The 10/10 Challenge

[Ron May]

Tristan, I think that when you slow down enough that it falls out of the air that's when you slowly increase the velocity just enough to keep it from doing that.
YES, the "poof" at the end is a subsonic crack. That is solid evidence that you are making progress and are on the right track.
Sometimes I will practice just to achieve the "poof" in stead of the loud crack.
I think when a person can do that it teaches a lot of control.

Thank you, I still hit myself, but the "tai-chi" type of movement is what my goal is. I try to keep it as flowing and "zen" like as possible. For me it's more of a form of meditation and therapy than disturbing the peace thing. To perform the crack and make it look like the easiest and most effortless thing in the world.

Ron

[Robert Gage]

Until seeing some of the videos associated with whip cracking that I came across starting this summer, I didn't realize that it could be such a graceful and rather peaceful sport, a bit like dancing. I think I always sensed that in the flow of the whip, but it's become more obvious now.

Exactly, Tristan! I keep telling people it's a bit Zen-like (not that I know anything about Zen!).

Speed of practising: 46 years ago, when I was studying music in Paris with a very famous teacher, she used to say that if you have to take five minutes between playing one note and the next to get it right, then do so! Otherwise, you just learn your mistakes. I think this applies to a lot of things in life....

[Ron May]

Mr. Robert, absolutely spot on.

Ron

[Ron May]

As always Mr. Robert, your observations about what we are doing here and helping us all improve is greatly needed and appreciated.
Thank you.

Ron

[Ron May]

This morning's practice seemed a little bit better but for me this is one difficult crack.
Things were progressing until I switched whips from 6.5' to 8.5' and it immediately let me know that I have not progressed enough to graduate to a longer whip.
It will get there if consistency is maintained no matter what length whip is being used.

Ron

[Rachel McCollough]

Shorter whip to practice with is much better for me, too. Of course I'm short to start with...

Going better for circus (I think). Underhand, ha. Ha. Ha.....
I will keep on these two for awhile. A little Video in a few days maybe.

[Ron May]

Rachel, if you feel it's getting better, it really is.
The underhand is tricky for sure. But with your dedication it can't help but improve.

I think I need to do what you did and make a practice whip after my current build.
"Blue Lightning" is too long to practice some cracks and the 6.5' one is pretty much the cover model for Noodle Whip magazine.

Ron

[Rachel McCollough]

Just keep Crackin'!

[Robert Gage]

Underhand crack: it occurs to me that I haven't mentioned what I always experience when doing this (if I stop to think about it): a sense of acceleration as I pull the whip forward from the starting position to the point where my hand stops. It starts slow, and speeds up to the point where my hand stops, allowing the loop to form. Of course, it doesn't actually take more than a moment to do this; but if I slow it down in my mind, that's what's happening.

[Ron May]

Thank you Mr. Robert. That's exactly what I experience when I am successful.

Ron

[Robert Gage]

Thanks, Ron - I greatly appreciate your appreciative remarks!

[Rachel McCollough]

Hey hey, Mr. Robert, Ron, Jessie, Ben, Tristan and everybody participating, (And Robby's video!!!! Thank you Robby!!!) your comments are helping. Your experience sharing is helping.

I actually heard my whip go Pffft on the underhand more than once on the right and several on the left.

Hey hey!!!
There's hope for me yet.

[Ron May]

Good going Rachel !! (the Pfffts count as a quiet success)
It means you're getting there.

Ron

[Rachel McCollough]

Thanks Ron, I've never been able to get the underhand, any improvement on that is exciting to me

[Tristan Foy]

The CC is progressing nicely. The UC is still proving to be an enigma. Today I tried to flick my wrist but just kinda wiggled it as I extended my arm. I got some puff sounds, but it definitely didn't look like how the videos look, at least as I imagined myself looking.

Also, a few times I would get no poof or crack from the UC, but as I brought it over my head it would poof above or behind me. I took this as progress, but isn't it supposed to crack in front of you?

The third crack in our merry series...I'm still taking it slow. But even if I take it slow, but I bring my arm back to 9 o'clock the whip still wants to wrap around my body. Also, I watched Robby's video again and I canNOT see the difference between the right way to crack and the wrong way to crack the reverse horizontal. If anyone else has access to them, can the explain it to me?

Rachel, you are very welcome. But the truth is, I'm getting much out of this group too. It helps me feel accountable for my learning. The truth is I'm getting a little frustrated and having others to communicate with is encouraging.

So, thank YOU. :-)

The

[Robert Gage]

The Underhand Crack: You're all making me think again about this. I've done it for so long that I'd stopped thinking about it. I've done it so often I'd stopped thinking - and I've done it often because, sometimes, I just need to hear one of my long whips go 'bang' inside the house in horrible weather. The only way I can do that is with the underhand crack using the full length of the upstairs corridor. Because I don't want to mark the walls or dislodge any pictures, I'm very careful to guide the whip straight out ahead; and because I don't want to mark the ceiling, I don't bring the whip up after it cracks. I just let it go bang. This means using absolutely minimal force - but it's immensely satisfying!

[Sir Roger Tuson]

And Fritz and I have seen this happen. It's amazing how Robert can UC in the house! I recall the one he used was this really long leather whip too

[Robert Gage]

Roger, I think that was the 10.5 foot monster by Troy Horton.

[Ron May]

Tristan, getting frustrated is all apart of the learning process.
You are learning and when you can achieve it you will think how simple it actually is.
It will become second nature with, and this is important, practice and consistency.
Just have patience and faith.

Ron

[Ron May]

The practice today on the sidearm crack did not go well.
But at least it wasn't a painful lesson this time. No "poofs" but I'm concentrating more on the form right now and not the sound at the end.
"Never give up. Never surrender." (paraphrased from Winston Churchill )

Ron