Question about tabs?

[Loreva13]

I was reading another thread when I remembered an issue I've been having since switching full time to a tab. I asked the same question on that thread but I thought I'd start a thread about it in case anyone else is having similar issues.

When using a tab is it normal to develop a callous on your middle finger? When I started using a tab my grouping did improve and I am now a full time tab user. However, sometimes my middle finger even starts to bleed a little, not always but at times. I just ignore it. Does this suggest I am plucking the string upon release or doing something else wrong?

[Bisch]

I've never heard of middle finger bleeding. Most people develop a callous on their ring finger and this is, a lot of times, due to too much pressure with that finger on the string. I'll be watching to see what others have to say about this one.

Bisch

[Loreva13]

lol I figured it was usual.

Let me try to post a pic.

[CaptJack]

when I was competing I had callouses on my middle & ring finger that a guarded and tried not to get too wet - sorta like a guitar player

[Wayne Meuir]

I had the exact opposite experience. When I used a glove, I ahd a huge callous on the bottom of my ring finger. When I switched to a tab, it went away and I do not have any callous' now and I shoot just about every day.

Wayne

[Featherflinger]

I tried switching to a tab but couldn't shoot worth a crap because my fingers were hurting too much. I shoot ok with a glove so after my 2 weeks of pain I went back to my glove.

[garfish]

I've never notice any problem with my middle finger, but I get a little callous on my index
finger right beside the nail, usually caused by torquing the string. when I notice it, I work
on form a little and it gets OK. I have yet to figure out how a lot of guys are hurting
their lips and noses with a tab, I've never experienced that with a glove or a tab.

[agtex42]

When I first started using a tab my fingers were a bit tender for a week or two due to the reduced amount of material between my skin and the string. After a while they "toughened up" and it became a non-issue but even then I didn't have any callouses. I will occasionally get a callous on the bottom of my ring finger but it's due to a form flaw (elbow too high and poor tension distribution), I've found that the blank bale, a video camera, and a "string bow" in front of a mirror do wonders to correct it!

FWIW, most nose/lip/face discomfort comes from shooting a tab that's too big. There was a thread on here a while back that showed how folks trimmed them down to fit, and I have to admit I was surprised at how little material was actually required to protect your fingers.

I made the switch from glove to tab last April and I don't foresee myself going back, the finger to face point of reference has allowed me to achieve consistency in my anchor point that I never could accomplish using a glove. Hope you get it figured out soon, you might consider reducing the amount of shooting sessions you have each week until you fingers adapt to the change!

[ShaBow]

My fingers are all calloused up just keep shooting and they'll stop bothering you eventually!