REVIEW – The Pocket Shot Slingshot is an innovative, modern take on the classic slingshot design. With the addition of the Pocket Hammer handle and Arrow Cap, this reimagining of the classic Y-shaped slingshot, a circular design which replaces strong rubber bands with an elastic pouch, is incredibly effective and so much fun to use.
My attention here is on the Pocket Hammer Full Kit, which packs in the Pocket Hammer handle along with a wrist brace.
Inside the Pocket Hammer Full Kit you’ll find a standard Pocket Shot circular slingshot, a black Standard pouch, a blue Pro pouch, a Red Arrow pouch, the Arrow Cap, 100 5/16″ steel balls, four arrow nock caps, and the Pocket Hammer handle with its wrist brace.
Putting the Pocket Shot together couldn’t be easier. The circular rings and caps that come with it screw into each other, cradling whichever pouch you pick in the middle for a snug, secure hold.
The manufacturer says the Pocket Shot is made from a durable, high impact polycarbonate composite.
Once it’s assembled and you’ve got it held right, with your index finger and thumb wrapped around the circular notch of the Pocket Shot and your dominant hand drawing back the end of the pouch, the whole thing feels natural and easy to manage.
You can send all sorts of ammo flying with the Pocket Shot, from paintballs and marbles to smooth stones and even some airsoft pellets. The Pocket Hammer Kit supplies its own ammo too, in the shape of 100 5/16″ steel ball bearings.
Handiest of all, the Pocket Shot pouch doubles as a place to keep your ammo, along with your other pouches.
When it’s in use the Pocket Shot runs about five inches long, yet close it up and it folds down to a very pocketable 2.3 by 1.3 inches.
You get three latex pouches in different colors, Standard (black), Pro (blue) and Arrow (red), and each one delivers a different FPS rate when you shoot. Pair the Arrow pouch with the Arrow Cap and you can even launch full sized arrows and crossbow bolts.
For extra power and steadier shots, the kit throws in the Pocket Hammer handle and wrist brace. SimpleShot built the Hammer to give the Pocket Shot more of a classic slingshot feel while adding leverage and punch.
The Hammer’s grip has a honeycomb texture that made it easy to keep a firm hold, even with sweaty hands or in the wet.
Down at the base of the Pocket Hammer there’s a standard rail mount, so you can bolt on accessories like flashlights or lasers to make lining up targets simpler.
Up top, the Pocket Hammer carries a metal tension clip held on by two screws at the bottom of the handle. Slide that tension clip outward and you can break the Hammer down for storage or cleaning.
Once you extend it all the way and dial in the fit, the Hammer’s wrist brace holds the slingshot steady and lets you pull back farther, and that extra draw gives you higher FPS on your shots.
That wrist brace pops right off, so you can run the Hammer with it attached or leave it behind, whichever you prefer.
Swapping a pouch onto the Hammer is just as painless as changing them out on a regular Pocket Shot setup.
Once you’ve clipped the red Arrow pouch onto the Hammer, the next step is fitting the Arrow Cap so you can fire arrows from the Pocket Shot without any danger.
The Arrow Cap is basically a typical archery whisker biscuit that’s been reworked to sit on the Pocket Shot and Hammer. If you’re not familiar, a whisker biscuit is an arrow holder ringed with synthetic bristles that grip the shaft and keep it in place while letting the feathers or vanes slip through without a snag.
With the Arrow Cap locked onto the Pocket Hammer, you’re all set to send full-sized arrows and crossbow bolts flying from the Pocket Shot.
Here’s where it gets fun. Field testing the Pocket Hammer called for a real expert, someone with hundreds of hours behind all kinds of gear and weaponry. I wanted a bold, tough character whose judgment I could count on.
So obviously I brought in my top outdoorsman, my ten-year-old nephew, Enzo.
Enzo calls the wild Pacific Northwest home, living there with his mom and dad, his sister Carmela, and his loyal dog Ernie. He may be young, but he’s already a skilled archer and marksman, and he’s even dabbling in bladesmithing. Over the years he’s put everything through its paces, from Nerf guns to Daisy air rifles to high-powered drones and remote controlled cars.
Safety comes first for us, so Enzo’s dad supervised every bit of the testing up close, and everyone involved kept their safety glasses on.
First on the list was giving the Standard Pocket Shot a spin using the Pocket Hammer. For ammo we loaded up the steel ball bearings that come in the box.
Enzo was genuinely surprised at how simple the Pocket Shot and Hammer were to put together and fire. The wrist brace felt a little awkward for him to start, but he got used to it fast and was nailing one target after another without any trouble.
“I really liked that I could change the pouches myself and it was really fun and easy to aim and SO accurate!” Enzo said enthusiastically.
Having given the thumbs up to the Standard Pocket Shot and Hammer, Enzo couldn’t wait to dive into round two, testing the Pocket Hammer paired with the Arrow Cap and pouch.
We got the archery target set up and dug in. Our ammo was standard full sized arrows, plus the arrow nock caps that come included to make the arrows easier to hold inside the pouch. Pocket Shot sells their own arrows on their site too, and those are built specifically to work with the Pocket Shot and Hammer.
The Arrow set-up earned an equally glowing review. Enzo had no problem pulling a full draw and landing his shots time after time. He still adores his bow, but he couldn’t stop talking up how powerful, accurate, and portable the Pocket Shot Hammer turned out to be.
“I can pack the whole thing up and take it camping with us,” he said with a grin.
All told, the Pocket Shot Hammer Full Kit is a budget-friendly, sturdy, and capable tool for punching targets and hunting small game. For just $99 you get the whole kit plus the accessories, which beats buying each piece on its own. It would slot right into your hunting, bug-out, or camping gear. Enzo and I recommend it without hesitation.
Note: Some types of slingshots and wrist braces are illegal in certain areas. Check the legality of such devices in your area before purchasing,
Quick Questions
Q: What’s included in the Pocket Hammer Full Kit?
A: A standard Pocket Shot circular slingshot, a black Standard pouch, a blue Pro pouch, a red Arrow pouch, the Arrow Cap, 100 5/16″ steel balls, four arrow nock caps, and the Pocket Hammer handle with wrist brace.
Q: Can it shoot real arrows?
A: Yes. Pair the red Arrow pouch with the Arrow Cap (a modified whisker biscuit) and it can launch full-sized arrows and crossbow bolts.
Q: How small does it pack down?
A: To about 2.3 by 1.3 inches folded up, even though it runs about five inches long in use.
Q: Is it legal everywhere?
A: Not necessarily. Some types of slingshots and wrist braces are illegal in certain areas, so check local laws before buying.
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Pocket Shot. Please visit their website for more info.
