Staff slings could be made of a composite material.  I think people generally make it out of wood because it's what they have available.  A staff sling could reach distances of 800 feet, and probably beyond.  I imagine a half pound projectile being used.  A regular sling can exceed 1000 feet.

Making it out of composite materials would decrease the force needed because you'd normally be accelerating the bulk of the staff too.  I think in fishing though, the keep it light because you're always holding it in front of you.  If it was really heavy, you'd get tired quickly.  Also, it needs to be very strong to reel in fish.

I've never heard of a flexible staff sling.  People achieving 800 casts with fishing rods are using a whipping effect.  This is replicated with the sling at the end of the non-flexable staff.

Chris

Has anyone tried launching their ammo: spherical, glandes shaped, or mini finned glandes by mounting them coaxially on a flexible rod? Similar to an apple launched from a sapling.

The patent office is full of contraptions like this. Some of the missiles are tubular and some are mounted to magnets. Some even have coaxial release mechanisms and built in spin generators.

You can use the “Alterna” tiff reader available through the U.S. patent website. This facility works like a charm.

Thomas

I think that cold steel make a flexable rod that is used on snakes. I wonder if the cold steel stick could work. I don't remember how long the stick it but it was very flexable. Any one else no what I am talking about? ???

Cold steel 'sjambok'.  It might work if you cut off the last 3rd (too whippy), but you could probably find better materials.