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I'm happy to answer any questions or give advice. If you have some ideas or experiences you would like to share, consider submitting and article for publication on the site. You can contact me at info@slinging.org.

Fig. 1 shows the tools used. I taped the drawing to the board and punched holes at all points with the awl. I then drilled holes in the board with a 1/16" drill bit. This helped keep the screws vertical. I used #6 x 1" flat head phillips wood screws.

Drawings similar to Fig. 2, scaled to the dimensions given in this table, were used to make several slings.

You can probably copy Fig. 2.   Or....You can draw it yourself.

Using 11x17 1/8 inch grid paper works out well for laying out the figure.

Draw a circle of 1-11/16 inch diameter.

Take 40% of the circumference of the ball and divided that by 3.   It comes out to be pretty close to 3/4 inch for a golf ball.

Point M is the center of the 1-11/16" circle and of the length A-B.

The lengths of A-B, A-10, A-5, B-4 and B-9 are drawn to 3/4 inch.

For a golf ball, a distance of 10" for 1-8 turns out to be appropriate.

Then draw 1-2, 2-3, 6-7 and 7-8 to 1" each.

Then draw A-3, A-6, B-3 and B-6.

Then draw a line which is the same length as A-3(or A-6 or B-3 or B-6) from 3 and 6 to just tangent to the circle.

Then take a divider and set it to the distance A-B, then from points A and B mark the intersections with the above mentioned tangent lines. These will be points 4, 10, 5, and 9.

Distances 3-11 and 6-14 are set to A-B.

Points 12 and 13 are set to form equilateral triangles A-B-12 and A-B-13.

Fig. 2a shows the net cord strung on the screws. The cord is 2 ply jute twine for this golf ball pouch. I used 3 ply jute twine on the nets for the larger balls.

Start by pinning one end of the cord at the green pin as shown then go around 1, past 2, around 3,around 4, around B, around A, around 5, around 6, past 7, around 8, past 7 again, around 6 again, around 9, around B again, around A again, around 10, around 3 again, past 2 again, around 1 again, past 2 again, around 3 again to B, around B again to 6, past 7 again, around 8 again, past 7 again, around 6 again to A, around A again to 3, around 3 again, past 2 again, around 1 again and pin at the yellow pin as shown.

Fig. 2 shows the net cord strung on the screws. The cord is 2 ply jute twine for this golf ball pouch. I used 3 ply jute twine on the nets for the larger balls.

Start by pinning one end of the cord at the green pin as shown then go around 1, past 2, around 3,around 4, around B, around A, around 5, around 6, past 7, around 8, past 7 again, around 6 again, around 9, around B again, around A again, around 10, around 3 again, past 2 again, around 1 again, past 2 again, around 3 again to B, around B again to 6, past 7 again, around 8 again, past 7 again, around 6 again to A, around A again to 3, around 3 again, past 2 again, around 1 again and pin at the yellow pin as shown.

Fig. 2

Fig. 3 shows the net with all the ties that are done while the net is on the screws.
The ties consist of a Clove Hitch followed by a Square Knot .

Tie the clove hitch then take the ends and tie them into a square knot. If you have cinched the clove hitch tightly, tying the ends into a square knot will help keep it tight.

I've found that doing the ties in the following sequence seems to work out best.

Start at point M, then do points A and B. At points A and B do two ties which cross each other. This helps to keep lines 3-A-6 and 3-B-6 straighter.

See Fig. 4 to do points 3 and 6. Back the screws out at these points before you do them and arrange the cords as shown. A forceps or some other clamping device is needed to hold the cords.

Tie the clove hitch loosely and slide it over the screw hole before cinching. Try to make sure that as you cinch, the cords bundle in the desired manner.

Then put the screw back in and do the ties at 2 and 7.

When you make the tie at 2, include the two cord ends.

Fig. 3


Fig. 4

Up to this point we have been working with basically a 2 dimensional figure. The next six ties will serve to create the 3 dimensional sling pouch.

With a magic marker or some such, mark the cords where they pass around screws 4, 5, 9 and 10.

Temporarily remove the screws at 6, 7 and 8 to loosen things a bit.

Pull points 5 and 10 together and tie the cords at the two marks.

Then pull points 4 and 9 together and tie the cords at their two marks.

Now remove the screws at 4, 5, 9 and 10, and then replace the screws at 6, 7 and 8.

Then pull cords 5-6, A-6, B-6 and 9-6 together and tie them over point 14. Keep A-6 and B-6 uppermost in the bundle.

Next pull cords 10-3, A-3, B-3 and 4-3 together and tie them over point 11. Keep A-3 and B-3 uppermost in the bundle.

Then pull what now are cords A-14 and B-14 together and tie them over point 13.

Next pull what now are cords A-11 and B-11 together and tie them over point 12.

You can now take the pouch off all screws and fit a golf ball in it. You may have to adjust some of the ties slightly to get a proper fit.

Ties 4-9 and 5-10 are the ones which affect the pouch "cling".

If the pouch is too tight move the ties toward the center tie at M.

Try to keep the pouch as symmetrical as possible.

Just take a tie in your fingers and slide it either way.

What you're aiming for is to take the pouch with a ball in it by both loop ends. Then when you let go of one loop end the ball should drop straight down. When it's adjusted to your satisfaction you might want to do additional reenforcing ties inside the 5-10 and 4-9 ties and between the ties at 14 and 6 and 11 and 3.

I've been seeing that some of the overhand knots have come un-done and some ties slip with use. These usually were ones that were cut off too close. So to keep the ties from unravelling, I've been rubbing a dab of yellow woodworking glue on them and then carefully working the glue into the whole tie to help keep it from slipping.

These pouches seem to release a missile with a lot of backspin, especially a tennis ball or a soft rubber ball. Backspin tends to increase the distance a missile travels if the rotation is rapid enough.

The sling shown below is for tennis balls. I built the pouch using the above procedure. The cords were attached to the pouch using the Bowline Knot. When you get each cord tied to the correct length(using a bowline), tie an Overhand Knot and trim the excess.

- Bob Anderson