Guide
Slingshot or slingbow?
Same handle, same hammer grip. One head throws steel and clay. The other sends arrows. You can own both.
What is the difference between a slingshot and a slingbow? A slingshot shoots round ammo like steel or clay from a pouch. A slingbow shoots arrows, with an arrow rest on the head and a D-loop where the nock sits. On the Hammer, the XT slingshot head and the XT slingbow head fit the same handle.
What changes between the two?
The handle stays the same. The head and the bands change.
Slingshot mode
The XT slingshot head. Wide fork tips, flatbands or looped tubes on FlipClip X, over the top or through the forks. It shoots steel and clay ammo from a pouch.
Slingbow mode
The XT slingbow head. The same XT head with a circular brush arrow rest and its mounting hardware. It shoots arrows, drawn from a D-loop on heavy single tubes, looped tubes or flatbands.
The slingbow head converts to a slingshot head with two screws. Kits with two heads skip that step: you swap heads and keep each one banded for its job.
Who should start with which?
Start with the slingshot if you want backyard targets, cans and spinners, steel and clay, and the cheapest way onto the platform. Practice fits into a few spare minutes.
Start with the slingbow if arrows are the reason you are here. The arrow rest holds each arrow centered, the D-loop gives every shot the same starting point, and the slingbow tubes let you set your own draw weight by tube length. It is also the head for bowfishing.
Get both if you cannot decide. The Slingbow Heavy Duty Duo ships with one head banded for ammo and one set up for arrows. The Master Kit goes further, with both heads and both handles.
Whichever you start with, nothing is wasted. On the XT handle, adding the other mode later means adding a head, not buying a new slingshot.
“Super easy to use and pretty powerful for a sling bow.” Timothy M.
“I can’t believe how wonderful this slingshot is. Accurate, powerful, and versatility makes this my favorite slingshot I ever used.” Nolan G.
“I was unsure that a slingshot could shoot arrows accurately or with any power behind them. After shooting my Hammer for the past month I will say that I now stand corrected, The Hammer does both and it does both very well.” Mark L.
Which kit has which head?
| Kit | Slingshot head | Slingbow head | Tube bands for arrows |
|---|---|---|---|
| XT Slingshot Heavy Duty | Yes | No | No |
| XT Slingshot Lite | Yes | No | No |
| XT Slingbow Heavy Duty | No | Yes | Yes |
| XT Slingbow Heavy Duty Duo | Yes | Yes | Looped tubes |
| Master Kit | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Every kit also ships with flatband sets for 3/8 inch steel and clay ammo with samples, FlipClip X, a paracord lanyard and an 80 mm spinner target. So even the slingbow-only kit shoots ammo on day one.
Already own a slingshot kit? Add the XT Slingbow Head and slingbow tubes, which come fitted with a D-loop, and you have a slingbow on the XT handle you already know.
What does a slingbow need that a slingshot does not?
- An arrow rest. The circular brush rest on the slingbow head holds the arrow centered as it leaves.
- A D-loop. Where the arrow’s nock sits and a mechanical release clips in. The Hammer slingbow tubes come fitted with one.
- Tubes set to your draw weight. About 32 lb at full length, 36 lb at 6 inches and 44 lb at 5 inches, measured at a 28 inch draw.
- Arrows. Arrows are not part of the Hammer kits.
Shooting arrows from a slingshot walks through each piece.
“I have given this a couple weeks of shooting both slingshot and sling bow, and I could not be happier.” Jonathon E.
FAQ
Questions, answered.
Can a slingshot shoot arrows?
A slingshot set up as a slingbow can. On the Hammer that means the XT slingbow head, which carries a circular brush arrow rest, plus tubes and a D-loop.
Can I add a slingbow head to my Hammer slingshot later?
Yes. The XT Slingbow Head is sold on its own and goes on the XT handle of the XT Slingshot Heavy Duty. It also fits the LT handle in the Lite, but SimpleShot does not recommend that pairing.
Can the slingbow head still shoot ammo?
Yes. The slingbow head converts to a slingshot head with two screws, and it takes flatbands through FlipClip X.
Can I put the slingbow head on the LT handle?
It fits, but SimpleShot does not recommend it. The Hammer manual recommends the XT handle for heavier bands and for arrows, so run the slingbow head on the XT handle.
Is a slingbow hard for beginners?
SimpleShot pitches the XT Slingbow Heavy Duty at beginners and experts alike, and Timothy M. found it “very easy for beginners to get accurate shots fairly quickly.”
