STL All Sports

Nocking. - Assume the grip on the bow handle as just described. Hold the bow out horizontally at the side with the back of the hand up, the top limb to the front, and the bowstring turned toward the body. With the thumb and forefinger, grasp an arrow at the nocked end and place it across the bow just above the handle, permitting the forefinger of the left hand to form a shelf on which the arrow rests.

Twirl the arrow in the fingers until the cock feather is up and slide it across the string, permitting the forefinger to pass underneath and keeping the thumb on the top of the arrow, pressing forward until the nock has cleared the string. The forefinger regrasps the arrow and, together with the thumb, pulls the nock back onto the string.

While the thumb is still exerting a slight pressure on the arrow, grasp the string with the first three fingers of the right hand, with the arrow between the first and second fingers, applying only enough pressure to prevent the arrow from coming off the string in the act of drawing. Remember that the string is drawn back, not the arrow.