AncientCraftwork wrote on Nov 27^th, 2020 at 5:22am:


Ok ok "J".   

You know you will always be Jauke to me. Nice little upgrade you have there. Would you believe I still haven't tried a y sling? Y you might ask? Because I am lazy. The End.

Are you still improving the design? Mind giving us your thoughts on it as it stands right now?

Morphy wrote on Nov 27^th, 2020 at 8:34am:



The Y-sling offers some benefit when throwing bad ammo. Although that is not what this is about. I was interested in the grip style/handle that hammer throwers use, and implementing that into a sling, considering that they sling the heaviest objects (+7kg). naturally this setup works best on a y-sling configuration, because I also tried it on a convential sling, but its awkward. On a plus note, this way you can actually control the pouch orientation on a y-sling too, without having to rely on fin attachmens like Burner and his dad used, because it spreads out the cords (the same reason why we use wide grips on  regular slings). So now you can get a consistent topspin, backspin or sidespin using the y-sling.
I've yet to test it with big rocks in the field, but just swinging it around it already feels like it spreads the load over the hand really comfortably, after all, that's why hammer throwers use it. And the release of the handle out of the hand is not as bad as I expected either.

On a convential sling, you can also have a handle like this, but it has to be on the retention cord (retention toggle). I've also tried the wrist loop many times now for better load distribution on a convential sling, but it gets in the way for my release cord because I like to grip the release cord with my whole hand. I've still got to try the retention toggle thing, on a convential sling. But I fear it will also get in the way of me being able to grab the release cord properly with all of my hand. I don't like just grabbing a knot or tab with just a few fingers. Currently I still just use a fingerloop on the convential sling, and with the full hand grip on the release cord, the load distribution is very good, but not as good as it can possibly get. But figuring this out without it getting in the way of a clean release out of the hand is tricky. We want a good grip on cords but we also don't want the release cord getting snagged and delaying the shot. Currently a grippy but smooth release cord is what I settled on, on my convential slings. The only time I still think that a knot or node on the release cord is justified is when you are using really thin cords, for ultra distance.

AncientCraftwork wrote on Nov 27^th, 2020 at 11:53am:


So you release the whole handle? Any danger of it swinging back at you?

AncientCraftwork wrote on Nov 29^th, 2020 at 4:26am:

I see what you mean. Mine isn't designed for anything fancy, just to give me more leeway with ammo.

This design is not focused on the Y-sling, it was all about the handle or a loop-release string. The Y-sling was just the best platform to put it on.

The handle (or a loop string release without a handle) is so that you can use different muscle groups, for heavy heavy rocks, using a pirouette throw. Its not really convential slinging.

I meant, there is little pressure on the release cord after one has let go of the handle, because the rock doesn't push against it once the release loop/handle is dropped. And because its centered around using heavy rocks, the release cord never really flies super fast.

It works, it's an interesting experience for slinging heavy rocks using pirouette. Spin angle is not so important in this case. With a handle or loop release it feels like you can put more power into the throw, because of better load distribution linear with the muscles of the forearm.

When you use a bow, you also often use 3 fingers for holding back the string that is under pressure, and then let go.  You don't pull a bow back using just your thumb and index pinching the arrow (the Asiatic thumb grip is different.) That is what inspired me to try something like this out, but also the hammer throwers inspired me.

Keep in mind I am no longer a y-sling advocate as a superior sling. That is why the deleted all those posts, although in hindsight I was not thinking clearly, I was burned out, but I am sorry for all that mess. It was stupid.
But for this particular usecase, the Y-sling platform just fit better.

When I left I wrote about why I liked the Balearic sling better. I still do. I have made about 6 since, 3 and 5 strand from raw yucca I gathered or manilla and sisal fibers I untwined. This design works so well with nearly everything.
Aside from that I also make thin (4mm)  twisted slings using a 2 ply method with a tight, quite small and seperate woven pouch. These have too thin cords just to grab with the hand, so I get by with a double overhand knot on those, and these slings I use for glandes or high velocity small stones. So one sling for the dirty work, and one sling for high velocity and long distances. Both from natural fibres and about a medium 70 cm long.

AncientCraftwork wrote on Nov 30^th, 2020 at 4:40am:


Welcome back Jauke. It's true, you never had to delete anything, you were going through a process and whether the results are positive or negative it's still a useful contribution for the forum. That goes for further experimentation too.

Out of interest- how do you find manila as a sling material? I only know myself and one other who has used it and we have different experiences with it, so interested to hear your take.

A few months ago I also made a triggered staff sling using a Y-sling for the sling and a lightweight aluminium pole. It was quite a nice build, but I don't recount talking about it on here. I liked it more than a traditional staff sling. As far as I remember I didn't throw further with it than a hand sling. I've only taken it out once and the stones I had available were not the best. It worked better for me than a normal staff sling. But I still much more prefer the traditional hand sling.

The manilla I have is sold as thick rope. I happen to have a very large spool of it that is about as big as a large microwave.
To make a sling out of it, I cut a section of rope and untwine it into lose fibers. I prefer to work with loose fibers than working with pre-twined rope or cordage. The manilla I have has just a more brown color compared to sisal, and is just a touch softer than sisal. But far from being as soft as hemp or jute.  It is cheaper than sisal too. It's perfectly adequate fibre for slings. I must say the Yucca I have I love the most right now, because I enjoy the process of getting the fibers out of the leaf more than untwining fibers that have been twisted into a rope. Its actually quicker. And the raw Yucca also does not have this stinky factory oils leaked into it. From a job I got some Yucca plants out of someones backyard. I copied Diego Camuñas method with some slight modifications for getting the fibres out. That's much quicker than scraping the greenery off with a spoon or knife. https://www.youtube.com/watch/?hl=ru&v=-ouNR6djZy4

I have used sisal, manilla and yucca fibres together in the same slings interchangeably and they're like twin brothers to each other, it all works. Getting to work with Yucca is a joy, much more than working nettles because you get such a greater yield of fibre. Nettle is probably more suited for bow strings although I would still use it for slings if it was all I could find and gather.

Slyngorm wrote on Dec 5^th, 2020 at 5:12pm:


I could write you a 2000 word long message delving into this topic and talk theory with you about this all day, but I think it's better you just go out and build a range of staff slings & try them out and then determine for yourself. There's a lot of stuff on this site that will help getting you started.