Release Aids
The release aid is a simple mechanical link that lets go of the string and if it does so cleanly and consistently you can ask no more of the mechanism, the rest is down to you. True, some releases will fit some styles better than others and some may fit an individual's face or hands better, but the result is the same if the release is operated correctly.
One thing to take on board first - If you shoot at different distances, the anchor point will be different for the long to short distances. This is because if you are looking through the
center of the peep for one sight setting, if you now lower the sight you will have to lower the anchor points to continue looking through the
center of the peep. The closer the peep is to your eye the less the anchor moves. This FACT will produce problems with some release - anchor combinations and can be the reason why you have problems with long or short distances.
It would be nice to say that the top archers never punch the release - they do! but they do not do it all the
time and they have enough control to squeeze the shot off most of the time.
Here follows an explanation of each type of release and how they CAN be used.
As with types of release, the way they are used can vary with each way performing a perfect release.
Wrist Release:
With this release all the weight is held on the wrist enabling the hand and fingers to stay totally relaxed This encourages the weight to be transferred through the forearm onto the back. As the hand is relaxed there is no chance of induced tension into the shot. These releases also have the advantage that it is comfortable to be shot with a low anchor point giving no problems of clearance at longer distances. It can be triggered with
either the index finger or the first finger (preferred). The anchor can be under the cheek bone or chin bone or you can put your thumb behind your neck which gives a very secure anchor. The action should be to position your trigger finger around the trigger and gradually squeeze. So long as a backward pressure is exerted even bad shots are not punished too much. The down side is the strap and connecting rope or bar.
With a connecting rope you are less likely to induce unwanted side forces by having a high or low elbow. The straps always get tighter or looser during the day depending on the weather, This makes it very difficult to maintain a good anchor.
Hand Held Thumb and Little Finger Releases:
These vary in design The thumb release can be used in many ways either just squeeze the trigger, or squeeze the release back onto the thumb or first position the thumb then with the little and third finger put pressure onto the release to rock the release onto the thumb. With the little finger release just wrap the little finger
around the release and squeeze The anchor is normally achieved by rotating the hand so the back of the hand comes against the cheek or the knuckles come behind the jaw. Gripping the release can induce tension into
the shot, and if your hand sweats the grip can change and affect the anchor position. A lot of the thumb movement is forwards where as the action should be backwards. Some releases design the trigger to achieve this. Mechanisms can be intricate and liable to failure.
Back Tension Release:
Of all the releases none conjure up more mystique than these. Essentially a very simple design where the body of the release is rotated until the shear drops off the edge of a half moon cam. The amount of rotation needed to operate the release can be easily adjusted. It is called a back tension release, it does not
necessarily release because of back tension. It is said to eliminate target panic - this is not true! It is said that you cannot preempt the shot. This is not true. What is true is that your bad shots will be bad shots and your
good shots will feel wonderful. Many of the very best archers in the World shoot these releases, that does
not mean that you will shoot it well.
So how do you choose the right release for you? Not easy, I have shot most kinds of release and cannot say that any are better or worse, and there is no way you can decide without giving each a fair trial which will
mean shooting them for at least a few months... a potentially expensive experiment.
Remember it is what is right for you, NOT what the World Champion shoots.