My most used sling is a seatbelt sling made from 2” wide nylon webbing. Good for rocks and golf balls, occasionally does not hold tennis balls if I don’t center the ball in the pouch. The pouch is 7” long which is the recommended length for tennis balls, just being 2” wide it is a bit narrow (2.5” width would have been better).

So I made a noodle sling just to throw tennis balls. Works good except not a big fan of separating the pouch noodles by hand to fit the tennis ball every time I throw.

Next I made a split pouch seatbelt sling using the same 2” nylon webbing. No problem holding tennis balls and can quickly/carelessly load a new ball into the pouch.  But wow! This thing is a parachute being so wide. I am really thinking about making another split pouch but with 1” wide webbing instead of the 2” wide webbing I used.

I really like making slings, so it is fun. But seems like the ammo choice is really forcing all this construction.

Do you make the sling first and see what ammo you can throw, or do you choose ammo first and make the sling custom for that ammo?

Pic is split-pouch, seatbelt, and noodle slings.

I throw plastic whiffle golf balls in the living room. Rocks into my woods and at the beach (lots of rocks in Maine!). Tennis balls and foam practice golf balls at the YMCA racquetball court or indoor tennis court. Golf balls and tennis balls at the high school baseball field.  Luckily I have many options. 

I do want to goto a golf driving range to sling one day. Think that would be fun.

Don’t know if you are missing out by not throwing rocks. Their weight varies alot and their funny shapes causes all kinds of curved trajectories. But throwing rocks does have the advantage that they are free and you don’t have to go retrieve them. Ultimate fire and forget projectiles!

As a general statement, I would say I prefer a pouch that has ease of use (can load quickly) and has versatility (ability to throw many different things).

For example, a bit of duct tape on my noodle sling would fix the noodle strings in the perfect position for tennis balls…but I like the sling can be versatile to throw different sized rocks at the beach, so I don’t add tape. 


I need to get into braided/woven slings. I tried making one earlier as my second sling ever but it was a mess. Need tighter and much more consistent assembly.  Thinking might re-try using six strands of #18 nylon Mason line, but have the whole thing in flat, not round, braids.  I think additions like the “smiley” pouch cords are acceptable and increase versatility, so would probably add that feature.

Being new with a limited inventory of sling types, guess I am surprised new ammo choice (tennis balls in my case) has dictated my last two sling builds. 

And I can see if I get into long distance throws, special ammo will need another sling type I also don’t have yet.


Just curious if this is how your sling inventory grew as well - having to add new slings because you switch to new ammo.

I have particular types of ammo available in my area, and typically balance my sling type to suit. The balearic type slings i use are pretty flexible, though. Pretty much anything that isnt too small (i.e. cast lead) will throw just fine.

The only thing i really have to add here is the factor of abrasion. Luckily i have a wide variety of projectiles and spaces i can sling in. I most prefer smooth oblong river stones but due to their relative rarity i find myself using the more common jagged, freshly eroded rock. This can tear up slings fast. I have a few slings designed specifically for rough rocks. They implement leather wrapping and multilayer designs to help slow sling abrasion.

Some of my more delicate slings would be torn up very quickly and not throw nearly as well with this ammo. I have a couple slings i only use with smooth stones or glandes.

I think overall performance can definitely be enhanced by matching the ammo to the sling but is not necessary for functional use.

Swift: you are right about rocks abrasions. I use the same sling for rock throwing and it is easy to choose this sling out of the several I keep in the car because the black paracord has a worn thru spot at the stopper knot that shows the very visible white inner cords. The stopper knot is exposed a bit in the pouch and I guess the rocks hit the knot on their way down range.

But at least the abrasion damage is very easy to notice so I am not damaging all the other slings.

Pocket: second time ice balls have come up ammo. Definitely going to try throwing ice!  I imagine they explode pretty good if I hit any one of our many trees. Also winter will bring unlimited free snow balls and also icicles I can chop into 3”-4” long segments. Should be fun!

Most of my slings are pretty general purpose, but I do have one I specifically built for slinging baseballs after another forum member and I got into a baseball slinging contest years ago, and another that I overbuilt for use when slinging 10oz steel ball bearings.

-Brian G.

BrianGrubbs wrote on May 21^st, 2026 at 3:57pm:

Sling pic?  Need to see that one!