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Can some of the more experienced jumpers weigh in on the percentage of off headings seen while conducting a static line or direct bag jump vs a standard stowed or handheld jump?

Is it wrong to think that the likelihood of an off heading would be lower due to less variables in the deployment and opening sequence? The variables in question are; no pilot chute oscillation due to 1) manual extraction via bridle and 2) no pilot chute at all (direct bag).

Also, if you have a symmetrical push off the object, is there less of a chance to load one riser before the other, thereby eliminating the chance that one side of the canopy will load before the other causing an off heading? (although I assume that this is universally preferable with any jump). I would think that since the distance travelled is considerably less with a s/l or DB jump to line stretch, with regard to total distance fallen, it would be harder for a jumper to be radically out of body position, as opposed to a free fall jump of the same nature. Obviously I understand that the actual length of the lines don't physically change, but that there will be minimal exacerbation of any incorrect body position because of the shorter overall distance to pressurization, which will thereby reduce the chance of an off heading.

You guys get the gist of what I'm trying to say? Any other thoughts about the issue? Anything I may have missed? Am I retareded? Thanks for any input.

You are reducing variables in some ways but also adding other ones. For instance, once I had an off heading opening because of where I attached a static line. It was something that could move.
The person holding the direct bag will be the biggest influence on heading performance on DB jumps.

I think with a freefall, body position is often times messed up when the PC is thrown which can lead to off headings. With a static line there less chance to get out of square because the focus is on the exit and body position throughout the opening sequence. A freefall requires you to break your concentration for a second from being square to deploy the PC. Many times people over-emphasize the pitch and get out of whack, even just slightly, and can't get back to square before the opening is complete.

Overall though in my experience, I would absolutely say that SL and DB's have a higher probability of on heading openings.

I agree, however, people still manage to fuck it up.

BFL 24 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veeGqZ8jYF0

What will be the wind direction?
tak care,
space

It's very well-known that a perfectly executed static line has WAY WAY better heading performance than a perfectly executed stowed/handheld.

HOWEVER, the stipulation "perfectly executed" should be fully understood. Static-lining/direct-bagging in any type of wind changes things...especially cross-wind, but also tailwind too. And if you do mis-rig a static-line/direct bag, the consequences are worse since you likely have little to no object separation. Attaching off-center from your back can lead to serious off-headings.

Also it depends on the object as well. There are many factors that you wont see as a newer jumper. Be careful.

Any percentage someone gives you will be rubbish. It won't take into account all the other factors. Each jump, each object, and each day can be very different in regards to the factors that come into play.

It isn't wrong to think that the likelihood of an off heading would be lower; however, It's about a lot more than you've listed. You didn't once mention wind. That's a HUGE factor. If I'm in a crosswind, I might much rather run my ass off and take as deep of a delay as I safely can rather than static-line.

In zero wind.

Haha, what the hell was that? Dude seems like a goober.

The dude may have been talented (or not... who's to say), but he seemed untrained and unskilled. The canopy opened like it was mis-rigged.

I am believer that the heading performance is better on PCA and static lines based on my experience with them but...

I have seen a 180 from a PCA first hand on a 300 foot free stander. No wind

One must think of the relative wind to the deployment line of direction.
Also there are 2 different types of 180°. Deployment 180 and flying 180. Of which did you witness?
Take care,
space

it was a perfect tail wind (ideal for a tower). Jumper left, canopy opened 180 facing the tower with the jumper also facing the tower. Text book 180

Yikes, how did the guy jumping handle it? Was he able to turn away?

I've heard that his happened to a guy around my area. As soon as he got PCA'd the canopy somehow rotated out of the container and he ended up hanging on the tower. So it sounded like the canopy got caught up and that induced the twist. That's some bad luck though.

the jumper narrowly missed the tower. Hard to tell because it was dark but it looked as though the end cells just missed the tower. He ended up landing in an alternate landing area.

He was definitely shaken up...as were the rest of us.

Just weird shit

Text book "flying 180."

I've done lots of static lines and only one direct bag jump, but I think the direct bag heading performance is as good as it could possibly get. The difference with a static line is that the canopy can still rotate between extraction from the container and line-stretch.

With a direct bag, the canopy doesn't leave the bag until after line-stretch and it leaves the bag on heading. The only opportunity it has to go off-heading is during inflation, which is true of any deployment method other than somehow ground-launching it like a paraglider.

Another advantage of the D-bag is that your canopy glides a lot better when you aren't dragging a pilot chute, so it can be nice if you're trying to make a far-off landing area. The big disadvantage is that it's more work to set up, you need a buddy to D-bag you, and you leave something at the exit point. I think it's a useful tool to have for very special jumps that require it but I can't really see using it on a regular basis.

This leads back to a fun question that asks whether a neat or a messy packjob would spin easier coming out of the container... like would a tightly-folded, ironed out packjob getting hung on the container spin easier, since it is a whole, single unit? Like would a messy packjob that is all loosely packed together and closed into the container absorb a container bump, with a single cell or flap of fabric spinning, but the whole of the packjob generally still coming out fine, because the force would not distribute to the whole packjob as easily? Just something that keeps me up at night... also why I always pack with my feet in the dark with my eyes closed while drunk ;)