Whip Basics. The Forum

Craig, as you know, I'm not a maker - but I imagine that greater skill in using would inevitably lead to greater skill in making.

Well said Mr Robert.

Mr. Robert you just put the clear crack on that throw.

Knowing how to crack well leads to knowing how to better feel what the whip is doing right and wrong.

A person can muscle any whip into submission, but you shouldn't have to.

Ron

I've found that knowing how to make them has helped in my cracking and vice versa. The reason I say that knowing the building process helps us that it lets you see the way the Whip wants to move, rather than just guessing. You see where the belly and spine are and how to use that. On the other side, knowing how to crack them helps in making a whip because you know what a whip needs to do, and you are able to adjust your technique to accomodate. That's been my experience, and I hope it helps.

Ron May wrote:A person can muscle any whip into submission, but you shouldn't have to.

Exactly, Ron!

After much more practice with Roger's whip I've been able to do the figure eight quite consistently. I've also discovered that I can do an underhand flick straight into a coachman's. I tried to make a video, but couldn't perform in front of the camera. I'll try again later.

For some reason, I'm still having trouble doing the horizontal crack. I think it's because I'm more used to heavier whips.

I was going ask how the whip is breaking in. I'm glad to hear you're getting used to it. Any further performance pointers? Is there much sideways 'flop' or does she roll out pretty straight?

There is still a noticeable right hand pull, but it's manageable. I did manage to rip off the tip of the fall yesterday, but that's because Arizona is just so rough.

I did a roll out test and now it seems to roll perfectly straight on both sides. Maybe the right hand pull is just me.

Craig Frank wrote: Maybe the right hand pull is just me.

Craig, Robby noticed that I was sometimes turning my wrist (unconsciously) while performing a crack. This (narurtally) caused the whip to twist slightly. (I still have to remind myself that, whatever the whip does, I've told it to do that!)