimmy Blackmon dont use deep hook .I think its personal and some toparchers use deephook and some dont .But i like your videos very much.Sincerley Crille

[@JeffKavanagh]

+christer andersson Yeah Jimmy hooks the string in his digits and not off of his finger tips. "Deep hook" is referring to gripping the string in the first digits of the finger tips and not off the end pads of the fingers.

[@cnevett6854]

Hi Jeff, Only have shot about 100 arrows so I'm new at all this and you are the teacher. Where does my thumb go when I anchor? One of the guys told me he like to put it under the mandible back towards the ear..same place each time, another guy just lets it hang where-ever. Should it be against the palm? Does it matter? I noticed your string looks like it touches the side of the face...is that right? When I try to extend for the release I am scared becuase the bow string seem to come really close to my body and face, still hard to feel if I am even using my back muscles. I know the idea is to let go and just flatten out the hand next to the face (no air), but it does feel risky. Any input is helpful...maybe I just need to shoot 1000 more to get more comfortable. I don't want to form bad habits, its really hard to change for me. Thanks so much and hope your back is improving. Cindy

[@JeffKavanagh]

+c nevett I shoot with my thumb folded inward toward the palm of my hand and it doesn't even come into play when I shoot. Some other like Fred Bear for example shoot with their thumb pointed outward and up toward their ear. Some people will even use their thumb as another source for anchoring. It all works. What is important is that which ever way you choose, you keep it consistent and repeatable. That is the secret. It is really difficult for me to diagnose what you are doing without actually seeing it. If you are just starting out I suggest you watch the video I have on "the shooting frame" as that is the foundation of shooting. If you wish you can also video yourself shooting for me and would be happy to look at what you are doing and give you some tips. I do it all of the time with people. You can friend me on Facebook if you like as well. Jeff Kavanagh. Cheers.

[@cnevett6854]

+Jeff Kavanagh Thanks so much for your advice Jeff. I may have to join facebook.I might video in the future..so kind of you to offer your experience for us all. Bless you! Will add this to my notebook which contains all your tips. Cindy N.

[@southronspirit]

thanks for great video , where do you live ?

[@JeffKavanagh]

Ontario Canada

[@TheClimbhard]

Which shooting glove do you recommend?

[@ragiwarmbear]

Hey Jeff, I have always gripped the string this way though I suspect I am torquing the string. I have developed a very painful brown spot on the finger pad of my 3rd finger that starts to hurt almost as soon as I start practicing. has for years. I dont know how to correct this. any advice as to how to go about it would be appreciated.

[@JeffKavanagh]

+RJ Bachner If my ring finger gets sore it is telling me my back tension isn't working. When I shoot well no sore finger. It seems that everything always comes back to back tension. Even if I am off mentally when shooting it always manifests its self through back tension.

[@ragiwarmbear]

I dunno it seems like that finger is always being pinched. Will see if I can work on back tension.

[@JeffKavanagh]

+RJ Bachner make sure that your draw hand is nice and flat as well to the same angle as the string. If there is twist in your wrist or hand it will also put excess pressure on that third finger ring finger.

[@ragiwarmbear]

That's what I have been thinking but I have not been able to correct it. My wrist does not seem to want to take tension and sit flat against my face.

[@petterhogli]

I have the same problem. Im having problems keeping the backside of my hand parallel to the bow and string, especially when canting the bow. My wrist does not want to rotate that much.