How to Make a Tennis Ball Mortar Launcher

A tennis ball can become a pretend “mortar” when shot from a tennis ball mortar launcher.

Playing soldier or participating in a pretend “war game” requires weapons that can simulate the real hardware used in a battle. You can make a tennis ball mortar launcher that will propel the “mortar” at your enemies. You will need a few supplies from a hardware store and some regular household tools. Adult supervision is necessary if the person making the tennis ball mortar launcher is underage, since cutting tools are required for this project.

Things You'll Need

• Newspaper 8- by 10-inch corrugated cardboard Tennis ball Stapler Staples 1/2-inch-diameter rubber bands, 10 inches long Duct tape Ruler Pencil Wooden ruler, 1 foot long Utility knife Rough sandpaper White glue

Instructions

1. Place a sheet of newspaper on a table. Place the corrugated cardboard on the table with the 8-inch side facing you.

2. Roll the bottom of the corrugated cardboard over to the top to form a tube. Place a tennis ball into the open left end of the cardboard tube you have made.

3. Staple the top and bottom sides and the middle of the corrugated cardboard to hold the tube together. Remove the tennis ball from the end of the cardboard tube you have made.

4. Tape one end of a rubber band to the side of the cardboard tube an inch from the right end with a strip of duct tape.

5. Stretch the rubber band across the end of the cardboard tube onto the other side. Tape the rubber band to the other side with a strip of duct tape. Repeat this procedure with an additional three rubber bands.

6. Measure the length of the cardboard tube. Make a mark at the halfway point with the pencil. Measure 3 inches from the pencil mark toward the end of the cardboard tube that has the rubber bands going across it. Make a mark with the pencil.

7. Sharpen one end of the wooden ruler into a point with the blade of the utility knife. Sand the sharpened end with the sandpaper.

8. Cut a hole in the cardboard tube at the pencil mark with the blade of the utility knife. Apply white glue around the hole. Place the unsharpened end of the ruler into the hole. Let the white glue set for three hours.

9. Go outside in your backyard. Stick the sharpened end of the ruler into the ground. Aim your tennis ball mortar launcher at a tree or rock.

10. Drop a tennis ball into the open mouth of your tennis ball mortar launcher. Grab the tennis ball and the rubber bands at the bottom of the cardboard tube. Pull back on the tennis ball and rubber bands.

11. Release the tennis ball and rubber bands to fire the tennis ball from your tennis ball mortar launcher at the tree or rock.

Tips & Warnings

• You can also launch ping pong balls and even water balloons from your tennis ball mortar launcher.

• Do not shoot your tennis ball mortar launcher in a crowd or anyplace where people could be hit by the projectile being fired.

References

• YouTube: Awesome Cardboard Water Balloon Bazooka Cannon

Resources

• Experience Festival: Mortar Weapon-History