[rekanix]

Hey, guys - just recently purchased a Scout kit from FlippinOutSlingshots.com, with the steel ammo and safety glasses, and love it! The first day I got it was the first time I'd held a slingshot in my hands in over 30 years. I set up a smallish cardboard box in the yard, and fired about 15 to 20 shots and hit it every time - I was incredulous that I even hit the box!<br><br>So, I've been trying to figure out some sort of ammo catcher so I can practice more, but I did take the same box out again and shoot some more. Only this time, I ended up shooting VERY inconsistently - some of my shots went flying way to the right (I'm right handed, and I'm drawing back with my right hand, holding the slingshot with my left). I ended up losing a couple of steel ammo bullets my second shooting round.<br><br>It was very cold last night, and I really wanted to shoot. So I set the same box up down the hall inside the house. The same thing happened - alot of my shots were just CRAZY to the right - slammed into the wall of the hallway and marked up the walls on a few shots! I don't understand why! I'm making sure that the bands are over the top and that equal amounts of leather are on either side of the ammo when pulling back. What am I doing wrong? It doesn't happen every time, but it's happening alot and very inconsistent. Is there something wrong with my bands or am I doing something wrong?<br><br>And while I'm here, any good ammo catch box ideas? I'm brand new to the forum, and new to the slingshot craze - thanks for your help in advance!

 

[onnod]

Welcome here, i can not think of a reason why you would shoot inconsistenly, maybe your bands are slightly uneven. There are a lot of catchboxes, i had a great and easy one, but i can't find it, google?

 

[LW]

like onnod said, ther can be a lot of reasons... <img src="http://illiweb.com/fa/i/smiles/icon_exclaim.gif" alt="Exclamation" longdesc="16"><img src="http://illiweb.com/fa/i/smiles/icon_question.gif" alt="Question" longdesc="17"><br><br>last week I always hit the top of the right fork. I did not know why, it was not me... so I looked at the slingshot and could see, that one band was cut on the side. (I put two bands on each side) as I fixed the bands, shooting was fine again...<br><br>...for me as a beginner, shooting is not every day the same. One day I hit a cork of a wine bottle from 8 meter and the other day only a coasters <img src="http://illiweb.com/fa/i/smiles/icon_lol.gif" alt="Laughing" longdesc="7">

 

[Arturo Borquez]

You must be patient, my first shots where horrible also, no one starts shooting as a master, it requires a lot of practice, BUT you will be very rewarded by your progress made day by day ...

 

[rekanix]

Thanks for the advice - I just want to get out there and SHOOT!!! Maybe if I can get a catchbox made up soon and just start shooting, I can figure it out. I sort of think it may be the bands not even at the forks - maybe I pulled one side a little crooked or something. But, practice will iron it all out in learning, plus it's a great way to have fun - thanks again, guys!

 

[pelleteer]

A lot of shooting problems are related to your release. Two things that helped me were just moving (perhaps "relaxing" is a better term) my thumb and forefinger enough to allow the pouch to slip through (rather than opening them way up), and also following through. By this I mean once the pouch has slipped through my fingers I keep my hand up against my cheek for a second or two, rather than immediately dropping it to my side. These techniques may work or may not, but it's worth a shot (no pun intended, lol).

 

[mhpr262]

Excellent tips by pelleteer, I was just about to post exactly the same. I describe the best way of releasing the pouch as "letting the bands suck it from between your fingers" but it is exactly the same principle. Also make sure your ammo is centered well in the pouch and that you aren't holding the slingshot canted (i.e. one fork arm closer to the target than the other)

 

[pelleteer]

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<tr><td><span class="genmed"><b>mhpr262 wrote:</b></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="quote"> I describe the best way of releasing the pouch as "letting the bands suck it from between your fingers" but it is exactly the same principle.</td></tr>
</table>
<span class="postbody"><br><br>Yes, that's an excellent way of describing it. <img src="http://illiweb.com/fa/i/smiles/icon_cool.gif" alt="Cool" longdesc="6"></span>