The Keeton (TKR)

After devoting more time than I'm proud to admit in researching and debating what release I wanted to buy, I settled on this one. There were 2 bad reviews regarding the release not staying closed during the draw, but compared to the massive amount of positive comments these were certainly outliers. Unfortunately, I'm in the outlier group. I took the release out yesterday for a quick trial to see if I liked the feel and to see if the paddle was going to cause me to change my anchor point (use my jaw). I bought this release for increased draw weight and to try as a middle finger release. I don't typically rush shots on targets, but animals are a different story. I loved the feel of the middle finger release and my first 5 shots were comfortable and what I was looking for. Unfortunately, the 6th arrow was the bad one. I hooked the release to my D-loop, had my fingers on the paddle, all behind the trigger, and began drawing. I got about a quarter of the way back before it released the string and the arrow went waywardly flying into the nearby woods. I looked at the release and played with it, and the caliper was not staying closed. Fortunately, there were no injuries and all I lost was an arrow. Unfortunately, with turkey season coming to a close and my old release being broken, I'm going to have to figure something out. I contacted SpotHogg last night but do not know if I need to go through here for the return/part repair or if I can go through them. Once I have some answers and get it figured out, I'll update my review. If you're lucky enough not to have this problem, the release seemed a bit awkward to me as an index finger release and wasn't amazingly comfortable beside my jaw. The floppyness was a bit weird (and I'm coming from a little goose so it's floppy too), and the click it makes when going onto the D loop and releasing it were louder than expected. The release certainly made drawing easier and I really liked it as a middle finger release in the few shots I tried with it. I'm hoping it gets fixed so I can leave a more accurate review after more shots.

shot my first deer with a Bear Recurve 52 years ago. Owned one of the very 1st compounds ever manufactured and shot it with a finger grip Hot Shot release. Since then I've owned numerous compounds and shot them with that same old 1978 Hot Shot release until some years ago I lost it on top of a mountain hunting Elk. I then switched over to a wrist strap and for the last 10 years I've been struggling with accuracy. NOT NOW...This rest was easy to adjust and shoot and within 30 minutes and about a dozen shots, I'm pounding arrows into the heart of a Glendale Shooter Buck at 40 yards. 30 @ 20 yard shots are just easy chip shots. I gotta say that this rest is the second best archery related investment since I bought the Matthews I shoot. At 65, I'm shooting like I was a 30 yr old again and can hold my draw for longer than I would have expected and letting down is way easy. I'm so excited for the Elk rut it can't get here soon enough.

I've been an archer for close to 50 years at this point. This year, I started having trouble with my shoulder while shooting my hunting bow with a Trufire wrist strap style release. I'd shot handles and back tension for years but don't like them for hunting. I picked up the Keeton with the promise that the handle helps with drawing heavy hunting bows. It exceeds expectations on all counts! I can draw my bow easier and more quietly with less movement. I can easily let down. At full draw the middle and ring fingers are still on contact with the folded handle it is easier to stay against "the wall" and make a crisp, accurate shot. It is important to practice hooking to the d-loop. If not done carefully the d-loop can inhibit the release from closing. It will snap closed once clear of the obstruction but you need to pay attention when hooking up.

Was using a thumb trigger release. Because of some surgery on that hand I didn't like using a regular wrist trigger finger release. This allows me to pull the bow back as easily as with the thumb trigger release but I get to use my trigger finger to release it. I can't decide which finger actually to use to as a trigger finger- playing around with that. My only worry is hunting. Normally I would just leave the thumb release on the string and keep my hand in my pocket for warmth. With this I'm not sure if it will be possible- haven't been hunting yet and it might still be okay. I've had no problems with this releasing prematurely as some people have said. I feel it is more accurate than the thumb release.

I was looking for a release that would be easier on my shoulder that has arthritis in it so I could keep shooting a bow and not go to a crossbow. I went to the range and was skeptical at first but after loosening up my shoulder I did find it was helpful and less painful to use a hybrid release. It is difficult to get used because you have to transition your index finger from the 4 finger grip in order to pull the trigger but once you get used to doing that it works well. Most people who use a finger release like the advantage of clipping the release to the string so it is always ready. You can do this but you loose the assistance of the wrist strap so you have to decide which is more important to you.....have the release attached to the bow ready to go or use the wrist strap for assistance. Overall I am happy with the release and will use the wrist strap due to my shoulder.

I was using a Scott Shark for awhile and thought I liked the design of this release when I first saw it. Let me tell you bowhunters, you WILL pull the weight much easier (or more weight) and hold the draw longer if necessary. I absolutely LOVE this release compared to the one I was using. If I could give it 10 stars I would. I blew out my shoulder last year and although it has healed over a year, I still felt I was going to have issues. NOT...NO ISSUES at all and I'm more accurate now too. I'm strictly a bowhunter and have been for 37 years. You WILL thank me for getting this release....that's a given. I'm gonna buy another so if it ever goes out of production, I have one as a backup. Good Hunting to you guys and gals.

Item arrived as described. Transition from my index finger release was seamless. The strap that connects the release handle to the wrist band offers scads of length adjustment which is a benefit for us long finger folk. I didn't know it has a trigger travel adjustment until someone pointed it out to me. I find the real benefit is 1) my draw is easier at my current draw weight and 2) I can get in more practice shots before I get fatigued. It seems I'm using additional muscles the index finger release didn't demand. So yes, the Keeton would allow me to draw more weight (if I want).

I like the way it is made offering a strong and secure way to pull and the comfort of triggering the arrow. It's Right and Left handed.