There are many slinging techniques out there and if you are new to the sport it is very helpful to understand that not all slinging styles or techniques are great.
Some slinging styles are downright awkward, underpowered, erratic, and hard to become accurate with. The underlying problem with these underperforming techniques is that their motions don’t follow natural throwing mechanics.
So why are poor styles used? Because without knowing any better people tend to start slinging with techniques that emphasize the sling as the primary throwing mechanism. In other words, they are trying too hard to use the sling to throw because they think that is how slings work. Styles that focus on the sling will severely limit accuracy, power, and fun. We can't emphasize this point strongly enough, it is a mental trap slinging has been stuck in for ages now. Good slinging is about good throwing. Throwing is the foundation, not the sling. Here are some examples of the most common underperforming techniques to avoid if you want to sling to your potential. These styles ignore good throwing mechanics and focus on the sling:
The best slinging techniques are built on natural throwing mechanics; generally overhand and sidearm throwing mechanics. They are more powerful, accurate, and intuitive to learn, AND much more fun. Many slinging variations use a sidearm or overhand throwing mechanic and these examples show some of the most common:
There is also a third category of slinging styles that use a sidearm or overhand throwing mechanic but the approach to the mechanic is overly complicated or unnecessary. This makes these techniques inefficient and less fluid which usually has a cost in power or accuracy. Try and avoid techniques that disrupt or get in the way of the natural throwing wind-up and focus on those that flow with and into the wind-up.
To help you jump into slinging quickly we recommend that you start with a figure 8 (we like to call it the true overhand). It is a very natural, powerful, and accurate technique that most people can learn in under an hour. Slinging distance records have been set using a Figure 8 variation. A good sidearm technique is also great but they are slightly more nuanced to learn and can take a little longer to become proficient with. Also, those who start learning with a sidearm technique first have a more difficult time learning figure 8 later because they try to incorporate some of the nuances that are unique to a good sidearm which do not translate well into a figure 8.
This short video will easily walk you through a great way to quickly learn the figure 8 technique. Take your time, slow it down, and don’t swing hard for your first hour or so, get fluid, and it will click.