I made a tennis ball launcher a few years back and I am now attempting to apply the same theory but in different practice; I want more velocity. I'm planning to have a golf ball sit fairly snug in a PVC pipe (although able to roll down the pipe at this point), and using toilet paper or something similar, wrap the golf ball in it to create a temporary seal.

My old tennis ball launcher's seal worked because the ball was forced down the tube by ignition of aerosol, and because tennis balls are made of rubber, it would squeeze its way through. Obviously I can't do the same here because the golf ball isn't made of the same stuff. Basically, will the toilet paper make as an effective seal to propel it the same way my old tennis ball launcher would have? Or are there other, better ways?

Potato gun with a certain size barrel, i can't quite recall but it was a weird size. and a golf ball fit perfectly.

PN 12 40mm PVC pipes should fit goflballs nicely.

If that PVC fits nicely, I'd recommend dipping the golf ball in water before you launch. If the pipe is tight, the surface tension in the water should make a nice seal by trapping it in between the ball and the wall of the pipe. The water would also act as a lubricant and make a cool burst effect as the ball leaves.

If you can't find the right size pipe, use TP but wet it to make it nice and airtight. Also, file down the inside edge of the end of the barrel to form a slight funnel shape so the TP will slide in easier and have a tighter fit.

i have a breech loading spud gun that fires rigid spheres by coating a very small amount of rubber on the inside. its enough to stop the ball from falling out, but the ball would be large enough to capture most of the pressure

edit: actually, scrap that idea. i just read that yours is a combustion type. rubber would melt

With mine we would put a spray can cap that fit pretty well down the pipe and then put the ball in and then put a lightly crumpled ball of newspaper just big enough to keep the ball from rolling out. The cap was usable for multiple rounds and would only go about 10 yards, but the ball would fucking fly.

Have yet to assemble the whole thing; but the ball fits fucking beautifully in 40mm diameter PVC pipe.

If that PVC fits nicely, I'd recommend dipping the golf ball in water before you launch. If the pipe is tight, the surface tension in the water should make a nice seal by trapping it in between the ball and the wall of the pipe. The water would also act as a lubricant and make a cool burst effect as the ball leaves.




Even better: Vaseline.


Even better-er: Lit Napalm.

Even better: Vaseline.


Even better-er: Lit Napalm.

Rig up a pilot light for ignition and take long exposure pics of launches at night!

Rig up a pilot light for ignition and take long exposure pics of launches at night!



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