Mediterranean draw in archery: index finger above, middle and ring finger below the arrow. How to set it, check it and avoid the typical mistakes.
The honest answer up front: in the Mediterranean draw (split finger), the index finger is above the arrow, and the middle and ring fingers are below. It is the common standard for recurve bows with a sight, because the arrow sits between the fingers and the index finger does not push the nock upward. Which finger form suits you is ultimately decided by your coach on the real bow.
Is there research? A little, but not on your question of "how much better is it?". A large Belgian lab series compared four string grips: three-finger, two-finger, thumb and reversed. Muscle activity varied most for the two unfamiliar grips (thumb and reversed); with enough practice, accuracy improved quickly [1]. In plain words: which form you choose matters less than practicing it enough.
How hard is it? You learn the form in one session. In experience terms it takes a few weeks until it no longer feels strange. In club practice the grip is first trained with a finger spacer and a light bow.
Why is the index finger on top? In practical terms for two reasons given in coaching practice (not a study finding): first, the nock then sits between the fingers without pressure, and second, the string angle at the fingers stays flatter. In return you have to keep the gap between index and middle finger clean, otherwise you pinch the arrow.
Place the index finger above the nock on the string. It does not push the arrow upward. Milestone: the arrow stays calmly in place on every draw.
The middle finger sits directly under the nock, the ring finger next to it. This puts the arrow between the fingers. As in the hook, the string lies between the 2nd and 3rd finger joint [3].
There is room for the nock between index and middle finger. If the gap is too small, you pinch the arrow. If it is too big, the hook becomes unstable. A finger spacer helps with setting it.
The DSB model gives the load split as about 40% index, 50% middle and 10% ring finger [3]. Check whether you feel the middle finger and whether the index finger is not pulling too much.
The finger position stays until release [3]. Milestone: 10 shots in a row with an identical finger picture on video, without the arrow wandering up or down.
Do an arrow-free grip check with a stretch band or at light weight under your coach's supervision, and pay attention to where the nock sits between your fingers. If you feel it without it binding, you have found the right width. Then go to the real bow with the same finger picture and film 5 shots. Repeat the check before every session; it takes a minute and saves you many corrections later.
A string grip where the index finger lies above the arrow and the middle and ring fingers below. It is also called split finger and is common on recurve bows with a sight.
In three-under, all three fingers lie below the arrow. In the Mediterranean draw, the index finger lies above. Which form suits you depends on bow type and target type; ask your coach.
Not automatically. Compound is usually shot with a release aid, and barebow commonly uses other finger forms. This guide is about recurve with a sight; ask your coach what belongs to your discipline.
Not necessarily, but it can help keep the gap between the fingers constant. The rules allow it [2].
You learn the form in one session. In experience terms it takes a few weeks until it no longer feels strange. One study showed that with unfamiliar grips, accuracy rose quickly with practice [1].
Pre-Draw (Set-up): Raising the Bow with a Clean Shoulder Line