[ Closed ] How to improve aim for target cracking? (Page 1 of 2)

Yes, you are going to have to practice a lot.  There is no way around that. 

If you turn your whip around and crack it like Anthony DeLongis does,  the loop will be smaller all the way down the whip.  That allows you to place the cracker a little more precisely.   Having a whip with a strait roll out is a must.  I always aim with my thumb.  So where my thumb points is where the crack will be.

You're right, Jeff. That's why, when I asked Keanu to make me one of his Tanks, I specified a 12 inch handle and an extra-stiff transition. Here's the short video he made, just before shipping it off to me: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AS1YMsuAkU.

Slow and steady would be my recommendation. I'm no expert, by any stretch of the imagination, but I always do better when I slow down and really focus on what I'm doing.

There's no easy way to explain the method. It's a little like pushing a gallon of water. You don't just give it a shove and expect it to slide across the table accurately. You constantly push, always in the desired direction, gently and consistently, all the way through the entire motion. Now...if you can translate that idea into guiding the loop down the thong, you've got it.

At least...that's how I do it. I could be way off, but it works for me.

Grant, yes the cattleman's crack or the overhand flick would be best to start with. Alejandro, I must also add that practicing correctly a little will produce much faster results than a lot of incorrect practice. Practice correctly by learning the basics of the crack that Robby preaches about in Whip Basics. Start at the beginning and build a good foundation. Once your mechanics are solid in the crack itself, then move on to the target

Robby explains target cracking in his WB videos.  I can't remember which one.  WB V, he explains cracking a bottle cap out from under a cup, maybe that's the one he explains targeting as well. Tips and tricks on how to teach someone how to do it.   There is a lot of practice involved, of course.  I'm not as consistent at it as I wish I was. But we did do dueling whips at Old West in the Hills in which each person stood at one end of the target, that held a paper cup with a glow stick inside.  Holding our whips coiled, someone counted to 3 and we had to crack the cups from a coiled position as fast as possible.    If I had a good formula for aiming, I probably would have done a bit better at that.  I'm trying Bobbi's thumb thing.

Repetition build muscle memory, so that's a very important thing to do. Just like learning to throw rocks accurately.

You can do targeting with many more cracks than the cattleman's crack. But whatever you do, be sure to get comfortable with the crack itself before going for accuracy. And when you start doing target cutting or wraps, remember that you don't want to make the whip crack at the target -- you want it to crack just before it. The audience will never know the difference.

I also recommend Robby's DVDs. Well worth the investment.

- Pokkis

That said, it's very highly recommended to watch and learn Volume I first.

- Pokkis

Thanks guys and girls for your insights.
I will definitely get those dvds. I also need a GOOD whip. I have a 4' paracord whip but it's not an excellent one.
I am sure a better weapon would actually help me become a better whip artist.
Thanks and happy new year!

I sometimes wonder if the whip's quality doesn't make a difference in how consistently it hits a target.  If the whip is all twisty and wrong, I don't think you can be consistent when hitting targets no matter how hard you try.  Just my opinion...