[Vodahmin]

hello, i'm a new bowyer, and new to this site, also. i dont really know the difference (performance wise) between a glove and tab. i'm open to either, but i like the idea of a glove more. right now ive been using my bare fingers, and boy does it hurt! i dont have a steady income (my job is freelance and part time), so advice on what to use and maybe some suggestions on what to buy would be nice.
thanks, -Vode

 

[Easykeeper]

Both gloves and tabs work but I think lots of people find a tab will give them a little smoother release. It comes down to personal preference with a lot of hunters using gloves and most target archers using tabs. I do both and prefer a good tab although I was a glove shooter for many years.

For gloves, I like either a Damascus glove or a Dura-glove. The only tab I use is a Cavalier Elite cordovan.

Make sure you use one or the other though, it's possible to damage the nerves in your fingers shooting without one.

 

[rembrandt]

My lands, don't shoot without a glove or tab......If you will send me your name and address, I will send you a glove and tab......what size do you wear as for as small, medium or large? I don't have an extra large......

 

[centershot]

Tab - get one that fits and get used to it. Nearly all the top shooters shoot a tab and 3 under. That should tell you what you need to know right there.

 

[Ken Thorhill]

Glove or tab is a personal decision. I have tried both, and settled on a duraglove. IMO, there is no advantage to one over the other.

 

[marcelxl]

For what it's worth I have found this out after lots of trial, error and personal frustration.

I used a glove and split fingers for years and was happy, I then got and used the "Super Archer Mitt" which was superb. I switched to 3under and used a glove and was again happy with that (I love the "American Leathers" offerings particularly their "Crossover"- I really feel you get what you pay for from AL)
I switched back and forth between the glove and a Safari Tuff 3under tab, which gave me excellent results in consistency and the absolutely sweetest release but highlighted bad habits I had formed behind the bow, mainly head alignment & over drawing, which basically gave me great groups but always left and I carried a sore and often bleeding beak! I am working hard on sorting this as I can't ignore that level of consistency and, as mentioned thats (mostly) what the big boys use.

I think most folks would say that a glove is the more convenient and better that a lot of folks can be, but a tab will give you a better release (YRMV)

No right and wrong, just another one of those preference things based on whats important to you

 

[ias]

A tab is usually used by people who shoot sport-recurve with scope or something like that, a glove is more kind of traditional used by longbow shooters etc. without any kind of scope or aiming help.
At the end it's a personal choice, but as mentioned before make sure you use one or another!! With increasing draw weight of your bows you will otherwise damage your nerves - with bad luck permanent.

 

[Chris1ny]

Shot slightly more accurate with tabs. Unfortunately the fingers and tendons started get tingling feelings from shooting a heavy draw weight recurve.

Switched to gloves for "much" better fingers and tendons protection. Fingers and tendons has fully recovered. Prefer the Black Widows gloves.

 

[JINKSTER]

For me?...I find there's a correlation between a few factors that come into play as to which works best for me.

First off?...I'm a person who should wear dentures but refuses to...but whether you have teeth or not?..."Facial Geometry" plays a role and I seems to get a better weldment of string hand too jawbone with a glove.

Also?..when shooting bows off-the-shelf?...I shoot with a slight cant...and this is where a glove seems to offer me a higher level of rotational flexibility.

But with bows that I shoot which have a flipper/plunger elevated rest?...those I shoot straight up and this is where I prefer a tab.

 

[boogomatic]

If the budget is tight, I would say make your own tab from a piece of heavy leather.
Use the tongue of an old boot or something.
Mine is a piece of an old tool pouch, a chunk of aluminum, two chicago screws, and a length of thin shock cord.
It does not need to be fancy, but you need to use something on your fingers.

 

[5 Arrow]

I shot a glove for a lot of years and preferred a Bear Master Glove. They take a while to break in but last a long time. The finger stalls are designed to fit like a glove. Then I was introduced to a Vista Glove, softer leather and a well designed wrist strap. Vista will make them for you if you call them.

If the stalls are too big to fit the fingers snugly you can easily customize them by re-stitching to fit your fingers.

All that said I have been using a Cavalier Elite tab for a decade or so and prefer the Cordovan face. Tab leather and backings can be trimmed to your likings.
I prefer and shoot the tab for target and hunting.

Hate to cause a stir hut in my experience the Damascus glove is similar to 10W/40 motor oil. About all they are good for is holding dust down on the driveway.

 

[grantmac]

A $10-15 tab is much cheaper than nerve damage, especially if your job requires the use of your hands.
The very best glove made works about as well as a cheap tab.

Grant

 

[centershot]

Shot slightly more accurate with tabs. Unfortunately the fingers and tendons started get tingling feelings from shooting a heavy draw weight recurve.

Switched to gloves for "much" better fingers and tendons protection. Fingers and tendons has fully recovered. Prefer the Black Widows gloves.

Try a thicker tab.

 

[Chris1ny]

Try a thicker tab.

Tried many premium tabs. (I do like tabs.)

Shot 65 lbs recurves with tabs, fine for the first 20 years. The fingers and tendons wear and tear finally caught up a couple of years ago.

Switched to Black Widow PDQ super gloves. Fingers and tendons are now fully recovered. My fingers and tendons are now good to go for another 20 years.

 

[Stub]

I just switched back to gloves myself. I don't shoot good enough to tell a difference in accuracy from either . I just find a glove more comfortable and makes shooting more enjoyable for me.

 

[maddog20/20]

The thing to remember is that gloves and tabs are cheap. I have one of the more "expensive" gloves and even that one was $35 and it'll last forever (or at least close enough to call it that). You can pick up most tabs and gloves for $15 and that'll be cheap compared to how much more enjoyable it'll make shooting.

I can't imagine loosing 100 arrows with my fingers. That would absolutely suck. If nothing else and money is truly that tight, just cut up an old piece of leather. That's really all a tab is anyway. Cut around a tad bigger than your 3 fingers, cut a little split if you're shooting split fingers and you're all set.

 

[centershot]

Tried many premium tabs. (I do like tabs.)

Shot 65 lbs recurves with tabs, fine for the first 20 years. The fingers and tendons wear and tear finally caught up a couple of years ago.

Switched to Black Widow PDQ super gloves. Fingers and tendons are now fully recovered. My fingers and tendons are now good to go for another 20 years.

Whatever keeps you shooting!

 

[FearNot]

Go with a tab

 

[flyguysc]

http://www.lancasterarchery.com/fivics-saker-1-finger-tab.html

 

[Bowmania]

I'm betting that if you knew who the 20 top shooter on this site were, maybe one might be shooting a glove.

Go reread what centershot wrote, it's true.

Try to find ONE guy in the Olympics shoot a glove.

Bowmania