How to Make a Catapult Shoot Straight

How to Build a Small Catapult for Kids That Launches Golf Balls
Written By
Will Milner
Will Milner
Published: Aug 1, 2011
Updated: Jan 10, 2019
1 minute read

Trebuchet type catapults are never going to be the most accurate projectile weapons in the world but to be fair they were never really designed to be. The smallest target they would usually have to aim for was a castle. That being said there are certainly some things that you can do which will make the catapult more accurate and the shots more consistent.

Use consistent sizes, shapes and weights for ammunition. Perfectly spherical objects such as marbles create the most consistency when firing.

Get rid of any wobbles. Much of the inaccuracy is caused by the catapult wobbling as it releases. The catapult will wobble slightly different each time it is fired, so it will keep making shots land off target. Tighten any bolts and add extra bolts to improve the strength of joints. Add cross pieces to the frame to create triangles.

Tighten up the counter weight. If you have loose weights in a bag bind them together. Join the weights to the arm with a rigid rod with joints at each end rather than a rope or cable.

Lubricate the axle. This might require disassembing. Silicon lubricating spray is a pretty good, one-size-fits-all lubricant.

Make the base bigger and stand the catapult on a rubber sheet. This will dampen some of the vibration and keep the catapult more on target.

Use the smallest ring you can manage on the firing mechanism. This reduces the range of ways it can release a shot.

Things You'll Need:

Things You Will Need

  • Wood
  • Bolts
  • Silicone spray
  • Rubber sheet
  • Will Milner

    Will Milner started writing in 2005 for the University of Sheffield newspaper "Steel Press" and continues to write for the Sheffield-based magazine "Now Then." He gained a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy from the University of Sheffield.

    Sponsored
    Our Pastimes Logo

    A destination for the avid collector and weekend hobbyist alike, Our Pastimes features articles and tips about your favorite cards and games, hobbies and more.

    Property of TechnologyAdvice. © 2026 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

    Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.