[video] How to Use a Sling

In this video Instructable, Jesse Hensel shows you how to use your sling.

For the first part of this Instructable, go to How to Build a Sling.

Comments

[15zhangfra]

1-2 ounces does work- in fact i like osoemthign around an ounce, but other sligners feel that 2 ounces isn't their favorite. ussually they work with 4 ounce ones. Guam slingers used large 5 ounce marble or clay shot, and they are A LOT bigger than an egg. eggs and foot balls are the best shapes too<br /><br />and i disagree with a bit of the non helicopter thing- a wole style is known as a helicopter throw. ussually you only do 2, i do maybe 5.<br /><br />other than that most of it is right = P<br /><br />and the sling your yousing looks like the cords are a little stiff- try wetting them in water and letting them dry straight and taught to prevent tangled cords.<br />

[rhino]

Please do not take this wrong, but your technique is a bit weak. If you really desire to be a giant killer, there are several modifications that need to be made to the technique as well as the pouch and strings. First lets us address the technique. Underhand is like pitching softball, yeah you may indeed do it fast that way, but you will do it much, much faster and with more control if you use an overhand approach. I am in total agreement with you in that you do not want to turn into a human helicopter with your windup. Just enough revolutions to get your projectile properly seated in the pouch and to acquire and track your target. The deal is that your power will come from your final swing. Do not put your power into the first few revolutions. You are merely tracking the target and preloading your shoulder and arm muscles for the one last revolution where you will release the projectile on its trajectory. On the last revolution, do not wimp out or hiccup your delivery. For maximum power you will be bringing the projectile around your back and up over the top of your head where you will increase the velocity of your delivery to the maximum that you are capable of and using a follow through like a baseball pitcher. Your release will be made as you come up over the top of your head with the projectile. When I was younger in Salina, Kansas we used to walk to school about five miles along some railroad tracks and we made slings with four foot parachute cord strings and pouches from worn out track shoes. You cut a diamond in the middle of the pouch to seat your projectile. We used to hurl fist sized chunks of flint against trains coming by on the tracks and were rewarded with a great show of sparks. With the setup and technique I described the average man should be able to hurl a fist sized rock at least 120 yards. I really enjoyed your writeup as it took me back three decades and now I am looking around for some leather to make me another sling. PS It helps to put a small wooden sphere at the end of the string that does not have the loop in it.

[15zhangfra]

actually the helicopter throw that you disagree with is not totally wrong- on many of my throws i start out doing a lazy underhand warmup, then i move to several helicpter rotations before i release. the only way i can better range and power than that is figure eight

[chinnerz]

aww, video is no longer available

[phillitup]

I used to carry a sling, made from leather bootlaces, with the pouch made from old jeans. I lived on the southern end of Chesapeake Bay, and would take it to the beach every day, while I walked my dog. Please note I was a reckless teenager. Unlike the Clan of the Cave Bear technique, I would wind it up, and wind it up, 'til it threatend to pull me off balance, Then I would release. I used large, round stones, maybe 4-6 oz. If I went high, they would fly so far, they would disappear from sight, with a chance of seeing the splash a long way off. Going level, the stone would hit the water so hard (mind you, this was a round stone), that they would BOUNCE (not skip!) off the water. I also did stupid teenage things with this, but no one was hurt :). Circa 1970

[mischief4112]

if you want to fire biger things just make the string longer and bigger pouch, the wieght will give more momentem

[joshuajahr]

a new way to hunt strays woopee!

[graphak]

cool...Wheres Goliath? Im gonna rock that big guys noggin

[mrbob1000]

yaaaaaaaaaaay the long awaited video (my moms friend told me how to use one so this is a little late)