Good evening.

When learning to fly DLG with the Sidewinder II two years ago, I noted that the launch peg (not blade) caused blisters in my fingers and gave me a very poor grip. The Mystress tended to pull away from me before I finished the full circle for launching.

In addition, the sweat in my hands caused the fiberglass at the wingtip to fall off, and I had to replace that using foam safe CA glue and fiberglass cloth left over from my very first DLG (a DL-50).

Then I found the solution to all these problems-poor grip, blisters, and fiberglass falling off the wingtips on the side of the throwing peg/blade. Just wanted to post it here.

I play handbells in a bell choir (in case you wish to hear what a bell choir looks like and sounds like, just go to Youtube and perform a search for handbells. You will get hundreds of examples).


We wear gloves especially made for handbell ringing-just google "handbell gloves" and you will be shown sites where you can buy them. They are made of cotton and are washable. We use the ones with the raised dots for improved grip and for preventing palm sweat from ruining the bell polish-these dots are the key for DLG.

For DLG, if you want to try these gloves, make sure you get the ones with the raised dots (they are offered in the no dots version, too) AND the velcro strap for your wrist. The strap will prevent the glove from falling off when you perform the DLG launch procedure.

I wear only the right hand glove (my throwing hand), leaving the other without it. The glove in no way gets in the way of handling the radio sticks and switches.

This is not an advertisement. It is just posting a possible solution if any of you are encountering similar problems and are looking for an inexpensive yet effective (for me) solution. Best of all-these gloves cost less than 8 dollars and can fit perfectly inside a TX case.

I've seen people using similar gloves. I prefer not to wear them as I tend to hook the launch if I do. Eventually some nice calluses build up and I stop having issues.

Another option which works for me is to wrap a couple of turns of masking tape or even sellotape around the ends of my index and middle fingers on my throwing hand. I found this both prevents abrasion/blistering of my fingers and also allows the blade to slip off my fingers more cleanly at release. I don't seem to hook my throws as much using this simple and cheap solution.

Maybe I am just too miserly and should go and buy some gloves!

Proper contour on the throwing peg really helps. See the SGII plans on CharlesRiverRC.

Gary

I used to wear gloves too and they helped a lot. With newer moulded blades now I'm back to nude

I've gotten used to gloves and at the DLG Clinic I went nude and was releasing early quite often. Golf gloves don't last very long and baseball gloves are just too small for my hands. I need to find something else.

No gloves for me, if the peg is shaped properly there is no need for them

This was the reason for me making the Curved Offset T-blades

I now don't get blisters or any fingertip soreness

I find I can get a better release with a glove than without. I just installed the Light Curved Offset Blade in my new Neos. They are the best.

I use talcum powder (a little goes a looong way!) to keep my fingers dry and slippery. A little bit of moisture makes the cf peg stick to my fingers.

I also use the middle and ring finger hold, which I call the "SPOCK" launch vs. the pointer and middle finger hold, which I call the "PEACE SIGN" launch. My ring finger is closer to the length of the middle finger than my pointer finger is, and I have better feedback from the palm of my hand, which allows me to better feel the launch angle. There is less offset between the center of my arm/wrist and the center of the wing which I belive results in less imparted twisiting motion during the spin.


Fly well,
JimNM

Makes sense, Jim. I must try that one day