Apart from this forced quarantine where we are mostly confined to our houses, I am curious regarding how
everyone practices slinging.

From the forum it appears that the majority here practices slinging solo and it appears that there are very few organized groups and training methodology.

So, do you have any kind of instructor or a defined practice plan (for example correct warm-ups and specific training). Do you mantain regular training?

And where do you usually train? Do you have nearby venues where you can practice in safety (for yourself or others) or you seek locations free of people (like isolated beaches/forests/moutains) for your practice. Is it legal to do so in your country? For example I have no idea if it would be allowed to sling outside my residence.

Cheers

Newbee here.  I'm pretty amazed at how fun it still is after a year or so since starting. 

I carry a sling in my pocket at all times and throw when I can (before or after work, lunch breaks, etc).  On the weekends the dog and I go out early and spend a couple hours in the woods, throwing rocks and dog balls for him to catch (the dogballs that is - where the grass is short).  I throw the rocks in tall grass, and he just chases after them through the field until he comes back for me to throw the next one.  He seems to enjoy it as much as chasing and catching the ball.

I watch youtube videos to improve my technique.  My favorite are ones by that practical paracord guy.  He is ahead of me in his learning by about a year I think, so it has been great to watch all his progress and how he gets better and better.  It has been helpful to me.  His last few videos have really given me some great tips.  I really jumped ahead on accuracy after he mentioned feeling the weigh of the rock as its spins around and working on what he calls the pull.  Working on that awareness was what I needed.  Now I just need more practice, and lots of it.  Did I mention how fun slinging is. :)

Speaking from past experience here. We are planning on buying a house on a little land and then I will be back to this. But:

I used to live out in the country. I had a field right outside my front door. I could literally step outside my front door in the morning and sling off my front porch.

I set up a shooting lane that was ~40-45 meters at the furthest point. I had a swinging 9” circle target made from tough rubbery material made for shooting. I would usually sling anywhere from 50-200 shots a day at different distances. I found eventually that as you get good ammo and more practice at long distances that 10m shots became really unsatisfying so eventually began practicing mostly at 25ms to 60ms or so. (Longer shots just being in the field rather than down the shooting lane).

I started with large Balearic targets and worked my way down to smaller targets. A lot of practicing and refining of  throwing form naturally occurs as you practice. Good ammo is essential. A backstop is pretty darn close to essential as well if you’re serious about getting better. Unless you are lucky enough to live in an area with perfect ammo all over the place. I’ve heard such places exist. Beautiful women bring you beer as you throw and wipe the sweat off your brow. I’m not sure it’s real though.

I started stretching at this time, approximately 8 years ago, a practice I maintained to this day. No reason to let your body get stiff as you get older.

Weight lifting meant to stabilize and protect throwing joints, limbs and muscle groups need to be looked into more. As with war bow training I think there’s a lot one could do to become a beast of a slinger, if one knew the proper exercises and training.  I don’t so I stick with 4-5 oz stones and I’m happy with the damage/speed I get.

Let’s see I’ll be 40 next year and I started sling at around 11 years old. I have yet to meet a single person that was a serious slinger in all my time doing this. That is a sad fact of slinging and one reason I really want to eventually get to Mallorca, even if just once, to take part in that group experience.

yes to all
I constantly seek places.
haven't slinged from february due to measures. so I dont maintain regular training right now.
I ve never met in person anyone more interested in slinging than me, if/when it happens I'm pretty sure I will doubt my reality , maybe I'll go through stages of depression acceptance happiness and bliss.

My practice space is well documented in YouTube videos :D It's pretty good but I would prefer it if it was further away from the paths and houses; less because I worry about hitting someone, more because I would prefer fewer distractions. I have a very informal practice schedule. My basic practice is... just go and sling for a bit. I change up styles, slings and distances all the time. The challenges have been good for giving me a bit of focus :D

The International Competition in Mallorca this past February/March was the first time I had met in person people that had even the slightest interest in slinging, let alone the best slingers in the world. It was really incredible. I met David Morningstar and Hubert (Uve) at the airport and withing minutes we were discussing Roman siege equipment, various different sling styles and how we had been practicing for the competition. It was really amazing. I picked up a lot of tips and advice and got to meet people I had been talking to on here but had never had the chance to meet. I'm counting down the days to the next one and I hope the corona situation is fully under control by then. It was honestly one of the best holidays I've ever had. I hope to go for longer next year and get to see more of Mallorca which is such a beautiful place.


Sarosh wrote on May 9^th, 2020 at 3:07am:

if/when it happens I'm pretty sure I will doubt my reality

I definitely had this :D The fact that I could talk about how I had been having trouble with my Balearic style but found lifting my elbow as i went into the throw helped a lot and the person I was talking to was actually interested and understood what I was saying was amazing. I'm so used to people's eyes glazing over and them saying "...uh huh..." and then changing the subject as far from slinging as possible. It was also reassuring to see how many amazingly friendly, nice people we have in our little niche interest. Everyone got on, the competition was still a competition and people took it seriously, but no-one takes it too seriously. No matter who got called up for a prize, everyone was clapping and cheering and happy. If you look at the photos of the winners, it's hard to tell who came second or third because everyone is just as happy as everyone else up there :D

   I do almost all of my practicing while walking my dogs.  There are lots of woods around us plus the schoolyards are good places when school is out.  There are also many lakes to practice distance in.  For most of the year the parks around here are almost empty. I find various targets of opportunity.  My last Husky Dogs, Kali and Odin, were much better walkers than my current crew, Pandora, Max, and Benji the Terrier. Consequently I don't get as much practice as I used to.

In my living room.  Cant wait till the local park opens up and I can try there.  Not many options in the city.

Randomline wrote on May 8^th, 2020 at 5:38pm:

Did I mention how fun slinging is.

It sure is. Also got the bug  ;D


Morphy wrote on May 8^th, 2020 at 6:55pm:

Let’s see I’ll be 40 next year and I started sling at around 11 years old. I have yet to meet a single person that was a serious slinger in all my time doing this. That is a sad fact of slinging and one reason I really want to eventually get to Mallorca, even if just once, to take part in that group experience.

Yeah,  it appears that aside from very few places the slinging activity is very scattered and not seriously practiced other than a few people.


Sarosh wrote on May 9^th, 2020 at 3:07am:

haven't slinged from february due to measures. so I dont maintain regular training right now.

Sarosh. Hope this situation soon improves and you are able to start again slinging 8-)



Kick wrote on May 9^th, 2020 at 6:41am:

he International Competition in Mallorca this past February/March was the first time I had met in person people that had even the slightest interest in slinging, let alone the best slingers in the world. It was really incredible.

It sure looks nice. Maybe one day we meet there  ;)


Shakli wrote on May 10^th, 2020 at 1:07am:

In my living room.  Cant wait till the local park opens up and I can try there.  Not many options in the city.

Hope that this situation improves soon. Shakli ,are you allowed to sling in a local park?

Now I practice in my backyard. I can sling and place a target @10 meters, but I will try (after the coronavirus) to find a place to sling longer distances safely.


Rat Man wrote on May 9^th, 2020 at 3:00pm:

There are lots of woods around us plus the schoolyards are good places when school is out.

Great! I also have some woods nearby, I have to seem if I find a isolated place to sling. ;D

I usually head down to a nearby wooded park/trail to practice - There's not usually too many people around, and there's plenty of nice, big trees to serve as targets. The rocks, though there are plenty of them, can be sub-optimal at times, but it's a nice place, especially when I'm feeling a bit stir-crazy. I usually just gather a pouch full of stones, and sling at a tree until I hit it.

I eat in the park every day a very nice one i might add..there is  a spoils heap way way in the back..i use that for about an hour every day
i am 74 years old and my back hurts after that so  just walk the pathways ..october time is wonderfull I  use buckeyes in the husk if i run out onthe ground  there is a guy who is 6 foot four he will get them out  of the trees for me  with my stick.  fun place nice people

I’d break your ? into at least 2 areas chucking vs conditioning.
For conditioning try putting a thick rubber band around the pouch with ur fav ammo, and go thru all your slinging moves like martial arts katas.

For chucking in urbin areas, a low profile tech like the Apache, gets the least attention, often they just think your throwing rocks and crazy so they just avoid you.  For twirling techs I had fun using short slings and tennis balls are fun when jogging, even if you hit a car or whatever by accident, it causes min damage or noise.  Lots of walls and such that you can use like handball and catch them on the rebound.  Then theres the odd rat or wild pig. 🤙

I do the best I can with 10-15 yards of open lane in my suburban backyard. I stick to tennis balls, because rocks don’t work well with neighbors on all sides.

Morphy wrote on May 8^th, 2020 at 6:55pm:

Let’s see I’ll be 40 next year and I started sling at around 11 years old. I have yet to meet a single person that was a serious slinger in all my time doing this. That is a sad fact of slinging and one reason I really want to eventually get to Mallorca, even if just once, to take part in that group experience.

Morphy... Definitely go to Mallorca, but after this whole pandemic nonsense eases up, we need to arrange a get-together. I may not qualify as a serious slinger, but at least I only live a few hours away :)

NooneOfConsequence wrote on May 13^th, 2020 at 1:40am:

Morphy wrote on May 8th, 2020 at 6:55pm: Let’s see I’ll be 40 next year and I started sling at around 11 years old. I have yet to meet a single person that was a serious slinger in all my time doing this. That is a sad fact of slinging and one reason I really want to eventually get to Mallorca, even if just once, to take part in that group experience. Morphy... Definitely go to Mallorca, but after this whole pandemic nonsense eases up, we need to arrange a get-together. I may not qualify as a serious slinger, but at least I only live a few hours away :)

I suspect you are more of a serious slinger than I have been for the last 3-4 years.  ;D .  You know what would be cool would be to set up a Texas slingers get together before heading out to Mallorca. I know we have quite a few of us out here in the Lone Star State.

I have a couple of state parks and wildlife preserves near me where I can practice. They're usually open enough that I don't have to worry about people. 

Morphy wrote on May 13^th, 2020 at 6:06am:

NooneOfConsequence wrote on May 13th, 2020 at 1:40am: Morphy wrote on May 8th, 2020 at 6:55pm: Let’s see I’ll be 40 next year and I started sling at around 11 years old. I have yet to meet a single person that was a serious slinger in all my time doing this. That is a sad fact of slinging and one reason I really want to eventually get to Mallorca, even if just once, to take part in that group experience. Morphy... Definitely go to Mallorca, but after this whole pandemic nonsense eases up, we need to arrange a get-together. I may not qualify as a serious slinger, but at least I only live a few hours away :) I suspect you are more of a serious slinger than I have been for the last 3-4 years.  ;D .  You know what would be cool would be to set up a Texas slingers get together before heading out to Mallorca. I know we have quite a few of us out here in the Lone Star State.

Well, if I put half the effort into slinging that I have on reinventing the wheel on sling designs, I would probably be a much better slinger by now!

i scout places on my mountain bike, my favourite so far are by the river. Infinite free ammo thats perfect and also i get to do distance shots and see where they land in the water or i can set a target up on a raised bit of a bank to practise overhead

I used to brachiate every day before slinging because i found it is very good for the upper body.

A good sling range is nice but just having a sling at all times seems to promote the surprise slinging sessions.

Hi folks,
Just got back to slinging at my old gravel all weather football pitches.
The pitches are back to back so i have a target in middle about twice the size of cricket stumps. Plenty of run off/on for steelballs to collect.
I sling 4oz steelballs from either end of pitch towards target, about 70 to 80 yards.
Took a few days to get some kind of accurcy back.
Including bouncing hits, I average about 2 hits out of 15 sling shots at moment.
I tried 4oz clay glandes, and they flew beautifully, but get smashed up pretty quickly, i keep them for grass rugby pitches.
TIP - magnet on string, great for collecting ammo.

visited the range today , there are trucks and workers changing the landscape , probably flood control. They are covering the stones with soil :'(
every time I search for a new place I realize how important is a steep cliff for sling practice.

Sarosh wrote on May 16^th, 2020 at 11:20am:

visited the range today , there are trucks and workers changing the landscape , probably flood control. They are covering the stones with soil :'( every time I search for a new place I realize how important is a steep cliff for sling practice.

I feel your pain. That sucks. My wife and I are in the early stages of buying a home and a sling range where I can set up a dedicated backstop is on my list of must haves. I’ve come to the conclusion it’s really difficult to practice enough to get good without one. Either you lose your hand made ammo that you spent your precious free time making, or you lose your stones that you had to gather, sort, weigh etc. 

They're clearing a lot of the fallen branches from the willow trees that line the one side of my practice are and someone moved the big log I use to hold up the target into the piles of branches to be cleared up! I dragged it a little way out and around the side of a tree but I'm fully expecting it to be gone on Monday  :'(

I use to live between the railroad tracks and a school.
If I wanted to shoot stones, is shoot at the tracks with not bad rocks.
I'd also go behind the school and practice hitting a spot on the wall with a tennis ball from a fairly short distance.
That was a great set up, I'd often take the tracks home on purpose to get some slinging action in.
Nowadays I sling sporadically but I prefer short distance target slinging.
Maybe 10-20 meters?
I enjoy slinging longer distances but I like actually hitting things hahahahahaha

I used to practice at a tennis court in a park, slinging tennis balls at a target that was attached to the fence using bungee cords.  The court being surrounded by a chain link fence kept me from running all over to recover my ammo.  Though some strong shots could sneak through the chain link, so I had to be careful if someone was nearby on the other side.

The best way to consistently practice your slinging, you really need to be able to do it right outside your house. That's how the ancients did it. If you have to go someplace to sling, chances are likely you can only do it once a week or so. if you can do it on your property you can make it part of your morning routine or do it whenever you feel like it.

I made owning property where I can sling as much as I like, what I like, one of my big goals in my life.
Until then I can sling on my parents property, but only to 15 meters max distance, using rusty balls.

AncientCraftwork wrote on May 19^th, 2020 at 4:16am:

The best way to consistently practice your slinging, you really need to be able to do it right outside your house. That's how the ancients did it. If you have to go someplace to sling, chances are likely you can only do it once a week or so. if you can do it on your property you can make it part of your morning routine or do it whenever you feel like it.

Which is why I so desperately want a garden :D

AncientCraftwork wrote on May 19^th, 2020 at 4:16am:

The best way to consistently practice your slinging, you really need to be able to do it right outside your house. That's how the ancients did it. If you have to go someplace to sling, chances are likely you can only do it once a week or so.

Pretty much.  If I live 5 mins away from a park I still won’t go often enough. If I walk outside and sling I’ll do it every single day and never even get bored of it.

In a local there is an oblong hill that forms an L. If you place your target in the corner of that L, finding your ammo again is a joy.

I sling once every other day, as I found doing it everyday hurt my accuracy. Three rounds of 12 rocks.
I used to throw at a bottle but I have thrown at a little cobber plate since I found one in the trash. It already has to bumps on it and I can't wait to see it completely crippled.