How to throw with a Basketmaker atlatl

Justin Garnett (BasketmakerII on RUclips) and I demonstrate how to throw with Basketmaker atlatls from the Southwest. The same general principles apply to throwing with all atlatls. Maintain a light grip on the dart so it leaves your hand as soon as you start to throw, and it will exhibit straight flight in the direction you have it pointed. This comes from many years of teaching students to use atlatls. Poor dart flight is usually the result of improper spine, or gripping the dart too much so that it does not release properly. The latter is the most common problem students experience.
For more information visit Basketmakeratlatl.com

[@larrycrane9504]

your the only other person i ever seen toss like that. the other being me. lol i came up with the same idea way back looking at basketweaver type atlatls and how the finger loops were on them. directly across from one another.most others use a thumb and first finger way of tossing. but the loops would have to be offset to one another for that to fit a hand correctly.

[@jacoblee5546]

Hey man, I've made a basketmaker Atlatl and dowel darts with success in penetrating the target a few times maybe 4/10 shots penetrated the target while the rest just bounces off with no energy in the dart.
Would you have any troubleshooting info for what I might be doing wrong? I know the gear isn't the problem as I've impaled the target all the way through but only once, I've never been able to replicate the shot.

[@dcstolteadventures]

Another good video by AR atlatl. Why do you place the spur so far from the end of the stick?