Slinging.org Forum

cuallaidh Descens Offline Slinging Rocks! Posts: 123 London, ON, Canada Gender:	Missfire Sep 9^th, 2011 at 8:54am I have been working on using the helicopter method for sling throwing, what I end up with is the ammo launching itself from the pouch prematurely, despite my GF telling me premature ejection like that is normal I am confused as to what is happening. Anyone have any idea what I might be doing wrong?
Back to top	I can play at Tafl,&&Nine skills I know,&&Rarely forget I the runes,&&I know of books and smithing,&&I know how to slide on skis,&&Shoot and row, well enough;&&Each of two arts I know,&&Harp-playing and speaking poetry. IP Logged

Thearos Interfector Viris Spurii Offline Take that Posts: 3417	Re: Missfire Reply #1 - Sep 9^th, 2011 at 9:12am Perhaps start with a non-rotations style, or the "Byzantine" style ? Good luck
Back to top	IP Logged

wanderer

Interfector Viris Spurii

Offline

Posts: 1360
Texas
Gender: male

Re: Missfire
Reply #2 - Sep 9^th, 2011 at 9:27am

cuallaidh wrote on Sep 9^th, 2011 at 8:54am:

I have been working on using the helicopter method for sling throwing, what I end up with is the ammo launching itself from the pouch prematurely, despite my GF telling me premature ejection like that is normal Grin

I am confused as to what is happening. Anyone have any idea what I might be doing wrong?

You just need to get a better 'feel' for the rotation.
It comes with practice, but maybe a shorter style would be safer for the moment?
I didn't touch 'helicopter' for quite some time for similar reasons.

Back to top

IP Logged

cuallaidh Descens Offline Slinging Rocks! Posts: 123 London, ON, Canada Gender:	Re: Missfire Reply #3 - Sep 9^th, 2011 at 9:44am Thanks, may have to study up on some of the other methods, really hellicopter was the only one I tried.
Back to top	I can play at Tafl,&&Nine skills I know,&&Rarely forget I the runes,&&I know of books and smithing,&&I know how to slide on skis,&&Shoot and row, well enough;&&Each of two arts I know,&&Harp-playing and speaking poetry. IP Logged

Dan Interfector Viris Spurii SlingingGuide Moderator Offline Slinging Rocks! Posts: 3974 Gender:	Re: Missfire Reply #4 - Sep 9^th, 2011 at 10:36am What does ouir sling look like? It might be more the reault of the pouch than your style.
Back to top	I was pretty good at slinging like 10 years ago. IP Logged

Morphy

Slinging.org Moderator

Offline

Checkmate

Posts: 8102

Re: Missfire
Reply #5 - Sep 9^th, 2011 at 10:56am

Dan wrote on Sep 9^th, 2011 at 10:36am:

What does ouir sling look like? It might be more the reault of the pouch than your style.

I was thinking the same thing. Might try a leather pouch just to see if it's you or the sling. Just make sure the leather isn't too thick otherwise it will let the stone slip out as it doesn't grip around the stone well enough.

Back to top

IP Logged

Curious Aardvark

Forum Moderation

Offline

Taller than the average
Dwarf

Posts: 13965
Midlands England
Gender: male

Re: Missfire
Reply #6 - Sep 9^th, 2011 at 11:04am

three possible reasons.

1) ammo does not sit in pouch securely
2) your grip on the cords is too narrow
3) (most likely) just before you throw you stop or slow the rotations, the sling goes slack for a brief moment and the ammo slips out when you jerk forward for the throw.
If you maintain tension in the sling cords there is no jerk and the ammo really ought to stay seated in the pouch.
I've seen this so often it's the most likely.

Never managed to duplicate it myself - but for some reason it is a common problem.

Back to top

Do All things with Honour and Generosity: Regret Nothing, Envy None, Apologise Seldom and Bow your head to No One - works for me

IP Logged

cuallaidh Descens Offline Slinging Rocks! Posts: 123 London, ON, Canada Gender:	Re: Missfire Reply #7 - Sep 9^th, 2011 at 11:16am Dan wrote on Sep 9^th, 2011 at 10:36am: What does ouir sling look like? It might be more the reault of the pouch than your style. The blue black and yellow (though it looks white) one shown in this thread: http://slinging.org/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1315319659
Back to top	I can play at Tafl,&&Nine skills I know,&&Rarely forget I the runes,&&I know of books and smithing,&&I know how to slide on skis,&&Shoot and row, well enough;&&Each of two arts I know,&&Harp-playing and speaking poetry. IP Logged

cuallaidh

Descens

Offline

Slinging Rocks!

Posts: 123
London, ON, Canada
Gender: male

Re: Missfire
Reply #8 - Sep 9^th, 2011 at 11:17am

Curious Aardvark wrote on Sep 9^th, 2011 at 11:04am:

three possible reasons.

1) ammo does not sit in pouch securely
2) your grip on the cords is too narrow
3) (most likely) just before you throw you stop or slow the rotations, the sling goes slack for a brief moment and the ammo slips out when you jerk forward for the throw.
If you maintain tension in the sling cords there is no jerk and the ammo really ought to stay seated in the pouch.
I've seen this so often it's the most likely.

Never managed to duplicate it myself - but for some reason it is a common problem.

Don't think its my grip, but I could try fiddling with it a bit... I think you could be right about #3, not sure, will have to go and test it at some point this weekend see if I am doing that.

Back to top

I can play at Tafl,&&Nine skills I know,&&Rarely forget I the runes,&&I know of books and smithing,&&I know how to slide on skis,&&Shoot and row, well enough;&&Each of two arts I know,&&Harp-playing and speaking poetry.

IP Logged

Rat Man

Slinging.org Administrator

Offline

Slinging Rocks!

Posts: 13834
New Jersey, USA
Gender: male

Re: Missfire
Reply #9 - Sep 9^th, 2011 at 11:32am

Here's something you can try that I believe will really help. Though there is absolutely nothing wrong with your sling design, many find a closed pouch easier to use and much less apt to drop ammo prematurely. Try weaving the pouch. Use West Country Whipping, which is just a series of overhand knots, one after the other on alternate sides of the cord, to secure the loose ends of the weaving cord. In that you're new I believe that you'll find this type of pouch much easier to use. Once you're comfortable with that you can go back to the open style pouch if you prefer.
Is there any way that you can post a video of you slinging? That would be immensely helpful in analysing your problem.

Back to top

IP Logged

wanderer

Interfector Viris Spurii

Offline

Posts: 1360
Texas
Gender: male

Re: Missfire
Reply #10 - Sep 9^th, 2011 at 11:37am

cuallaidh wrote on Sep 9^th, 2011 at 11:17am:

...
Don't think its my grip, but I could try fiddling with it a bit... I think you could be right about #3, not sure, will have to go and test it at some point this weekend see if I am doing that.

I would agree with that. If you insist ( Grin

) on staying with the helicopter there's initially a tendency to bring the hand back in preparation for the throw too late. You have to 'rewire' yourself from bare handed throwing to a certain extent.

However, there is a certain art even in placing the ammunition in the pouch, as Ratman says.

Back to top

IP Logged

cuallaidh

Descens

Offline

Slinging Rocks!

Posts: 123
London, ON, Canada
Gender: male

Re: Missfire
Reply #11 - Sep 9^th, 2011 at 11:40am

Rat Man wrote on Sep 9^th, 2011 at 11:32am:

Here's something you can try that I believe will really help. Though there is absolutely nothing wrong with your sling design, many find a closed pouch easier to use and much less apt to drop ammo prematurely. Try weaving the pouch. Use West Country Whipping, which is just a series of overhand knots, one after the other on alternate sides of the cord, to secure the loose ends of the weaving cord. In that you're new I believe that you'll find this type of pouch much easier to use. Once you're comfortable with that you can go back to the open style pouch if you prefer.
Is there any way that you can post a video of you slinging? That would be immensely helpful in analysing your problem.

That was a possibility I was considering, that the pouch was just opening up and the ammo flying out. I may try making the pouch a more woven design as opposed to the open pouch.

As for a video, probably can't do one anytime soon, I don't trust myself not to hit the person filming as the shots are really that wild Wink

Back to top

I can play at Tafl,&&Nine skills I know,&&Rarely forget I the runes,&&I know of books and smithing,&&I know how to slide on skis,&&Shoot and row, well enough;&&Each of two arts I know,&&Harp-playing and speaking poetry.

IP Logged

Morphy Slinging.org Moderator Offline Checkmate Posts: 8102	Re: Missfire Reply #12 - Sep 9^th, 2011 at 1:14pm I agree with RM. Weave it and that should help. If your shots are really as wild as your last post seems to indicate it says to me the stones are slipping through the pouch at completely random times during the wind up.
Back to top	IP Logged

Jaegoor Interfector Viris Spurii Offline Slinging Rocks! Posts: 2834 Gender:	Re: Missfire Reply #13 - Sep 9^th, 2011 at 3:29pm It would be lighter if one a video would have. A very frequent mistake is a wrong position of the hand. The thumb should turn with point down
Back to top	Bono Mellius IP Logged

Bill Skinner

past-moderator

Offline

Slinging Rocks!

Posts: 3292

Re: Missfire
Reply #14 - Sep 9^th, 2011 at 7:54pm

You may be trying to get too much force into the throw, that is what is causing the different speeds in the rotation. Look at some of Jaegoors' videos, he looks like he is slinging in slow motion, notice the rocks shattering when they hit the target. He is very smooth, with no wasted motion or energy. When you start the heliocopter, the tendancy is to jerk the throw forward, that causes the pause CA was talking about. Slow your rotation down and just try to lob the shot, power and accuracy will come. Bill

Back to top

IP Logged