[Wiconsinconcepts]

How do you guys feel about shooting gloves and hand slap? Obviously nobody likes hand slap, but does anyone have a real issue with it? It doesn’t happen to me a lot, but when it does, it seems to be consistent. And it tends to happen right when I’m shooting well. Most times a little tweak of the wrist will be enough to change it. Sometimes not. It’s really gotten me frustrated a few times when I don’t want to stop shooting but a hundred slaps has my fingers hurting just below the nail... Anyway, any advice? Has anyone tried shooting gloves or maybe even prefers being gloved to not? I think I’m going to invest and experiment. I’d like to hear some opinions or experiences. This can’t just be me.

 

[SJAaz]

I think that the Chef and Toni share a pair of gloves and seem to do just fine. Are you sure that your bands and ammo are matched? That is when I have trouble.

 

[Blue Raja]

And I thought that suffering through hand slap was part of being "manly."

I always have a pair of leather gloves in my knock-about pack. Along with a saw (thank you Mako Pat!) and my zombie hatchet. I should try the glove when I shoot. I imagine that it would work well w. some of my hammer grips.

 

[Royleonard]

I've used a glove and keep one handy but prefer to have a naked shooting hand and match my band to ammo and watch my technique! But some days the glove goes on especially colder ones!

 

[Grandpa Grumpy]

Hand slap is caused by bands being to strong for the ammo. The unused energy makes the bands come back and hit your hand. Try using a lighter pouch so it doesn't hit your hand quite so hard. Or shoot through the fork instead of over the top. This sometimes helps. The best solution is heavier ammo or lighter bands.

 

[Wiconsinconcepts]

Maybe they aren't. I usually use .70 precise at a 3/4 to 1/2 inch taper. 10 and 1/2 inches long. 3/8 ammo. I'm drawing back in a float, just off to the side of my right ear. It works great 99% of the time. I shoot gangster. I've noticed it's usually when my top fork is tilted too far back. Like when my forks aren't parallel to the floor. But when I correct it... it always seems like I start shooting bad. Then I'll take some time off, and when I come back... good shooting and no hand slap. I guess my real issue may just be consistency. I thought maybe gloves could help my grip, so my sling doesn't twist as easy, and maybe dampen the hand slaps when and if they happen. I think I will also look into matching my band and ammo though. I appreciate the advice. I'm mostly self taught. Bought a slingshot, experimented. Just cut a band, tried different lengths and tapers until I found what felt good. I'll do some more investigating. Thanks.

 

[Wiconsinconcepts]

Heavier band. Lighter ammo. Noted.

 

[Wiconsinconcepts]

Thanks guys!

 

[Island made]

Heavier band. Lighter ammo. Noted.

Other way, lighter band, heavier ammo

 

[MikeyLikesIt]

I've tried gloves occasionally for colder weather. I agree bands have to match ammo, but I've also found that sometimes it's hard to find that exact sweet spot. If you're happy with your setup and don't want to change a thing, gloves might be just the ticket. Plus if you want to look stylish you can grab a golf glove or batting glove so people know you mean business when you slip it on and pull out a frame

 

[Wiconsinconcepts]

Lighter band heavier ammo.

Stupid fingers.
My brain had it right though.

I've been thinking about that, too much extra force in the bands causing hand slap, thing. I'm going to see if maybe, since I float, I'm pulling back too much sometimes. Inconsistent pull. Maybe that's what's making my sling twist as well.

Tis the season for practice and the pursuit of perfection.

 

[SJAaz]

"I thought maybe gloves could help my grip, so my sling doesn't twist as easy."

I"m not trying to hog the thread, just trying to help. I picked this out of your conversation. If your sling wants to twist, maybe you have mismatched bands. There should be even pull on both limbs.

Try this...Lay your fork down face first on something flat. Fold your pouch exactly in half (so the band holes line up)and slowly lift the pouch straight up over the center of the fork. Watch the fork tips, does one come off the deck before the other? Pick the rig up stretch the bands 4 or 5 times then do the same test again. Some of this band latex is bad for being uneven. Just trying to help..Stay with it you'll figure it out, and good luck.

 

[Samurai Samoht]

Good advice so far. You could also consider trying a TTF setup which naturally reduces or eliminates handslap.

 

[MakoPat]

Sometimes I wear only shooting gloves when I shoot...but the police this is "illegal". That I must wear pants in "public".

 

[Blue Raja]

Sometimes I wear only shooting gloves when I shoot...but the police this is "illegal". That I must wear pants in "public".

No shoes, no shirt, no slingshot!

 

[Wiconsinconcepts]

It's really no problem SJAaz. All of this is really helpful. I love shooting and I love improving. I'm a man of many short lived obsessions... until now. Slingshots is really one of the few things that hasn't gotten old for me. I very much believe it's because if one thing about it gets a little boring after time, there is something else that's still slingshot related that I can do. Making slingshots, making bands, making catch boxes and targets, tightening my spread... and then it usually goes around in a full circle. For me at least.

I'd be more into my guns if I could shoot them in my basement or fire off a few rounds in the yard without the entire police department showing up, the way I can with a slingshot.

But for right now, my obsession is getting my shot to its full potential. All the input has been great.

I'll never be above learning from anyone willing to share what they've learned.

 

[Wiconsinconcepts]

Sometimes I wear only shooting gloves when I shoot...but the police this is "illegal". That I must wear pants in "public".

I have a strict clothing rule when it comes shooting. I've had ricochet injury prevented by safety glasses. That makes wearing pants feel like it's a very important thing.

 

[Ibojoe]

It flat hurts when it’s cold. I’ve been wearing one finger of an old glove on my index finger. That’s the one that always gets hit from a bad release. Plus there’s always TTF?

 

[Wiconsinconcepts]

"I thought maybe gloves could help my grip, so my sling doesn't twist as easy."

I"m not trying to hog the thread, just trying to help. I picked this out of your conversation. If your sling wants to twist, maybe you have mismatched bands. There should be even pull on both limbs.
Try this...Lay your fork down face first on something flat. Fold your pouch exactly in half (so the band holes line up)and slowly lift the pouch straight up over the center of the fork. Watch the fork tips, does one come off the deck before the other? Pick the rig up stretch the bands 4 or 5 times then do the same test again. Some of this band latex is bad for being uneven. Just trying to help..Stay with it you'll figure it out, and good luck.

SJAaz... You nailed this one!
I thought about what you said, my mind was blown. I knew almost immediately that you had solved my problem. I get off work at 630am and was dying to run home and test this out.

I started this thread right after one of my hand slap ordeals, so I knew this was the time to check.

Uneven bands... I never thought... they we close but not. Tied unevenly at the pouch.

It explained everything. The fact that it wasn't happening all the time but was consistent once it started. It started after I changed bands!

I checked 20 band sets that I had premade. 3 were uneven. I make a lot at a time and was just being careless.

I tried the bad bands. That was absolutely it. Hand slap. Hand slap and I had to twist my forks to square up. When I squared up the hand slap went away but my accuracy was off.

I'm hyped right now. Wow!

Thanks for the help everyone. Thanks again SJAaz.

This forum is the best.

 

[SJAaz]

Gosh..blush..toe rubbing in dirt...twernt nuthing!