The 10/10 Challenge

[Robert Gage]

I did just that what Mr. Robert mentioned - practiced just with a handle in front of a mirror.
Have to say it was actually pretty fun and I believe it will be very useful!

I'm glad you find that useful, Tristan. I certainly do!

Different weights: the weight of different whips of the same length can vary greatly. Furthermore, the weight distribution can vary a lot. What's the balance in weight between handle and thong? How fast does the weight decrease down the length of the thong? I personally tend to prefer fairly heavy whips, where the weight is carried fairly far down the thong; but I've found that each and every whip has its own personality.

[Steve Cuthbert]

Hey, I think it's the horizontal crack at the moment, here is the video of the start of my 10/10.
Apologies for the video I don't have much room In the garden for my 8" and my 6" im having overlay issues
Looking forward to feedback for the coming practice sessions

[Steve Cuthbert]

https://youtu.be/261mBAI69cw

[Ron May]

Steve, thanks for the video.
Hint number one, turn your phone to a horizontal position per Robby's request.
It gives a much better view of what's going on and you can stay in the frame in the limited space you have.

I noticed that the motion and crack itself are in a diagonal plane.
Here's Robby's Whip Basics short explaining the crack and the proper plane .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzoL1ZjA67Y

May I suggest to use less muscle and , like in Robby's video , to consciously make an effort to "raise" your hand as you finish the crack to help keep the thong on the horizontal and less on the diagonal plane.

Ron

[Steve Cuthbert]

Thanks Ron, I remember now that someone said about having the phone that way, will watch Robbys videos a few time and try again tomorrow with less forcing

[Steve Cuthbert]

After watching robbys video and then mine I can see straight away what you are talking about Ron
As it's fireworks night tonight I may have another practice tonight as the will be lots of bangs anyway

[Johnny Pell]

Steve I am pulling diagonally just like you. It is odd that I never even realized it until watching Robby's video. I may have missed it because we always just called it the overhead crack. The adjustment that Robby suggests in the video works well now that I am aware of what I was doing.

[Tristan Foy]

Here are a couple of videos at my new spot. I didn't realize they would come out so dark. It's been rainy/cloudy here in Austin for the past couple of days.

Overhead Crack:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAIDkq6shuc

Since it was actually my first time finally practicing it, I'm making beginner's mistakes. It looks like I'm pulling my hand down. I tried pulling it up a few times (I don't think that's in the video) but I couldn't tell if I was doing it right.

Forward Crack:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRHhIeRSxWw

I'm very uncomfortable will this crack and will continue to work on it. Mainly, I'm not sure how far away to keep the whip off to my side.

[Robert Gage]

Tristan, on the overhead crack you're doing something Robby pointed out that I was doing, too. You bring your arm up, and them tend to pause (very slightly) before moving into the crack. Try to make sure it's one continuous smooth motion, with no pauses or hesitation half-way through.

[Guest]

That's a good tip Mr. Robert!

Tristan, on the forward crack you might want to let the whip go back more and let it hover horizontally for a millisecond before you bring it forward.

It was a whipless practice for me again today: this night job gets me waking up late and I had some urgent stuff to deal with. This time without even a handle: just seeing my refletion on the window against the night. I might say it's sometimes beneficial to do with just the arm sometimes.

[Tristan Foy]

I'll keep that in mind, Robert! Thank you!

I made these videos today before I saw your reply:

Overhead Crack: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhoNWjbnLI0

And I am still struggling with the FC, so I made a video where I ask some of my questions to show where my doubts are: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tNwgKZ7Yq4

[Tristan Foy]

Thank you Erik. I'll keep that in mind, too. :-)

[Guest]

Tristan, overall I could advice you to relax your shoulders: you seem to be working a lot with the elbow and wrist. Let the big muscle groups in your chest and back do the work.

And with the forward crack you could try imagine the spear throw: you would'nt hit your head with the back of the spear right? Try holding the heel more loosely and throw the whip butt first like a spear - when your hand can't go further the weight of the whip and the momentum will turn the whip and your wrist forward and a tight loop forms for a crack to happen.

[Robert Gage]

Tristan, on this latest video of the overhead crack, you're doing exactly what Robby has told me to stop doing: you involuntarily duck every time! This instinct comes from not wanting to hit yourself on the head. In reality, you're more likely to do so if you duck, because that pulls your arm in towards your side, causing the whip to - hit you on the head!

On the forward crack, the problem (I think!) is all do do with the angle of your wrist. Again, as Robby told me, try reaching out with a straight wrist as if to take an apple someone is offering you. The slightest change in angle of the wrist will direct the whip behind your back, rather than straight back at your side; so when it comes forward, it will then hit you!

(This feels a bit like the blind leading the blind - but I hope it helps!)

[Ben Varsek]

@ Steve Cuthbert:

Thank you for sharing your practice video - I like the rope on the ground as a visual controll device !!!
I would suggest that you take a little longer breaks in between the cracks. You are taking breaks in between them but are focusing on moving the thong in between the cracks to the right starting posion during those breaks. A little pause after the thong of your whip is in the "ready to start the crack" position" might be helpful.


@ Tristan Foy:

Thank you for sharing your videos - your new practice spot looks good !!!
On your first horizontal crack video you've had "arm wraps" during your practice. I've also had to struggle with unwanted "arm wraps" on this technique before. Robby told me on the meet & greet that it was the position of my wrist which lead to the arm wraps. I had my wrist at an angle instead of keeping it in line with my forearm (which resulted in those arm wraps).

About your video question on the FC - it looked to me like you are keeping the handle far away from your body by putting your elbow at an angle - this might also be a reason why you are hitting yourself in the back while doing this crack.



Yesterdays and todays practice involved a lot of cleaning afterwards - not just my whips but also my jacket had to be cleaned from mud - but it was worth it !!!


All the best
Ben

[Steve Cuthbert]

Hey Ben thanks for that, I will take more of a pause tomorrow, I had a nightmare practice today
Like you mentioned to Tristan I kept either wrapping the handle, my arm or just plain hit my head
I will concentrate on keeping my wrist in line with my arm tomorrow
I'm hoping it's because I'm conscious of not having any room but if it happens outside work tomorrow I will take a video to post

[Steve Cuthbert]

Johnny I never realised either, just hope I can nail it and stop hitting myself as I try and raise my hand

[Guest]

I had a nice little practice today.

I did the overhead and forward cracks. I had a few really nice cracks. The forward crack still doesn't really crack so nice for me without powering it, I'm still a little scared of it. I'll also want to try my new 6 footer when it's all waxed and ready.
I'm slowly getting the hang of the overhead crack. I realized I need to give it sufficient momentum in taking it over my head before the actual cracking motion - that way it stays horizontal in the air and doesn't knot or just hit my hand or face.

I had to stop (maybe early) when my hand was getting really cramped after all the plaiting and binding I've done recently! Anything that requires a pinching motion really wears my hands out fast at the moment.

[Ron May]

Today's practice was a positive one.
I concentrated on having more velocity in the delivery and less in the second motion to reverse the thong to the ending behind or even a little angle back behind me.
Slowing down and such boils down to how much energy I put into the whole swing to keep it in the horizontal plane with out over powering it.
That and keeping my form true to flight is the key for me.

I can tell by the posts today that we all are improving and gaining further improved skills.
It's positive proof that this exercise is working and working well for all.

I am proud and encouraged by every one.

Ron.

[Johnny Pell]

Guys it's been a hectic couple of days. I found my wife's father passed away in his home a few days ago. So we have my wife's brother from Nashville staying with us until Monday or Tuesday. So bad news is I still haven't made a video to post for you guys to see. Good news is that we have still been practicing. Today for only about 10 min, but yesterday not only did we practice but we introduced three people to the world of whips and cracking. I taught my brother in law, my neighbor and her two sons how to crack a whip. I really have to give it to MR Robby, I find it so much easier to explain techniques of cracking since watching his WB videos on youtube. He is such a great teacher, and from what I was told yesterday I'm getting a lot better at teaching as well.