How do you orient yourself in relation to the target when target-slinging?  Is the target in front of you, or in front of the sling (specifically the pouch)?
A few things about this question:

• This is most relevant for a sidearm release.  That release could be a little over or under a directly horizontal release, but is essentially a sidearm motion.
• 13 meters, 20 meters, whatever.
• Sling length isn't really important here.  Although for longer slings, the angles would be more extreme.
• In the image, a solid line indicates a direct line of sight or line of fire to the target.  A dotted line indicates an angle that needs to be accounted for.
• The "target" in the image is supposed to represent a diana, but the scale isn't exact.

For most of my slinging days, I have used the C orientation.  In my mind, it made sense to stand directly in front of what I was slinging at.  Lately I’ve been moving more toward a B orientation.  With a full size Balearic target, I’m setting up with my position in front of the left side of the target.  Basically between the edge of the target and the diana.  This has helped with misses to the right, which have been a fairly recent thing for me.

I also think that the A orientation has an advantage that the release point will be the same even if the distance changes.  The vertical angle may need to increase, but general timing of the release should be the same.

I am curious to hear thoughts on advantages and disadvantages.  If you choose 'Other', please explain.

   Honestly it's something I never thought about.  Off the top of my head I'd say C but I'm going to have to do some slinging to see if that's correct.

kairo wrote on Jun 22^nd, 2024 at 4:34pm:

That's actually the case for all of them.  The target could be rotated so the front lines up with the slinger's line of sight.  A tree makes it more difficult to visualize this because it's round and doesn't have a specific flat front-facing side.  B and C might be very similar (or the same) with a tree because of its roundness, but that isn't the case with a Balearic target or any other target that has a specific "front".

I guess another way to describe the orientation is before you put your body into the position you use for slinging, just stand normally facing the target.  Your shoulders should be creating a line parallel to the face of the target.  If the target (point) is directly in front of you, that is the C position.  If the target is inline with your right shoulder (more or less), that's the B position.  And if the target is outside (and to the right) of being inline with your body, that's A.  Those descriptions are for a right-handed slinger obviously.

The general question is do you prefer your target to be a straight line ahead from your eye, from the sling pouch, or somewhere in between.


kairo wrote on Jun 22^nd, 2024 at 4:34pm:

100% this.  There is certainly no correct answer to this question.  It's just something I've been experimenting with the past few weeks and was curious to hear from others on the subject.

A

I also start in a D position (as shown in your image) with my left arm toward the target and the right arm is basically behind me.  The image I posted is intended to show the upper body the instant before releasing the sling.  In general your shoulders should be opened up and your chest almost facing the target at that point.

If you have a video of your throw, I love to see it.  But I would be very surprised if your right shoulder is still that far back from the target when you release (as shown in E).  Your torso should generally rotate the entire way around so you finish with your right shoulder toward the target.

The Figure-8 is definitely a good style.  It won't apply to this situation much because it's an overhand release instead of sidearm, so more inline with the slinger no matter what target orientation is used.

Did some slinging yesterday, and I guess you are right. The release point will probably be more like B, but the mental/aiming part, is rotated like D.


Depending on the throwing style and the distance, the angle varies between eye and pouch differs.
I feel like I do de throwing more on a instinctual level, So I don't really take that offset into account in my aiming. I just focus on a point, and throw.

D - behind it, I'm a ninja.





(Ok C...) I've never tried to offset but I do imagine A in my head when I throw, it helps for very short range throwing.

Klydd wrote on Jul 2^nd, 2024 at 6:41am:

Is that your starting position or your release position?  Or both?