Atlatl Accuracy Tips

Just a few accuracy tips for those who are having a tough time learning to make and throw atlatl darts.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• Atlatl
• PaleoPlanet
• atlatl
• dart
• accuracy
• paleo
• planet

[auzio]

do you lax?

[Paleoaleo]

@auzio Yes... I was a lacrosse player....now I coach young kids (u-13). Throwing a ball with a lacrosse stick is a real lot like throwing a dart with an atlatl! I have a theory that the people who invented the game of lacrosse (the first nations folks in the North-Eastern North America) had adopted ancient atlatl technology! A lax stick and an atlatl are merely levers...

[XfStef]

this weapon looks like it's well suited for hunting...but I found some references to it as a warfare weapon, what is your opinion about that ? could it be efficiently used to penetrate some light armors or possible even wooden shields ? if yes, up to which distances could it work ?

[Paleoaleo]

I know some guys who regularly hunt deer and pigs with the atlatl. I never have myself. I think it would be an excellent weapon for warfare. Don't know about light armour though. I've seen film of tests with attempts to penetrate replicas of Spanish armor (as the Aztecs were reported to have done), but modern atlatlists were unable to penetrate the armor with stone points.

[jacksoncole79]

dont you need a bannnerstone on there?

[Paleoaleo]

Nope! but the first atlatl I'm using does have an atlatl weight on it (just to add some mass to the atlatl because I like one that matches the weigh of my darts - approximately anyway. Tom

[shortattentionspan1]

You sir are a great communicator ....... that was one of the best you tube videos ever ..... thank you.

[PrimitiveDude1]

Tom. Forget the acting classes. There are to many people in this world acting. Just be yourself and keep up the good work!

Thanks

[modernhmong1]

how long do your darts have to be?

[heidbrain]

how much penetration can i get on a deer if i were to use modern broadheads at a distance of 20 yards ? (if arrow broadheads can be used) ...never used an atlatl , so i'm wondering how effective it is for hunting.....

[TheBeastOfTheBible]

What do you think of alluminum arrow shafts stuck together for the dart?

[lyndon2472]

on the subject of atlatl dart V armour... modern arrows can penetrate bullet proof glass because of the stored up energy in the length of the shaft , these darts should have the same affect on balistic type armours designed to disperse a sudden impact not deflect it like the spanish armour (convex) ide be interested to see atlatl dart v kevlar.

[auzio]

@Paleoaleo Haha thats awesome! Seems like you would make a good coach. I just had a feeling you played lacrosse when you were describing how to throw while doing the motions. I have played myself as well (varsity through highschool). The videos you have here are great! keep it up!

[Lukos0036]

I don't know if it's the type of target I'm using, but I notice I get a lot of deflections, where the dart simply will not penetrate. It looks to me like you guys employ very little force in your technique, but even when I put substantial force behind mine, my cast just doesn't seem to have enough power behind it. It may be worth noting that I don't have much in the way of upper body strength and cant move more than 40 or 50 pounds very easily. I use Bob Berg's Wyalusing, and 6' target darts.

[megadeth22885]

i was thinking of petitioning my state to allow atlatls during bow season

[allaroundtown]

EXCELLENT INSTRUCTION. THANKS!