I think we all agree that backhand throws with a sling might not be very suitable for target slinging, because you are facing away from the target while initiating your throw. But I had some thoughts that a good amount of power can be produced by "opening" the body, rather than "closing" it. From my gymnastics background I know that a standing backflip is way easier than a standing frontflip. A part of this is that you can utilize a really long way of acceleration by a backhand move. Also, I am not a frisbee or disc golf expert, but I can throw a frisbee way further by using a backhand motion compared to the other motion of which I don´t even know the name  :).

Long story short:
Today I tried to throw tennis balls with a 1.05 m sling for distance, backhand. I never tried this technique before and was kind of shocked when I saw those tennis balls fly. After only 10 shots I could throw nearly as far as with my normal distance technique with whitch I threw over 1000 reps to this day. I don´t think I will give up my old technique for the backhand, but I think there is great potential if it is practiced and perfected.

Here is a video of my normal technique and the backhand technique side by side.

https://youtu.be/R6skgnOIhA8

FloatingFlint wrote on Jul 4^th, 2026 at 4:02pm:

...From my gymnastics background...

I always knew there were some serious muscles under those raincoats ;D

And yeah, this seems obvious now, but you are totally right. The degree of rotation you can get from a backhand motion is so much more than fronthand because of how much more we're able to close our arm across our chest. You can actually use that extra 90-150 degrees that is normally wasted during followthrough after release.

Like you said, probably not great for target slinging, but for distance...you're onto something here.

I guess the other main factor would be the muscles in use for a backhand motion versus fronthand. I don't know nearly enough anatomy to be able to estimate the power of tricep/lat versus bicep/pec - not to mention all the other muscles involved in the hip/core rotation. But if you were able to match your fronthand tennis ball distance in just a couple of throws, there's definitely something to this!

Very interesting!!

I think you are right it is more easy to “open”  your body than to “close” your body.

I also don’t know anatomy/muscle structure…..but I would guess “distance throwing sports” such as  discus or hammer throwing must go in the direction they go to maximize the body

That is just a guess of course. Please continue to investigate this backhand idea. It is very interesting!


Although I think your difference in distance is due to you keeping your hips closed (turned further away from the target) for the backhand.  You could also turn your back to the target and spin for a forehand throw to give a better comparison.

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erricrice wrote on Jul 5^th, 2026 at 1:01pm:

power of tricep/lat versus bicep/pec

The only thing I can say for sure is that the muscles for bending the hand/wrist forward (cupping in armwrestling terms) are usually way stronger than the muscles that bend the wrist backwards. I felt that week point in the backhand throws.

FloatingFlint wrote on Jul 5^th, 2026 at 3:45pm:

erricrice wrote on Jul 5th, 2026 at 1:01pm: power of tricep/lat versus bicep/pec The only thing I can say for sure is that the muscles for bending the hand/wrist forward (cupping in armwrestling terms) are usually way stronger than the muscles that bend the wrist backwards. I felt that week point in the backhand throws.

Wrist might be weaker, but the whole total body motion might be greater overall???

I think you might have something with potential. Never occurred to me, but once you pointed it out, why don’t you see slinging backhand and forehand like a frisbee?

Speaking of frisbee, I got curious and google a video of the longest frisbee throw….and it was thrown backhand like this new thing you are trying!  How about that?    The frisbee throw is a pirouette that to me at least seems more natural and fluid than forehand pirouette sling throws.

Take a look:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joW8GkcnaMk

Well, actually, the current WR for a disc golf disc is 1108 feet.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pY-JIZjm6Y
:)  You could argue the conditions weren't quite fair, but the record is an "all conditions" record.

This is an interesting concept. Personally, I also can also throw much harder backhand (with a disc).  I haven't tried with a sling yet, but it seems worth putting in some investigation.

Man, if only we could have someone out at the receiving end on a bike like they do. Would make retrieval so much easier!

Also, pretty interesting that we're(people other than me) able to pretty consistently outthrow a rock versus something that was designed in CAD for aerodynamic lift and to literally float. Another testament to the power of mechanical advantage!

   I never considered slinging backhanded.  In Karate the backfist is the fastest punch.  I definitely have to try it. 

PrimalSlinging shows a backhand as one of the styles in this video.

https://youtube.com/shorts/-n7mAVqcuzc?is=pX-jztwnTMg4D17n

Ha I totally missed that, nice. Greek backhand even, fancy!