5 Things Every Intermediate Slinger Needs to Stop Right Now

At around 2007 I was finally getting pretty good at slinging. I was starting to show my friends and teach other people. You could say I was an advanced intermediate slinger. I hadn’t tried to improve on my accuracy since I started. Throwing far was significantly more fun. But as I taught more people and introduced slings to others, I started to see a pattern as they got better. I also saw these things in my own journey. Here is what you can do to not get stuck in the middle for too long.

Getting mad that you don’t see big jumps of improvement anymore

After starting anything, you will see big jumps in improvement and get hit with a lot of “ah ha” moments. But once you pass that stage you will be seeing more plateaus. You will be refining smaller techniques. Getting mad that you aren’t hitting things isn’t going to help you (but reading my last article will). You will see these as frustrations, maybe failures. But everyone goes through this phase. Remembering that and putting in your time is all that is needed. Getting mad just slows down your progression.

Doing the same thing that got you here

Slinging is just like working out. If you do the same thing long enough your body will acclimate. This is your new normal. You won’t see improvements. So, you will have to change up your practice routine a little. Instead of going out and throwing for accuracy for 20 mins then giving yourself 5 mins to really let loose and go for distance. Try going for 20 mins of distance letting your arm tire out and then see how accurate you can be. Or change up your distance and try for 30 ft, then 50, then 75, then 100. Who knows, you might surprise yourself with what you can do.

Using the same sling you started with

Now if you have had the same sling for years and it fits your hand perfectly, I can’t blame you for not wanting to get a new one. But unfortunately, at some point it is going to wear out and break. You can do a handful of things to slow this down. However, getting a new sling is a really good option. Once you get a new sling it will (once again) need time to break in. Get fitted to your hand and throwing style. I always have a few slings that are broken in and a few more that are breaking in (I mean, I sell slings and have been making them for almost 20 years. If I didn’t have slings lying around what kind of sling maker would I be?). At this stage you can always have a second sling that is a different style. Or try out a few different styles to see what you like best. Do you like Hemp woven slings? Para cord sling? Round braids? Flat braids? There are quite a few options out there. I make some slings that work way better for hunting. There are some that make a sweet “CRACK” when the rock is released and are more for show. Each sling has its purpose and you can start filling out your collection at this point.

Still throwing by yourself

I recommend beginners throw by themselves because of the sporadic directions that the rocks can go when first starting out. But, some of my best slinging memories have been from when me and my buddy from college were throwing. Or and when showing kids at summer camp. Sometimes you just need to start bringing people around. If you don’t feel safe just throw marshmallows. Jumbo marshmallows are safe and fun. You could even do a game of dodge ball with them. Or use empty plastic eggs. This will start to bring more people into the activity and share in the joy and fun that slinging is.

Adding a bunch of new throwing style to your bag of tricks.

As a beginner you should only have 1 throw you work on but as an intermediate you should really only add 2 more. I would recommend the shepherds throw, Balearic throw, and the figure 8 throw. With these styles you will get and accurate throw, a versatile throw, and a long-distance throw. All are also relatively easy to learn and safe if you mess up. If you put the time in with these throws it will pay off down the road. These are my go-to throws even to this day.

These are the important things for Intermediate slingers to know. Don’t get mad at yourself your still basically a new slinger. Switch up your practice routine to help prevent plateauing. Get a new sling and start breaking it in. Get some friends or family to join in the fun. And add 2 more throws to your arsenal. Once you do these things you will be on your way to becoming an expert slinger in no time.

Thanks for reading,

Sling on