Quote from Thearos on Oct 6th, 2011, 6:17pm:Thanks, Aussie. I'm practicing what you recommend. But isn't what I was doing earlier just normal helicopter style ?
Not quite. To be honest, I haven't practised helicopter very much, Fig.8 is my preffered style. Nevertheless I would have still offered the same advice with the possible exception of keeping the front foot permanently planted, Jaegoor stye. I always step into my shots; possibly because I've tried to emulate baseball pitchers. Anyway I can't seem to break the habit and I'm not sure it's a fault anyway.
However, the angled arcing and downward sweeping motion of the final thrust as per Jaegoor is definitely the way to go. A horizontally sweeping final thrust is inefficient. Slinging is largely improved throwing; you wouldn't throw that way.
Helicopter is a bit deceiving, the initial rotations are only to give the slinger tactile feedback and position the sling for the final thrust. When you watch helicopter, it's the initial rotations that stick in your mind's eye but all the real action comes at the end.
BTW I forgot to add in my previous post. I strongly suggest you practise in front of a mirror so as to be sure you're really sweeping that had down and to the left. Perhaps you could enlist the aid of one of your sportsminded students.
I'll PS some links to David Morningstar and another Canadian chap who posts as Africa 1975. His is a particularly unstructured style, but wow, it's effective. Watch for the overhead sweep and lots of body rotation.
HELICOPTER STYLE
David Morningstar, Helicopter Style
Thread with a description of this intuitive style
http://slinging.org/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1252484095 Video clip demonstrating Helicopter Technique
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GXkmT7eJFo Slow Motion Video, slinging towards camera
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kikC0Q9m8O8 Africa1975, Helicopter Style.
A very effective and accurate demonstration.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnvyTFtzdwY Hondero: Traditional Styles
Called "Overhead" and "Underhand" on the video. Generally known as Helicopter and Underarm on this site
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72cIgoZ7wNU