How To Buy A Release

Releases are mechanical hand-held triggers that help you pull back the bow string. This helps you use a more powerful bow without giving up accuracy or improving accuracy since you can pull the bow back easier. Most use "jaws" or a loop of string to hold the bowstring and then release it by pressing a trigger.

• Styles
• Trigger releases
• Chonco releases
• Finger releases
• Wrist releases
• Thumb-trigger/Three-fingered
• Caliper releases
• Release quality

Styles

There are several types of release aids.

Trigger releases

These come in several variations, with differences in how you trigger.

• Chonco releases
• A chonco type release is held in the hand triggered with the index finger
• Finger releases
• A finger release is held in the fingers and triggered with the thumb or little finger
• Wrist releases
• Wrist releases wrap around the wrist and are usually triggered with the index finger
• Thumb-triggered/Three-fingered
• Most target shooters use a thumb-triggered release while hunters prefer three-finger hand-held releases
• Caliper releases
• Caliper releases use a manual operation with very few moving parts. The "jaws" usually won't close until you flip the trigger forward with your finger. Most are attached to a wrist strap. Durability and reliability are key advantages, a big plus for hunters.

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Release quality

• Good releases should give you easy trigger pull adjustment
• Mechanical releases should be easy to adjust so you can increase stiffness depending on your draw weight
• A recommendation is to set your trigger with enough tension that you can still feel it through heavy gloves before it goes off

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