Traditional Leather Archery Finger Tab

Traditional Leather Archery Finger Tab for Instinctive Shooting

How to Use the Tab Correctly

To function properly, the tab must be worn correctly. Slide your middle finger through the circular hole so that the split (the cut-out at the front) rests perfectly between your index and middle fingers. When drawing the bow using the Mediterranean draw, the arrow nock sits right in this split—the index finger rests on the string above the arrow, while the middle and ring fingers pull the string below the arrow. The leather thus forms a reliable protective barrier between the bowstring and the pads of all three drawing fingers.

Historical Context

Finger protection in archery is as old as the bow itself. While Asian cultures favoured shooting with a thumb ring (made of horn or metal), Europe predominantly used the three-finger draw. Simple leather pads, very much like modern tabs, were utilized throughout the Middle Ages to protect the fingers of English and French archers from the immense draw weights of their strong war longbows. This tab therefore directly follows a proven historical tradition.

Care for Your Leather Guard

Pigskin is an excellent natural material, but it requires basic care to maintain its flexibility. Occasionally rub the tab gently with a high-quality leather balm, ideally one containing beeswax, to keep the leather supple and prevent it from drying out. If the guard gets wet during an outdoor practice session, never dry it directly on a hot radiator or by a fire. The leather could harden and lose its flexibility. Always let it air dry naturally at room temperature.

Safety Recommendations

The tab is primarily designed to protect the skin of your fingers from abrasion caused by the bowstring. For safety reasons, always thoroughly inspect the condition of your bowstring and arrows before shooting to ensure they are not damaged or frayed, thereby preventing a string break and potential injury.

Recommended Archery Accessories

For a complete and safe archery setup, we highly recommend pairing this tab with a high-quality leather arm guard (bracer) to protect your forearm from string slap, and a spacious leather quiver for your arrows.

Finger Tab Specifications

Please note: This product is handmade from genuine leather. It is a purely natural material. Minor variations in colour and surface texture are natural characteristics. These slight imperfections do not diminish the practical value of the product in any way. Each piece is thus, to some extent, an original.