....there's hope for anybody, & if you ever get discouraged, read this:

I took up slinging almost 1 year ago now, ....as an old guy of 63, light weight, slow, uncoordinated, no particular upper body strength or flexibility.

Today I discovered that I can pitch a fluffy tennis ball as far as I could pitch a  rock just 6-8 months ago.  Of course I can pitch a rock twice (or more) that far now.

Further....

I launch very few real "loser" shots these days, and anticipate being THE man of the hour when snowball pitching time arrives in Wisconsin.

I've developed a pretty respectable overhand to add to my already OK underhand.  (Thanks nwmanitou)

I can put a really pretty "football spiral" on ellipsoid ammo.

I know it's the "snap" that puts action on ammo, not the windup. (Thanks Jurek for engineering drawings that make this clear.)

I've got decent skill with the 2 shorter of the 3 "standard" Balaeric sling lengths.  Just the longest to go.   (Thanks Hondero for the info on lengths)

I know how to make slings that work pretty darn well.  (Thanks for all the pics in the gallery)

Today, I switched from finger loop to toggle on retained cords.  (Thanks WalkingBird)

And finally, thanks to all others who posted experiences and ideas that lit a little lightbulb in my mind regarding how to go about this slinging business!

If ol' Greenie can do this, anybody can!  Just keep working at it.     mgreenfield

Keep it up Ol' Greenie.  Keep us updated on your progress!

Can you tell me more about the "football spiral" ?  I use an overhand technique and I think the only spin I put on the rock is back spin.

Inspirational.  Slinging isn't as hard as it seems.  It seems.
 I find the best way to make myself do well is to put a tub of Ben and Jerrys on the side, and for every good shot, I reward myself with a spoonful.  It's a great incentive.  I make sure that I don't eat it when I do a bad shot... well, I try.

Tint, ...I think the secret to the "football spiral" is just this.

1/ Use a "wide grip".  That is put the retained cord loop on your ring finger, and let the cord hang outside your fist.

2/ Make sure the palm of your slinging hand is pointed at the target early in your delivery, and certainly right before you let go of the released cord.

3/ I think it works best of the cords of your sling have just a little torsional stiffness.  Perhaps more is better.  I dont know for sure.  My cords are 1/8" nylon cord, and they work fine.

I can do spirals overhand and underhand.  I get more consistent action pitching underhand.   In theory it ought to work sidearm, too, though I've never tried.

Nothing wrong with backspin.   That's one I do not have figured out.

mgreenfield

Mgreenfield
Your story gives me inspiration!
You're never to old to take up any kind of activity. Heck, 63 isn't old by todays standard!
Johnny

No need for anti-ageing creams, miracle cures and all that.  Just take up slinging.
 Well, it's not quite true that you are never too old.  I can't really see a 120 year old on their death bed doing sky diving.  But the statement is broadly true.  And if you are more active when you are older, you live longer.  My gran went to India only three weeks before she died.  She was very old.

wrote on Sep 19^th, 2004 at 7:56am:

I find the best way to make myself do well is to put a tub of Ben and Jerrys on the side, and for every good shot, I reward myself with a spoonful.

A spoonful of what? What is that?

Me and my son take some sandwiches and snacks and drinks to the beach and set up a target. We do the old 'hit the target before you can eat' routine from the Balearics!!

Thanks  mgreenfield for telling us how to get a big spiral.

Ben and Jerrys is a kind of ice cream.  Or rather, a brand.  From Vermont.  Quality ice cream in many flavours.

Snowball's with slings.  Sounds like too much fun. :D

And very intimadating to the other people in the snow ball fight. Last year we where have a snow ball fight, and i took out my sling just to how far i could throw one. The snow ball was pack pretty tight but went very far. Pretty much everyone was in sling range with a loosely pack snow ball. I think a very tightly packed snow ball slung at a person could kill very easy. So be careful.

A person could proably make a snow glande pretty easyly too.

Psycho Slinger Kills Friend With Snowball!
Not what we want in the headlines. :-/

just wonder if any of the artic people used packed snow balls as ammo?

years ago i made a sow ball so tight i could stand on it and threw it at my brother (as you do) no sling and didnt break just hit the floor and craked in half and made him cry (ah bless) he got a lump on his head. wont do that again but just a warning

Ouch.  Poor little guy. :( :'( ;D