In another post ( https://slinging.org/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1782445966 ) I learned of this idea to begin the power stroke as early as possible.  An early start allows a longer time to keep adding power before you have to release….and adding more power increases both velocity and distance.

Irongoober and Snow Serg made excellent videos that explain this idea of “beginning the power stroke early”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdVyeQnEGWk
https://rutube.ru/video/75cc96f2f02fab62cb22a6d72ddb5a6d/


I now have data that shows the benefit of this idea!!


BACKGROUND
In my case, using the Byzantine style, I would start my power stroke LATE when the tennis ball spun all the way forward towards the target.  This gave me a 270 degrees spin before release.

This last week I have been trying to start the power stroke EARLY before the tennis ball is spun forward. Still learning but I generally can start the EARLY power stroke when the tennis ball is 90 degrees from my body (which is a quarter of a circle earlier if you were looking down from above).  So now my EARLY power stroke begins 270+90=360 degrees before release.

Here is a video of me trying to learn this early power stroke if the above description is confusing. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hR2w9HASYQ


THE DATA
The data was taken on different days so fatigue is not a factor. Also the data was sorted in ascending order just to make the graph more clear…but in reality the distances were random, not generally improving with each throw as suggested by the graph. In any case, the data clearly shows beginning the power stroke EARLY significantly improves average AND maximum distance when slinging tennis balls.

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This is excellent data. It's quite heartening to see that there are concepts with slinging that translate between people. thanks for putting this together.

LOL I love how you phrased that so diplomatically IG 🤣
I’m tempted to start an argument about the definition of “power stroke”  just to troll all of this scientific progress we’re having here lately 😆

Do it for Morphy. You know he'd want you to.

Was not able to sling for two weeks, felt a little rusty. Threw for distance and video showed I started the power stroke LATE.  And my distance suffered.

Originally I started power stoke with sling pointed at target.  Then learned about starting power stroke early and began power stroke when sling was 90 before pointing forward. Today I was late starting and the sling was about 60 degrees before pointing forward.

Late start, sling pointed at target, average distance = 77 yards

(today) Late start, sling 60 degrees before pointing forward, average distance = 79 yards

Early start, sling 90 degrees before pointing forwards, average distance = 83 yards

Here is video of one of the better throws today:

https://youtu.be/eKvYbp9sTjw?is=qW6HN_7OvRTJh0_g

Nice looking throw! :thumb:

And it's blurry, but you got a good capture of the ball rolling out of the pouch.

bandit111964 wrote on Jul 21^st, 2026 at 7:25pm:

Originally I started power stoke with sling pointed at target.  Then learned about starting power stroke early and began power stroke when sling was 90 before pointing forward. Today I was late starting and the sling was about 60 degrees before pointing forward. Late start, sling pointed at target, average distance = 77 yards (today) Late start, sling 60 degrees before pointing forward, average distance = 79 yards Early start, sling 90 degrees before pointing forwards, average distance = 83 yards

Analyzing your own technique and throws is good.
And there is also no doubt that the more you can accelerate the projectile before release, the higher its speed and range, BUT
I have my doubts about the "accuracy" of measuring the degree of the backswing before the throw, if I'm being so meticulous.
And also in the fact that no other forces have influence.

Today I read about the fastest serve in tennis out of interest in comparing it to the speed of my throws.
I found there an analysis of the approach of two people with different indicators.
The image shows one of the key moments of energy transfer and the importance of STAGED stretching of the entire body, like a spring. I recommend installing the camera on the side if you are analyzing your videos.

But other external factors also play a role: wind, humidity, temperature, altitude, the condition of the ball...

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The idea I am working on per Irongoober is to have the earliest starting power stroke as possible. Starting early creates the most time possible to accelerate the projectile.

In Byzantine style as I throw it, the sling makes one final revolution during the power stroke. Per Irongoober, more power comes from making that final revolution more than 360 degrees.

In this pic you can see the difference. On the right, my “late starting” power stroke (@front foot hits the ground) began with the sling about 60 degrees before pointing forward. In comparison, on the left  Irongoober has the sling roughly 120 degrees before it points forward.  That gives in this case Irongoober an extra 60 degrees of rotation to accelerate the sling.

Irongoober pic source:
https://youtu.be/P0rEsdrZWrE?is=IHW31bgXK_qv-G4U

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Here is a video showing SOME slight improvement on starting the power earlier. Got in a little practice today….need to keep working on this for sure.

https://youtu.be/48KvpLF6ivY?is=IsgE9o7kkn6pwKTZ

bandit111964 wrote on Jul 22^nd, 2026 at 10:17am:

Starting early creates the most time possible to accelerate the projectile.

I find that the start of my powerstroke depends on the length of the sling. When I throw with a 24 inch sling I start about 180 degree before release. When I use a 50 inch sling then it is more than 360 degree.
If I start the power stroke (the effort to get maximum acceleration) too early, then I have the feeling that the sling is "overtaking" me at the end and I don´t get maximum speed.

Some improvements today with several tennis balls slung over 90 yards.  I really think there is potential with this “early power stroke” idea!

You can see in the video I improved on starting the power stroke early. But the video also shows I am twisting my shoulders forward too soon. Need to stay twisted until AFTER hips rotate and face forward. I think this early shoulder rotation is also swinging the sling forward….so if I fix the shoulder rotation problem likely the power stroke will start even earlier.

Also measured my launch angle and surprised it was not terrible.

https://youtu.be/TrOugBn3Eiw?is=3ow5FcMN1xsHDQHI