- The fully-drawn (mutamaṭṭī): the archer stretches the arrow out; once the arrowhead is aligned with his finger, he holds still for roughly two counts, then releases with a quick flick of the string. The pull at the beginning and at the end must be identical.
This style is excellent for the archer who sights along the inside of the bow; the rubbed release carried out above the string is suited to those who use both sight-lines, while the snatched release is preferred by those who sight from outside the string.
There is no disagreement (1) among archers that the grip on the string must be firm and swift, without hesitation or delay, for in that lie force, power, and penetration.
Section: How the Arrow Passes over the Hand
It takes four forms:
– Some let it run over the knuckle of the thumb.
– Others let it travel along the index finger, turning the thumb away from the arrow (2).
– Still others raise the thumb and place the index finger beneath it, so that the hand resembles the finger-sign for thirteen; in this case the arrow runs over the nail of the thumb.
– Yet others guide it over the tips of both the index finger and the thumb (3), making the hand look like the finger-sign for thirty.