Finger tab
A leather or synthetic patch protecting archers' fingers from the bowstring.
A finger tab, or archer tab, is a small patch made of leather or synthetic material that shields an archer's fingers from the bowstring. It is secured to the hand with straps or other attachments. Compared to gloves, tabs are more comfortable in summer, allow for thicker material, cost less, and are easier to fit. They are the standard finger protection for recurve bows.
The tab typically includes a retaining loop that goes over the middle finger to keep it in place when the string is released. Tabs come in several forms. The simplest is a single patch placed below the nocking point, between the fingers and the string—a style called "three finger under," often used in barebow archery. More complex tabs have a split about one-third down the leading edge, allowing one finger above and two below the nocking point; this is known as split finger or Mediterranean draw. Some tabs also have a platform attached to the back, forming a flat cover on top to give the archer a hard reference point under the chin when drawing. Platform tabs are more common in recurve or Olympic-class target archery.
A thumb ring or thumb tab serves a similar purpose for archers using the Mongolian draw, protecting the thumb. The Japanese yugake is a reinforced glove with a special ridge for holding the string. Over the past 25 years, mechanical releases have become popular; these are usually wrist-attached devices that hold and release the string when triggered, commonly used with compound bows. The word "tab" may be an alteration of "tag," meaning a small hanging piece.
- Material
- leather or synthetic
- Primary use
- protects fingers from bowstring
- Common with
- recurve bows
- Alternative names
- archer tab
Lore & Background
The term 'tab' is of uncertain etymology, perhaps an alteration of 'tag' (small hanging piece). Tabs come in various forms. The simplest is a single patch placed below the nocking point between the fingers and the string, a style called 'three finger under', most often used in barebow styles. More complex tabs have a split about one third down the leading edge, allowing one finger above and two below the nocking point, known as split finger or Mediterranean draw. Some tabs include a platform attached to the back, forming a flat cover over the top to give a hard reference point under the chin when the string is drawn; these are more common for recurve or Olympic-class target archery. In summertime, tabs are far more comfortable than gloves and can more conveniently use thicker material; they are also less expensive and easier to fit. The tab usually has a retaining loop on the back that fits over the middle finger to keep the tab on the fingers when the string is loosed.
Reader's Guide
The finger tab is a standard piece of equipment in archery, particularly for recurve bows, offering a balance of comfort, cost, and fit. Its design variations accommodate different shooting styles: the simple single-patch tab for barebow three-finger-under shooting, and the split tab for the Mediterranean draw used in target archery. The addition of a platform tab provides a consistent anchor point under the chin, aiding precision in Olympic-class recurve archery. While mechanical releases have become popular for compound bows in the past 25 years, the finger tab remains the normal finger-protection for recurve archers. Its etymology, possibly from 'tag', reflects its simple, functional nature. The tab's adaptability—from crude split types to platform versions—underscores its enduring role in archery, offering a practical alternative to gloves, especially in warm weather.
Did You Know?
- A finger tab is also called an archer tab.
- The simplest tab is a single patch used in 'three finger under' shooting.
- Split tabs allow one finger above and two below the nocking point, called split finger or Mediterranean draw.
- Platform tabs provide a hard reference point under the chin for recurve archers.
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