A
picture paints a thousand words and a video helps save
a lot of typing!! I hope this helps a lot of people,
new to slinging, find it easier to learn this somewhat
challenging art. My motto since taking up the sling
is: "I'll bet you can't sling just one!" Many
a time I have said, "Just one more", only
to miss the mark and have to try again.
I make no claims of being an expert since I slung my
first stone just six months ago in August of 2003. After
reading many descriptions of different styles, I decided
to make some videos not only to help new slingers, but
to also allow some of the more experienced people critique
my slinging.
As most will admit, the best thing to do is to get out
there and sling a lot of stones. After doing so, the
comments made here will make more sense. You will all
find a style that "feels the most comfortable"
for you but, if you sling enough, you will also learn
that some styles work better than others for specific
applications. Just as a example: if you are slinging
at a close target near the ground, you will probably
find the underhand release more difficult due to the
fact that the rotation of the stone is from a low point
moving upward. This will make your shots tend to rise
from the point of release and thus, if your target is
on the ground, the stone will tend go high. However,
if you used the overhand release, your shots will be
coming down onto the target, making it easier to hit.
Keeping in mind that these are my "non-expert"
comments, let's mention a few beginning pointers and
then look at some videos.
Helpful Hints
Before you put a stone in the pouch, try a "dry
run" first. Go through the motion of slinging in
slow speed to get the feel.
Use a stone that has some weight to it. I find that
billiard ball size stones work very well to give you
a good "feel" for the stone and where the
pouch is during the spin. Lightweight stones make it
hard to sense where the pouch is, and when you should
make your release.
Throw lightly at first for the sake of safety and your
arm muscles.
1 - Greek Style
Overhand Release
The term "Greek style" comes from the discovery
of a Greek coin bearing the image of a slinger. The hand
holding the pouch is pointed at the target in a stationary
position. The hand holding the sling is near the slingers
head. The stance and hand positions look similar to an
archer ready to shot.
Since
this style uses no rotations to build up momentum, you
will notice the movement of the left arm to the right
and then back to the left. This movement gets the pouch
started in the direction of the swing. Notice that as
the pouch comes back to he left and is pointed at the
target, the wrist slightly turns and "flicks"
the stone to the left. From there, the throwing arm begins
to move and keeps tension on the cords. You always want
the cords under tension for a smooth motion. Think about
what it is like if you get a lot of slack in the tow line
when water skiing. You lose momentum, and when the line
snaps tight it is either ripped out of your hands or you
end up on your face. Keeping tension on the cords helps
to insure a smooth motion and also keeps the stone securely
in place.
The motion of the right arm will vary from person to person,
but keep these thoughts in mind:
1. The more you come straight down over your head, the
less variation from left to right your shots will have.
In other words, you will tend to miss high and low rather
than left or right. I find that the more "over the
head" I throw, the more accurate I am, however; it
puts a bit more strain on the shoulder and I do not have
as much power for long shots. (50+ yards)
2. The more you go off to the side of your head, the more
variation you will have left and right of the target since
that is the path of your throwing arm.
3. Leg motion. I used to pitch in baseball so the leg
motion I use feels natural and adds to the power. You
can vary the leg motion or keep them fixed but it will
affect your power.
One last point: stepping straight at the target helps
my accuracy.
Oh yes, do remember to let go of the release knot!! A
few slow practice slings will best explain when to let
go.
Also remember, the speed you are throwing at will effect
when you need to let go. Only practice can teach you that.
I find that I am more accurate when I sling at a slower
speed. Slowly speed up your motion as you learn.
Video 1 - Greek
Style Overhand Release (mpeg file, 636k)
Video 1 - Greek
Style Overhand Release (Quicktime file, low quality,
240k)
Video 1 - Greek
Style Overhand Release (Quicktime file, high quality,
804k)
2
- 3/4 To Side-armed Release
This video is very similar to video # 1. The difference
being that this is more side-armed. It may take several
viewings in slow motion to see. The throwing arm goes
out more to the right and may be a more natural feeling
motion. You may even want to try going totally side-armed
or horizontal with the arm motion. I have more power
using the 3/4 motion. Remember, your shots will have
more left or right variation than the motion in video
#1
Video 2 - 3/4
To Side-armed Release (mpeg file, 924k)
Video 2 - 3/4
To Side-armed Release (Quicktime file, low quality,
200k)
Video 2 - 3/4
To Side-armed Release (Quicktime file, high quality,
1.5Mb)
3
- Greek style: Underhand Release
You will notice that I bring the pouch down and then
up in this motion rather than from right to left. The
reason I do this is because, with the underhand release,
you want the swing to be more vertical. This motion
starts the pouch in the right direction.
As the left hand comes back upward, you lightly toss
the pouch up and the throwing hand takes over from there.
Most likely, you cannot come straight down without swinging
the sling into the ground. You will have to swing it
out to the side somewhat, especially with longer slings.
You will probably sling the fist few stones straight
up in the air until you get the feel for it. As in the
overhand release, you can also swing your arm out to
the side more. Try different angles to see what works
best for you.
Video 3- Greek
Style Underhand Release (mpeg file, 936k)
Video 3- Greek
Style Underhand Release (Quicktime file, low quality,
212k)
Video 3- Greek
Style Underhand Release (Quicktime file, high quality,
636k)
4 - 45 Degree Rotations
with Overhand Release
Here you have the throwing arm gently rotating the sling
at a 45 degree angle and off to the right side. From
what I have read and experienced, the last rotation
is where the power comes from. The purpose of the first
2-3 rotations is only to set the sling in motion and
to give your mind a feel for the weight of the stone.
You do not need to spin the sling very fast except on
the last rotation.
On the last rotation, your arm will make a wider sweep
back to set up the throw. If you watch the video in
slow motion you will see this.
For me personally, I find that the added motion is more
difficult to control as compared to the stationary style.
I use this rotation style when I sling heavy, fist size
stones a long distance, or if the sling length is too
long to stretch out between my arms. Any sling longer
than 37" is too long for me to use the "no
rotation" style. I cannot get enough momentum going
without 2-3 rotations.
Video 4 - 45
Degree Rotations with Overhand Release (mpeg file,
1Mb)
Video 4 - 45
Degree Rotations with Overhand Release (Quicktime
file, low quality, 216k)
Video 4 - 45
Degree Rotations with Overhand Release (Quicktime
file, high quality, 992k)
5
- Straight Back, Vertical Ration, Overhand Release
I included this video just to see if anyone else has
tried it and to make an observation.
Rather than rotating the arm off to the side as in video
4, the arm is held straight back, and the rotation is
completely vertical to the ground.
The last rotation must swing back and out to the side
exactly as the 45 degree rotation style in video4. You
have to do this in order to make the transition into
the overhand release. It feels a bit awkward, but I
have noticed that it causes the sling path to be more
"over the top" and thus I have less right
and left variation. Has anyone else tried this?
Video 5 - Straight
Back, Vertical Ration, Overhand Release (mpeg file,
1.1Mb)
Video 5 - Straight
Back, Vertical Ration, Overhand Release (Quicktime
file, low quality, 224k)
Video 5 - Straight
Back, Vertical Ration, Overhand Release (Quicktime
file, high quality, 844k)
Closing
Comments
If you view these videos frame by frame, you will notice
the point at which the final "snap", "whip",
or "clutch" action takes place. You will see
a "jump" in the motion. The arm will be moving
slowly, frame by frame, until it is just starting forward
and then, in the next picture, it will have already
come across the front of the body. This is because it
is at this point where the arm quickly snaps forward
and is moving faster than the camera can record.
Lots of practice is the key to accuracy. If you don't
have an abundant supply of stones and a place to sling,
try something like a baseball or hacky sack. Throw it
at a large brick wall. Put a piece of duct tape on the
wall for a target, step back 15-20 paces and sling away!
-
David Taylor
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