Release is a Nock 2 it thumb release. Best one I have ever used. The idea is to pull your whole arm and shoulder back and not just the thumb so you get a surprise release. Or you can just punch it with your thumb like most people do. Groups get much tighter when you control that urge to just smack the trigger and allow it to fire by squeezing your shoulder blades together. Thats what I found anyway. I like a release like this because you can hang it on the d loop and it is there and attached when you need it. Still get the recurve out regularly and shoot fairly well with it. I shooit the 1 over 2 under bud have given the three under a go. Way more fun with the recurve.