One thing that separates thumb shooters from other archers is the use of the archer’s thumb ring.

Thumb rings are designed to protect the thumb from the bowstring during a thumb draw, and are made of leather, stone, horn, wood, bone, antler, ivory, metal, ceramics, plastic or glass. It usually fits over the distal phalanx of the thumb, coming to rest at the distal edge of the interphalangeal joint. Typically a flange extends from the ring to cover the thumb pulp, and may be supplemented by a leather extension.

When drawing a bow using a thumb draw, the thumb is hooked around the bowstring just beneath the arrow and its grip reinforced with the first (sometimes second) finger.

The bowstring rests against the inner pad of the archer’s thumb and the thumb ring protects the skin. The bowstring rests against the flat of the ring when the bow is drawn. Today, thumb rings are used by archers practicing styles from most of Asia and some regions of northern Africa.

Watch this video below for a quick run down of locking into your shot:

Thumb Ring Sizing

Correct sizing for your thumb ring is extremely important. Having a ring that is too loose will lead to poor shooting and possibly even injury. One way that people ensure themselves with getting the correct size is to go with a Leather Thumb Guard. These guards are double stitched and fully adjustable for the archer.

DO NOT purchase a thumb ring such as the leather with the thin metal on the pad. This will bend when you are trying to shoot.

If you are wanting to go with a more traditional approach, our recommendation is Vermil for good quality thumb rings. There are also some rings that require a “Deep Hook” and some that require a “Shallow Hook” so be sure to know what you’re looking for. There will be an article about this here soon if not already available.

Turkish style rings and Manchu style rings are more “Shallow Hook” rings. Rings with a more pronounced covering of the thumb such as the Vermil Classic are designed more for a “Deep Hook”, which is the most common style of hooking on the string.

To find your appropriate sizing, you can use this chart:

SIZES COULD CHANGE DEPENDING ON MANUFACTURER

If your size is in between on measurements, I always recommend going a size up rather than down. The ring can be adjusted with a few strips of tape to create the correct size.

— A Odinson (owner Odinson Archery)