All four bottom eyes are lashed to the pins of the bottom plate, and are tightened only so much as to keep the cup on the bottom of the pylon snug against the 2" stainless steel ball on the plate. Thus, the ball articulates within the cup, much as a knee joint. The lashings cannot be too snug, or the hounds on the pylon may bend or break the pins on the bottom of the pylon under heavy seas and defeat the purpose of the pylon being able to move (hence the term, a "dynamic pylon").