stick to greek overhand - fig 8 is difficult (for some people) to master, and you could spend more productive slinging time with something tha gets results. i'm only just getting fig 8 sorted after 10 months of slinging. it still strains my arm  tho... the best way i think is to start with the stone held out in front, then let it fall behind your back, then bring the sling forward as if you're throwing a javelin.
one day it will just click, and you'll be doing it.
sv

Me again. 

I forgot to add that the 2nd paragraf is a grossly exagerated figure 8 training tool and you will realise that the movements are not that bold when you use a sling.

Thank you  for the help-I think I am getting it but so far I don't like it-I will keep trying.  Again thanks.

I don't have my little video camera, but I might be able to find something tape a bit of a demo with and some practice exercises...  But here is a quick verbal sketch.

Get a stick that's approximately one meter long and has a bit of weight to it (a centimeter or two in diameter is good).  Assuming you are right handed perform a basic "upwards" figure eight like you are holding a sword:

1. Stand squarely and hold the stick down by your right leg
2. swing it up towards your left shoulder and let it drop down behind your left shoulder
3.  Cross is back up in front of you towards your right shoulder and let in drop down behind your right shoulder
4. Cross it back towards your left shoulder etc etc etc

That's the motion for an upwards figure eight.  Each cross in front of you would be like an upward slash with a sword.  With the stick there is a of course a lot of wrist movement to make the stick flow smoothly.  It will be the same with the sling.

People naturally do this movement in the opposite downward figure eight where instead of the motion slashing up towards the opposing shoulder it slashes down towards the opposing foot.    When I teach people the figure eight and they practice these basic exercise with a sling, they have a lot of trouble getting the upwards figure eight and always end up back in the downwards figure eight.

So why is this important?  Once you are comfortable with the upwards figure eight while standing squarely the next step is to do it sideways.

1.  Stand square and start doing an upwards figure eight.
2.  While doing the upwards figure eight turn 90 degrees to the left without changing the direction of the figure eight. 
3.  Your figure eight should now be passing behind your right are and in front of your right arm (instead of right shoulder left shoulder).

Your eyes are of course watching your right hand perform this motion with the stick right?  Turn your head and look over your left shoulder while your right hand continues to point in the opposite direction spinning the upwards figure eight.  You are now in a stance that is almost the figure eight throw.  When the stick goes behind your right arm, that is the point where you would step forward with you left foot and throw like a baseball.

So now do the some same thing with an empty sling (or a sling with a soft projectile like a footbag).  Stand square and practice the upwards figure eight.  Then continue the figure eight but turn 90 degrees to the left.  Then practice the throw just as the sling drops behind your right arm (which is basically behind your back).

If you can throw a baseball without throwing out your arm, you can throw a sling with the figure eight without hurting yourself.  It's all in the form.  The deceptive picture of the tennis analogy is that your hand moves wide.  It shouldn't. 

The hand should exactly replicate a baseball throw from beginning to end.  Pick up a rock and take a pitchers stance.  You step out with your left foot, and your right hand cocks back just behind your ear with the wrist flipped back over your shoulder.  That same movement with a sling with make the sling drop naturally over your back.  Then your whole body twists forwards as your hand grazes by your ear and your hips twist and you throw the rock.  Same exact movement with the sling.

When the figure eight throw starts to feel tweeky on my shoulder or elbow, it's usually because my form is bad. 

anyway, I'll try and put a little video together - I have  a friend who has a camera I might be able to borrow.  A video is worth a million words.

Barak

Hmmm! I THOUGHT Tint's tennis skill probably had a lot to do with his unequalled grace and skill with a sling!  His figure 8 speed slinging is the greatest! It's my favorite to watch these days.    I still can't do a decent figure eight!    Grrrrr!  But watching Tint do it gives me hope. 

Quote:


Did you look at these movies?
http://www.slinging.org/34.html

I learned by staring in disbelief at how he could bend his arm around like that without hitting himself until I finally (1 or 2 hours) figured it out. I still can't figure out the running start though. When does the skip come? I definitely like to use a long sling with figure-8, though I figured it out on a medium/short.

Nope apache and greek are diffrent in thatgreek has an overhead rotation where as apache has no rotation its just a snap across the shoulders and body (good for accuracy mind )