for our project for physics we gotta create a mini catapult, with our final grade depending on how far the projectile gets in relation to the base. me and my partner decided to make a trebuchet instead, since it launches much farther than usual catapults. the issue is, i cant get it to release right. i made the sling out of duct tape and thread, with the proportions of the swing arm 3.75:1. the weight is around 133-135x heavier than our projectile so no issues there, but still it's releasing funkily. it either releases to early and drops the projectile straight onto the base, or doesn't release at all, with the ball staying in the sling then eventually dropping to the floor. i thought it was just with the way i held it for release, then the sling itself, then the stands, but literally nothing i do is fixing the issue. i get it to release right once ever few tries and it goes really far, but it's very inconsistent. im losing my mind over this, wtf is wrong with it?? it doesn't look like it in the pic, but the counterweight isn't resting on the base, it's dangling. and yes, i know she's ugly.