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Portable Balearic Target - sort of (Read 7179 times)
4accord
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Portable Balearic Target - sort of
Jan 18th, 2010 at 6:37pm
 
There's been a lot of discussion about standardizing targets so that the world of slingers can get a better sense of realistic expectations about accuracy and also perhaps have some friendly competitions.  I have been looking at how to develop a lightweight and portable target that approximates the standard 1.2 meter square target described by Vicente at:
http://slinging.org/index.php?page=balearic-sling-competitions---vicente  

Of course, if you have a truck or a big back yard, you could make one exactly as shown and have at it.  But some of us apartment dwellers who drive Smart Cars and the like would have trouble with a full size wooden contraption with a gong.  So, I went to Home Depot (any building supply store would do) and bought a few things, cobbled them together, and went out to test it.  Jan 18 will long live in my memory as a quantum leap in my understanding of the sling - and lessons in humility.

First, the target: just buy two 10-foot lengths of 3/4-inch PVC pipe, preferably the heavier of the two standard weights (PVC conduit is also acceptable), and 4 PVC elbows for connectors (cement is not required).  This is very cheap stuff, by the way - we're probably still under $4.  Get some rope, wire, or bungee cords for hanging it from something, and you are good to go.

Cut the PVC into four 45-inch lengths, add the elbows to connect them, and you'll have a square frame that approximates Vicente's target (the elbows add length, so the frame ends up about 47.2 inches which is exactly 1.2 meters).  You can cover it with fabric or tarp material, but you don't have to, and you can make a tripod to give it height, but that is also optional.  You can also hang it from a tree - or the outside of a tennis court fence, as I did.  Measure your distances of 64 and 96 feet, and you're ready to shoot.

Lessons learned: it is WAY different throwing at an elevated target than a bucket on the ground.  And a lot of skill goes out the window if you change from a habitual throwing distance.  I did really badly!  But now I know what to expect BEFORE I get to Mallorca and make a fool of myself in the Balearic Islands.  Practice, here I come!
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« Last Edit: Jan 19th, 2010 at 7:54am by 4accord »  

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Re: Portable Balearic Target - sort of
Reply #1 - Jan 18th, 2010 at 7:06pm
 
It would be nice if you could include a photo, helps visualization.

BTW,  your comment about it being different to sling at an elevated target has been my experience also. I find it quite a bit harder to hit a target on the ground at 10 m than the same target at head height. I guess it's largely a matter of what you're used to.
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Re: Portable Balearic Target - sort of
Reply #2 - Jan 19th, 2010 at 6:45am
 
Nice one Smiley
Yeah pics please.

I've built two very different types of balearic target - neither is particularly man portable.
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Re: Portable Balearic Target - sort of
Reply #3 - Jan 19th, 2010 at 7:56am
 
Above, in my previous posting, I added a picture of the materials required - again, the tarp is optional but can be used to cover the frame, if you wish.  Makes a nice smack sound when you hit it.  It can be folded over and secured in the back, as illustrated in another picture (below), using the tarp grommets and bungee cords or rope.  The 5.5 feet x 7.5 size turned out to be perfect.  Would not recommend larger.  I now attach a picture of the finished frame.  If you wanted, you could add a 50 cm circle of plywood for the center gong, but that just adds work and weight.  It is easy enough to see where the projectile goes (assuming you are using a tennis ball, like they do in the Ballearic competitions now); you can thus mentally decide if you would have hit the gong and gotten the extra point or two.
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« Last Edit: Jan 19th, 2010 at 7:09pm by 4accord »  

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Re: Portable Balearic Target - sort of
Reply #4 - Jan 19th, 2010 at 1:08pm
 
Thanks for this thread.  I've been wanting to make one but haven't been sure where to start. 

Thanks to you, I'll take the lazy route and sit back and learn from your mistakes and triumphs instead of making my own. Smiley
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Re: Portable Balearic Target - sort of
Reply #5 - Jan 19th, 2010 at 1:55pm
 
IŽll make one of this someday.
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Re: Portable Balearic Target - sort of
Reply #6 - Jan 19th, 2010 at 3:30pm
 
picture of it it in situ would be good too.

You don't have to use a plywood disc - just finda large cardboard box, cut 2 18 inch circles, glue them together and hang in the centre of the target Smiley
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Re: Portable Balearic Target - sort of
Reply #7 - Jan 19th, 2010 at 6:58pm
 
Here's a photo of the frame set with the center at 63 inches.  It's simply hanging from a couple of short bungee cords.
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Re: Portable Balearic Target - sort of
Reply #8 - Jan 19th, 2010 at 6:59pm
 
Here's the frame covered with a tarp (5.5 x 7.5 feet), which is simply folded over and secured in the back with bungee cords, as will be shown in another picture.
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Re: Portable Balearic Target - sort of
Reply #9 - Jan 19th, 2010 at 7:05pm
 
This photo shows how the bungee cords are used to hold the tarp to the frame.  The use of bungees allows easy dismantling for travel.  Note that the smallest bungees generally available are 12-inches (and I used two). These are too long "as issued."  To shorten them, I just pulled the cord through the hook part and tied a knot in it - very easy.  The longer cord is a 24-inch.
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Re: Portable Balearic Target - sort of
Reply #10 - Jan 20th, 2010 at 4:23am
 
Great idea, 4accord! Thanks!
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Re: Portable Balearic Target - sort of
Reply #11 - Jan 21st, 2010 at 7:49am
 
How does it hold up? Have you hit the PVC pipe yet?
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Re: Portable Balearic Target - sort of
Reply #12 - Jan 21st, 2010 at 8:41am
 
Yes, I've hit it a few times - but am only using tennis balls and the heavier Chuckits, and they lose a lot of momentum by the time they cover the 64 and 96-foot distances.  If, worst case scenario, the PVC were damaged (which is unlikely unless you use rocks), it's such cheap stuff, it would hardly matter.
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Re: Portable Balearic Target - sort of
Reply #13 - Jan 21st, 2010 at 1:26pm
 
Good stuff. Thanks!
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Re: Portable Balearic Target - sort of
Reply #14 - Jan 21st, 2010 at 2:01pm
 
if you're hitting that at 96 feet - I'm impressed Smiley
lot harder than it sounds.

Try hanging a cardboard disv in the centre, should be easy enough.

Like the idea of hanging it on a fence - very ingenious Smiley
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