Holding arrows in the string hand by their shafts
"By their shafts" means anywhere, but not by their nocks. Holding by nocks is specific in many ways, so I separate it to its own page.
General properties of the technique
1) Holding is firm and reliable, arrows don't tend to fall off. It is also very simple to catch arrows like this, even in speed.
2) Arrows must be nocked by pumping. Nothing else is possible if you don't hold the nocks. Lars Andersen shows some pore ways of nocking, but everything requires som sort of throwning and sliding of arrows, which is very unreliable and hard to control.
3) Bunch of arrows may ne held either with arrowheads to the front, or with feathers to the front. Arrowheads to the front seems better to me, but both is possible. Only when holding arrows by shafts between fingers, it is necessary to have with arrowheads looking forward, because during nocking there is no possibility to change the direction.
4) Bunch may be held near to feathers, in the middle or near to arrowheads. Here arrows must not stand in the way when drawing the string. Form most variants it is better when the long part of arrow sticks back, behind you. But on the other side, you must the pump over longest trajectory when nocking.
Variants of technique
1) Bunch of arrows is held in the fist. Bunch may be embaraced by little, ring and middle fingers (so thumb and index finger are free to move), or by thumb, so that everything else is free to move. It is easier to separate an arrow from bunch with the first variant, but it is difficult to shoot with it. You dont have a way to grab the string, it is not possible even with the thumb draw. Second variant enables mediterranean draw, either from the outside or inside. To me it seems best to separate the arrow by index finger and thumb, nock, and then change the grasp and shoot in mediterranean draw.
You separate the arrow from bunch by index finger and thumb, while other fingers hold the rest of bunch. If holding with feathers forward, you separate by thumb and middle finger and turn the arrow so it is perpendicular to the rest of arrows.
Arrow separated in this way is then carried to the bow by whole hand, grabed by thumb or index finger of the bow hand, and nocked by pumping.
2) Bunch of arrows is separated to the three groups, each held in the space between two fingers. Space between index finger and thumb id empty. This can be reasonably done only when nocking from outside, and holding the string from outside. You then separate an arrow by carrying everythind near the bow hand, which grabs and holds one arrow by thumb and index finger. Whole hand then pulls backwards so that the chosen arrow is being drawn out, and the pumping begins. When arrow is nocked, you shoot with thumb draw, which may be used, because no other arrows stay in the way.
Advantages of holding arrows by shafts
Greatest advantage is a very good control - arrows never fall off, and they are always where they should be, no matter how much you move. This is one of the good holding for speed shooting during run or on horseback. Additionally you use this hold when nocking arrows directly from the quiver and you grab them by the shaft.
Disadvantages of holding arrows by shafts
It has low capacity, and it is necessary to nock by pumping, which is slower. In some variants, arrows may also stay in the way a bit when shooting.
