Do you have to use the handle grip

[NoIdea]

After shooting along side a compound archer, I noticed the grip is a lot smaller than on the recurve. He started to give me a bit of coaching and introduced the word Torque, explaining that the compound does not torque so much due to the smaller grip.
I removed the grip from my riser and must admit, it felt better immediately. I have now started shooting without the grip but will be taking part in the GDB shoot next month. Do the rules say you must have a grip or can I carry on shooting 'naked'?

[TJ Mason]

Perfectly within the rules.

I shot for a while without a grip on my recurve. It was an interesting exercise, but I don't believe it makes torquing less likely. The big problem I had when shooting without a shaped grip was that my wrist went a lot lower than what I'd consider ideal. So contrary to what might be expected, I was more prone to heeling the bow. YMMV.

[nfinite]

you can shoot with out one and a few archers i know have done so in the past.

If I remember, they used a bit of grip wrap around the riser which is similar to the wrap used on tennis rackets.

I once tryed it but the pressure all focused to a small part of my hand caused a little pain after a days shooting.

[hypertigger]

you should be able to shoot your bow without the grip,

however, it can be uncomfortable because you're holding all the weight of your recurve, as opposed to x% let off (i know that you do still push quite a lot shooting compound - but i think it feels different - did for me anyway)

your handle will be quite cold on cold days, and that can be quite painful (i've found that but i do get cold very easily)

your clicker (if you have one) has to move accordingly, and your draw length may shorter as a result of not having the grip.

i think the only other thing i can think of is that the angle of your riser may not be the same angle as your grip, so take care that you build up your riser to suit your bow hand while keeping the narrowness.

[Ceri Jones]

When i shot recurve i used to look at some of the compounds and think that the HOYT handle's cant be comfortable to shoot, but then i got a chance to shoot one and now i own one and find the grip a lot better than my thick recurve one.

[Orinoco]

Shoot recurve with a grip and compound without, purely because with the recurve the weight on my hand was sore. Compund once pulled through is only 20lbs or so on hand. Nothing in the rules to say you can't.

[john rowland]

Originally Posted by NoIdea

After shooting along side a compound archer, I noticed the grip is a lot smaller than on the recurve. He started to give me a bit of coaching and introduced the word Torque, explaining that the compound does not torque so much due to the smaller grip.
I removed the grip from my riser and must admit, it felt better immediately. I have now started shooting without the grip but will be taking part in the GDB shoot next month. Do the rules say you must have a grip or can I carry on shooting 'naked'?

As far as i know there are no rules on grips , my philosiphy is whatever works us it John

[geoffretired]

You don't have to use the grip that is fitted to the bow; take it off if you want.
There have been several threads posted on the subject of custom grips and home made ones. They are well worth reading.

[gjb]

My first coach suggested to me that I should take a file to the grip I had, to shape it specifically to my hand and not the standard average hand that the bow manufacturers design for. In this case removing the grip altogether does not seem a bad idea if it suits you as an archer.

[pHz]

bernadini certainly dont seem to think you need a full grip - presumably what grip there is is just for hand position and the bare part of the riser grip area takes the pressure ?

http://www.bybernardini.it/takedown.htm

slainte rob