Hey all, Ive been making some slings lately (late SITH) and have wondered what grips are most common...

I use the following set up:
Loop on ring finger
Two knots (one for index and one for pinky)
Full fist grip

Im not very accurate at all and can only max out at about 120m so maybe this is holding me back...

Hoping to hear what everyone else uses...

Not exclusively, but most of the time I use a large single loop that fits over the ring and middle finger.  I initially started using it that way because the finger loop on one of my first slings was too big.  But I got used to it, and so continue to make them that way.

I use - what I currently believe  - is a unique grip most of the time.

But as nobody else has ever managed to copy it (lol) I teach a standard Balearic Style grip and make my slings accordingly.

Fortunately slings made for a Balearic grip can also be used in an aardvark style grip. Saves me having to make different cord lengths.

So a comfortable sliding loop on the middle finger or the one nearest your pinky finger (I have no clue what the ring finger is as I don't wear jewellery) With the retention cord going over the back of your hand towards the thumb.
A three knot end on the release cord that's gripped between thumb and index finger.

The fairly long three knot section allies for variation in people's hand sizes. Plus it makes a great whooshing/whistling type noise.

I tend to make slings that anyone can use, so not having to change anything for different people, is fairly important.

Picture below is my standard grip. Gives you a lot of versatility and you can move the retention cord across for three different cord widths.
But still keeping the same grip.

It's just how I automatically held a sling when I started 35 plus years ago.
http://slinging.org/forum/yabbfiles/Attachments/myslinggrip_003.jpg

  Loop on my ring finger with a single release knot held between my thumb and forefinger.  I've tried every other possible grip and this is what works for me. 

Im a big fan of the double loop. Especially a stiff double loop that fits tightly.  Dont be hesitant to experiment not just with types of grips and loops but also the aspects of them. Ive found that a tab that is the right stiffness and thickness makes it easier to be accurate than otherwise. Theres a lot of variables that can make a difference.

I’m a cinched fingerloop fan , around my middle finger pointing out and pinching the release at my first knuckle (fingernail)

Self taught slinger, this was the instinctual grip for me as a kid and I've stuck with it ever since.

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Curious Aardvark wrote on Aug 24^th, 2021 at 6:36am:

So a comfortable sliding loop on the middle finger or the one nearest your pinky finger (I have no clue what the ring finger is as I don't wear jewellery)

My daughters started trying to use a sliding loop a few weeks ago - maybe a holdover from all their yoyoing... I honestly had never even thought of it, and then you're doing it CA! I like the ability with your style to change widths on the fly... very creative!

I note most people here use a single release knot - I had to change to two knots after a day of slinging all my skin at the second knuckle slid/squashed/twisted around on my finger creating some horrific blisters. The pinching and releasing just destroyed my index finger.

Slingostar - yours most closely resembles mine... I like the feeling of the cords in my hand.

@CrazyBrave333 yeah me too. Feels weird having the retention cord not in my hand. The skin at my first and second index finger knuckles has callused a bit which helps with longer sling sessions.

As it happened, I went from yoyoing when walking the dogs to slinging.
Staff twirling before yoyos and juggling before  that :-)

An hour a day where my hands weren't doing anything, always seemed a shame to waste that kind of dedicated practice time - so I didn't :-)

These days it's mainly thinking time. Pretty much always got something percolating through the gray matter.
And the combination of exercise to get your blood flowing and increased oxygen intake definitely gets your brain working at a higher level.

So yes, sliding loop on my index finger was just second nature when I decided to try slinging :-)
35 plus years agoit also turned out to be the final dog walking skill.
And I'm still learning :-)

The rest of the grip evolved from there.

So your daughter's definitely on the right track :thumb:

If you get blisters on your retention finger, you're gripping too hard.
Another advantage of the three knot system, you have a very secure grip, but with minimum applied pressure.

The hardest to use release I've ever used was one of jaegoor's long slings, it had a flat wooden toggle. You had to grip that extremely tightly and with decent sized ammo, it was always in danger of slipping and sending the rock off at some random angle.

Watching back my wheelchair video, I was struck by Just how delicate my grip looks.
Never really noticed before.

Almost like someone drinking tea with their little finger sticking out lol

But even with rocks weighing several pounds, it's never felt anything but totally secure.

I used to have the the loop on the middle finger and release btw index and thumb. But then someone brought me a real balearic bassetja, and the length only worked with loop on pinkie and the strap crossing the palm, so like slingostarr. Ever since I've made my slings to that length. I'm still no good with them.

Rat Man wrote on Aug 24^th, 2021 at 3:46pm:

Loop on my ring finger with a single release knot held between my thumb and forefinger.  I've tried every other possible grip and this is what works for me.

Same for me. It's my go to grip and has served me well. That being said...


Morphy wrote on Aug 24^th, 2021 at 6:14pm:

Im a big fan of the double loop. Especially a stiff double loop that fits tightly.  Dont be hesitant to experiment not just with types of grips and loops but also the aspects of them. Ive found that a tab that is the right stiffness and thickness makes it easier to be accurate than otherwise. Theres a lot of variables that can make a difference.

I only have two slings with double retention loops, made by GurtTractor, but I've really come to like them. One thing that was interesting was that I originally had the one loop on my middle finger and then the second on my ring finger, but this somehow didn't feel right and was not working at all. I switched to having one on my ring finger and one on my first finger and it started making sense. It felt more, I guess, precise. I don't really know why. It might be that the cords are closer together and a narrow grip works better for me, but now it's the only way I use a double finger loop.

I've been experimenting with different grips and having the finger loop on different fingers.
My preferred grip is with the finger loop on my pinky finger, with the retention cord crossing over the inside of my ring finger and middle finger at a 45° angle, pinching the release cord with my thumb and index finger.
I find this way is better at keeping the retention cord and the release cord at the same angle and more parallel to each other throughout the wind up and power stroke.

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