After years of experience using atlatls for hunting, we set about the task of designing an atlatl that is both very functional and at the same time very beautiful. We have paid close attention to dart placement relative to the handgrip so that the atlatlist would have maximum power without losing control We have chosen the hammer grip design over the paddle grip basically because the human hand transfers power more effectively with the hammer grip. (Try to pound a nail with a paddle grip hammer.)

We have the dart up and away from the atlatl shaft to keep the fletching from conflicting with the shaft. This allows the dart to be placed on the atlatl in exactly the right rotation, which is important for consistent shots. The forward risers allow the atlatlist to hold the loaded dart with the non-dominant hand while waiting for game. Holding the dart in place with the dominant hand over long periods of time caused the hand to “freeze” causing a poor release. The rear riser is designed with a loading channel to make it easier to get another dart loaded quickly and efficiently in spite of movement or excitement.

We adjusted the flex of the atlatl shaft to be moderate so that the atlatlist doesn’t lose any control without taking away the smoothness of the shot. Each atlatl is tested as it’s being built so that the head of the atlatl remains aligned with the shaft during flexing. Atlatls that tend to favor one side or the other when shot are difficult to control.

Bob Berg was a pioneer in the resurgence of atlatl hunting in North America in the 1990s helped by a group of atlatl hunting researchers that included the late Wendell Adams, the late Lou Becker and other well-known atlatlists.

Wendell Adams and Bob Berg experimented with the use of tapered wooden shafts fifteen years ago.