Sling Shots

[Shaun Bowler]

I bought one of these "sling shots" a couple of years ago.
I used it for the first time last week and have a hard time making it work.
As any man would for such a simple apparatus (ie-hammer and nail, hit the nail with the hammer) I never looked at directions, I do not know if there were any.
The line got caught, in the crotch 9 out of 10 shots.
What am I missing here?

 

[Dadatwins]

takes a ton of practice to get used to, once you get it you will never go back to throwing. As for it getting caught in crotches, I find it best to get the throwball down, untie it and then pull out the string and start over.
good luck

 

[sharkfin12us]

sling shot

I bought one of these "sling shots" a couple of years ago.
I used it for the first time last week and have a hard time making it work.
As any man would for such a simple apparatus (ie-hammer and nail, hit the nail with the hammer) I never looked at directions, I do not know if there were any.
The line got caught, in the crotch 9 out of 10 shots.
What am I missing here?

Do you have big shot sling shot or are you throwing into the tree.I bought the big shot couple years ago definitely worth it or throwing also.If you are using the sling shot you have to have the sting in front of the sling shot or it gets caught on its self.If you are using the sling shot when you put the throw ball in front of the sling shot.

 

[fishercat]

have a pic of the sling?

they changed the design around 2006.maybe you got old stock.the old nylon pouch sucked big time.the new rubber type sling pouch is more open and much more forgiving.

 

[lego1970]

I bought one last year to get into a big cottonwood. It was a pain and took me countless trys but in the end it worked. I bought mine from wesspur and mine had the nylon pouch and yea, that design doesn't seem to good. I haven't used it for tree work since then and frankly I hope never to have to climb anymore big trees like that again. I have brought it out a couple times when me and neighbor have a few drinks and launch junk from it. For that reason alone the money was worth it.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

Maybe you are holding it upside down; the crooks should be on the bottom and the line forward of the tool.

 

[treevet]

On most days I can hit a 70 foot crotch 9 out of 10 times. You just need some practice as to how to sight it. We use it almost on a multiple time daily basis. Helps to get well set with the line. I keep the sling shot behind the seat and the throw line on a reel and the pole in the bed. If you don't have an easy set up with line out and back in to put away it could drive you nuts.

This a pict of our micro bull line but we keep the throw line the same way.

 

[moss]

The line got caught, in the crotch 9 out of 10 shots.

Do you mean the throwline hung in the sling shot head or in a crotch in the tree?

As mentioned earlier in the thread:

1. Fire with the pouch and sling shot rubbers on the opposite side of the pole from you.

2. Put your flaked throwline or throwline cube on the ground at least 5 or 6 feet way from the pole. If you put the flaked line below or near the sling shot head it will hang on most shots.

3. Caution: big slingshots are habit-forming and ruin your hand throwing skills with regular use

-moss

 

[treevet]

I think reeling the line is much faster than flaking it into a cube. One advantage is you don't have to flake it out of the cube to shoot I guess. May end up about the same time for both processes.

Who needs to throw anymore after you get a Bigshot? Even the short throws can be finessed. I still throw once in a while if I don't feel like chasing the gear down.

 

[masiman]

I think reeling the line is much faster than flaking it into a cube. One advantage is you don't have to flake it out of the cube to shoot I guess. May end up about the same time for both processes.

Who needs to throw anymore after you get a Bigshot? Even the short throws can be finessed. I still throw once in a while if I don't feel like chasing the gear down.

I don't always flake mine out of the bag but then again my first shots are probably less than 40% successful. Mostly because the line gets a little hung on itself coming out of the bag, some because I don't use it enough to be spot on the first try. Probably my worst problem is way overshooting sometimes. It's funny to watch the bag go through your tree into the next one and up into the sky . Meanwhile I'm scrambling to grab the line and stop it a little bit shorter, lol.

 

[Dadatwins]

It's funny to watch the bag go through your tree into the next one and up into the sky

Even more fun when you realize you did not secure the line to the throwball and now it is on a journey to who knows where.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

Even more fun when you realize you did not secure the line to the throwball and now it is on a journey to who knows where.

My funniest was when I tied the slipknot incorrectly, and it fell apart at perihelion, the line fell and the ball continued some three properties down. Into a buckthorn thicket.

 

[masiman]

Even more fun when you realize you did not secure the line to the throwball and now it is on a journey to who knows where.

My funniest was when I tied the slipknot incorrectly, and it fell apart at perihelion, the line fell and the ball continued some three properties down. Into a buckthorn thicket.

Thank gosh it's not just me :greenchainsaw:

No bullets for you dada, gotta spread more love.

 

[treevet]

I don't always flake mine out of the bag but then again my first shots are probably less than 40% successful. Mostly because the line gets a little hung on itself coming out of the bag, some because I don't use it enough to be spot on the first try. Probably my worst problem is way overshooting sometimes. It's funny to watch the bag go through your tree into the next one and up into the sky . Meanwhile I'm scrambling to grab the line and stop it a little bit shorter, lol.

The long shot can still be a good shot sometimes but not if they take out a bedroom window lol.

 

[treevet]

You know a guy in the local supplier store told me a few days ago that a guy came in with a broken nose from BShot when the band failed.

I told him the guy just had to be using it upside down and I think he thought I meant with the pole end towards the sky lol. People are real funny sometimes.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

The only way I could see a tube failing is if it was so dryrotted it looked like an old ladies but. I've seen them that bad, and declined the use.

 

[rbtree]

My funniest was when I tied the slipknot incorrectly, and it fell apart at perihelion, the line fell and the ball continued some three properties down. Into a buckthorn thicket.

Upon receiving my first BS, ~10 years ago, or right when they were first marketed, I proceeded to a park a block from my house. Shot a pouch up and over a 100 foot cedar, with no line. I ran sideways to see if I could see it land. No luck. Prolly landed in some bushes.

By the way, I hate the new open pouch. It worthless for those times when the shot must be made at any angle more than 10 degrees off vertical. Plus, it's hard to get the ball to stay in the pouch for any shot, even if laid in as is explained.

I have 3 heads....one pouch has a failed seam and needs stitch repair. Another is due for rubber replacement for which I have another old style pouch already. Phew.

I commented on another board that Toby was visiting about my feelings. He never responded. IMO, they need to tighten up the pouch shape, right between the old and new.....Perfect.

 

[Grace Tree]

By the way, I hate the new open pouch. It worthless for those times when the shot must be made at any angle more than 10 degrees off vertical. Plus, it's hard to get the ball to stay in the pouch for any shot, even if laid in as is explained.

I agree. The new pouch is worthless. After a couple months of frustration I cut the new pouch off and put the old one on with new rubber. I keep looking for new old stock with the original pouch.
Phil

 

[fishercat]

i got a brand new one .

I agree. The new pouch is worthless. After a couple months of frustration I cut the new pouch off and put the old one on with new rubber. I keep looking for new old stock with the original pouch.
Phil

$25 shipped and it's yours.