Thearos wrote on Nov 13^th, 2013 at 7:13am:


I believe sir that you are ignoring the fact that a sling is a weapon first and foremost.

another point that I would like to make is that within 30 yards. I could throw a rock "by hand" of equal size on a "lob" arching trajectory and be accurate.

I will repeat. A sling is a weapon. the physics do not lie.

more power generated = more velocity= flatter trajectory= better accuracy/ more predictable flight of the rock/ less variables.

I respect every ones own slinging style and Bill Skinner is right in saying,""Am I enjoying myself?"  If you are, then it doesn't matter what someone else's reason for slinging is, we are all individuals and we all have different reasons for slinging."

I do however believe that it is important to preserve the fundamental principals surrounding this weapon. 

I just don't want to see slinging as a sport turning into a game of basketball.

You know you want to.

Forget the macho whanging the shot, "It's a weapon so I must put my full power into it" fantasies. Start on your own, far from prying eyes and YT-ready cameras--and lob at your target. What you dial down in power, you gain by adjusting elevation, coordinating with elegance, and the smashing force will come from the drop.

Lob, brothers, lob !

For me slinging is not about power, it is not about accuracy or anything else. It's about fun, as Bill Skinner said. Further a sling is a sling. What you use it for is a different question. Some perceive it as a weapon, some as a tool or a fascination, and others as a method to show off and get attention.

For me slinging is mediation, training in coordination and concentration, self control, unwinding after a long day, relaxing, enjoying the things you made with your own hands, and constantly learning and satisfying your curiosity, shall it be by own experience or by discussions with others.

If your aim should be to learn how to hit a target with force you have to start somewhere. I  recommend to start with learning the movement in a controlled way. Start slowly and easy and somewhen you will find your way to "the top". And "the top" can have many faces. No need to rush yourself . I don't regard slinging as a pre-set and pre-defined thing. You may have your idea or vision of it. I also do. But more important to me than reaching this vision is, is the question: What can slinging give to me?

A stone will always drop, no matter the distance. The arc and the energy of the shot is also a matter of the weight of the stone. So if you want to compare "lobbing" with "shooting straight" (I hate to use this two terms) don't forget to include all variables. It's in my eyes both times the same motion. Think grey, not black and white.

One last point: A sport is an activity to reach a certain target within certain rules and regulations. The way, within the regulations, you can choose freely. There are many ways to achieve the target. Some are more efficient some are less. That's the only difference I see.

(Where is the road? I haven't been so much Off-Topic for a very long time  )

What do they use for projectiles? I would assume that being a competition, they would want to have them all be a consistent size and weight.

I would rather say that Jaegoor's slinging proves that lobbing is very powerful.

A swinging melon ??

Dan wrote on Nov 14^th, 2013 at 2:57pm:


I would have to agree, that it is very easy to see that this is not 25 meters. Forward momentum increases joules of energy exponentially faster than an increase in mass. K=1/2 M x v squared(kinetic energy equation). if you are lobbing a large rock(less forward momentum) you will be creating far less impact energy, than using a rock half the weight flying on a flatter trajectory.

Everything from a rock to a bullet is losing energy during flight. the point is to increase the initial speed of the projectile, so that by the time it reaches the target is has maintained a higher level of energy.

I have watched quite a few of these "LOB" videos, and all that I can think of is the fact that I could catch the rock with my hand.

I personally believe that endorsing this "lobbing" type of shooting could confuse a lot of new slingers as to the true nature of the weapon.         

Excellent discourse on the nuances of slinging, thanks guys.

Pinpoint medium range lob technique is indispensable, even if you approach the sling as merely a weapon, what about slinging fragile, or explosive ammunition through small openings, or slinging from a kneeling position behind cover, where silence and accuracy are more important than power?

For me the sling is a self development tool far more than a weapon, and that needs both lobbing and whanging