okay so i just got this catapult from a friend of mine that went to mexico but i don't now how to hold it.
so do you hold it like this (straight):

and just another pic of the whole thing :

yep the pouch needs to be aiming directly at the gap - otherwise bad things can happen :-)

Nice looking catapult though :-)

Beatiful little slingshot.

Ever tried holding it with finger supporting the two prongs?
http://www.nighthawkpublications.com/journal/journal182-1.htm

Forgot to mention wear safety glasses and do not anchor the pouch next to your eye...

After my first band break    and welt on cheek    I started anchoring at my shoulder 

[quote author=loh_kah_hoe link=1185539332/0#6 date=1185974001]http://www.nighthawkpublications.com/journal/journal182-1.htm[/quote]
Oh, they have attached strings between the rubber and the pouch and they say it increases the accuracy. I never knew that. The one in the photo also has strings between the handle and the rubber. Does this also give an advantage?

In the text the man who makes those slingshots said that he couldn't teach others in making them, that he has to correct their slingshots all the time to make them shootable. Why? What's so difficult at making a slingshot?

[quote author=curious_aardvark link=1185539332/0#7 date=1185986271]the pouch size is relatively unimportant - just don't try and fire anything that won't fit through the forks :-)
[/quote]
Well, if the pouch weights 50g and your projectle weights only 50g, too, than half of the power would stay in the pouch, wouldn't it?

[quote author=curious_aardvark link=1185539332/0#11 date=1186069299]you're confusing size with weight :-) [/quote]
Well, when you make a pouch out of the same material that is only one third as big it is only one third as heavy, too, isn't it?
[quote]I'm assuming a modicum of common sense in that you make your pouch out of material and not chain mail or lead foil (not sure how else you'd get one weighing 50 gms :-)[/quote]
Ah ok, I just wrote there any number. All I intended to write was that if your pouch has a weight similiar to the projectile you lose a lot of energy.

From my wild and crazy days, I would suggest, if you are right-handed, that you put on safety goggles, hold the grip in your left hand, and tilt the catapult (which we Yanks call a slingshot) sligtly forward.  Draw to full tension, aim between the forked arms, and release.

My two slingshots have surgical rubber tubes for the lauching mechanism.  They're fairly high-tech, and I haven't tried them out yet.  My first slingshot was made of wood with what appeared to be flat surgical rubber bands.

When firing, a broken catapult band can be as devasting as a broken archer's bow.  Almost.  

As a suggestion, do a Google search for "Pachinko" balls.  Pachinko machines were very popoular in Japan and Ryukrian Island chain when I was there during 'Nam.  They're small ball bearings and make excellent catapult fodder.

Respecfully,

Merlinius
Primus Pilus
LEGX
Judea