Everyone looks at me like I've grown another head when I mention this, but it bears some thought. The most glaring advantage my buds and I have found is the significantly low velocity and almost total lack of noise makes it possible to have a one on one in someone's backyard in the suburbs. (Well, this was kinduva special case, this guy had a huge backyard with a large fence around it, but we still couldn't use markers out there without calling the fuzz down on us). We've used them for scenario "Robin Hood" style games, I've even carried one in my back pocket to pick up old, unbroken paintballs and let fly with them. Not very accurate, but possible.
With new paint and some practice, a slingshot can be a very useful close range silent ambush weapon since it lacks the distinctive pop of a gas powered marker. And for $7 at your local "Mart", you've got a Marksman brand wristwrocket that will, in the least, give you a new experience. Its also useful as the aforementioned way of disposing with all those unbroken balls on the ground that no sane person would dare feed into their marker, just get in close, free elimination.
The key to success with a slingshot is the same as with a bow, consistancy. Pull the sling back to the same anchor point each time and you will develope a rough idea of where the ball will go each time. Some people, [myself included], prefer to hold the wristrocket at a 90* angle. This allows you to line the bands of the sling up with the tongs as a sort of sight. You have to work on your consistant anchor point, as always. With your bands, tongs, and thumb aligned vertically, you have an excellent point of reference for left to right aiming. Be sure you don't torque [rotate], your drawing wrist, [the wrist you pull back with], else the ball will wind up corckscrewing through the air, killing any chance of accuracy. Again, this takes practice.
Another point to address is the pocket, the little leather thing in which you load your ammo. Be sure to load the balls in the same spot in the pocket each time, and line the ends of the pocket up with each other. Grasp the ball itself when you pull, [don't worry, it takes a relatively large amount of force to break the ball in your hand].
Although it can be done, I wouldn't recommend going up against markers with a slingshot. I do however, carry a slingshot with my marker on a regular basis. You will have to try it and see how well it fits into your tactics. It requires more skill developement than other forms of play, so it can eat up some empty spare time, and save you from sitting around doing nothing.
At $7, you have nothing to lose, so try it at least once, you may discover another facet to paintball you never knew existed. |
