i imagine that the cloth would also distract/confuse the opponent. one would see the red cloth coming at them, not the dart, and so would not know how to react. this would effectively make them freeze and become a stationary target.

just a guess

Thanks Fritz_the_Cat, i might try that one day.

is that rope Really flexible or sortoff stifflike ??(i'm thinking of making one cause the ones i've seen for sale cost around 25$ and i'm pretty sure there not very useable...

Do you find it more or less difficult to use than a sling?

Very nice looking. What did you use to file it down with?

very cool. using a figure eight throw would be interesting.

i wonder if a spike from home depot would work.

Unsapien asked 

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Why is everyone calling the chain-link knot, monkey chain, or monkey knot? I have only heard it referred to as the chain-link knot or the chain-link hitch (when wrapped around something). This knot is actually one of the few knots I've seen that has some consistency in its name. 

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Well, according to Willeke, whom I wouldn't want to argue with about knots.

"According to the Ashley Book Of Knots it is called a monkey chain or chain shortening. (Its number is #1144)
It is also known as crochet chain."

Well, I'll be calling it one of those three, and throw in Unsapien's two names just to confuse people 

CanDo , How big is the spike ? perhaps it can be modified by upset blacksmithing .You want at least a half pound and thats considered light . Wheres Lobohunter when we need him ? . Come on jump into the thread...

Here are the specs outta da book . The head is a trianular prism or a circular cone . Most common is a triangular prism with a pointed head . It is 13-23 centimetres long At the end of tail is a hole linked to a chain of three rings, the middle ring of which is linked with two other tinkling rings. The five rings are interlocked with each other, shaped like a flower petal . The last ring is tied to a 3 to 7 meter long rope . At the connection between ring and the rope are several coloured silk strips or a red tassel. At the other end of the rope is a handle , which is put on the wrist when the Ropedart is played . Among some people rings are not used and the rope is tied directly through thr hole in the dart, etc etc, A short explaination on how Ropedart was carried in old times...Now days the rope is between 3-4 meters long depending on the height of the user . And the darts are lighter ,about 200 to 300 grams .
Most of the dart heads are either tetrahedrons or cones.

As for lenght of rope...The practitioner puts the handle on the left wrist, grasps the rope with in both hands pulling the rope straight and raises the hands horizontally to both sides with the rope hanging down and the dart head just touching the ground .

Take my advice . Use a sand bag at the weight you want at first instead of a dart . Make your first dart dull or at least covered with a foam sheath and never NEVER JERK THE ROPE BACK at fullextension .

The Northern Chinese prefered the simple method of directly tieing dart to rope . The Southern liked the rings thing . Perhaps that little short chain saved some wear and tear on the rope . Nowdays for more flash and jingles they add the tinkle rings and colored ribbon . I'd like to try both methods . For outdoors hunting no ribbon or tinkle rings . The extra stuff is cool to watch during a demo .

Sorry ! Please try twirling same weight sandbag until you get the flow . It takes time and the Ropedart is difficult . But then is slinging .