Your first questions about choosing a sling will probably be about how long should it be and what type of sling to get. There are many varying opinions out there, some of which are given without a lot of experience.
This section will help demystify the factors surrounding sling length and sling type so you can feel confident making the choice you feel is right for you.
Sling Length
When discussing sling length it helps to understand that sling length is measured from the middle of the pouch to the release tab, which approximates a sling in a loaded configuration (folded in half). This is the length that we put into use.
Sling length is probably the most commonly discussed attribute of a sling. As you might guess, opinions vary widely. One of the more common discussions about sling length is how it relates to power and accuracy. Conventional thought is that shorter slings are more accurate and longer slings are more powerful. Fundamentally this is true but it can also be an oversimplification and a bit misleading. It is important to keep in mind that a short sling can still generate significant power and it is possible to become accurate with a longer sling.
Body dimensions such as the distance between the sternum and hand or the distance between the shoulder and hand are sometimes cited as a guide. However, there is no evidence that these dimensions have any effect on slinging performance.
At the end of the day, sling length has more to do with how you want to use the sling and not body dimensions. In fact, over time you will probably end up with a few different sling lengths for various circumstances. It is noted that ancient slingers would travel with 2-3 different lengths as they headed into war so that they could adapt to the circumstances of the battle.
So rather than framing your decision about sling length around accuracy and power, we recommend considering how you will most often use the sling. The following is a general guide on how length affects sling use.
Short slings (18-24 inches) are best for sidearm-slinging styles, shorter distances, and heavier projectiles.
Medium slings (25-29 inches) are all-arounders for styles, distances, and projectiles.
Longer slings )30+ inches) are best for slinging styles that are overhead or higher on the body, longer distances, and lighter projectiles.
If you are new to the sport and are not looking for a specialist sling then we would suggest considering a medium length such as 27 inches for your first sling. It is a great length for many different slinging situations and one that is adaptable to just about every slinging technique you may want to explore.
Sling Type
It is also helpful to understand that not all slings of the same length behave the same way. While true that all slings work the same way they can have different throwing characteristics. This largely depends on the thickness (stiffness) of a sling.
Thick Slings (not Pan Sling)
The thicker (or stiffer) the sling the less you will "feel" connected to the projectile in the pouch because of the stiffness of the cordage and pouch. This loss of feeling increases as projectile weight decreases. The weight of the projectile and the speed of the swing must generate enough force to balance out the degree of stiffness in the cordage/pouch of a thick sling. If not, a thick sling may even lose the lightest projectiles such as a tennis ball because there is not enough cupping action forced around the tennis ball. Thick, heavy slings are good for handling projectiles that are on the larger and heavier end of slinging options. They are not generally used for longer distances. Slings braided from thicker material fit in this category.
Thin Slings (not Pan Sling)
Conversely the thinner (or lighter) the sling the more you will feel connected to the projectile in the pouch. However, while providing a better projectile feel they are not as forgiving to poor throwing form and they can feel overwhelmed by heavier projectiles. They work well for lighter projectiles like tennis balls and stones on the smaller/lighter side of the slinging spectrum. They are generally used when you are going for maximum distance with a long sling. Single-strand slings typically fall in this category.
Mid Stiffness Slings
Middle ground does exist and the Pan Sling fits in this category. It behaves as a hybrid between the two types of slings. It is a tapered design with a secondary internal cord that adds a higher degree of stiffness in over half of the cordage. The tapered stiffness gives more control yet maintains a good feel to the projectile. The prevailing thought used to be that sling weight was the driving force behind sling variances. As we developed the Pan Sling we found that sling differences have more to do with cord stiffness than cord weight. By making the stiffness variable throughout the cord length you can produce a sling that has both control and feel. It also maintains a very small profile giving it the benefit of being much more portable than slings with similar stiffness. The Pan Sling is also a "fast" sling for its stiffness in terms of a more narrow diameter cutting through the air as opposed to a braided sling of similar stiffness.
As you determine what type of sling you would prefer it can be helpful to ask yourself these questions:
- What kind of projectile will I most often sling; tennis balls, light to medium rocks, or heavy rocks?
- And, what kind of shot will I most often be taking; long distance, short distance, or a variety of distances?
If you answered heavy projectiles and shorter distance then a thick sling is probably for you. If you answered light projectiles and long distance then a thin sling is probably what you are after. If you would like something that functions as a hybrid with both control and feel for a broader range of projectile weight and distance then the Pan Sling will be a good fit.