- lax joints;
- a grip that is too slender;
- an overly broad palm;
- a slack hold (1) on the bow;
- a crooked grip and distorted siyahs (2).
As for the string’s striking the grip, it is caused by the string being too long and too soft—especially when the bow itself is a stiff, strongly reflexed one.
How to remedy these defects:
Defects that originate with the palm are treated first. The proper way to hold the bow is to clasp the grip with the whole palm; if a space about half a finger’s breadth remains between the fingers and the palm, that is satisfactory. Should it be more or less than that, it is of no benefit.
Whenever the fault stems from (3) an overly wide palm or from the slenderness of the grip, the cure is to wind around the grip a long strip (4) of thin, soaked leather, roughly the width of the loop (5). If none is available, use the selvage of a fine, firm piece of cloth and bind it tightly