Switched to a thumb release and.....

[thorshammer]

Need some help.

I've been shooting a caliper style (currently a Scott Shark) wrist release for the past 15 years. It's been working just fine for me. But I like to tinker and I've had my mind wandering about getting a thumb release for the past couple years.

I went and Purchased a Hot Shot Eclipse this past week. I went out to shoot and I'm grouping almost 7" to the left. I'm a right handed shooter. My initial thought was that I'm pulling my string into my face more, so I made a conscious effort to pull it a small way away from my face. That just made matters worse.

I notice a lot of tournament archers have longer D loops. Could that solve my problem? Or will my POI just change with a thumb release and I need to adjust my sight accordingly? I haven't shot through paper either yet. Just looking to get some starting info.

[thorshammer]

Any bowhunters on this forum by chance?

[popup_menace]

Just did the same myself. Had the exact same result. I made sure that my anchor was comfortable and natural, then I re-sighted in. Just broadhead tuned and I'm good with a slick trick out to 60! It WILL change your anchor point, this changing your whole sight setup. The key is to stay consistent and BH tune. Once you get there, it's all gravy

[hoythitman]

Mine was the same, the anchor is further off the face and will typically be off to the left a few inches. Just align the site and enjoy. I shoot much tighter groups with a hand held, most people do from my experience working at a bow shop, most people who went hand release are still shooting them.

[Terry]

Let me jump in, I just went to the Scott Exxus thumb release, my arrows group better than with the wrist release. However the distance is off, I meant what I set at 20 yards for the wrist is 23for the thumb 44 for the 40 etc. Left and right still dead on. The only other issue is draw length seems about 1/4 too long. May go to a different cam.

[Gunnyart]

Can't help either but I put a cheap thumb release in my backpack for a backup. Guess I'd better get some practice in with it.

[cb4128]

I practice with a thumb release off and on to mix things up. I actually anchor lower with the thumb release, so it's not off the side of my face so far. Because the slight difference in draw length, it doesn't seem to alter my peep height. As a result, I only shoot an inch or 2 left, if at all, from my original sight-in with my caliper release.

May not be for everyone but seems to work well for me. The thumb release tends to group better for me as well, but I prefer the caliper release for hunting because it's more quiet and I can hook it on the string faster.

[Threadgill]

I just bought a tru fire hardcore 4 finger a couple of weeks ago. I didn't have to change a thing, and I am definitely shooting tighter groups.

[thorshammer]

Let me jump in, I just went to the Scott Exxus thumb release, my arrows group better than with the wrist release. However the distance is off, I meant what I set at 20 yards for the wrist is 23for the thumb 44 for the 40 etc. Left and right still dead on. The only other issue is draw length seems about 1/4 too long. May go to a different cam.

I'm feeling the opposite, it feels like a shorter draw now. I think I'm going to try the longer D loop also. I also have a little bit of room on my draw stop to play with. I was just seeing if the "form" per say was a little different switching.

[natvet]

With my thumb release I was twisting the d loop slightly and causing the arrow to miss left

[thorshammer]

With my thumb release I was twisting the d loop slightly and causing the arrow to miss left

That's what I suspect I'm doing.

Thanks again guys.

[bowhuntntxn]

I am going to go out on a limb here and say that pretty much everything changed when you switched releases. Anchor point changed, peep sight isn't in the right spot any more, hand position changed.

So IMO you should get really close to your target(like 7 yards close) and practice drawing and anchoring with your new release. Do not shoot a single arrow until you can draw your bow with your eyes closed, and hit the same anchor point twenty times in a row.

Then draw your bow with your eyes closed, find your anchor, and then open your eyes. See if you can actually see through the peep sight without having to move anything. If not, then adjust your peep sight accordingly.

Then move back to ten yards and shoot to see where your arrow hits. Adjust left/right misses accordingly with your sight. Then move back to twenty yards and see how far off your shots are. Moving the peep up will make you hit high, and moving it down will cause low hits. You can move your sight accordingly to correct that.

Then by the time all of that is done,my will be able to shoot your new release much better, and your bow will be sighted in.

And twisting the d loop does not affect where the arrow hits. Just about everybody that shoots a thumb release twists the d loop so they can find a good anchor and hits where they are aiming.

[docmay]

As above, d-loop always has twist with a thumb release(one without a rotating head). That's how most of the competition shooters shoot anyway. I would see how you group with the thumb release and if the groups are good then adjust the sight. It definitely is a different anchor point and alignment.

[pure lefty]

I went from Scott wrist release to a Scott caliper which is a handheld with a trigger, less torque and smoother release. Plus when hunting I can leave my release hooked on my bow and it's ready to go.

[RLB]

Any bowhunters on this forum by chance?

Very few!!

Kidding......tuned in, thinking about a change myself.