Slinging Persimmons:

Growing up in the Ozark Mountains, far away from city life and organized events, we had to make do with the things we could devise, which included procuring the pieces necessary to put something together. Persimmons were quite common in our part of the woods. They grew wild all over our farm and neighboring farms, as well. A very competitive game was "slinging persimmons". It was quite easy, really.

A Persimmon is a fruit. It’s about 1” in diameter and contains large seeds. The fruit remains very bitter until after the first frost. To bite into an unripened Persimmon would cause the mouth to shrink and become very dry, an experience that would remain with you for a lifetime! It’s similar to taking the taste of powdered Alum. In the Fall, after the first frost, the fruit began to ripen and became exceptionally sweet to the taste. It was a very good fruit; almost a natural candy.

During the summer months as the fruit began to grow, while it was yet green. We would cut a long, limber switch (stick) and sharpen one end to a point. On the sharpened end we would “skewer” a green persimmon, leaving it out towards the end of the stick. Drawing back as one throwing a fishing lure, we would swing the stick high into the air at a very fast speed and, using a whip action, cause the persimmon to fling from the end of the stick, at the 10:00 o’clock position, at rocket speed. The leverage one had with the whip action of a limber stick caused the Persimmon to take off like a shot; sailing high and away. We often had contests to see how far we could throw a green persimmon. We were never good at hitting anything with the Persimmons, only throwing them so far that they would disappear from sight. At that time of the year they weren’t any good to eat but they were great at throwing. Then in the Fall they were no good for throwing because they turned soft and as sweet as sugar. After all, a kid needs to have fun!