Double Bass 3rd Finger - German Bow

[DoubleBassBass]

Just interested to see what opinions there may be about the role of 3rd finger with different bow strokes.

Some players I know use it religiously with varying shades of pressure on the up bow to add a pivot / leverage to the web of the thumb, others let the 3rd finger hang in the frog and forget about it unless they really need to 'dig in'. Some players dont use the 3rd finger at all. Thoughts?

 

[bassmastan]

I don't really use my 3rd finger on my right hand with the bow all that much, it does have its place but most of the finesse comes from the wrist and finger joints working in tandem

 

[Carl Hillman]

I don't use it. It's just relaxed and slightly curled, touching the middle finger.

 

[DoubleBassBass]

Ditto

...but Michael Klinghoffer at 2.40 onwards has got me thinking!

 

[SeaMist_au]

With the Streicher hold the the third finger can assist the first if you really need to dig in.