I agree with the consensus above.  I use Byzantine quite a bit.  For many months it was my #1 style.  I don't think that Byzantine makes you more susceptible to injury than any other style.  Watch youtube videos to make sure that you're executing properly and don't over do it.  You'll actually get more power in your shot by slinging at about 80% of your total strength.  I resisted this concept for a long time, but it's true.  It sounds convoluted, but try it and see for yourself.  

Thank you for the suggestions, and everyone's advice has helped tremendously. I now usually stretch my shoulder a little bit before slinging. Before now I would often accidentally throw it sidearm, which would make an unpleasant snapping noise, definitely giving me less power than an overhand release. I am double-jointed in my elbow, which sometimes causes me to over twist. So the problem mostly goes away if I make sure to stretch, throw overhand, and now throw at 100% power like Rat Man suggested.

I recently re started slinging and tried the figure 8 style. after a few days my shoulder would burn along the top, so i reverted to helicopter(my old style)though its easier on my shoulder,  it still hurts though and i believe i have a rotator cuff injury. has anyone else experienced this? its not so bad in practice but as soon as i stop it burns searingly! for several hours.no practise for the moment, and i was starting to hit my targets!!! ::)

Welcome, jerome;
  I'm very sorry to hear that you're having such problems.  Sometimes when I over do it and my arm is hurting a bit I'm still able to sling underhanded without pain.  Have you tried this yet?  Also, with that level of pain it might be a good idea to see your doctor.

wrote on Apr 7^th, 2011 at 4:27am:

i believe i have a rotator cuff injury

Any muscles injury at the shoulder is a rotator cuff injury. ;) Stop doing anything strenuous for a week and see what happens. If is isn't noticeably less painful go to a doctor. If you can't lift your arm over your head, go to a doctor. If your arm falls off, go to a priest. I bet after a week your problems will have gone away. After that try stretching before you sling and gradually do start doing figure-8 again if you want to. Start out by just doing a couple figure 8 throws at the end of a helicopter slinging session and over the course of a month transition to doing more figure 8. That way you avoid repetitive motion strains as you muscles get used to slinging.

When jerome uses the term "searing pain" that sends up a red flag with me.  I don't think one should ever feel searing pain from slinging.  It'll cost maybe thirty bucks to talk to your doctor.  That could be money well spent.  

I wonder if Jerome deleted his own account or if someone else got to him...

Well now I may be a youngster compared to most on this site, but I've had the same problem in my shoulder, and all I did was wait a day and the pain went away. I slung after that for about 3 days in a row for about two and a half hours or more and I haven't had that problem again. It could just be a underworked muscle or the joint cartilage just isn't used to the movements, or as others have said a serious problem, but I know that my problem is fixed after resting for a time.

if my shoulder starts to twinge (im very careful now after my previous injuries with karate) i just change styles for a coupple of days and ease myself back into it after that.

Hey y'all, back again-had trouble with getting my password to work(?) so had to re register( was jerome). nope-no one scared me off.but thanks for all the feedback.rested the arm for the week and gently started with helicopter, like i used to as a teen (30 now) and no problems. the rest helped with accuracy and was a restless week with nothing to sling!  :P however i've been at it for 45 mins every day and improving slowly, still avoiding heavier rocks and "power shots" however as the excercise progresses i generally get much faster and consistent. Warming up definitly helps. Thanks again guys!

Masiakasaurus wrote on Apr 8^th, 2011 at 5:40pm:

I wonder if Jerome deleted his own account or if someone else got to him...

wasn't me.

Good to see you back, jerome!