Last weekend I attended an SCA event, actualy the first I've been to since about '89. In the midst of this sillyness a friend of mine volenteered me for two things... One as a pledge to a house and the other for starting sling compitions. As things progressed(regressed) the more that folks heard of the idea the more good natured pestering became. Even to the point of being asked for the regs e-mailed so they could be reviewed before the next event... :-/
Being one that has a hard time leaving an idea alone, and who loves to sling, I started fooling with idea of standard regulations. Also this group being pretty much a sling guild, I thought you good folks would like to take a few Parthan shots (couldn't help it) and toss some ideas in.
So far there are only a few ideas that struck me. Three skill levels for compition: newbie, not bad, and nice shot man (names subject to change). Since the SCA is safty concious there would have to be slinger training for those who want to play. Much like their fighters and archers they would have to prove they know enough not to get themselves or anyone else hurt. ie. So many hours with tennis balls and such so that they can keep the ammo in the pouch and send it down range...Also either overhand and underhand atleast  to start with.
As far as targets, ranges, and point system go I'm still scratching my head on this one. Then there is the question of ammo and sling standards... Since most of these things are held at state parks and summer camps lead glandes are out of the question(I'd think). Sling lengths could fall into their own class but seems like a big pain to keep track of... I'm guessing anything that will safly hold ammo and get it down range. Targets just have to fit in a car or in the back of a truck.
Then there is the idea of the book/training manual. History, slings and construction, styles. (hint hint Johnny), and regs. for the tournies.

Anyway some food for thought. If nothing else it's a way to keep the sling alive.

       jason

ps. credit will be given to slinging.org as well as anyone wanting to get in on this sillyness.

I think it would be a great idea to put together some kind of book. I would like to see more videos (side view only) of different folks slinging. I would like to illustrate various styles(like I did with my style and nwmanitou).

Johnny,  If plans hold.....(and by that I mean - if my wife does not go into labor with our 5th child by this weekend)....I will be doing a video showcasing various styles.  I would be delighted to send you a CD.  I will try and get one out to Chris as well, should there be anything of interest for him to host here on the site.  (PM me with a mailing address should you be interested).

Geez Tech... You know what causes that don't you ;).

Johnny, Your illustrations are more than great and should no doubt be in. I'm sure this silly socity of slingers will all agree on that one.

I'm more that happy to put this idea together as long as someone checks my spelling and grammar ::). The idea of putting it together as a volume of submissions from members struck me. Something similar to "The Ranger Digest" (I don't have the web link handy but it's out there). The way the guy has it set up is anyone that get's published gets a copy and the cost of the books go to printing expences... More mental munchies?...

Anyway here is the link to the house that this got  lobbed at... http://www.geocities.com/blackcompanyhome/
If they don't bite this can be taken elsewhere or at least we can start our own sling olympics 8).

I'm off to test some ideas and do some slinking (covert slinging for those that missed that one).

I love the idea of a slinger's guild!  I've been toying with the idea of joining the SCA for a while but -- and, please, nobody take offense -- the events I've been to seemed to have 1 or two insanely cool people and about 50 who took their made-up personas just a little too seriously.  That, and I'm allergic to affected English accents.  A slinger's guild just might make it worth it, though...

Someplace on this site there is a description of the target the Balaeric slingers use, their scoring and standard ranges.   I say start here, specify tennis balls as ammo, & modify ranges to match the ammo.   mgreenfield

You may need to adjust the ranges if you're using tennis balls instead of rocks.  I'll bet the 'Gong' sound of hitting your target will go over well with novice slingers.

Tech
Congrats on your child! I have just one!
Please send me a cd when you have time. I would love to see your various styles. It's funny, when I think I have it all figured out, I see and learn something new!!!!
Johnny

this might seem kinda dumb but its an idea for the targets.  first off the dimensions: For this scenario lets pretend that you have your distances set out for each category, newbie and the other two.  lets say for the best people at 20 yrds the target is a circle eh say 20in wide.  for the newbs (newbies for short) say 50 inches wide.  and for each distance increase the target size by a set number ie an exponential growth whereas in this scenario we will pretend that you will increase target size by 25% every 20 yards.  so at 40 yards your target for newbs will be appr. 75 in. for the newbs and 30 in. for the best people.  if you are confused pm me and ill explain in further detail.  also you could see the greatest distances by putting some sort of tracking chip in like 30 tennis balls and launching them into a very big field actually the distance thing wouldnt work but oh well.  
Sean

Tech,
best wishes on your child.


Srgs9,
Having briefly been part of the SCA, I also toyed with this idea.  I prominently displayed my sling where ever I went.  

I am all for creating a slinging sub organization and would be willing to make a separate SCA section of the site and forum to deal with regulations, ranks, rules, membership, etc.  There has been some regulations put down for slings in battles, most notably restrictions on ammo.  But overall organization wide interest is low.  Slinging tennis balls just doesn't compare to a bow in the SCA.  Perhaps you could push for more aggressive ammo types that would allow the sling to be a competitive ranged weapon.

I doubt I'd rejoin the SCA, but you can certainly use this site as a jumping off platform.  

Chris

I'd like to stay away from tennis balls except as a training aid to let the would be slingers get the feel of how it all works. If some of them want to take their tennis balls to the battle field, well that's all fine but not my intention. Also comming up with better ammo and getting it combat approved seems almost impossable or atleast a huge headache. Although I did see some practice golf balls that had a dense foam jacket and some sort of solid core. Might be worth looking into, but again getting them field approved is a whole diffrent can of worms.
I picked up some practice golf balls that are hollow plastic, much like a heavy table tennis ball. The idea of filling them with colored chalk or some such for marking targets on impact came to mind. Yet another thing on my "wonder what would happen if" list.
As far as targets go, "heavy": simply a 3/4"-1" plywood target cut like mil. spec. rifel pop up targets, "medium": the pop up targets themselves and "light": paper or cardboard silioute targets. Paper targets come in all kinds of beast types, so for giggles every thing from life sized squrrels to deer targets could be used as well as two legged critters... Groups could go as far as holladay prizes such as a smoked turkey to the first to pop the paper one in the head... And of course there will some sick minded folks that could take that to ritualistic cannabialism...  :o   (Then again there are always turkey types out there...)     
Keeping the targets the same size as the real thing seems to make more since for reality's sake, after all people stay the same they just look smaller further away.
Then there is entrance into the slinger elite. ie."In the 18th century, the slingers of the island of Menorca (Balearic Islands) were famous for their extraordinary accuracy. Slingers joined a society or union, and acquired the title of "foner" (slinger) if they passed the following test: fire nine shots hitting each of the crossbars of a traditional gate." ( http://www.slinging.org/19.html )
The sling as a competitive ranged weapon was my intent all along due mainly to the tennis ball sillyness in general. That and the historical aspect as well as the simple fact that it is and always has been a serious weapon.

I agree with you (Lord) Hobb (of Calven...couldn't help it  ;D), a good deal of them do get annoying. The thing that get's to me most though is the ones that come off as having played too many roll playing games and (are starting to?  :-/) belive it's real... "Oh a staff sling, that's a halfling weapon"....Geez... Well, what ever makes them happy I guess...as long as they keep away, preferably out of sling range, from me. ;)
I still am not an SCA member, but if this takes off it's possable there maybe enough intrest stired up that no matter where we are there may be someone serious to go sling with on a simi-regular basis.

Thanks again Chris and everyone. I'm glad this site is here.

j.

This is a great idea for popularizing the sling. :D The SCA is well established around the country.

What is SCA, exactly? Some sort of medieval combat reenactment thing?

Society for Creative Anachronism = what you said + fantasy role playing dress up party (and some other stuff).  More info can be found at http://www.sca.org

I think probably you would be able to get away with beanbags of some kind. You could even make the standard template roughly "glande" shaped (even easier to sew up than round ones. Flat (2 seam) almonds? An elongated 4 "gores" would sew up quickly too... you'd want to have a whole pile of them.

I agree that tennis balls wouldn't cut it.

I think that standardising the target to the plywood / metal square Balearic style makes the most sense. Maybe combined with the "football goalposts" distance / accuracy competition.

Matthias

Matthias

I'd thought about bean bag type ammo for "combat" and target use but there is still the life expectancy (not to mention the safty issue for "combat") problems... I'm probably going to meet with some folks this weekend and bounce some ideas off of them (pun intended) as well. If nothing else there will probably be a chance to show off a bit.  

Looks like beanbags are out... Still think that would have been the most satisfying. Heavy enough and they give a nice THUD when they hit. Also no bouncing around like a tennis ball would. I think you probably could have made pretty durable ones (they use them in those riot guns)

I can see why people would want to standardise on something like a tennis ball - but man are they lousy to throw. If the max weight is currently 3oz, seems like you need to find something around that size, and spongy/foam. Dog balls? You could probably still _make_ custom balls, but I don't think many people would want to put in the effort. The rules for archery actually seem a bit lax to me... can you imagine being shot with a 50lb bow and a (even padded) wooden arrow?

From: http://www.sca.org/officers/marshal/combat/archery/missile_combat_plus_supplement.pdf

OTHER MISSILE WEAPONS
General Rules:
1. A missile shall not contain any material, such as beans, sand, etc., which could enter the
eyes if the missile came loose or broke.
2. All missile weapons shall be marked with the name of their user or maker. For
interkingdom wars they shall also be marked with the name of the kingdom to make it
easier to locate the maker/user of the weapons.
Hand Thrown Missiles:
1. Hand thrown missiles may include, but are not limited to: axes, throwing knives, etc.
2. Hand thrown missiles shall not exceed two pounds in weight. They should have
progressive give similar to a legal javelin head. Lighter weight missiles may have less
progressive give.
Hand-Held Mechanically Launched Missiles:
1. Hand-held mechanically launched missiles may include, but are not limited to: hand and
staff slings, spear/dart throwers, tennis ball shooting crossbows. Hand or shoulder held
guns are not allowed.
2. Tennis ball missiles shall not exceed 3 ounces in weight. The balls may be perforated
with a 1/4 inch maximum diameter hole by drilling. To prevent their collapsing when
stepped on, they may not be slotted.
3. Darts or javelins used with spear throwers shall be of golf tube construction. The spear
thrower shall not be capable of throwing a golf tube dart/javelin more than eighty
yards. The spear thrower must not be able to pass through the bars of a SCA legal
helm.
4. The maximum range for three-ounce tennis ball missiles launched from a hand held
weapon is 90 yards and for two-ounce tennis ball missiles, 100 yards.

Exactly Matthias, now the "combat" problems rear their ugly heads. The weighted practice golfballs seem like the way to go as far as off the shelf ammo... The problems with them are mostly expense and duty cycle.
Granted the core might not be able to pass through the bars of a SCA legal helm but the EVA type coating might shread at that speed and take out an eye. I won't even go into the range to weight factor  ;)
It looks like I'll just stick to "ranged non-combat compitition" use and try to build up some some respect for sling....