The art of the throw ball

Not to derail, but kind of...

Isn't it funny how in the arbo-world a person who can nail a 70' crotch with consistency is considered a gifted, if not semi-divine individual? We value this skill. Those who can do it are admired.

But, when you're standing in a yard next to a busy street with your white helmet on, holding what looks like kite string with a bean bag tied to the end, swinging it back and forth between your legs with your neck arched back, and chunking it up into the air, you can't help but wonder what the rubberneckers in their cars are thinking.

My only advice to you (and to myself), Viking, is don't think about what the people in the cars are thinking. Screws me up everytime. Self-consciousness is no friend of the throw-baller.
 
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Keitht,

The basket throw is the old fashioned between the legs granny throw, like we used to do as kids with the basketball.

All great points BTW. consistency is the key as blinky said. It is nothing more than a shooting sport and all shooting sports require some fundamentals:
<ul type="square">[*] stance
[*]aim
[*]release
[*]calling the shot
[*]follow through
[/list]

Work on making those consistent shot to shot and your percentages will increase.

However, like with every shooting sport some days you are in the zone and other days you are not even in the same solar system.
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We have a 6 shot policy, if you ain't in in six, hand it over to someone else. More often than not they will get it in the first try. Dunno why that is but it works.

For practice use a short tree with tiny limbs and aim for particular crotches. We're talking something like a Jap lilac, crabapple and the sort. You won't have miles of line to flake and you can work on your aiming, timing and other stuff. Get that muscle memory into your body then practice on higher stuff.

A couple of priciples come into play here the most important of which are the mechanics are the same but the chance of success is greater. With more successes under your belt the more likely your mind will get into the zone with your other shots. it's just like teaching kids archery..get them on target as soon as possible even if it means putting it 10 feet away!

FWIW Seldom do I practice on anything higher than 30 feet.

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Oh man, this is all such GREAT advice!!!
I have a sliced index finger from throwing.... and missing. I am so stubborn that I just will not quit, even when it clearly is not working for me to hit a target.
I like the "walk away and get another perspective" advice.
I like the "practice on lower targets" advice.
and the visualization is key. AND repetition of the RIGHT way is your friend. "Don't practice to miss" awesome :)
Viking, thx for posting... I was incredibly frustrated w/ my newbie throwing skills not getting any better... but it sounds like this whole thing is a consistent skill set that develops and settles in over time.

I haven't needed to throw anything since I was the shortstop on the 6th grade softball team! So... gotta relax into it and find the zone I guess.

Thanks
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[ QUOTE ]
Not to derail, but kind of...

Isn't it funny how in the arbo-world a person who can nail a 70' crotch with consistency is considered a gifted, if not semi-divine individual? We value this skill. Those who can do it are admired.

But, when you're standing in a yard next to a busy street with your white helmet on, holding what looks like kite string with a bean bag tied to the end, swinging it back and forth between your legs with your neck arched back, and chunking it up into the air, you can't help but wonder what the rubberneckers in their cars are thinking.


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Good observation, reminds me of a time trying in vain to hit a particular anchor point in a Lemon Scented Gum. I'd hit a few OK forks, but it was crucial i got this one, so i'd pull it out &amp; try again. After a bout 5 shots the 70-80 yp homeowner came out and pretty well snatched the throwbag out of my hand and just pitched it randomly at the tree.

He had no idea why or what or i were trying to do!
 
haha that's hilarious! I love (but usually hate) how some people are so willing to help even when they have no idea what it is they're doing. They must think that they are better than you and whatever you're doing can't be THAT hard. Funny how some people live....

then again, we climb trees...
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I learned from putting fire axes actually polaskis into trees at sixty feet (high not distance) that standing backwards gave the most power. Might be worth a try for those, just put it over the top shots. Or I mean if I was able to stick axes in it could be the zen power throw. Use third eye grasshoppa.
 
Following through is a big thing I think.

Also, I saw over the back cradle shots were mentioned earlier(like a regular cradle shot, but with your back to the tree). Dad said he saw a lot of it out in CA and AZ when he lived out West and those that could do it were great at it. They had great accuracy he said and could hit targets upwards of 80ft depending on type of line, weight, person, etc. With practice I think this method has some real promise.
 
Once when I was unable to hit my target, the customer called the company I worked for and complained bitterly that he wasn't paying for some guy to play with some stringy thing in his yard. When middle management tried nailing me on it I made it worse when I said "does that sound like a familiar peice of equipment to you? Have you ever missed a shot or five? Then save it!" oops
 
Worked with a guy who was deadly accurate and threw lasso style...whirling it over his head, pre-release. It was ridiculous. I've tried it twice and ended up getting stuck in a tree about 30ft. to the right of the one I was aiming at. I throw one hand, but I hold the line doubled through the ring on the ball. Easier to hold that way with 1.75mm line. The bead idea sounds neat. I find it easier to hit most forks by standing further away, more so than directly underneath the tree (as someone already said).

The whole practice is a lot like golf. Some days you got it some days you don't and your best shots are when no one is watching/bugging you. There's nothing worse than the co-worker who sidles up in your peripheral when your having a bad go at it. My first few shots are usually my best. If I don't hit what I want I usually settle on advancing my tip manually.
 
I spent an hour getting a TIP the other day at my house in a pretty good size Maple. I was getting really mad because on the rare occasaion when I would hit my target crotch
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, I managed to pull my throwline out while trying to isolate it, I got it after a while. Then, when I pulled my line up and realized it was a 100' TIP, and I had to SRT because my 150' rope wouldn't reach DdRT, I was less angry because I realized "nice! I got my throwline right where I wanted it ALL the way at 100'!" That made things better, but it still took WAY too long.
 
Many times it is getting the highest TIP that is the greatest energy and time savings.
First throw of the day. Don't expect to much, and then be pleasanlty suprised at what happens.

One of those rules in life, that applies to throwing.
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Better to be pleasantly suprised than disappointed.
 
nothing wrong with spending an hour getting the right TIP in my opinion. Not so much in the opinion of some of the people Ive worked for.
 
What size of an air launcher would it take to get the 12oz ball to 100' accurately? How about actual golf balls anyone ever shoot those? Probably have to go to fishing line then throw line.
 
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