No matter what angle you release it at, the projectile speed should be about the same.  If I want to do distanced shots across a field or lake, I fire them upwards at an angle around 45 degrees.  If I want to shoot at a target, like a plywood board resting against a tree, I'd fire parallel with the ground.  It really depends on what you want to do...

Good job with the accuracy,
Chris

I think throwing with 45 deg angle for the best ranges makes no sense. That angle is optimal only in the vacum. Generally. the more air drag, the smaller the optimal angle. Saying in other words, if one uses a worse projectile and (or) and its velocity is bigger, then one should throw more flat for the best range. My optimal angle (for stones) is about 30 deg, at a guess. It also depends on a wind direction, of course. If the wind is opposite, one should make more flat shots and vice versa.

Jurek

I'm reposting these links:

http://www.eskimo.com/~jbm/ballistics/maxdist/maxdist.html
http://www.scri.fsu.edu/~jac/Java/baseball.html

The second one seems to be dead, alas. Mybe someone knows other address of that baseball simulator?

Playing with them can provide some interesting conclusions.

Jurek