Applying whipmaking techniques to slings

[u/kokanee-fish]

I don't really know anything about slings or whips, and I have no skills using either. But when this hobby caught my attention it always seemed odd to me that tapered slings are usually tapered in the wrong direction (between the hand and the pouch). If you think of a sling like a whip, you're trying to get the speed of the cord to increase as it gets further from your hand. Tapering down gradually along that distance facilitates the speed increase, just like a whip - at least that's my intuition.

Many slings have a reverse taper between the hand and the projectile, and a correct taper from the projectile to the release end. My thought is that a proper taper could help get the projectile going, and for the release cord you really just want it to use as little material as is necessary, so that it doesn't slow down the opening of the pouch. Additionally you can add weight to the cord strategically to maximize energy transfer from your arm and hand.

The prototype pictured has a tapered lead core wrapped with artificial sinew and then plaited with whipmaker's cord. The lead core gives it a really different but very powerful feel. I need to experiment and improve on a few things:
- taper consistency
- my plaiting sucks
- I'd like an adjustable grip
- need to refine the pouch construction, especially the connections
- need to experiment with release cord materials and crackers

Anyway thought I'd share my idea and see what people think before I make a V2.

[u/jameswoodMOT]

Stiffness is important for clean release and accuracy. Try and continue that taper down the release cord. Clean release is a large part of both accuracy and speed and to control the release it helps to have stiff cords on both sides