Slyngorm wrote on Jan 11
th, 2021 at 4:47pm:
The balls spin in two clusters. The one I held in my hand during the wind up and all the other together. It doesn't look like a bola in cartoons.
That might be because of the way you throw it. Gauchos in videos I've watched start by holding two of the weights, releasing one and them and then throwing them at the target. This way all of the balls are spinning at different speeds and you get a wide spread. I've only seen this done with 3 weighted boleadoras but I'd assume the same could be done with a 4 weighted one by just holding three and releasing them at different times. It might take a lot of getting used to though.
This video is kind of what I am talking about
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWYNCEL64qQIf you know Spanish its also a good explanation about the origin of the name Tres Marias. The actual throwing starts at the 1 minute and 40 seconds mark.
I normally throw mine a bit sooner than he does so the weights don't bunch up as much, but even after waiting for the two balls to make contact the spread is still pretty wide.