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To: Sam Cree; HairOfTheDog
Sam & Hair. All these comments are generalities; there is always an exception to the rules, but: a right handed archer holds the bow in his left hand, pulls the string with right hand. The arrow goes on the left side of the bow, here the arrow is on the right. Left and right is from the archer's persective, not the viewer's or target's.

When you shoot "off the knuckle" like Legolas does, meaning the bow does not have a shelf or arrow rest, it is normal to cant the bow the right a bit, provides a better view of the target and helps hold the arrow against the bow, in the angle formed by the bow and the archers' left hand, here the bow is canted the wrong way, the arrow would likely fall off the hand.

Legolas appears in most photos to use a Mediterranean draw, one finger above the arrow and two below. There are numerous variations of this but none I am aware of that uses a clenched fist around the string. Most archers in England and the US use this draw.

Now if he used a thumb ring, like eastern and oriental archers do, the thumb is all that is used to pull the string, finger or two is locked around the thumb during draw, then the arrow goes on the right side of the bow even for right handed archers, but it is canted to the left a bit to provide the rest stability of the angle formed by the top of the hand and bow.

However, having said that it's still a good picture of Legolas and Gimli, just not as great as it could have been imho.
7,337 posted on 01/19/2003 9:02:26 AM PST by osagebowman (note to self: quit critiqueing and enjoy the movie)
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To: osagebowman
Actually, I think it is a painting rather than a photo, so it may not be our archer that screwed up!
7,339 posted on 01/19/2003 9:09:46 AM PST by HairOfTheDog
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To: osagebowman
And having said that, I appreciate you bringing up these finer points! - Now that I look at it and remember your earlier teachings about the proper grip, I can see the goof myself. Maybe next time, I won't have to ask!
7,340 posted on 01/19/2003 9:13:06 AM PST by HairOfTheDog
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