Whip Basics. The Forum

Excellent. Good to hear pal

Russell, you really have improved. You look more relaxed. I notice that you sometimes turn your head to the right, to look at the whip. If you can avoid doing do that, and simply try to feel the whip, I think you'll become even more relaxed!

Johnny, I'm very glad your hand is healing!

Thank you Robert!

I find not turning my head after doing a crossover going into a reverse circus crack almost impossible for some reason.

It's a bad habit that I have picked up while learning that transition.

Time to revisit the 10/10. I was trying to think about the swiveling handle while doing the fast figure 8 this time.
https://youtu.be/88YxeRChwH4

To me, that looks pretty good.
I'm actually impressed to see you do this with what appears to be a rather long whip.

I have no experience with long whips, but I got the feeling it's not easy.

Well done Russel.

Sven

Russel, that's looking good to me.
How did you work the swiveling handle into the crack and did you find that it helped?

Ron

Very good job Russell!
When you are doing the swivel, it almost looks like a "slow motion scene" in your video (due to the fact that you are using a long whip for practicing). the swivel looks very controlled to me and I can imagine that such a long whip is less forgiving than a 6 footer - yet you've nailed it - congratulations!

All the best
Ben

Very nice Russell...

Hi and thanks guys.

Ron When attempting this I tried to think about the principles of the SHM by relaxing my hand just after the snap of the first circus crack then lightly rotating the whip in a smooth twisting motion - kind of like a drill bit helix, as I am bringing it back for the reverse circus to where the whip feels that it's "with the curve" then I snap it forward.
When I am bringing it forward I then relax again so the whip is with the curve for another circus crack or FF8 as I am bringing it back up.

It seemed helpful. It felt like I was more in tune with the whip, I was feeling less resistance.
I also noticed the whip thong looks tighter and straighter in the plane, and also doesn't wobble near as much as when I usually do it. (Like a wet noodle)

It felt like I was onto something

Russel, I do think you are on to something.

Ron

Thanks for that Ron

I'll practice it until it's committed to muscle memory and then I can maybe refine it some more.

Cheers

Russell, I do feel the same when incoorperating the swiveling motion into whip cracking techniques. It takes a lot less efford/force to get the whip to crack and the entire action feels a lot more smooth to me.

All the best
Ben

Hi Ben, I agree mate, I also like the way it guides you perfectly to prepare the next crack.

I did some more FF8 practice and felt like rather than hitting a zenith with this technique it is very much still evolving.
I'm refining rotating and changing curves. Pushing some boundries in those areas. It's not quite there yet though.
I liked the way yours looked in the 20/20 Lesson I & II Challenge, nice shape and curve.