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Teaching people how to sling (Read 4253 times)
Thearos
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Teaching people how to sling
Oct 2nd, 2021 at 10:42am
 
I know Mr Morningstar had a very good thread on this, but here goes: I took a teenager up slinging recently, showed him how it works, and STUPIDLY just have him a sling, loaded it with a stone and said "Have a go !" He rotated it VERY fast around his head, then stopped and changed the direction of the sling for his release. Of course, the sudden stop sent the stone flying-- backwards. It zoomed past me at with great speed and power. I simply could not have imagined this-- will never do this again. Morningstar I think starts with tennis balls.
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vetryan15
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Re: Teaching people how to sling
Reply #1 - Oct 2nd, 2021 at 10:55am
 
I have dome the same thing. Taught someome with river ricks, and almost got hit in the head with a 1/2 pound rick,
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czechslinger1.0
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Re: Teaching people how to sling
Reply #2 - Oct 2nd, 2021 at 2:09pm
 
Always start with tennis balls or something other, my favourite are pine cones as they fly good and are very abundant here, more than stones! and easy to comprehend technique like the underhand, most people seem to get that one fast and then after they understand what to do and what not to do let them try(still not with stones) another technique like helicopter, balearic, byzantine, "greek"

(notice how I didn't mention figure eight, well most beginners don't really understand how they should do it as it looks confusing to them when more proficient slingers do it and try to explain it. It usually ends with them whacking themselves with the pouch with pine cone)

This is my experience and how I do it.

Or try giving them a staff sling, much easier to use and about as addictive as a sling Cheesy
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Sarosh
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Re: Teaching people how to sling
Reply #3 - Oct 2nd, 2021 at 2:29pm
 
I have done the same. It's funny how some people get it just by watching and others mess everything up even after explaining them what to do.
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Thearos
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Re: Teaching people how to sling
Reply #4 - Oct 2nd, 2021 at 2:57pm
 
Aftewards I reflected if the stone had hit me it would probably have knocked me out.
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Archaic Arms
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Re: Teaching people how to sling
Reply #5 - Oct 2nd, 2021 at 6:36pm
 
Once while showing a friend how to sling, (with stones) he tried to give it a whirl himself...
We were extremely fortunate neither of us were seriously injured, as he immediately went full force and forgot he was supposed to let go of the knot! Shocked The stone somehow stayed in the pouch and somehow didn't whip around and knock him out, or worse.
It's just one more of those cliché tales as to why beginners shouldn't use 'dangerous ammo'.  Roll Eyes
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Mersa
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Re: Teaching people how to sling
Reply #6 - Oct 2nd, 2021 at 8:27pm
 
Yeah I always make beginners start with something softer, rocks aren’t friendly to beginners in most cases.

This is one of the reasons I don’t really consider a sling a weapon Because it’s more likely to harm the user if your not proficient
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joe_meadmaker
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Re: Teaching people how to sling
Reply #7 - Oct 2nd, 2021 at 9:01pm
 
I love in David's (Morningstar) video on learning how to sling Balearic style, he referred to a stone in a sling as "live ammunition".  In a sense it's more dangerous that a loaded gun or a drawn bow.  The unexpected can always happen, but with a gun or a bow you have a pretty good idea which direction your projectile is going.  With a rotating sling that's not really the case.

I'm definitely not for beginners using stones.  Unless there's really nothing else around, include people to hit.  Another thing I usually do with beginners is start them with underhand or overhand (whichever is more comfortable for them).  This limits the danger zone to in front of them and behind them (more or less), making the sides pretty safe.  With a rotor and throw in a horizontal plane, there's much more chance of something going wrong.
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Greenjay
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Re: Teaching people how to sling
Reply #8 - Oct 3rd, 2021 at 1:16am
 
Start them out with a short sling, easier to use and if things do go bad the damage will be less.
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Curious Aardvark
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Re: Teaching people how to sling
Reply #9 - Oct 3rd, 2021 at 9:23am
 
Lol, yeah having seen People smack themselves in the back of the head.
Always start with a tennis ball or better still, A sockball.
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Kick
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Re: Teaching people how to sling
Reply #10 - Oct 3rd, 2021 at 10:59am
 
It's incredible how often people don't realise you're supposed to let go of one of the cords. My father-in-law had been watching me sling at the summer cottage for hours upon hours over a number of YEARS and then asked if he could have a go. Beaned himself in the arm because he didn't let go. He had seen me slinging for YEARS. I was kind of dumbfounded.
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Happydrow
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Re: Teaching people how to sling
Reply #11 - Oct 3rd, 2021 at 2:22pm
 
Speaking to this I'm one of those self taught slingers. My martial arts background has taught me the importance of the training weapon (ie. wooden swords, plastic weights, rubber projectiles) when it comes to safety and learning. Oh and countless online videos help!

Started of inside the house with crumpled and taped together balls of paper learning releases and forms. Then used tennis balls outside. And finally rocks bought at hardware store.
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Thearos
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Re: Teaching people how to sling
Reply #12 - Oct 3rd, 2021 at 4:59pm
 
I wonder how many here are self-taught, as opposed to those who grew up in a traditional slinging culture (Tibet, Baleares, Peru). I certainly taught myself.
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Happydrow
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Re: Teaching people how to sling
Reply #13 - Oct 3rd, 2021 at 7:26pm
 
Oh. Now there's a poll if it doesn't already exist.

Since it's your post Thearos, maybe add a poll for something like.

-Self Taught Slinger (Online trained and not just cat videos)
-Instructed on how to sling (Certified Slinger)
-Cultural background of slinging (Used a sling before learning to walk)
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Re: Teaching people how to sling
Reply #14 - Oct 3rd, 2021 at 8:28pm
 
I second CezchSlinger1.0 on teaching underhand with pinecones or something similar. It's a good way to avoid a concussion.
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