Whip Basics. The Forum

Thank you so much for your input Roger.

Ron

Ron, it's my pleasure!

Our ex-Amish friend stopped yesterday and I showed him the whip I made for Germany. Growing up in an Amish community, whip cracking is functional, working-only. He thought my whip looked ridiculous (its the one with the flower handle), though he tried out the thong. Why do all the farmer-types crack their whip so weird? They kind of lay it on the ground and snap it up into their own faces. When I first saw whip cracking, the guy was teaching that same technique. It was incredibly hard to get a crack and dangerous. So, Anyway, I took my 10 minutes when Levi was playing with my other whip. I spent the whole time on my left hand, but I was unable to really concentrate due to the talking and Levi trying to hit himself Amish whip-cracking style. I tried to tell him we weren't herding pigs, to get my whip off the ground and out of the dirt. Gah.
I'll try again this afternoon, since I really want to get a handle on this left hand before we move on to the next crack. I also need to watch WB 1 again to see where we are.

You all are doing Awseome. Ron, you are an epic leader. I knew you could run this thing like a boss.

Garret said the next crack is opposite horizontal. I thought it was horizontal....

I think Garret's right , the opposite horizontal is after the underhand on the Vol.1 sample on YouTube.

Ron

Hi Robert,

Actually I have toned done the energy I'm using, so what you saw is a lighter version. But I'm glad you said that because I'm still trying to get a feel for the whip and learning what is the right amount of energy or not.

I went back and re-read post 227. I had read it before (along with the rest of the thread) but it was a a good reminder. I'll see what happens when I make my hand stop.

I think part of the reason for the force is because I'm still uncomfortable and slightly nervous around the whip.

Tristan, you'll get the best results by using the least possible amount of force. Get the form right. The crack will come!

The second to last circus crack I did I smacked my hand, and you can hear me curse a little bit, so the crack that came after it I think was a little more emotional and forceful. It was also the loudest. In the video they all sound pretty similar.

This brings up a thought that I brought up with my nephew when I was trying to teach him the circus crack. He said the same thing as he slammed down his whip with a lot of muscle. I was trying to get him to understand the physics of it all and he said, "I'm scared ill hit myself" [again]. To which I said, "If your scared, then why in the hell are you throwing down so hard?" (He's 23, I can tell it like it is) My point being, a gently thrown whip can't recoil back at you and hurt you if your technique is wrong. The energy isn't there--which is good when you are learning. After a few more tries, he managed the correct technique with a "happy little crack" (Just channeled my inner Bob Ross there), that was just as impressive as the Death Crack of Thor he was doing before.

...That being said, maybe the whip jumps up and bites a person because it doesn't like how it is being treated?

Hmmmmm...whip philosophy. How cosmic and zen.

Jessie, yeah. When ever my whip bites me, it's just telling me that what I am doing is wrong and it did not like what I told it to do and not to ever, ever, ever do that again.

Jessie's right. If you are afraid of hitting yourself , then slowing down the movement with less velocity means you will not hit yourself as hard if you do it wrong.

Ron

Interesting perspective.

I tried to use less force today (Day 5). I found that I didn't always bring my arm to the 12 o'clock position though.

Still, the circus crack I think is getting better. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HBGAlMH2FA

The underhand crack is still unsuccessful. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nP-61akFnOU

Tristan, you are improving but slowing down during and pausing in between cracks will help you focus on the form it's self.
Like Robby and Mr. Robert have told me forget about the crack. Get the form and mechanics of the throw right and the crack will happen.
I suggest watching Robby over and over and try to emulate his movements, hand and arm position and speed.
Thanks for posting your video it helps every one including yourself to see and improve.

Good job keeping up with the practice challenge.

My practice today was a little better than yesterday but I still have to focus on the proper form and pausing in between cracks and forget about trying to make it crack and just let it happen with the proper form.

Ron

(Tristan, please let me know if my stream of remarks irritates you!)

Circus crack: when you reach 12 o'clock, you don't quite give the thong time to flow out behind before bringing it forward. It doesn't take long, but a tiny pause before bringing your arm down again should help.

Underhand crack: your wrist movement is way too late. Try stopping your hand when it passes your hips. Bring the whip forward quite fast to that point (but not with a jerk), and then just stop. For now, don't do anything else! If your hand stops dead in three-dimensional space, the whip will have to form a loop, and crack! When you've got that, then try bringing the whip up and over your head to get ready for the next crack.

I hope this helps!

Mr. Robert that makes good sense as a start for the form of the underhand, I can't wait to try it for myself.

Thank you Mr. Robert. That does make good sense.
Your remarks are quite welcome. Your experience and insight is appreciated.

Rachel, it won't be long until you have your very own Wolf Creek Whip. I know the woman who makes them and she is just an awesome quality craftsman.

Ron

Thanks, Ron!

It is really like throwing a bowling ball. Keep your wrist facing up, pull forward and at the same time shift your weight forward. Your hips and everything do just what they do when throwing a bowling ball. To keep the whip straight, again, just like bowling.

Thanks, Ron, and I look forward to it

Hi !

Todays parctice didn't go well. I've had better day's during my 10/10 underhand crack partice in the last coupe of days but I know form my own whipcracking experience in the past that drawbacks are normal.
Here is a short video of todays practice:

http://vid1098.photobucket.com/albums/g ... it3g4b.mp4


I need to use less force and speed which I did keep in mind a lot better during the last days of my practice but today hasn't been a good day in terms of whipcracking for me

All the best
Ben