I've messed around with bolas since I was a kid making them with rocks tied to the end of cotton twine. I've wanted to make one with paracord and monkeys fists but could not find the time, untIl recently when someone ordered one. The request was for three 1.5" steel ball bearings to be included.  I tried two strand twists off the fists but just didn't work out like I hoped. I wanted to keep the cords from being stiff so rather than going tie a four strand braid, I added a single gutted strand and made a three strand braid. I brought them together tying a double matthew walker with the 6 intact strands and the three gutted strands up the middle.