IronGoober wrote on Oct 29^th, 2022 at 7:07pm:

eating pizza and discussing scores was when I realised I don't really know what I'm saying.

IronGoober wrote on Oct 29^th, 2022 at 7:07pm:

I'm pretty sure I've heard a judge say quatro.

IronGoober wrote on Oct 31^st, 2022 at 5:17pm:


I always hear a distinctive d when they announce the score in Catalan. I always hear the word "cuadro", but it's spelled differently. It's the exact same word, though.

In Spanish, cuadro can mean square, rectangle, frame, board, etc.  I assume the same is true in Catalan.

Cuadrado is an adjective to describe something with a square or rectangular shape. It's like the difference between the word circle and circular.

I’ve been looking at them here on the local shopping app, and I seem to remember someone saying they had tried one.  I’m still fairly new to slinging and want to try one from another maker to see how my design does or doesn’t do what I designed it to do.  Ha!  The one I designed is an Apache style hunting sling with a stingray pouch.  I added some modifications, which I felt would help with accuracy, and with my limited slinging practice I’ve had, it seems to be fairly accurate.  I’d like to try one from another maker with longer cords and see how it compares for accuracy and range.  Mine isn’t a super long distance slinger, but I want to make sure that’s design and not technique also.

Thanks for that Joe! I went ahead and bought the one above. I’ll see if I can find the one you mentioned on their online shop as well.  They are really cheap.  Heck, for $6 with shipping I can at least give it an honest go.

I don't know the answer to your question but perhaps this may help.

Livius refered to the Balearic sling as having a 'single strap.' This would make more sense to use when slinging small lead glandes compared to the design we know of today. It is also known that they would carry three slings. So they could have had three completely different designs.

It is my opinion that the Balearic sling we see today should be seen as contemporary and describe what is common today. Therefore, it is just a braided split pouch that lies flat and has a tapered release cord.
It can have less than 5 strands in the braid. Diego Camuñas, one of the most famous sling makers from Menorca, does a three strand braid. I would also say that it doesn't need to be a flat braid to be a Balearic sling.
There are also many people from the islands that use synthetic materials. They just can't use them in competition. Luis Pons Livermore, perhaps the most famous slinger today and also from Menorca, has pictures of slings on this site with synthetic materials. There are others who make them completely out of polypropylene.

My opinion here is controversial so maybe wait until someone who has actually been to the islands replies. People describe the Balearic sling the same way you do and I think it is unnecessarily specific. People will naturally build slings to different specifications based on preference, craftsmanship skills, and time available.

A physical sling from history may not exist. They made these slings from esparto, horse hair, sinew, or black-tufted rush. Basically any material they could get there hands on. So, any sling from the Roman era has rotted out of existence.

The modern day Balearic sling apparently originates from the Iberian peninsula, but the design very likely dates to ancient times. The statue of David by Bernini from 1623-4 holds a sling very recognisable as what we would call today as a "Balearic" sling. There is also a Spanish painting from about ~1440 clearly depicting a split pouch, and likely similar in design. If the design dates back that far, I think its extremely likely that something similar existed in ancient times.
However, I believe the specific sling designs that directly originate from the Balearic Islands have been lost to history, and were gradually replaced in favour of the design people typically use on the islands today.
That is, a sling with a braided from loose fibre with a finger-loop that merges into flat braided retention cord (typically un-tapered or slightly so) a split pouch of 2 or 3 thongs growing in thickness (2 is most common), a thick belly that quickly tapers to retention cord thickness, then gradually reducing to the thickness of the finger-loop or thinner, and ending in a cord grip with tassel (no release knot). Like I say, there is some variation, but these general features are what make a Balearic sling distinguishable from other designs.MMF wrote on Nov 13^th, 2022 at 10:13am:

Esparto and black tufted rush are two names for the same thing. It's a particularly excellent material for this style of sling, for numerous reasons.

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Ah, ok, thanks for telling me