Bow Grip Wraps and Tape: Do They Help?

Compound bow grip tape and grip wraps can help with comfort, texture and a consistent feel under your hand. They change the surface you hold, not where you push, so they won't cure torque from a tense or wandering bow hand. Fix the hand first, then use a wrap to make a good grip easier to repeat.

Torque starts with the hand, not the grip surface

In Archery 360's grip guide, Olympian Crispin Duenas writes that "if you grip the bow inconsistently, your shot placement will be inconsistent as well." He places the pressure "about midway between where your wrist connects to your palm and the V shape formed between your thumb and index finger." Heeling the grip "usually makes the arrows hit high," too much throat pressure sends them low, and tension in your fingers or thumb pushes them left or right.

None of that depends on what the grip is covered with. Torque is a twist your hand puts into the riser. Tape can stop a hand slipping, but it won't stop a tense hand twisting the bow. If your groups spread sideways, work on a relaxed hand with our archery form steps before you buy anything.

Side plates off, wrap on, or tape on the stock grip

goHUNT's Trail Kreitzer notes that "most grips are either attached with a couple of screws or a few pieces of 3m tape and can be pried off with little effort." Shooting off the bare riser "gives the archer a thinner grip," he writes.

A bare riser is slick and hard, so Kreitzer wraps his grip with the kind of wrap "commonly used to wrap the handle of a tennis racket or a baseball bat," starting at the top and overlapping slightly. He warns that athletic tape "can get a bit tacky in warm weather."

Purpose-made archery tape is the third route. 3Rivers describes Bowmar Grip Tape as giving "the same feel and stability whether your grip is dry or wet." That's the maker's claim, not a measured result.

Cold weather and wet hands

This is where wraps earn their keep. Aluminium risers draw heat from a bare hand quickly, so a layer of wrap makes cold mornings more comfortable. Rain and sweat make a smooth grip slippery, the problem grip tape is sold to solve. If you hunt in the cold, try the wrap with your glove on, because a thick glove plus a thick wrap changes how your hand sits.

Keep the grip consistent

The goal is the same hand position every shot:

• Change one thing at a time and shoot several ends before deciding.
• Re-check your sight marks after any grip change.
• Wrap tightly and evenly, with no lumps for your hand to find.
• Replace peeling tape before an event, not on the morning of it.

The same applies on a recurve; our compound vs recurve guide covers how the grips differ. If a new grip makes you anxious about the shot, see our target panic guide.

You can browse bow grip tape on Amazon or look at archery bow grip wraps. Bowmar Grip Tape is one example to consider.

Frequently asked questions

Does compound bow grip tape improve accuracy?

Not on its own. Archery 360's grip guide ties accuracy to where and how consistently you apply pressure, and tape doesn't change that. It can stop your hand slipping in wet or cold conditions, which helps you repeat a grip you have already learned.

Should I take the side plates off my compound bow?

It's a personal choice. goHUNT notes that most grips come off with a couple of screws or some 3M tape, and a bare riser gives a thinner grip. Shoot it for a few sessions, add a wrap if the metal feels slick or cold, and re-check your sight marks.

What can I use to wrap a recurve bow grip?

Tennis racket or bat handle wrap is a common choice, and goHUNT's writer uses it on his compound grip. Purpose-made archery grip tape is another option. Keep the wrap thin and even so your hand sits the same way every shot, because added thickness changes the feel.