How high can you throw ball?

I can throw reasonably accurately to about 60’ one handed, or up to about 100’ with my Big Shot. I don’t have the coordination to throw two handed. I did that yesterday, impressed the new climber because he couldn’t hit the target he was aiming for. I have a friend though who throws very well to almost 100’ by hand, two handed of course.
 
DSMc said:
If that is all true, I find it a sad thing. I have been climbing for over 50 years and still enjoy the simple beauty of what we do. I certainly am not the best or fastest, never was, and I could care less how I measure up to other climbers. What I do matters to me and that is enough.

Every day is different, every tree is different.
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Naw, friend. I am an amateur luthier and an amateur boatbuilder and an amateur welder. If all I needed was to be able to safely and efficiently handle just about anything on a tree job, I'd be trying to reach the pinnacle of some other art or science.
Having a bar to jump for is what keeps me hooked when I'm not in the tree. It's what makes me stop what I'm doing and sleep. It gets me out the door in the morning.
It's not about comparing myself to others, it's much more like there is proof that I could be stronger, smoother, and faster.

owScott said:
Part I don't get, now days people show up on the jobsite with 3 bags full of climbing gadgets to do the same thing, a dozen different ways but refuse to use a bigshot or like devise, why? This conversation is akin to discussing why not climb ddr on a tauntline hitch, in a weaver leather saddle wearing highliners. I take that last one back, highliners still rock.
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Honestly, because every throw is practice for an event in comp. Work will get done. I'm not in the tree in 10 minutes about one day a month, and usually that is because the ground needed help or I made a bad call when manipulating.
I'd rock a buttstrap saddle and tautline for fun some days.

The conifers on the west coast are very different from what I work. Even our pines have visible unions. I couldn't throw into a big fir or cedar. There's no way. I only recently learned this.
 
DSMc said:
If that is all true, I find it a sad thing. I have been climbing for over 50 years and still enjoy the simple beauty of what we do. I certainly am not the best or fastest, never was, and I could care less how I measure up to other climbers. What I do matters to me and that is enough.

Every day is different, every tree is different.
Click to expand...
Now this I endorse 100%. I love my job and could care less how it measures up to others. I am simple but efficient and safe. That is what is important to me. I like to expend the least amount of energy while I climb so I make a plan and roll. As for comps I like them but knew that as a man that started climbing at 40 I realistically can only do my best. I compete with myself trying to always improve my skill sets and learn the rules.
 
SomethingWitty said:
Work will get done. I'm not in the tree in 10 minutes about one day a month, and usually that is because the ground needed help or I made a bad call when manipulating.
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Are you saying that from the time you arrive with your gear to the time you are ascending the tree is usually less than a ten minute interval? Including throwing a throw ball up into the tree? If so, that level of efficiency is amazing to me. I am curious to know what your primary choice of ascender is. A Compact Adjustable Bulldog Bone would seem to be the fastest device to get onto a rope, but I'd like to know if it was something different. Thanks.

Tim
 
TimBr said:
Are you saying that from the time you arrive with your gear to the time you are ascending the tree is usually less than a ten minute interval? Including throwing a throw ball up into the tree? If so, that level of efficiency is amazing to me. I am curious to know what your primary choice of ascender is. A Compact Adjustable Bulldog Bone would seem to be the fastest device to get onto a rope, but I'd like to know if it was something different. Thanks.

Tim
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It almost always is. The crew walks the job, questions are answered, I grab my gear and set a line.
It may be a few days a month that it takes more, but it's still not often.
There's something like a minute of gearing up and about the same setting my system. I run a double handled ascender and foot ascender with a rope wrench and hitchclimber.
 
Setting lines for tree work in typical open yards/landscape is the easiest of the throwing tasks. Setting lines in the woods on rec or research climbs is usually more challenging. I don’t bother with hand throwing for big conifers, sling shot it is. For woods broadleaf trees I usually hand throw unless the obstructions in the under and overstory require a straight path and precise aim.

The downside for throwing devices is you’re likely to send the bag through a bunch of crown branches and/or other trees behind your target, many opportunities to get in trouble moving your bag back to where you want your rope path to be. With hand throwing you’re not usually getting that big over throw. Choose your poison ;-)
-AJ
 
moss said:
The downside for throwing devices is you’re likely to send the bag through a bunch of crown branches and/or other trees behind your target, many opportunities to get in trouble moving your bag back to where you want your rope path to be. With hand throwing you’re not usually getting that big over throw. Choose your poison ;-)
-AJ
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Like most things in life setting lines in tall conifers with a device takes lots of practice and trial and error. Knowing exactly how much PSI you need or how hard to pull on your sling shot so as to hit your target, but not have your bag go through the backside canopy and/or into nearby trees is essential. Doing so around here will quickly turn into a real pain in the ass. It is also very important to launch from as close to the tree as possible, using the steepest angle you can, but one that will still allow your bag to go up and over your target. A fine line that can be very hard to hit some times.
 
rico said:
Like most things in life setting lines in tall conifers with a device takes lots of practice and trial and error. Knowing exactly how much PSI you need or how hard to pull on your sling shot so as to hit your target, but not have your bag go through the backside canopy and/or into nearby trees is essential. Doing so around here will quickly turn into a real pain in the ass. It is also very important to launch from as close to the tree as possible, using the steepest angle you can, but one that will still allow your bag to go up and over your target. A fine line that can be very hard to hit some times.
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Sounds like a lot of practice bruv. I am sure there are many good tips to get a fast learning curve from a pro like you. Our trees have some things one needs to know also. Hand throwing works on these wide squat trees.
 
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I rarely pull out the APTA but there are rare instances where it saves time. I always have despised the Big shot and thus never got good with it. Hand throwing is where it is at. I'd rather be on a mid height shot 60-80' that I'm certain what I'm over than to shoot high and hope I'm over a solid TIP.
 
Two hands to about 90' is max for me, I think. There was a rec climb out in the woods one time where I might have exceeded that. Tied a couple of throw lines together to make it work and 30 or so throws later Shazam!
 
rico said:
Like most things in life setting lines in tall conifers with a device takes lots of practice and trial and error. Knowing exactly how much PSI you need or how hard to pull on your sling shot so as to hit your target, but not have your bag go through the backside canopy and/or into nearby trees is essential. Doing so around here will quickly turn into a real pain in the ass. It is also very important to launch from as close to the tree as possible, using the steepest angle you can, but one that will still allow your bag to go up and over your target. A fine line that can be very hard to hit some times.
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They look trouble for the throwline. East coast suburbs have nothing of the sort. Always wondered how you west coasters handled those tangled monsters.

There is something beautiful beyond elegance about a nice high hand throw on the first attempt. I understand exactly where Swing is coming from and agree 100% with all his sage advice.

My mentor used to stand in the front yard and throw over the house 80'+ into a backyard tree and then work the line in like a magician. NO CHANCE that would work on a tall west coast conifer. A lot of August's videos have wheat seems like REALLY low pull lines. It's about adapting to your conditions. If he needed high lines, He'd be setting them.

I was given an APTA 3 or 4 years ago and never used it once. Slingshot doesn't even come out that often these days. I used to be highly accurate to about 65' by hand. BUT IT TAKES PRACTICE. Go to the park and throw 30-50x/day a few days a week and you'll start to get muscle memory going.
 
Daniel said:
... I was given an APTA 3 or 4 years ago and never used it once. Slingshot doesn't even come out that often these days. I used to be highly accurate to about 65' by hand. BUT IT TAKES PRACTICE. Go to the park and throw 30-50x/day a few days a week and you'll start to get muscle memory going.
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So you have zero experience in using an APTA yet recommend instead to spend hours every week to gain a degree of its innate ability.

That certainly puts a different spin on "working smart".
 
I haven't used the Apta because the trees here are accessible with the slingshot. I do recognize it as a valuable tool, just from watching its capabilities on video. I believe the OP was asking about throwline technique for competition, for which there is no better method than practice. That is all I was saying, and how there is a certain beauty to hitting high crotches by hand on the first throw. Those that can do that understand.. others much prefer their aids.


For those interested in improving their hand-throwing skill: Tying a tail on the girth hitch loop helps to be able to break the knot, so that it's easy to take the bag off every time before the line gets pulled out, will save the practice tree from getting beat up and the ball from getting stuck.
 
I met an electric utility company pole setting crew out in the sticks on the La Jolla Indian Reservation, just below Mount Palomar, and their foreman showed me his naval line setting gun, and demonstrated how easily it could reach way out across a canyon.

It was a 45-70, like this.

www.rocknrescue.com

Naval Company Bridger Line Gun Kit - Fire Department Model w/Pelican Case - Rock N Rescue

Capable of throwing a line up to 850′ (259 M) or more depending on the cartridge and line used. This extremely accurate 45-70 caliber gun is used by the U. S. Military, U. S. Coast Guard and many leading fire departments. U.S. Coast Guard approved #160.031/6/3. Includes gun, lines, cartridges...
www.rocknrescue.com www.rocknrescue.com

Cool ole guy, with an interesting job.

Jemco
 
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