Guide
How to shoot a slingshot.
A big target, a short distance and a steady draw, and the first shots land. Here is the whole first session, start to finish.
How do you shoot a slingshot? Stand side-on to a big target 7 to 10 feet away with a backstop behind it. Hold the handle like a hammer, pinch the ammo in the pouch, draw to the same spot on your face every time, look at the spot you want to hit and open your fingers.
Where should I set up?
Pick a spot with clear space in front of you and a solid backstop behind the target. A backstop is anything that reliably stops ammo: a hanging blanket, a stack of straw bales or a dedicated slingshot target box. Make sure no people or pets can step into the line of fire, and look at what sits behind the backstop too.
Before you load anything:
- Put on safety glasses. Every session, and for anyone standing near you.
- Look over the bands. Run your fingers along them and check where they attach. A nick, a crack or a stretched-out spot means a new band, because a band that fails can snap back toward you.
- Pick one ammo. Steel or clay, matched to the bandset on the slingshot. Every Hammer kit ships with a bandset for 3/8 inch steel and one for clay, with a sample of each. Rocks and marbles are not ammo.
The safety and backstops guide has the full checklist.
How do I hold and draw a Hammer?
- Stand. Face the target with your feet about shoulder width apart, then turn a little so your shooting side leads. Knees soft, weight even on both feet.
- Grip. One hand holds the handle and the other draws the pouch. Hold the Hammer the way you hold a hammer, with the head in line with your forearm. On a braced XT handle, strap the brace snug to your forearm.
- Load. Pinch the ammo in the pouch between your thumb and index finger.
- Draw. Reach the handle arm toward the target and pull the pouch straight back.
- Anchor. Bring the pouch hand to the same spot on your face every time. The corner of the mouth and the cheekbone are common choices. That spot is your anchor point.
- Aim. Look at the exact spot you want to hit, not at the slingshot, with both eyes open. Hold the draw steady.
- Release. Open your fingers and let the pouch go. Keep the handle arm up and still until the ammo lands.
The anchor does most of the work. When the pouch hand lands in the same place on every draw, your shots start landing in the same place too.
What should my first target be?
Set a big target 7 to 10 feet away. A cardboard box face works, and so does a paper plate pinned to a straw bale. At that size and distance the first shots land on it. Shoot five, enjoy the hits, then shoot five more.
Then the fun part: moving back. Take a pace back and the same shot gets a little longer. Mix these in any order:
- A big target close up, with the backstop behind it.
- A pace back, then another pace back.
- A smaller target from the same spot: a plate, a lid or a clay disc.
- A row of cans to knock down.
- The 80 mm spinner target that ships in every Hammer kit. It is a hit-or-miss target, so every shot is a clear yes or no.
“I was hitting targets on day one. What a blast!” Andy G.
“Bullseyes strikes started on second shot.” E M.
“…after 5 shots I was hitting everything so I am delighted I bought it” Thomas S.
Why are my shots wandering?
Most misses early on come from a change you did not notice. Check these first:
- The anchor moved. Pick one spot on your face and touch it on every draw.
- The handle arm dropped. Keep it up and still until the ammo lands, not just until the pouch leaves your fingers.
- The ammo changed. Steel and clay fly differently. Stay with one for the whole session.
- The pouch stings your hand. That is hand slap, and it means the bands and ammo are not matched. Use the bandset made for the ammo you are shooting.
Which Hammer should I start with?
The XT Slingshot Heavy Duty and the XT Slingshot Lite both put you on the full Hammer platform at the same price. The Heavy Duty has the XT handle with the wrist brace and is set up for heavy bands. The Lite has the slim, brace-free LT handle. Compare the kits to see what ships in each box, and if arrows are on your list for later, read slingshot or slingbow.
FAQ
Questions, answered.
What ammo should a beginner use?
Steel or clay, and one kind for the whole session. Every Hammer kit comes with a bandset matched to 3/8 inch steel and one matched to clay, with a sample of each. Never shoot rocks or marbles.
How far away should I stand for my first shots?
Start 7 to 10 feet from a big target. At that distance the first shots land, and you can step back a pace at a time from there.
Do I need the wrist brace to learn?
No. The brace supports your arm and helps most with heavy bands. The brace-free LT handle in the XT Slingshot Lite is a full Hammer too.
Should I aim with one eye or two?
Keep both eyes open and look at the spot you want to hit, not at the slingshot.
Where can I shoot?
Anywhere you have room, a safe backstop and permission, such as your own yard, a range or private land. Slingshot rules differ from place to place, so check your local rules first.
