Slinging.org Forum - How to control curve during slinging

IronGoober

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How to control curve during slinging
Feb 6^th, 2022 at 8:52pm

I made a video about controlling the curve you get during slinging. As we've discussed here quite a few times, you can control it with sling selection and wrist orientation these affect sling orientation upon release and ultimately control the spin direction of a sling projectile. I just wanted it to be made available to those who haven't read the previous discussions and show the effect irrefutably.
https://youtu.be/ESrvvBFcrWM

I didn't realize while filming that I wasn't releasing the ball inline with the camera, which I wish I had done better, but I think you can still see the effects of spin on projectile curvature.

NOOC's videos with wet tennis balls show the different directions of spin quite nicely.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QEby...
https://youtu.be/ajzuWrYfrfk

One thing that I was going to add into the video, but didn't think the effect was quite strong enough to be seen clearly, was changing the retention cord position on your hand. This will also alter the neutral pouch orientation and can affect spin as well.

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« Last Edit: Feb 8^th, 2022 at 1:15pm by IronGoober »

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AncientCraftwork

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Re: How to control curve during slinging
Reply #1 - Feb 7^th, 2022 at 11:12am

My tennis balls fly straight. But I throw sidearm, and hold the release cord in front of the retention cord upon release (tight grip). I do the same with stones and they release with a nice rifle spin.
I studied this effect in slow motion and it turns out that the pouch angle lags behind just a bit, the pouch angle does not correspond exactly to how the cords are held in the hand, so that upon release the pouch is orientated for a rifle spin.
I only bother with a tight grip nowadays because of how nice and secure the projectile sits in the sling. Doing demonstrations around people taught me the importance of that. I haven't had any stone slip out of the sling yet in front of people, contrary to what I've experienced with a wide grip. It's also very satisfying to get consistent spiral spin on projectiles with a tight grip.

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IronGoober

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Re: How to control curve during slinging
Reply #2 - Feb 7^th, 2022 at 12:53pm

AncientCraftwork wrote on Feb 7^th, 2022 at 11:12am:

I studied this effect in slow motion and it turns out that the pouch angle lags behind just a bit, the pouch angle does not correspond exactly to how the cords are held in the hand, so that upon release the pouch is orientated for a rifle spin.

I've noticed the exact same thing. Wrist action during the sling throw can have more of an effect than the static placement. I thought about putting that discussion into the video, but wanted to keep it simple.

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joe_meadmaker

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Re: How to control curve during slinging
Reply #3 - Feb 7^th, 2022 at 2:20pm

Great demonstration IG! Thumbs Up

IronGoober wrote on Feb 7^th, 2022 at 12:53pm:

AncientCraftwork wrote on Feb 7^th, 2022 at 11:12am:

I studied this effect in slow motion and it turns out that the pouch angle lags behind just a bit, the pouch angle does not correspond exactly to how the cords are held in the hand, so that upon release the pouch is orientated for a rifle spin.

I've noticed the exact same thing. Wrist action during the sling throw can have more of an effect than the static placement. I thought about putting that discussion into the video, but wanted to keep it simple.

So would a sling with thicker and/or more rigid cords reduce that effect (meaning the lag of the pouch angle)?

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IronGoober Interfector Viris Spurii Offline ...and now, No. 1, the larch... Posts: 1601 California Gender:	Re: How to control curve during slinging Reply #4 - Feb 7^th, 2022 at 3:06pm As with all things in slinging... It depends. Let me get my thoughts together and I'll post a less cryptic response.
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Peashooter Tiro Offline Have fun Storming the Castle! Posts: 42	Re: How to control curve during slinging Reply #5 - Feb 7^th, 2022 at 10:37pm Thanks for posting that video IG. I felt it really helped my lunchtime practicing today by smoothing out my curve balls
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IronGoober

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Re: How to control curve during slinging
Reply #6 - Feb 8^th, 2022 at 10:08am

joe_meadmaker wrote on Feb 7^th, 2022 at 2:20pm:

So would a sling with thicker and/or more rigid cords reduce that effect (meaning the lag of the pouch angle)?

I think inertia plays more of a role than cord stiffness. I noticed heavy slings seem to have a tendency to impart a right to left curve, which means the axis of spin is tilted up. I think what is happening is as you release, the retention cord continues to swing as it would, but the release cord lags behind just for a few milliseconds. This puts a torque on the retention cord/pouch (with the torque arm being the width of the ammo) which causes a bit of twisting of the retention cord and tilts the pouch. With a lighter release cord, the torque is not as great on the retention cord as with a heavy cord, so the pouch tilts less. In addition the light release cord gets out of the way faster (by a very small amount, I cannot confirm this with high-speed though, it is too fast) If you go watch the slow-mo of the video, you can see this effect occurring more clearly.

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John R.

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Re: How to control curve during slinging
Reply #7 - Feb 8^th, 2022 at 11:05am

A lot depends on the style of release.

With a vertical release and fig 8 windup, it's fairly easy (after practice) to control whether a missile curves right or left.

By defauly my throws curve to the right, but with a last second change of wrist angle I can also curve things to the left.
That's throwing right handed.

I suspect it's harder with a sidearm throw.

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hubert Senior Member Offline Posts: 312 Oschersleben Gender:	Re: How to control curve during slinging Reply #8 - Feb 9^th, 2022 at 8:13am It's very easy to throw Riflspin with my Lahun Slings or my Huaracas. It's almost impossible for me with the stiff, heavy Balearic slings.
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