From falls & poppers to plaiting & cracking technique, this section is dedicated in memory of Sergei, IndyGear Staff Member and Whip Guru. Always remember to keep "Celebratin' Life!"
I'm thinking of getting another whip, but I really gotta watch the dollars this time. Thoughts are turning to sacrificing a couple feet as a cost cutting measure (pun intended).
The thing is, I crave the ostentatiousness of the "full" ten foot length. I've come to think of it as the "regulation" Indy whip. Fortunately through this forum, I have begun to loosen up in this line of thinking. For instance, it has been documented that the whip used in the famous Cairo Crack scene in Raiders was an eight footer. Looks pretty good to me. Can't tell from the sound of it, because most if not all of the cracks in the movie were enhanced for, uh, ostentatiousness.
So what am I really giving up along with the extra two feet? Will I still get a nice robust crack? Will it feel much faster than a ten footer with equal specs otherwise? Conversly, what could I be gaining?
Indeed I will save more money, but who wants that?!
I have a David Morgan 10 footer, and I LOVE it, but at the FL Summit last year had the chance to crack an 8' IOAB, and that thing snapped off like it had firecrackers in the tip!
I recently had the chance to get one, but had to finally pass it up..but MAN I gotta get me ona those! I'd highly recommend one for budget and practicality!
8ft whips are great! They are faster than a 10ft but still feel fairly long. Better suited to multiple cracks too. Of course, coiling it you notice the difference in length - but on the other hand you don't need quite as much space to practice. I have an 8ft and a couple of 10fts and although I like the feel of a 10ft, the 8ft gets more use.
Even though I prefer the 10' myself, the 8' is REALLY great to practice new cracks with etc. Compared to my 10' it's a LOT lighter and faster. I also feel that I can work more precise with the 8', but that might be to my lack of practice on the 10'.
I think it depends a great deal on the whip itself. I've handled 10 footers that felt like 8 footers, and 8 footers that felt like 6 footers, and 8 footers that flowed slow like 10's.
I think it all depends on the the maker, the hide it was cut from, and the design.
Yeah, there's the speed issue that a shorter whip will always have a faster response, but the volume/fluidity of the crack has as much to do with the weight and construction of the whip and the technique of the wielder as the length does.
Ravenswood, You will most likely notice the absence of the extra two feet, but even with an 8ft whip you’ll still get a good roll out. I’ve found that many people who start off with long whips like 10ft and over later switch to shorter whips because they find them more enjoyable and a bit easier and more comfortable to use. tend to recommend them as a better over all bullwhip leangth as You’ll also find that you can do a bit more general whip cracking, Not that the long whips are fun to throw too!
As my esteemed associate Dan (TheFish) said much of it depends on the whip itself and how its made. I actually favor 6ft and 8ft bullwhips over 10ft + but I can crack an 8ft whip whip just as loud or as softly as I can a 10ft bullwhip, so if your concerned that an 8ft bullwhip will crack too softly, don’t be.
I say get a 15 ft heavy nylon bullwhip, maybe from 21st Century whips. Then you will get something loud and powerful. Granted, you'll only be able to do one crack well with it (the flick) but cracking a long whip can be fun and rewarding.
But if you need a leather 'Indy' whip, and you already have a 10 ft Schultz, then get an 8 ft by one of the reputable makers. I'd get one from Bernardo if I didn't already have 2 Morgans.
Thanks for the kind returns, guys. I'm developing quite a sense for the eight footer now, to the extent that I'm really warming up to it! Flexibility and ease of operations seems to be the order of the eight foot whip, without giving up the walloping crack of the ten footer t'boot!
Dan, thanks for the link! I'm amazed at the symmetry of your dual-whip cracking. With such long wips on either side (albeit matching pairs) you'd think they wouldn't be so "mirror imaged" as they were. Simply astounding! Also the casual snuffing of the candle on the mantle was very Zorro!
Adam, I was always into the power crack. But watching your double whip routines have inspired me to do something a bit more fancy. Now I have lots more reasons other than money to delve into the shorter lengths. I'll probably buy more of them anyhow. Suddenly my wallet is shaking!
Big thanks again, all!!!
Steve
No problem Steve, glad to help. I really do think you'd really enjoy using an 8 ft bullwhip (or shorter for that matter) and would get alot out of it too.
Thanks also, I really appreciate the kind words on my youtube video.
a leather 'Indy' whip, and you already have a 10 ft Schultz, then get an 8 ft by one of the reputable makers. I'd get one from Bernardo if I didn't already have 2 Morgans.