Throwline 101: Basic Technique | Arborist Essentials - Climbing and Rigging

[@Positrack]

I've worked as a faller for years, but I've just recently started getting into climbing. It's astounding how difficult this is to do reliably, and how bad I am at it. Definite respect to those guys who make it look easy.

[@cynvision]

I came by the throwline videos for advice as a beekeeper needing to throw lines over limbs to shake swarms down. My club president and I had a comical time in 2019 trying to throw tethered hive tools and a small rubber mallet up a tree. Going to invest in throw ball to help learn this skill and for setting bear bags while camping. Much safer!

[@robertwilmesherr7002]

Great advice, no one else has discussed this valuable tool. Thanks.

[@Gnarmarmilla]

Thanks, brother. It would have been nice to see you throw some bags, and to get a camera shot of them going over the limbs and what not. My step son and I found out the other day that a fella can run into some tricky situations with a throw line… For example we overshot our limb with our big shot, a limb which was about 60 feet up, and that would not have mattered if the line didn’t go over the branches that were beyond the limb we were trying to set our canopy anchor on. So we had to try again. Then the second time the line got caught on some twigs and thin branches. I was laughing because of how tricky it was. It was pretty fun just trying. Thank you for the videos. May God bless you evermore.

[@jordenhinrichsen9081]

Thank you for this. I really struggle with throwline and there’s some great nuggets.

[@airmojo]

I just learned about the throwline and throwball... I had a friend who is a professional tree cutter come to my house to get rid of a large tree branch that had broken off and got hung up on a lower branch when it fell... it wasn't a very large branch, but it was hanging right over my driveway for the past month, and it still had not fallen completely down. He had the branch down after a couple of tries, getting it free from the branch it was hung up on. I also had a large dead ash tree with a double trunk behind my garage that has woods all around it. He used a big shot slingshot to get a large rope up high on one of the double trunks using the throwball & line... we tied it back to another tree where it could fall without getting hung up on another tree... he cut a wedge out of the bottom of the tree, and had the tree down in about 20 minutes, including the time it too get the rope up and tied to the other tree. He gave me the throwline and throwball, and I used it to pull down some branches that had broken, and hanging down since a snow storm last winter (and too high up for me to completely remove them with my pole saw)... pulled one down in no time at all... glad to not have to look at it any more... I have several more broken branches around my wooded lot to work on later. Oh, and I did gladly pay him !

[@TrainsAndTrees]

Throwline is definitely my weakness. I’ve never been good at throwing anything. I sometimes spend 15-20 minutes trying to hit a decent crotch. Guess I should go out there and practice

[@cedricff602]

Same here lol

[@woodman9624]

Clear, clean and concise! Excellent video. Thanks.

[@harrygmarshall5157]

Good information , throughly enjoyed watching , will use your technique tomorrow to cable a leaner, thanks.

[@geloradananrlyeh8495]

I can't throw that well, so I used a drone to fly a pull line over a suitable limb. It works great if you have the clearance to fly through.

[@Gnarmarmilla]

You know, I tried that with my mavic Mini and the line weight was too much for the drone when it got about 20 feet up.

[@hitechfl]

Why didn't I think of that.. I feel like an idiot after what I went through a couple of weeks ago... Embarrassing it was.

[@geloradananrlyeh8495]

@@Gnarmarmilla I used the drone to carry a very light weight fishing line over the target limb, and then used the fishing line to pull a heavier cord across. It was slower that way, but it worked for me.

[@n1jdu]

You need the Part 107 to do this. It isn't recreational flying.

[@hitechfl]

@@n1jdu Can you please provide a source for this? I just read part 107 again.. perhaps I am overlooking something?

[@tarikzemalis9357]

Duse you made me feel so much better thank you

[@Disciple-of-Jesus-c1]

You should explain how you tie the rope to your line and also how you test a limb b4 u climb on it and maybe how to retrieve a throw line that is stuck 75 feet in the air

[@gustavogarcia1084]

idk if anyone else has done it before but i came up with an idea for that.. if i have a throw ball stuck in a crotch where it was too narrow to pass through or in bark, etc.. i usually use another throw line and i put it in a higher point then bring it down through the same path the stuck throwline is until its in the ground then i run the stuck throwline through the ring in the throwball thats at a higher point until its above the stuck throwball and pull and the stuck throwball just pops out of the crotch or wherever is stuck.. it works for me almost everytime because it has a better higher angle to pull from.. now if the throwline its wrapped around the limb several times i dont think theres a way to retrieve it from the ground..

[@cerberusbonsaiarboricultur774]

Great vid (as always!), thanks a lot I'm a new climber (got 1st rope maybe 8mo ago!) and suck at throwlines and this video was a total wake-up call to me, I've subconsciously 'decided' I could just spur (or ladder, or free climb..) my way to where I wanted and while that's worked so far for the solo gigs I've booked it certainly isn't going to work forever, am going to need to get good and kinda had this idea that it'd be realllly simple to learn once I actually tried so hearing that it can take years to really 'get your groove' has me realizing I need to begin a throwline-practice regimen **immediately**, thanks a ton man :D (also has me realizing I haven't listened to your newest podcasts it's been probably 2mo since I listened to one, gonna go copy some of those I just put the mp3 onto my phone to listen while working they're great I hope you keep doing them!!!)

[@TreeMuggs_PatrickM]

thanks man, yes indeed, throwline is a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma. Takes years to get good with it, and just when you think you are half decent, you end up getting two lines and 4 throwballs all tangled up and stuck in the top of a hickory... - Patrick

[@paulcarovinci6796]

The first throw bag I bought I got it stuck in the tree right away. So after that I found a tennis ball and put some sand in it and put a string in it. Taped it up. hooked to my throw line and up in the tree I went and got my bag. It has been over ten years and I still use the tennis ball over the bag. I also use the granny throw but I face my back to the tree when I throw. It works best for me.

[@robertbettis6552]

Good stuff! Sometimes i feel i was better at it when i first started

[@bobwiese6128]

A great start. TY Patrick!

[@GmGarlo]

what is the best amount of line do you put in the throw bag ?great info!!

[@ikkeyvtelegeche]

Thanks man. You're very good teacher !!

[@TreeMuggs_PatrickM]

Thanks man! - Patrick

[@johnhildebrand1991]

I just recently bought a throw bag and beanor and I keep it on my saddle it's a amazing tool to move rope around the canopy once ur working threw out the tree.ive been practicing with my throw ball but more than 40 feet and my accuracy is just not that great

[@timgarrison8097]

You say at the end of the day , the throw line go up , but saying that , Yeah at the end of the day , ( you know what I'm saying ) , you can use the throw line , saying that , if it's not the end of the day to do it in the morning hahah Love your educational tree climbing instruction Patrick ( saying that , you know what I mean ? haha ) Awesome Patrick. Thank you we appreciate it

[@PoplarMechanic]

Really good, The bigshot makes me lazy but I have been getting better. I also find the big shot handy for really shitty angles. I will practice 👊

[@PA4KEV]

Thank you, this video was very helpful for me to get an antenna up in a tree. Thanks!

[@dougshaffer5524]

Great Video. Have you ever tried using a 3 - 4 ft board, with a notch at the top, as a launcher?

[@TimberTrainer]

Once you're comfortable with your throwing technique, practice different ways of manipulating the throw weight in the tree. Some trees require you to get over several limbs to be safe, and others require isolating your tie in point for your climbing technique.

[@aaronedwards4603]

Brilliant video as always. Im always learning from you.

[@TreeMuggs_PatrickM]

Glad to hear it, thank you! - Patrick

[@psullivan40]

As a cheap weekend warrior tree faller wannabe, I repurpose 8 oz water bottles with small playground stone. It works great and costs nothing, well, except the paracord. I used to fill with water but that only worked at lower heights. Of course, this isn't, necessarily, for climbing. I'm doing it to set a pull line or rope saw. Someday I'll get up there.

[@psullivan40]

Ok Patrick, I finally ponied up and got a real throw line, bag and two throw bags (10 and 12 oz). I'm sure this won't come as a surprise, WHAT A DIFFERENCE!!!! I'm setting lines where I want in one or two throws. This is awesome!!!

[@WhatsUpWithSix]

Any suggestions on the best line to use?

[@KennysTreeRemoval]

Good stuff brother. I started by hand, then bought the big shot from sherrill and now i just recently purchased the APTA from treestuff. The each a place and time to be used.

[@TreeMuggs_PatrickM]

Nice, how is the APTA working out for you? - Patrick

[@danielwharrier2408]

for the one handed throw i always keep my feet together and point my feet towards the crotch im aiming for.aso i keep my knees slighty bent to give myself a little spring i think double bagging and techniques on how to isolate a crotch would be good for people to see in a video and how to get it unstuck good videos as always

[@TreeMuggs_PatrickM]

I like that idea, feet together... - Patrick

[@brettblack7049]

I've never understood the goofy level swing for either "granny style" or one handed, then using a standard pendulum on the toss. Personally I just get the line as long as needed(changes depending on how high the target limb/crotch is and how far I am from the base of the tree) in a single hand style, standard pendulum swing until my swing is inline with the target, fire. If I can't get it on the first few tries it's time to grab the big shot. Any thoughts or advice appreciated :).

[@TreeMuggs_PatrickM]

Sometimes I'm just goofy.... - Patrick

[@brettblack7049]

@@TreeMuggs_PatrickM aren't we all. I just see it on many videos and I haven't figured out the benifits.

[@ridermak4111]

Brett Black Watching this and other videos with that swing gave me a weird idea. What if you could swing a radius that was 18” longer? Sounds to me like a lot higher bag speed. I have a folds-flat plastic step stool rated for 300 lb. Amazon $25. Straddling two could get ya the granny swing too. If I was a tree guy I would have already tried it.

[@luig624]

I am not a climber, I am a grounder (can't fall out of tree I haven't climbed), but I still learn a ton from you videos. Do you have any recommendations for setting throwlines in big bushy conifers (firs and cedars, etc.)? I use a maasdam rope puller, but I have so much trouble getting the load line around the main stem with all those branches. A vid about how to pull big bushy conifers without climbing would be great for us grounders. In your video "Side Cuts" you felled a white pine at around 3:14, it looked like you had a rope in that tree with a helper pulling on the other end of that rope. Do you think you could expand on that footage or direct us to that footage if it is elsewhere in you library?

[@jolkraeremeark6949]

Looking for a decent throwball, i've gone through 2 in a short amount of time. They were from a home improvement store and are not fond of hitting sidewalks and rooftops. Any help is appreciated - thanks!

[@jimwittneben7719]

Ya, I (actually wife) made a home made one - filled with nuts (16 oz. of metal nuts like nuts and bolts) - it split open after about 100 throws - I just duct taped it and have had another 100 throws since.

[@jolkraeremeark6949]

@@woody0116 yup, very familiar with treestuff.com, but is one better than the other?

[@jolkraeremeark6949]

@@jimwittneben7719 hey, Jim, what did you use to encase the nuts boldts?

[@RAILKING25]

This is interesting.. wonder if you could string wrap finish one like a rope end to add a bit of longevity?

[@jimwittneben7719]

thin leather - I asked my wife to leave the nuts in the thick plastic bag that I put them in (from Farm and Fleet), but she forgot. I now have about 250 throws since duct tape - sorry for taking so long to respond. @@jolkraeremeark6949

[@tomerberger4775]

in granny style you need to take a bite to both sides so you got two on the left and three on the other side. that will give you more length of throwline to release quickly , tnx for all the tips

[@n1jdu]

Kudos for the great audio.

[@steven361984]

Thank you very much for the videos I really appreciate them!! what kind of mechanical ascenders are you using and any thoughts on the spiderjack3??

[@TreeMuggs_PatrickM]

I climb on the Rope Runner as my main system, never used a SJ3... - Patrick

[@frankwc0o]

Which line do you like best to use?

[@bwrightaway2877]

I wonder how many ounces the crescent wrench on the end of my masonry string weighs 🤔

[@AngelGomez-xy4yj]

Thank you.....

[@davetoth9767]

Thanks so much

[@relentlessbear684]

Keep making the vids man maybe do a double flip line video is it just easy to learn off you

[@acpeek]

If you don't mind me asking... is there anything you'd change about your throw weight or throw cube to make it better?

[@PrimalRenegade17]

I know this is an old video, but what is the max height you can get with a manual throw? I need to get a line over a 30-40 m tree so not sure if I need a gadget like a big shot or not.

[@TreeMuggs_PatrickM]

80-90 ft is my absolute max and that's pushing it

[@tycox8704]

I’d like to know how high an average thrower can reach, and if one style achieves higher throws.

[@threete]

Do you actually wrap rope around your finger? I'm afraid that in a strong throw rope will snag around the finger and strip it clean.

[@kkutube1972]

The 2 hand works for me but I forgot how so I did the one hand and that work today but can not get to the branch. Will try the 2 hands.

[@kkutube1972]

Yep, just got back, got to height I want. Thanks.

[@gregbrown9271]

👍if your good at baseball and horse shoes you be good at it 😉👍

[@bjimbosld]

How much different is it using throw line verses mason line? I’m a bricklayer so when I need to get up in the tree I use my throw ball with mason line because I already own it. I’ve always wondered if there’s a benefit and getting through line or how much different it is.

[@kennethsizer6217]

I used mason line my first couple of months, then tried "real" polypropylene throw line. Where I am (lots of pines and oaks, both with very rough bark) the friction difference was night and day. Poly slides over limbs like a big fishing line. Might be less important if you're working with smooth-barked trees with wide crotches -- but still worth it.

[@darrengarlough5121]

so how high can a guy throw compared to a big shot or air cannon? I'm getting into SRT and never done neither?

[@keithmoseley6773]

I like to use the granny method but i just put the whole throw line in one hand on the side when I throw it I like it better then just use a slip knot to hold onto cause I have the whole throw line in my hand you should try it I send you a video if you want just hit me up

[@liminal27]

Between the legs granny method exactly as he demonstrates here works the best for me - why I have no idea.

[@nicksheen7619]

Use a drone?

[@arboristBlairGlenn]

Granny style? That is not a term I have heard before. Years ago, throw balls were rubber and about the size of a baseball. I like the bags much better. Two cameras looks good.

[@tomasandersen367]

Thanx a lot. It is a good video :-)

[@TreeMuggs_PatrickM]

Thank you! - Patrick

[@mvblitzyo]

Chuck it like a grenade 😳🤣😂 really enjoying your podcast and videos. i say get together with some fellow arborist, in your area and practice, if they’re not in your area find some that will be willing to meet you. I called him play dates just like the younger generation is so busy with life that they schedule time for the children to get together. On different occasions I’ve had fellow arborist. Drive almost 500 miles to hang out with me, for the day. so we can go over gear and techniques. Since then he’s taken all the tips and made his own techniques to better himself as a climbing arborist and enhance his income because now he can do more in the tree industry. Just my opinion of conversation. Joe 10168AT

[@Bluecollar711]

What I have now Incorporated with my devices it's taking off faster than I thought it was going to. I would like to know if you are interested in a possible employment conversation?

[@11ccom]

ok

[@DannerPlace]

You should have started by throwing the weight with each technique at least one time, and then started talking... Got all the way to the end of video, and still can't visualize how the weight is thrown, or aimed.

[@dirk_krueger_]

😎👍

[@almogaberc4t862]

😁👍

[@ridermak4111]

Oh come on ya buzzkill. There is NOTHING cooler than a bazooka !!

[@robertocrescenzio1694]

Ma quanto parli? Lanciala sta corda.😊