How hard is it to crack the Whip?

Colt · Post by **Colt** » Mon Sep 09, 2002 12:38 pm

I am really interested in expanding my indy collection to include a whip. But, if I get a whip I do not want to just have it for show I want to be able to use the dang thing and crack it. How hard is it to learn to do this? I am considering the 8ft Keppler Whip as a starter.

Thanks for the advice,

Colt

sab04 · Post by **sab04** » Mon Sep 09, 2002 4:07 pm

Hi
when I first got a whip I had no idea what I was doing. also I didn't have anything to help me learn, like a whipcracking video. i baisically flung the whip around till it would crack, then try to repeat what i just did until i figured out how to do it. it took me about a month to get all the basic cracks down. recently my friend got into whip cracking and we bought a whip cracking video. He had all the basic cracks down in less than a week.
My advice is to get the lee kepler 8 footer and buy a copy of whipcracking
made easy volume 1 from western stage props. hope this helps
-Scott

Sergei · Post by **Sergei** » Mon Sep 09, 2002 4:27 pm

Scott,
You beat me to the punch. That is my standard pitch. Get the tapes from Western Stage Props or David Morgan. Get completely grounded on the 4 cracks on the first tape. The second "Whip Cracking Made EAsy" tape, goes into multiple cracking, double handed cracking, long whips, and pickups. You can't do anything on the 2nd tape, until you get a firm foundation on the four basic cracks.

But 2 things to remember; safety and "have fun".

-Sergei

Jonesy · Post by **Jonesy** » Mon Sep 09, 2002 4:53 pm

I would say the Keppler 8 foot would be a good starter. I have a Keppler 10 foot and it's a great piece.

And yes, take a look at "Whip Cracking Made Easy." It's a good tape, and you'll get a hang of the basic four cracks rather quickly.

All I know to tell ya, and I speak from experiance, but don't try cracking it too hard!! Your arm will feel it the next day!

Rick Blaine · Post by **Rick Blaine** » Mon Sep 09, 2002 8:33 pm

Not to mention you are straining (no pun intended) the whip by using excessive force to crack it. As I was illustrating to Indy French you don't have to put your life into the throw to get a good crack. There is no need to do a "Rundquist" crack

Your arms, wrists, shoulders and whole body will be soar if you put your life into the crack and your whip will be affected by the punishment it was not meant to receive. Highest Regards. Indiana Dan

Whipcrack · Post by **Whipcrack** » Tue Sep 10, 2002 12:13 pm

My 9 year old can do it and my 13 year old is better than I am. It is not too hard, there are many sources of info in the internet and on video which detail all the cracks, you will be fine. As Sergei says "be safe and have fun", pracitice is the key.

You don't want anything longer than 8 feet to start with though or you will end up with a 10 footer coiled around your neck. Only kidding.....

Enjoy!

Bill Walton

ecwhips · Post by **ecwhips** » Tue Sep 10, 2002 1:38 pm

The first Whipcracking Made Easy tape is an excellent place to start. It shows four basic cracks in real time and slow motion, and should give you a good foundation. But to emphasize what Sergei said, really get the moves on that tape down before you go on to anything else. After that, I would recommend Fundamental Whipcracking Techniques by Mike Murphy. The second Whipcracking Made Easy tape is okay, but I found some of the cracks like figure 8's and the Queensland Flash are not explained or demonstrated very well on it. Mike's tape can get a little advanced at times, but it demonstrates some of the basic multiple cracks in a much easier to understand way.

Jim