[Conor Ryan]

With all misconceceptions that everyone is working through, I have a vauge idea what we are trying to accomplish.

So you have a couple of options:
1) Go with a larger diameter spool. 1/4" is really small, 2" probably will do the trick. You want to minimize the amount of revolutions you do on the spool.

2) Tie some surgical tubing to "Spring Load" your spool. The idea is that as you wind the winch back, you pull on the surgical tubing more. Spring force is translated to the unraveling of the spool without using the force to catapult the ball.

3) Make sure you follow the 45 pound withholding allowance rules.