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What is Thumb Draw Archery?

Archery has been practiced for thousands of years, and over time, different techniques have emerged in different parts of the world.

One such technique is thumb draw archery, which has its roots in Central Asia and was used by the nomadic tribes of the Steppe. Under the Empire of the Mongols, this style flourished as thumb draw thrives off of horseback. This unique style of archery also flourished throughout various Chinese dynasties.

This unique style flourished throughout the Middle East leading to some of the most advanced archery equipment and bow styles in human history. This led to the development of incredibly powerful composite bows, various shooting devices and customized arrows that revolutionized warfare.

Today, thumb draw archery is gaining popularity around the world, as people rediscover this ancient technique and its unique benefits.

Thumb Draw Benefits

  • Arrow Control – This method allows control over the arrow when in motion or at awkward angles
  • Clean Release – Thumb draw is the original trigger release
  • Speed Reloading – The ability to make a quick follow up shot for hunting or competition is vital
  • Versatility – the ability to use a variety of types of bows with this method including compound bows
  • More Natural Release Opening – the “opening” on the shot is natural for most shooters
  • Shooting Positions – there are a variety of shooting positions, historical and modern, that are learned

DID YOU KNOW

Historical accounts mention pillars near Constantinople commemorating shots of 800 yards (731m) achieved in ancient times with Turkish bows and arrows!

While the Mongols were noted for being some of the original thumb draw shooters, many of them used leather thumb guards or rings made from bone / horn

Thumb Draw shooters out of the East and Middle East developed overdraw devices such as the “Tong Ah”, the “Majra” and the “Siper” as a means of shooting very light arrows at tremendous distances. It was also said that these could be used to shoot crossbow bolts back at the enemy

One very unique aspect of thumb draw archery is that the arrow is placed on the opposite side of the bow. For Mediterranean 3 finger shooters, the arrow is placed opposite the hand you hold the bow with. Meaning a right handed shooter places the arrow on the left side. Thumb shooters place the arrow on the right side. This is due to the riser pressure applied during “The Lock” on the string which actually is one of the benefits

Excess bow movement is encouraged as part of the follow through when shooting thumb draw. This can be done a variety of ways and is commonly known as “khatra”. This allows the archer to shoot any spined arrow from any style bow accurately despite arrow thickness, weight and length