My dad was a horse-doctor, so we know all about medical stuff!!    The motion of that overhand is a little odd, so would expect soreness until you get used to it.   Muscle soreness probably OK.    

This throwing style also could be tough on rotator cuffs.   You feel dull pain closer to the point of the shoulder & "in the joint".  This soreness is NOT ok & can lead to permanent reduced flexibility in the joint, physical therapy, even surgery.   Voice of experience speaking here.

mgreenfield

Also, warming up makes a lot of difference.
I remember when I was younger I used to throw a lot of stones every time I went to the beach. After a short time my shoulder and arm would hurt like crazy.
Then later as I was enlisted and we had hand-grenade training we always warmed up our shoulders first - I didn't experience any pain then, even though we threw a lot of dummy grenades.

I was using my short sling and using a lot ot force to sling. I over did it and hurt my elbow, I think--its been a while back-- anyway, I just couldn't stop slinging so I used my long sling and found that I was able to sling bigger stones and at a further distance without using as much force and having my arm hurt more. There is always a way

Hey there wildman

You and me both! I wish I had a lot more --  accuracy that is.

First of all I must say I slung my first stone one year ago this month so I am no expert. I did however get hooked on slinging and have done a lot since then.

First of all, after about 3 months I made a 25" sling and it instantly improved my accuracy by at least 25%. I remember being thrilled like a kid with a new bike.

I still prefer the style shown in the first video--no rotations. My humble opinion is--the less motion the easier it is to control everything. Plus, I want to get good enough to hunt with the sling and therefore #1 is the best syle for not alerting the game and the best for making a quick shot.

I have noticed that through the months I have thought that I discovered a big secret by changing something only to find that it didn't last or pan out.

But, I have learned some things that truely  have helped my accuracy and I will try to explain them.

1. As in the #1 video, I start the momentum by moving the pouch to the right and then swing and kind of toss the pouch with the stone  horizontally back to the left. At this point I would have the natural tendancy to start moving my throwing arm---But ---try to hold your throwing hand still for a second as the pouch swings around and as you sense that it is behind your head, then start an over the top throwing motion with your throwing arm.   What this slight hesitation did was help keep me from swinging my right arm (throwing arm) out and around to the right rather than over the top of my head.

The result of this was that my release became more verticle instead of right to left and my shots became more straight ahead rather than right to left.

2. I just mentioned this point in another post. As I release the stone at the snap I think: "Grab the target with my throwing hand." This makes me reach out at the target with my follow through instead of coming across the target from right to left.

I know some people like a more side-arm throw so this would not help that style but for me, I get more control and consistancy with a more verticle method. Hondero promotes this concept too I believe and he is more experienced then I.

3. Focus on the target. It sound simple but I often do not focus hard enough on the target. I also try to visualize where the pouch is and when I sense that the pouch, my head, and the target are in a line, I then start the snap forward.

Heavy stones must be slung more slowly. If I snap my arm forward as fast as with a lighter stone, the release knode slips out of my fingers do to the added resistance and the shot is way right.

SInce I sling odd size chunks of concrete, this adds to the frustration. When I finally broke down and slung some tennis balls, I found that I was more accurate than I thought. Consistant size, shape and weight is definately a plus when it comes to accuracy.

I am going to make another video and /or take some still pics to explain another thing I just noticed and seems to help. Its hard to explain so pics should help. I have been keeping my throwing wrist straight through out the sling except at the snap forward. I just tried c  o  c king my wrist as the pouch gets behind my head and is ready to snap forward. By this I mean bend your wrist back before you start the snap forward. It felt funny at first but I found that it helped add to the snap power and, more importantly, made my shots straighter.

Oh to be able to find someone who has generations of experience and ability and to be able to get together and show eachother the different things we have learned.

Try some of those things --  if you could follow my rambling.  Hope it helps some.

David

Its amazing how nice a smooth river rock flies! I may try that.

Look at it this way guys, that bucket of rocks is proably a lot cheaper than buy golf balls or buying a bucket of balls from the golfing range.

You should post a pic of the "perfect rock". I have found avery close "perfect rock". It was the best throw ever. I was shooting it out into the lake then when it hit the water very far away it made sound like no other rock. I guess it was the perfect sound too. 8)