The Ultimate Guide to Catapult Aiming, Styles, and Ammo
What separates a beginner from a pro, and how do I quickly get better?
The absolute biggest difference between a casual shooter and a professional competitor is radical consistency.
Beginners often change something every week—swapping frames, trying different latex thicknesses, or jumping between different ammo sizes. The pros don't do that. To quickly improve your accuracy, you need to eliminate every single variable. Pros stick to the exact same frame, fork width, latex brand, thickness, taper ratio, active band length, ammunition size, facial anchor point, and release technique.
Locking down your setup might not feel as "fun" as constantly trying out new gear, but it builds the precise muscle memory required for laser-like accuracy. If precision target shooting is your focus, pick one reliable setup and stick to it.
What is the difference between OTT and TTF?
The choice between OTT (Over The Top) and TTF (Through The Forks) comes down to how the bands are attached to your catapult frame and how they travel when you release the pouch.
OTT (Over The Top): The bands are secured to the front or top of the forks and snap directly over the top of the frame when fired. This style is highly popular, very forgiving for beginners, and reduces the risk of accidental frame hits.
TTF (Through The Forks): The bands are attached to the sides of the forks, and the pouch and ammo travel directly through the center gap between the forks. This style is typically shot gangster style (holding the frame horizontally).
How do I use the forks as an aiming reference point?
Your reference point and aiming picture change completely depending on your setup:
With a TTF setup (shot gangster style), most people aim off the top fork center. Premium frames usually feature a dimple on the tip to mark exactly where that center point lives. Shooters using TTF typically employ a hold-under aiming style.
With an OTT setup, the sight picture is different, and shooters typically employ a hold-over aiming style to lock onto the target.
How do I choose the right frame width for my shooting style?
Frame width is closely tied to your facial anchor point. While these are rough guides (as we are all built differently), matching the frame width to where you draw back to ensures your aiming alignment stays consistent:
100mm Wide Frame: Typically best if you anchor and aim off the corner of the mouth.
90mm Wide Frame: Typically used by shooters who anchor under the cheekbone.
85mm Wide Frame: Typically used by shooters who anchor right on the cheekbone.
The general rule: The higher up your face you anchor, the narrower the frame needs to be to keep your line of sight aligned correctly with the fork tip.
Can you give me a quick tutorial on how to aim an OTT setup?
Getting your first consistent hits with an OTT (Over The Top) setup comes down to a simple, repeatable routine. Here is how to get dialed in:
Check Your Frame & Anchor: Look at your frame width and pick your rough facial anchor point based on our guide above (e.g., corner of the mouth or cheekbone).
Align with Your Dominant Eye: Bring your pouch to that anchor point right under the line of your stronger (dominant) eye. Hold the pouch with your writing hand.
The Frame Grip: Hold the frame gangster style (horizontally) so the forks are pointing parallel to the ground, not vertical.
Sight the Target: Stand around 10 to 15 meters away from your target. Using your anchor point, place the top corner of the frame directly on your target.
Track Your Shots: Take a few shots. After a short bit, you should start to see exactly where you are roughly hitting so you can adjust your hold-over.
For best practice, shoot at a piece of A4 paper. Always use a backstop—hang a light material, like an old T-shirt, directly behind the paper to safely stop the ammo. Do not use a material that is too thick, or the ammo will bounce straight back at you.
How do I get more speed or a flatter, more level flight?
If you want to prioritise a flat, level flight, pick 7mm steel ammo. You cannot keep a ball going level forever, so you always have to take your distance into account.
The biggest mistake shooters make to get more speed is pulling heavier bands, but more power will just make your release messy and ruin your accuracy. Instead of fighting heavy bands, stay accurate by shooting lighter, premium bands that are perfectly matched to the smaller, lighter ammo size.
What is the best choice for ammunition?
Steel (The Professional Choice): Steel ball bearings are the absolute standard for competitive target shooting. They are perfectly spherical, uniform in weight, and aerodynamic, giving you maximum consistency and laser-like accuracy.
Clay (The Modern Second Choice): Clay has comfortably become the second most popular choice for practice. It is biodegradable, highly affordable, and breaks apart on impact, making it great for casual garden practice without ricochets.
Lead (Losing Popularity): While lead used to be popular for its heavy weight, it is rapidly losing popularity across the community. Shooters are actively moving away from it due to environmental issues and the dangers of lead contaminating water courses and the soil.
