Sunday, September 27, 2009

Shooting a rubber band like your life depended on it

So few people know how to truly shoot a rubber band. Most simply place one end on an index finger and pull back, then let loose. What results is a projectile that, with little effort, flies at less than one half the speed it could, with little accuracy. Here is the key... follow closely.
I presume you have attained a decent size gum band, approximately 4 inches in diameter. If not, the following method will still work. We'll assume you pull back with your right hand here... With your palm facing upwards, place the rubber band around all of your fingers and thumb on your right hand. Extend all fingers including your thumb to put tension on the rubber band. This should create the largest gaps between your pinky and your thumb, and your index finger and your thumb. Take your left index finger and place it under and on the inside of the rubber band between your thumb and pinky finger. At this point, push your left index finger forward until the rubber band cannot stretch any further. Allow the rubber band to slide off of your other fingers so that the rubber band extends from your left index finger to your right thumb. You should notice that the left side of the rubber band remains extremely taught, while the right side of the rubber band remains extremely loose. This is EXACTLY what you want. In this situation, you should take aim with your left hand in front and right hand in the rear, just like you would if you were firing the rubber band in any other instance. Firing the rubber band should require nothing more than dropping your right thumb. The tension in the left side will propel the rubber band at a higher velocity than if you simply pulled it back and shot it. The rotation that results from the tension in the left and the lack of tension in the right should allow the rubber band not only a higher velocity but a much higher accuracy. Keep in mind... the setup is the key. With a little practice, you should be able to shoot a rubber band at a high rate with an increase in velocity and accuracy with little time lost. Practice is the key.
Once again... Rubber band around fingers on right hand, palm up. Extend fingers. Use left index finger to stretch rubber band between right pinky and thumb. Allow rubber band to slide off fingers on right hand, aside from the right thumb. Release!
I've stuck many rubber bands in ceiling AC diffusers and ceiling tiles themselves with this method. People will be amazed with how 'hard' you can shoot rubber bands!

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