The 10/10 Challenge

[Ben Varsek]

The video tutorial that you've made is awesome Ron !!!


Morten, thank you for sharing your video !!!
There is nothing I could add that hasn't been posted already !!!
I realy like your latest whip - it performs great and I like the color of the thong - it stands out from the backround on your video which makes it a perfect whip for shooting videos !!!


Bob, your video looks fantastic (I hope your phone didn't get damaged) - thank you for sharing !!!


Tristan, again congratulations on your improvement !!!



The videos that I've shoot with my "bicycle friendly tripod" have been terrible. The ground of my parctice spot has been to wet and muddy for "parking my bicylcle" there and it was therfore hard to find a good position my bicycle/camera and to shoot a video worth sharing. I have therfore decided to build myself a "muddy meadow friendly tripod" soon.

Here is a video from yesterdays practice - it fealt like one of these "drawback" practice days (I'm using way to much force and my form is very bad) but I've had several of those in the past - I won't get discouraged by that !


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAgsx-- ... e=youtu.be


It's such a joy to upload a video without having to deal with photobucket !!!

All the best
Ben

[Ron May]

Ben, your form is not " very bad". But you're right about the amount of force being a little too much.
Maybe being cold might have had a negative influence in your velocity.
Thank you for sharing this. Your tripod worked great.

Ron

[Morten Aalykke Pedersen]

Just want to say thx for your inputs - i am working with them on a pitch dark lawn - and it helps :-) love this place

[Guest]

Haven't been able to practice these couple of days but as always I make up for it with longer sessions. I'll make sure to take the time tomorrow but now is the time to get to sleep!

[Ron May]

Ben, today's practice I too kind of took a little step backwards it seems.
I guess it's all a part of the roller coaster ride of leaning. Towards the end of the practice it maybe got a little bit better, but over all... not.
I think it's necessary to experience this so that we are sure that we are paying attention to what we are doing so that the improvements will be long lasting.

Ron

[Tristan Foy]

Everyone did better than I did, since I was too busy to get any practice in tonight. But my practices lately have been around 20 or 25 minutes, and I am finding the time flies when I do it, so I don't think I'm going to be in too much trouble.

Morten, it's great you have a yard to practice in. Incidentally my best friend is Danish and she and her boyfriend just bought a place that has a nice yard, which surprised me, since I didn't know they were even a consideration in Denmark. Maybe I should get her into whip cracking, to take advantage of that nice space. :-D

Ben, good to have you back. I'm sure you'll get back into the swing of things soon, no pun intended!

[Ron May]

Today's practice was a lot better.
In the beginning I noticed that I was watching the end of the whip in stead of the horizon.
After looking at a fixed point in front of me the cracks became easier and more natural.
In conclusion, I was watching the end of the whip and trying to manipulate it in flight in stead of starting it right in the first place.

Ron

[Tristan Foy]

You remind me of something I have noticed, Ron. I've gotten so used to cracking in the direction of the destroyed soccer goal stand (where I set my phone) that when I turn around to just simply look in another direction in the park (there is a golf course less than 100 yards from where I crack, and I bet they just loooove me) my focus wavers and I struggle more with the cracking, the force, and all that.

I think it's because I can see people and become more self conscious, and after a handful of throws, I can get a rhythm of some kind back, but it's been interesting.

[Robert Gage]

Ron, Robby has pointed out to me (more than once!) my tendency to look at the whip (or even the ground!) and not at the horizon. Looking straight ahead, and even slightly up, makes a world of difference!

Tristan, I too have to fight against becoming self-conscious when there are people in view (i.e. people viewing me). I think this has more to do with psychology than with whip-cracking!

[Ron May]

Thanks Mr. Robert for sharing that.

It might be a part of the "let your mind wander" thing and not think about crackin' but just do the crackin'. Don't think, do.

Looking at the horizon or up more, for me, lets me feel the whip in stead of setting my timing on visuals alone. Feeling where the thong is , to me, is very important. I'm still trying to get the hang of doing that.

Ron

[Guest]

Yesterday I was called in by Mom so it threw me off the schedule. after Martial Arts practice I just had to collapse and sleep.

Anyway today in the other hand I had a nice late evening practice. I focused on what Ben pointed out about how I let the handle drop behind me on CC and correcting it to 12 o' clock made the cracks more solid an consistent. So thanks for that, Ben!

I also gave the off-hand some more practice than usual.

Nothing else to report today!

[Ron May]

Erik, now that's progress !
Keep up the good work.

My session today was positive as well and I believe the muscle memory is getting better too.

Ron

[Tristan Foy]

I missed the last two days, and it looks like heavy rain this weekend, and wet the rest of the week, so I made myself go out today, despite thinking it would probably rain on me tonight, as well.

I definitely could feel I've missed a few days. I couldn't crack for beans for a while, but I started to work the rust off. I have nothing really to report; tonight was more of a "Just keep going."

[Tristan Foy]

Oh and the focusing on the horizon and letting your mind wander tips - Yes, thank you for that suggestion, Robert and Ron! I did keep that in mind tonight and it helped me relax and get cracks that just felt healthier and more natural because they weren't as forced.

[Ron May]

Tristan, I don't know if you have ever played baseball, but when I was pitching my coach told me not to try to aim or pitch the ball, but just look at the mitt and to just throw it.
It all boils down to a more natural movement.

I believe it works that way in whip crackin' too.

Ron

[Charlie Carpenter]

Hi folks, this seems like a great idea so I thought I'd try it. Started with the circus crack today and experimented a bit with the follow through. Still feels un-natural as I was told to point the hand at the target but I can see that I'm not even doing that, so I have no excuses. I can see the advantage of it.

I need to stop in between cracks I think

Video could be better sorry, I was trying to get closer to the camera. Had to stop practice a run up to the house when I saw the postie, I told the neighbour I would sign for a parcel for him.

https://vimeo.com/194153626

[Ron May]

Charlie, that's looking pretty nice.
I think you're right about the follow through. Instead of , like you pointed out, stopping the throw at 4:00 just try to end it at 6:00.
Your motions are nice, fluid and smooth and I like how you slowed the throw down towards the end and getting those "quieter" cracks.
You are definitely on the right track.

Your whip flows very nicely. I can tell that the transition seems pretty good.
Nice job building it.

Welcome to the 10/10 Practice Challenge.

Ron

[Charlie Carpenter]

Cheers Ron, It was partly so I don't annoy my neighbours but It feels nice to use the minimum of effort.

Pretty happy with the whip and the way its breaking in, a little lumpy in places but better than my neater one to use. I like the shot loading although I want to have a play with it and maybe go lead, steel then plastic bbs to try and counter sudden the drop off in mass.

Looking forward to building a target stand to judge how accurate it is. had an idea to attach a plumb bob to the arm so I can see if the whip is flairing too much

Great to be here

[Robert Gage]

Charlie, that whip looks as if it works pretty well!

You mostly have your feet together. I think you're trying to be 'calm'; but the only part of your body that moves at all is your right arm. The rest is almost rigid. Try planting your left foot a little forward, and bending your left knee slightly (while you use your right hand) - and hold your left arm a little forward and out from your body. I think you'll find you're much more relaxed, and can use even less effort with your right arm!

[Charlie Carpenter]

Thanks Robert, I'll add that in tomorrow