I totally agree with Larry and Jeff.

I also noticed something strange. I hurt my arm throwing real hard close range with my short sling a while back. I could not resist slinging though-- so I tried my long sling with light throws. I was surprised that I could throw much larger stone farther and use less effort without hurting. Leverage!!

Jurek, ....that is a great drawing & should go into the Picture Gallery or similar place permanently.    What I think you actually said was this.  To make up for the smaller long-sling F2, you effectively increase your arm length by adding much upper-body movement in the spin up.  You simply increase the size of the whole "slinging system" while holding rock weight constant. 

On the other hand, I'm (much?) older.  So, the amount of shoulder and upper-body movement I put into a launch is probably quite small compared to what you're doing.

Ahh, where are the videos when we need them??   Many tnx!    mgreenfield

I have learned through trial and error that, indeed one will find a length that is the "sweet spot" for them as a hunter sling.  And conversely,  a longer length ratio at which the optimum distance can be achieved.  I always used a different style and much longer sling when going for distance.  I have seen many and suprisingly diverse slinging styles!   I was never very good at the multi swing method except for distance.  I found my best power to accuracy ratio in a single arc method.  Just a quick single whip around in a near vertical plane in an underhand motion.  I have settled in quite comfortably with this style for years and it has brought me good results.  I am reminded, by this topic, of an older gentleman who travelled the U.S., a Doctor Kupler I believe,  and demonstrated various primitive weapons skills.  He really lent credence to "the shorter the more accurate" theory!   His sling was about 15" long I'd say!  He really only plinked around with it, but was quite accurate at short range and would routinely hit small pine boards thrown into the air.  His style was textbook (if there is such a thing in our sport)  He would rapidly whirl the sling over his head faster and faster until release.....I was amazed at his accuracy with such a method!   It was so very short yet it still impressed me that his lead ammo could sometimes snap those little 1/2" pine boards at 30 feet or so.  I am going to try and get some video documentation online in the near future.

Man I was WAY off.   I checked my videos and found his name to be Dr. Stacy Groscup.  I mutilated his name....my memory with names wreaks!   I will try and dig out my old CWS SuperSling Demo video as well.  Some may be surprised at the accuracy one may obtain and still sling at high velocities!

Peace

I'm using a 30" sling, and a vertical underhand delivery, with 630deg of spin from start to launch.   In launching a rock, I see that my sling hand makes a circle certainly less than 15" in diameter, and that my elbow is almost stationary.   I do some follow-thru upon launch, but think that's probably after the rock is already on it's way.   Follow-thru and other "body english" adds nothing to range, and messes up accuracy a lot.

For an older/smaller guy, I seem to be getting OK range, ....about 100yards.   Regarding accuracy, I'm about where I was with a bow & arrow after the same small amount of practice.    I ended up being pretty good with a bow, so have hope for the sling.

Finally, this throwing technique is certainly easy on the shoulder, and I dont need a lot of room to get a shot off, BUT moving my sling hand in a small circle, less than 15" in diameter, seems odd when I read about other slingsters' techniques???

All comments/recommendations from my fellow slingsters are welcome.    Many tnx!   mgreenfield

MG,

MG,

I am going to guess that you don't sling large stones--like the size of your fist or a bit smaller? I need a lot more than 15" to throw heavy stones but I also use the same motion for smaller stones and it is very much like a baseball pitchers motion.

Chris thinks he will have the pictures and videos I sent ready to post by next week. Hope some of you other guys --and gals can video some of your slinging!

I too, much prefer the underhand delivery for target slinging.  After much experimentation I settled on a single revolution of the sling as it provided me the best ratio of repeatable accuracy and power.  I found the autonomic imprint of a single, very fast sling revolution was very similar to throwing the shuriken overhanded.

Hondero, .....I think you have something with that elbow-to-finger sling length business!    I started slinging last fall with a 38 inch sling.    Now I know that a "mushy" feel to a sling means it is too long.   A "snappy" feel means the right length.   

The last couple of weeks, I've been shortening my slings every time they begin to feel even a little bit "mushy".   Today I'm down to 25 inches from the pocket-center to the knot. 

Whenever I shorten a sling, I immediately improve accuracy, but lose a little range.   In a few days, the range comes back.     Works good!   mgreenfield