If you’re new I would practice with the hinge and if you want to hunt stick to a wrist strap. Take a while to perfect hinge you don’t want to try figuring it out when you’re drawing on a deer. IMO I see no benefit of using a hinge in a hunting situation- there times when I need to punch the trigger and it wouldn’t work if I was using a hinge

 

I use a hinge to hunt with and have absolutely 0 issues with 1. It’s all personal preference. When I use an index I had issues with TP and same with a thumb, punching! 15 yrs shooting a hinge and not going backwards! Again OP it’s all personal preference and if a hinge is what you would like to learn go for it. It takes time to learn, borrow one if you can to play with it before buying.

 

I'd probably recommend trying it with a shot trainer at first to get used to it. index to hinge is probably a bigger transition than an index to a thumb button or thumb button to hinge.

Whether it's worth switching kind of comes down to you and how much you practice with it.

 

Been shooting a thumb for ever. I bought two different hinges and been trying to convert for 6 months watching videos, using training aid thousands of times and feels good. Once on target I fall apart and can’t consistently execute shot. Not giving up. I like everything about the idea of the hinge and if I didn’t have years with a thumb I think it would be much easier to learn.

 

I personally don’t hunt with a hinge release , use it for 3D , the last 3D shoot I was at had a running deer target just for fun needless to say it didn’t go well with the hinge .

 

Been shooting a hinge for a year and wouldn’t think of shooting anything else now. That after 36 years of shooting fingers and transitioning to buttons/triggers, so making the switch isn’t as big a deal as done make it out to be. I hunted whitetails with a B3 Ghost this season and it worked out perfectly. There are a lot of great hinges out there but I prefer a simple one for hunting. Picked up a Truball Fulkrum Flex today and I’m very impressed, could end up being my indoor release.

 

Well, it's a wonder you didn't bust your mouth. If I try someone's hinge, I have my thumb on the pulling post, holding on for dear life because I don't know how it's set up. Tried T's Tru-Fire Sear and really held on the pulling post. Just thought about easing my thumb off the pulling post and the arrow was gone - Yeah, Big Time Surprise. I turned to T and told him he had it a little hot. He replied he liked it hot. Well, T didn't know how shoot a hinge any other way.

Most take weeks, months, and ever a year or more to master the hinge. I shot a thumb release for from 2006 thru 2018 and had a heck of time switching to a hinge. All the learning I've done (aggravation and frustration in there), I don't see where switching to hinge has improved my shooting. Good as I am with a hinge, I still use an index release for hunting and a thumb release for competition........
And then, two of my favorite hinges I use without a pulling post.

Generally, switching from a index release to any handheld release one anchors different. That you anchor differently peep height needs addressed as is the draw length of the bow. And then there a few manners of firing one. Using pure back tension now takes a back seat to manipulation. If you can't find one of Padgett's write-ups, I'll post the one I have.

The Stan Kuro isn't made for a pulling post and I removed the pulling post from the Stan Jet Black.

 

Suggestions....Whole bunch of quality hinges on the market and for most it's personal preference.

A handle too big is better than one too small.

Many of the newest have dual adjustable sears and mostly noted is the clicker. Well, you can adjust the clicker to out.

B3 Ghost.
Tru-Sear - Lots of "bells and whitles" to consider. It is long necked and bow's draw length may need addressed. I had to.
Carter Only
Carer 2 Moons - not overly priced for the adjustable clicker.
TRU Ball Sweet Spot - though not liking the separate safety - hinge set up correctly the pulling post is the safety.
Many not suggested because I think they are overly priced........

 

i highly recommend the TRU-Ball Sweet Spot, TRU Ball-Sweet Spot Pro, or TRU-Ball Sweet Spot II. for one thing, it has all the adjustments of standard hinge, but with the safety you'll never punch yourself in the face, and your face will thank you for that.