r/Slinging • u/InvestigatorFun9253 • 3d ago

Staff Sling

I have long theorised that a staff sling should outperform a shepherd’s sling. Almost all videos I have seen use heavy rough looking staffs with low velocity. But I have seen a single hander with a shaft that looked like it came from a golf club and it performed very well. Has anyone experimented on these lines?

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u/ottermupps 3d ago

Timpa Linkosling's video (the gold club one, fairly sure we mean the same source here) is really the only good info online on the subject. I haven't replicated it, but from a purely physics perspective, a one-hand staff sling (wand sling?) like that should be roughly as powerful as a sling of equal length (to the wand+sling), but with greater control over the shot due to a shorter flexible section.

I think if someone - not to volunteer, I have a lack of good ammo for engineering this - were to make a simple and easy to make design for a wand sling, then more people could experiment with it. As is there's basically one video of a scandiavian nutjob (all respect, timpa's videos are cool as hell) making one. Maybe 1/2" electrical conduit, with a sort of funnel at each end to keep the release cord centered and running over a smooth edge? The main hurdle to me would be the release cord interfering with the release and colliding with the stone, which may be fixable with a Y-sling or two release cords.

In any case, I don't think the design itself is all that useful. A practiced slinger with an equivalent length sling (say, 30") will match the power and accuracy, and not have to deal with carrying a arm-length stick and string contraption (not to minimize the design with derogatory language). It doesn't add any actual utility or benefits to the sling, and introduces more parts/weight/points of failure. I would love to see the design elaborated on, I just don't see the point in it.

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u/InvestigatorFun9253 3d ago

You have correctly identified the video author.

My reason for thinking a wand might be superior is that the cord rotates around the wand end. It starts behind the wand and overtakes it by the point of release. In theory it will travel faster. The other downsides may be correct. I am leaning and not here to say that one is better than the other.

The release mechanism is another interesting aspect. A simple hook on the tip will always release at the same angle. This might be good if always using it at the same range, such as target shooting on a known distance. A trigger at the base controlling a release at the tip would provide versatility at the cost of requiring greater skill.

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u/ottermupps 3d ago

I think treating it like a staff sling, with a hook on the tip, would be a mistake. At that point you just have a very small staff sling, with all the drawbacks (fixed release angle) and none of the benefits (2m stick for massive leverage).

I think, with a little wiring, a hold-to-close switch connected to a tiny solenoid could work as a release mechanism.

I understand your logic, the wand sling acts like a double pendulum when under load, so the tip can accelerate rather quickly. If I had the tools to make one as described, I'd give it a try, it could be rather interesting. I suspect using uniform ammo (concrete glandes) would be the best move, just because it's such an odd design to learn.

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u/InvestigatorFun9253 3d ago

I would use fishing sinkers. They’re lead and come in known weights.

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u/0thell0perrell0 3d ago

Well my understanding is they they achieve similar distances only woth heavier projectiles. That said I have not experimented with them, but am thinking of doing so. What have your results been?

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u/InvestigatorFun9253 3d ago

I have not built any. The two handed ones toss heavy rocks but over a certain rock weight there seems to be little advantage over throwing. Consider a shot-put. All the energy goes into the projectile. Slings excel on lighter objects as the tip travels faster than the hand. My interest is in the staff sling because as a double pendulum (like a trebuchet) it should excel with very light projectiles

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u/Inside-Cockroach1365 3d ago

Not sure, but I think the design you're referencing uses a tube with the rentention cord tied to the top end and the release cord going through the tube for the thrower to grab at the bottom.. Adds an extra length of rotational force and the one I saw was thrown one handed. The guy used PVC pipe for the shaft and had basically become a human trebuchet😂

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u/JTW1337 3d ago

That sounds cool. I’d be interested in seeing that.

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u/Admirable-Video-2328 3d ago

I made one and they throw (tennis balls) roughly the same distance as a sling. Fun to use, easier than a sling for kids. Takes significantly longer to reload than a sling though but maybe I just haven’t used it enough