Move this post if needed to "Here be Maths."

https://youtu.be/LHXB931PNcE

My best is 106mph with a 160g projectile. I doubt I can do much more. Maybe 1 or 2 mph faster with this sling, as my best yesterday was 104, today 106. 

I think we have similar output and you might be better. 106mph 160g would be 180m-200m,  it puts into perspective those early records, 200g 350m.

Despite your taunting in the credits, I had to watch until the end. :)

Do you think you could get a higher speed with a rock (or something else with a solid shape) that weighs 160g?  I'm curious if the un-solid nature of a rusty ball causes a less efficient transfer of energy.

Sarosh wrote on Sep 29^th, 2020 at 5:24am:

I think we have similar output and you might be better. 106mph 160g would be 180m-200m,  it puts into perspective those early records, 200g 350m.

Yeah, I totally agree with the last bit, but I think you have me beat on speed, esp. with tennis balls. But yes, Melvin Gaylor or Larry bray's records...How? They must have tendons like steel cable.



joe_meadmaker wrote on Sep 29^th, 2020 at 9:58am:

Despite your taunting in the credits, I had to watch until the end. :) Do you think you could get a higher speed with a rock (or something else with a solid shape) that weighs 160g?  I'm curious if the un-solid nature of a rusty ball causes a less efficient transfer of energy.

Hehe. I thought about leaving some reloading footage in, to make it go longer, but I like the way I did it in the end.

I wonder about that too. From Sarosh's videos on speed measurement, He did see differences between a tennis ball and a similarly weighted stone. So, yeah, there may be a small amount lost during acceleration due to extra drag from more cross-sectional area. I was using my usual target sling, but I want to try the same with a less "drag-y" sling as well.

Ok so I watched you over and over at 0.25 speed.  Take my input here with a grain of salt as I have yet to do this my self but here goes: 
The good:  You are using your hip and shoulder well to get your power, which is why you are able to throw so fast.
The bad:  You are not using your back at all. The truck of your body is moving as one block instead of spiraling though your back.  I am guessing that if the order of the throw is hip, stomach, scapula, shoulder, elbow, wrist,  you will get the max amount of power from your body.

Again take this with a grain of salt, since I cant actually do what I am talking about.  I will be working on it though.  Will let you know in 2-3 months if I succeed and if my assumption is correct. 

Edit:  Thank you so much for this clip it really helps figure out technique.

Shakli wrote on Oct 11^th, 2020 at 3:33am:

Ok so I watched you over and over at 0.25 speed.  Take my input here with a grain of salt as I have yet to do this my self but here goes:  The good:  You are using your hip and shoulder well to get your power, which is why you are able to throw so fast. The bad:  You are not using your back at all. The truck of your body is moving as one block instead of spiraling though your back.  I am guessing that if the order of the throw is hip, stomach, scapula, shoulder, elbow, wrist,  you will get the max amount of power from your body. Again take this with a grain of salt, since I cant actually do what I am talking about.  I will be working on it though.  Will let you know in 2-3 months if I succeed and if my assumption is correct.  Edit:  Thank you so much for this clip it really helps figure out technique.

I think you are right, actually. The kinetic train is most efficient if the hips rotate first, then the shoulders/core. If you watch pitching/javelin throwing, this is always the case with world-class athletes. In pitching it is called shoulder-to-hip separation. I have about 0 of that.

It is probably the case for slinging as well, that it would be most powerful/efficient transfer of muscle power into the sling to do it as you suggest.  I just don't know how to reprogram 12 years of my own slinging habits. I wish there were a good way to do it.

For reference, the fastest baseball pitch without a sling was 105.1 mph with a ~150g baseball. 

https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/fastest-baseball-pitch-(male)/