Another excellent video Alexander! In my group Tirendaz the thumbrings are made custom-fit as well, by getting the measurements of one's thumb. Old treatises mention that the last corrections were made while the owner shoots with the ring. It's the same in our group since the ring maker is also one our members. In this case, I recommend the customer not to be too hesitant to retouch the ring according to his needs. Just a point I'd like to add: The thumb gets bigger with training, so the archer will need a slightly larger one in time. Slight changes in thumb's size do also occur, perhabs due to rehydraton or dehydration, inregular training, etc., so it makes sense to have a few rings with slightly different size. Last but not least, the "crawl" as you call it, is necessary for a perfect hand-lock, especially if one shoots in move, from on horseback or at aerial targets. Non of the rings I examined in Topkapi Palace Museum, Istanbul Archaeological Museum and Military Museum there was such a thinner part on the connection of thumbpad and ring. You might be right in the inconsistency, which must be avoided with more practice.
Thanks for the feedback Murat! Yes, having the extra sizes available is nice. Someday I will get some horn and carve a more traditional one myself. Do you agree that the "Ottoman" ring style from this manufacturer is arguably not very Ottoman? For the string crawl, I have no doubt that you are correct in that it is the more proper technique. Yet I see a lot of people doing it and shooting very well. So I wonder what variables affect the degree to which it detracts from perfection. Such as string angle at full draw, ring design, thumb size, etc. And whether it is a minor problem or a major problem depending on those things.
You're right! The "Ottoman design" is not that accurate. There are rings with relatively shorter thymbpads but there are ones with longer pad with different angulation and very large ledge. I have evenn seen a thumbring from Crimean Tatars (alliences and scouts of the ottoman army after 16th century) that looks very similar to the Chinese cylindricals. After examining and mesauring 40+ antique rings in museums' collections in Istanbul, my attempt to find a "rule of thumb" in morphology has unfortunately failed. The large spectrum of variations in length-width ration, ledge width, length of thumbpad, angulation between the ring and pad, etc. may be upto couple of reasons: 1- various handlocks 2- various shooting techniques, especially different lengths in draw 3- features related to string and serving. There might also been variations for different shooting discplines as some statements in old treatises may indicate. For example I read "puta zihgîri" which may be translated as "thumbring for target shooting". Does that mean that there was a nother type of ring for flight shooting, for example? Unfortunately not clear, but there is evidence. There are still "secrets" to uncover and further research is needed.
At the moment I am working on a deer horn thumb ring, wasn't easy to find material that was thick enough. All you get on eBay are thin ends of deer horn.
My hands swell for about 24-48 hours after I do certain tasks (gripping pliars really hard, etc). I think this is called pressure urticaria. The larger sizes could be useful for that as well.
Actually having similar thumbring woes (Too tight too loose etc.) Do they ship internationally? Or to Europe? It seems like a smart solution for such a finicky issue
Hobby Lobby sells polymer in a variety of colors. It costs $2.77 and comes in a variety of colors. There is enough to make three or four rings...maybe even five. Just shape the soft material for desired shape and fit. It's then heated in the oven at 275 degrees for 15 minutes. Let cool and sand to further shape if needed.
I ordered 3 grooved rings and after 2 month of waiting for the package I finally got the rings. The larger one fits my thumb ok but overall I am very disappointed in the design. The ring is too thin and I feel it does not transfer any of the force generated by the string against my thumb. Pretty pricey too! I can't say I recommend them when you can order quality rings from Vermil at smaller prices.
I need to pick up some of these some day. My main annoyance with thumb rings are that my thumb sweats quickly and the rings get slippery. Btw that is a nice Mughal ring. Do you have the original source for the picture?
Unfortunately these get slippery as well, though the smaller one stays in place much better. Biggest problem for me is the ring rotating. It's never actually slipped off upon release. Horn apparently shrugs off sweat better without getting too slippery. Leather is also really good with sweat.
Natural materials do hold better (except jade and whatnot). Usually for plastic rings I like to sand the inside. If it gets really bad though I usually just remove the ring and wipe my thumb/ring dry real quick and continue.
One thing I like about slightly oversized rings is that I can run a thin retaining strap through the aperture and then run that around my wrist and fingers. Keeps the ring from coming off, plus the leather piece in the back provides a little friction to stop the ring from rotating.
Don't bother with rigid rings, unless you pull a bow 50+ pounds. Up to this weight, a simple leather finger tab does the job just fine. Besides, leather "ring" is far more comfortable, gives better string control and it is easy to make.
I recommend you leather humb ring. (High tolerance) &~ Attempt anchoring hand twist (Better power) Mongolian Shooting is... It's not just pushing and pulling Grip hand & string pulling hand Twisting (grip & anchor hand) It's really important, it's the point.
Another excellent video Alexander! In my group Tirendaz the thumbrings are made custom-fit as well, by getting the measurements of one's thumb. Old treatises mention that the last corrections were made while the owner shoots with the ring. It's the same in our group since the ring maker is also one our members. In this case, I recommend the customer not to be too hesitant to retouch the ring according to his needs. Just a point I'd like to add: The thumb gets bigger with training, so the archer will need a slightly larger one in time. Slight changes in thumb's size do also occur, perhabs due to rehydraton or dehydration, inregular training, etc., so it makes sense to have a few rings with slightly different size. Last but not least, the "crawl" as you call it, is necessary for a perfect hand-lock, especially if one shoots in move, from on horseback or at aerial targets. Non of the rings I examined in Topkapi Palace Museum, Istanbul Archaeological Museum and Military Museum there was such a thinner part on the connection of thumbpad and ring. You might be right in the inconsistency, which must be avoided with more practice.
Thanks for the feedback Murat!
Yes, having the extra sizes available is nice. Someday I will get some horn and carve a more traditional one myself.
Do you agree that the "Ottoman" ring style from this manufacturer is arguably not very Ottoman?
For the string crawl, I have no doubt that you are correct in that it is the more proper technique. Yet I see a lot of people doing it and shooting very well. So I wonder what variables affect the degree to which it detracts from perfection. Such as string angle at full draw, ring design, thumb size, etc. And whether it is a minor problem or a major problem depending on those things.
You're right! The "Ottoman design" is not that accurate. There are rings with relatively shorter thymbpads but there are ones with longer pad with different angulation and very large ledge. I have evenn seen a thumbring from Crimean Tatars (alliences and scouts of the ottoman army after 16th century) that looks very similar to the Chinese cylindricals. After examining and mesauring 40+ antique rings in museums' collections in Istanbul, my attempt to find a "rule of thumb" in morphology has unfortunately failed. The large spectrum of variations in length-width ration, ledge width, length of thumbpad, angulation between the ring and pad, etc. may be upto couple of reasons: 1- various handlocks 2- various shooting techniques, especially different lengths in draw 3- features related to string and serving. There might also been variations for different shooting discplines as some statements in old treatises may indicate. For example I read "puta zihgîri" which may be translated as "thumbring for target shooting". Does that mean that there was a nother type of ring for flight shooting, for example? Unfortunately not clear, but there is evidence. There are still "secrets" to uncover and further research is needed.
At the moment I am working on a deer horn thumb ring, wasn't easy to find material that was thick enough. All you get on eBay are thin ends of deer horn.
Check pet stores, they sell antler and horn for dogs to chew on. Sometimes you find a large usable piece.
The smaller ones are useful in winter too, when the thumb get smaller because of cold. Vice versa for the summer
My hands swell for about 24-48 hours after I do certain tasks (gripping pliars really hard, etc). I think this is called pressure urticaria. The larger sizes could be useful for that as well.
Actually having similar thumbring woes (Too tight too loose etc.) Do they ship internationally? Or to Europe? It seems like a smart solution for such a finicky issue
I have talked to people in Europe who have tried them. No clue on shipping.
Hobby Lobby sells polymer in a variety of colors. It costs $2.77 and comes in a variety of colors. There is enough to make three or four rings...maybe even five. Just shape the soft material for desired shape and fit. It's then heated in the oven at 275 degrees for 15 minutes. Let cool and sand to further shape if needed.
+David Hefner What is the texture of the material after heat treatment?
Plastic ? For something as traditional as a thumbring ?
Why not horn ?
Very good review.im going to be ordering from custom thumbrings
A wonderful review. Thank you. Liked & subscribed!
🙂👍🇨🇦
I ordered 3 grooved rings and after 2 month of waiting for the package I finally got the rings.
The larger one fits my thumb ok but overall I am very disappointed in the design. The ring is too thin and I feel it does not transfer any of the force generated by the string against my thumb.
Pretty pricey too! I can't say I recommend them when you can order quality rings from Vermil at smaller prices.
I haven't tried one of their grooved rings yet, but I've found every ring design requires a slightly different technique.
I need to pick up some of these some day. My main annoyance with thumb rings are that my thumb sweats quickly and the rings get slippery. Btw that is a nice Mughal ring. Do you have the original source for the picture?
Unfortunately these get slippery as well, though the smaller one stays in place much better. Biggest problem for me is the ring rotating. It's never actually slipped off upon release. Horn apparently shrugs off sweat better without getting too slippery. Leather is also really good with sweat.
It is apparently from Hindustan, 18th century. I don't have any information beyond that.
Natural materials do hold better (except jade and whatnot). Usually for plastic rings I like to sand the inside. If it gets really bad though I usually just remove the ring and wipe my thumb/ring dry real quick and continue.
Thanks. I wasn't sure if the Mughals had thumb rings with the guard (lip) protrusions till I saw that photo.
One thing I like about slightly oversized rings is that I can run a thin retaining strap through the aperture and then run that around my wrist and fingers. Keeps the ring from coming off, plus the leather piece in the back provides a little friction to stop the ring from rotating.
Nice!
I have a resin printer, so i desighn and print my own rings. My bow is 40 lbs.
Don't bother with rigid rings, unless you pull a bow 50+ pounds. Up to this weight, a simple leather finger tab does the job just fine. Besides, leather "ring" is far more comfortable, gives better string control and it is easy to make.
I use Gemslock horn from South Africa an it makes excellent thumbrings
I recommend you leather humb ring. (High tolerance)
&~ Attempt anchoring hand twist (Better power)
Mongolian Shooting is... It's not just pushing and pulling Grip hand & string pulling hand
Twisting (grip & anchor hand) It's really important, it's the point.
whats the phone number?
This model has been discontinued by the company, I'd suggest you look at their website for current comparable alternatives.