And THIS, boys and girls, is why...
Moderator: BullWhipBorton
- Darth Indiana
- Archaeologist
- Posts: 279
- Joined: Wed Dec 26, 2007 10:05 am
- Contact:
And THIS, boys and girls, is why...
you should always wear protective clothing when practicing with you bullwhip.
i'm very lucky my eye was closed. it actually looks worse in person. that's not a smear of blood, that's part of the welt.
i'm very lucky my eye was closed. it actually looks worse in person. that's not a smear of blood, that's part of the welt.
Last edited by Darth Indiana on Mon Feb 25, 2008 8:57 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- PyramidBlaster
- Dig Leader
- Posts: 674
- Joined: Tue Feb 19, 2008 7:29 am
- Location: "Tampa, Florida--Or, how I learned to stop worrying, and love the Bomb..."
-
- Moderator
- Posts: 1967
- Joined: Sun Mar 02, 2003 11:28 pm
- Location: Michigan, USA
People wonder why i am so serious about eye protection, Especally for some one just learning or when trying new tricks. All it takes is one time.
Darth Indiana You are #### lucky you didnt loose an eye. Any lower and it could have very well cut right though your lid into the eye.
BTW, Shrink your picture a bit, its too big.
Dan
Darth Indiana You are #### lucky you didnt loose an eye. Any lower and it could have very well cut right though your lid into the eye.
BTW, Shrink your picture a bit, its too big.
Dan
-
- Legendary Adventurer
- Posts: 7011
- Joined: Mon Mar 07, 2005 8:21 pm
hat
I'm glade you are alright. that was close my friend.
- bleyd
- Archaeologist
- Posts: 328
- Joined: Mon Mar 27, 2006 1:37 am
- Location: Pismo Beach , Central California
- Contact:
That doesn't look much better than what my legs looked like my first time 'round. Whipcracking IS very serious and not something to be taken lightly. Safety is a big factor and should always be on ones mind when practicing. I tell that to folks when they ask to try my whip. I always warn them but rarely do they listen and it generally ends up in a welt somewhere.
You were lucky dude it could have been worse. Definfately a testimony as to why one should wear safety glasses.
You were lucky dude it could have been worse. Definfately a testimony as to why one should wear safety glasses.
- Sergei
- Admin Emeritus
- Posts: 2047
- Joined: Tue Jun 25, 2002 11:44 am
- Location: Off the grid, in from the cold - Jack's Canyon ~1119
- Contact:
Darth Indiana, you dodged a bullet big time.
But you really need to read my tale here:
viewtopic.php?p=38276#38276
For those to lazy to click, here it is:
Much, much worse... but a happy ending for me. From that point on, I story board all my whip cracking. I visualize the whole crack. Over time, I developed a 6th sense of where that tip was at all times. The slightest doubt - I bail out of the routine and cover. But please read that entire post from that thread.
But you really need to read my tale here:
viewtopic.php?p=38276#38276
For those to lazy to click, here it is:
Thanks Darth Indiana for sharing. Every once in awhile this happens and it's a good reminder to be careful.But I will tell you my story. I got a brand new 10 foot whip when I first started. Only having cracked 8 footers up to that time, I tried to do a "reverse horizontal" for the first time on the 10 footer. Snap, right into my left eye. I mean I couldn't even blink, it smacked right straight into my left eyeball. The blow from the whip knocked me down.
I got up after 5 minutes and opened both eyes. I could see, but I sensed that something about my left eye was wrong. I closed my right eye, and I could not see ANYTHING from my left. I could see that it was light out, but I couldn't see the blue from the sky or green on the grass. It was like someone spread a whole jar of vaseline right into my eye. What was worse after 10 more minutes of sitting on the ground, it wasn't getting any better. I got up, and very determinedly, cracked off the "reverse horizontal" and took the slow 10 minute hike back to my car.
I then had to drive 30 minutes on a busy highway to the closest ER. Making a left hand turn or merging left without any vision from your left eye is impossible. If you don't beleive me, close your left eye and try to merge left. I get to the ER and the nurse gives me an "EYE CHART" to read. I told her, you don't understand, I can't even see the wall that the "EYE CHART" is on. Well she called in the Opthamologist on call. My vision slowly started to come back after about 1 1/2 hours after the incident. The Opthamologist examines my eye and tells me, I have a BAD RETINAL BLEED. About 25% of my eyeball filled up with blood. The good news is that it shouldn't get higher than 25%. However, he wanted me to go home (with someone else driving of course) and have my wife monitor my blood level in my eye. If it went beyond a certain level in my eye, I needed to have surgery to repair the blood vessel leaking. More bad news.... He told me that I needed to take a whole week off from work and both eyes needed to be blindfolded so to minimize any eye movement from the left eye. Reason? In about 30% of the cases such as mine, the blood vessel BURSTS and we would then have a medical emergency. So his strict instructions were, complete and total bed rest with my eyes completely blind folded for an entire week.
Bottom line: 3 months after the injury, the same doctor examines my left eye for a complete check up. My vision was now a remarkable 20-15, it improved!!!!! I asked, "what's with that Doc?" He said, that I invented a new form of Lasix Eye Surgery. A new version that he will not even bother to publish. Smile We laughed and he told me to always be carefull. Yeah, yeah... But I knew I dodged a bullet.
So the tale from above, I can not stress enough to everyone to minimally wear safety glasses, and a hat with a brim. Over time like I said, you develop a 6th sense. The cracks I do now when I practice have over hundreds of hours invested in them. However, whenever I am learning a new crack, on go the glasses and hat. In fact, if you ever get Mike Murphy tapes, you see him wearing the glasses and hat. And he has been cracking ever since he could walk!
Much, much worse... but a happy ending for me. From that point on, I story board all my whip cracking. I visualize the whole crack. Over time, I developed a 6th sense of where that tip was at all times. The slightest doubt - I bail out of the routine and cover. But please read that entire post from that thread.
Last edited by Sergei on Tue Feb 26, 2008 2:22 am, edited 1 time in total.
- Pitfall Harry
- Expeditionary Hero
- Posts: 2114
- Joined: Sun Nov 06, 2005 1:43 pm
Jeez...That is too close. Glad you can still see. The sad thing is I have eye protection that I bought 2 years ago and have never worn it. I guess its time I do To be honest though, it's kinda cool. Not many people have scars on their face from a whip, so embrace it I guess. What type of crack were you "trying" to do?
-
- Archaeologist
- Posts: 247
- Joined: Wed Jan 23, 2008 4:15 am
- Contact:
- Darth Indiana
- Archaeologist
- Posts: 279
- Joined: Wed Dec 26, 2007 10:05 am
- Contact:
When I first started whipcraking my wife used to make fun of me for wearing safety goggles, but I'm glad I wore them...I know they saved my eyeball a few times.
xoxo
Louie
http://www.bullwhips.org
xoxo
Louie
http://www.bullwhips.org
- Indiana Max
- Professor of Archaeology
- Posts: 1099
- Joined: Tue Nov 07, 2006 11:29 am
- Location: Europe/Germany/munich
- Contact:
- LemonLauren
- Vendor
- Posts: 183
- Joined: Wed Dec 27, 2006 5:30 pm
- Location: Nevada
- Contact:
You really did get lucky! I've hit myself across the face a few times, but never made more than a little red mark that went away within the hour.
I always found it difficult to wear regular safety glasses or bulky goggles when practicing new tricks because they obstruct your peripheral vision. Then one day I got the crazy idea to try my skydive goggles. They're actually perfect for practicing with a whip! Their entire purpose is to not take away or distort any part of your vision, but still protect your eyes.
If anybody's interested, you can find some online here...
http://www.jumptown.skydivestore.com/ge ... gi?Goggles&
The first three they have listed are fairly cheap and comfortable.
I always found it difficult to wear regular safety glasses or bulky goggles when practicing new tricks because they obstruct your peripheral vision. Then one day I got the crazy idea to try my skydive goggles. They're actually perfect for practicing with a whip! Their entire purpose is to not take away or distort any part of your vision, but still protect your eyes.
If anybody's interested, you can find some online here...
http://www.jumptown.skydivestore.com/ge ... gi?Goggles&
The first three they have listed are fairly cheap and comfortable.
- Darth Indiana
- Archaeologist
- Posts: 279
- Joined: Wed Dec 26, 2007 10:05 am
- Contact:
- Indiana G
- Legendary Adventurer
- Posts: 3918
- Joined: Fri Sep 01, 2006 12:55 pm
- Location: in the Temple of Insanity
lucky, lucky, lucky......i guess you'll take that lash and run as it could have been much worse.
i typically practice with sunglasses and a ballcap.....it's kind of amazing how useful a ballcap's "bill" is when putting some distance between your face and the fall/popper.
i'm glad you didn't do any permanent damage.
cheers
i typically practice with sunglasses and a ballcap.....it's kind of amazing how useful a ballcap's "bill" is when putting some distance between your face and the fall/popper.
i'm glad you didn't do any permanent damage.
cheers
- IndyFrench
- Writer of Things
- Posts: 1120
- Joined: Tue Jul 02, 2002 3:50 pm
- Location: Atlanta, GA
- Contact:
- Darth Indiana
- Archaeologist
- Posts: 279
- Joined: Wed Dec 26, 2007 10:05 am
- Contact:
i know it. the brim of my fedora has saved me from many an ill-performed crack. actually it used to have a bound edge, and the whip split the cloth, so now it's more SA.Indiana G wrote:lucky, lucky, lucky......i guess you'll take that lash and run as it could have been much worse.
i typically practice with sunglasses and a ballcap.....it's kind of amazing how useful a ballcap's "bill" is when putting some distance between your face and the fall/popper.
i'm glad you didn't do any permanent damage.
cheers
-
- Moderator
- Posts: 1967
- Joined: Sun Mar 02, 2003 11:28 pm
- Location: Michigan, USA
Thanks Darth, that size is fine. So are you going to tell us what crack you where attempting to do, when it went so horribly wrong?
I use a pair of clear wrap around safty goggles, that I picked up at Home Depot for 8 bucks.
There isn’t a noticeable distortion from the lenses, they arnt too bulky like alot of safty goggles and fit close to the face which I like. I'll admit i don't always wear them like i should and usually I’ll just wear high impact/shatterproof plastic sunglasses when I am outside cracking.
Next time be more careful
Dan
I use a pair of clear wrap around safty goggles, that I picked up at Home Depot for 8 bucks.
There isn’t a noticeable distortion from the lenses, they arnt too bulky like alot of safty goggles and fit close to the face which I like. I'll admit i don't always wear them like i should and usually I’ll just wear high impact/shatterproof plastic sunglasses when I am outside cracking.
Next time be more careful
Dan
Last edited by BullWhipBorton on Wed Feb 27, 2008 8:30 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- Darth Indiana
- Archaeologist
- Posts: 279
- Joined: Wed Dec 26, 2007 10:05 am
- Contact:
The term escapes me at the moment. I swung the whip over my head counter-clockwise, then when it got to about 2 oclock, i flicked my wrist for the crack. I've done it many times and never got hit before.BullWhipBorton wrote:So are you going to tell us what crack you where attempting to do, when it went so horribly wrong?
Dan
-
- Dig Leader
- Posts: 587
- Joined: Thu Feb 21, 2008 6:39 pm
- Location: Florida
- Jedinizar
- Archaeology Student
- Posts: 28
- Joined: Wed Aug 01, 2007 5:38 pm
- Location: Tatooine
- Contact:
After reading all this posts specially the one from @Sergei.. I'm really afraid to test my First 10ft Whip that I'll get within the next 2 Weeks.
Are sunglasses protection enough for my eyes? Can the whip actually break the glasses and injure my eyes throw it??? Or do I rally need a Professional safety goggles???
Are sunglasses protection enough for my eyes? Can the whip actually break the glasses and injure my eyes throw it??? Or do I rally need a Professional safety goggles???
- Darth Indiana
- Archaeologist
- Posts: 279
- Joined: Wed Dec 26, 2007 10:05 am
- Contact:
- Indiana Max
- Professor of Archaeology
- Posts: 1099
- Joined: Tue Nov 07, 2006 11:29 am
- Location: Europe/Germany/munich
- Contact:
- Darth Indiana
- Archaeologist
- Posts: 279
- Joined: Wed Dec 26, 2007 10:05 am
- Contact:
- Darth Indiana
- Archaeologist
- Posts: 279
- Joined: Wed Dec 26, 2007 10:05 am
- Contact:
-
- Moderator
- Posts: 1967
- Joined: Sun Mar 02, 2003 11:28 pm
- Location: Michigan, USA
- Darth Indiana
- Archaeologist
- Posts: 279
- Joined: Wed Dec 26, 2007 10:05 am
- Contact:
- IndyWannaBee
- Archaeologist
- Posts: 313
- Joined: Sat Feb 16, 2008 8:45 pm
- IndyFrench
- Writer of Things
- Posts: 1120
- Joined: Tue Jul 02, 2002 3:50 pm
- Location: Atlanta, GA
- Contact:
- Indiana Max
- Professor of Archaeology
- Posts: 1099
- Joined: Tue Nov 07, 2006 11:29 am
- Location: Europe/Germany/munich
- Contact:
- Indiana Bond
- Dig Leader
- Posts: 653
- Joined: Sat Jul 01, 2006 4:16 am
- Location: Pacific Ocean: 19 29.84 N - 155 54.62 W Occupation: Archaeologist "Licensed to Kill"
- Contact:
- Snakewhip_Sable
- Scoundrel
- Posts: 2256
- Joined: Mon Oct 04, 2004 12:23 am
- Location: Palliser City, south of Midian, Alberta, DBSSWDD
- Contact:
- Canuck Digger
- Professor of Archaeology
- Posts: 747
- Joined: Sun Mar 30, 2008 8:24 pm
- Location: Montreal, Canada
Ouch is all I can say sir!
This reminded me of my early trials and tribulations with my first whip, back when I was 11, a long, long time ago now.
I never cut myself and thank goodness never in the face, especially since it never dawned on me at the time to wear protective eyewear... But I do remember hitting myself in the small of the back with the whip and it taking a moment before the pain reached my brain (I knew it was coming, but I wasn't prepared for when it arrived...) -No kidding, it felt like a hot poker had been jammed in my flesh! I droped the whip and with clenched teeth, tensed up in a pose that must have looked like the devil from Fantasia! I had never felt ANYTHING that painful in my then short life! Completely immobilizing in both mind and body. So I do understand (I think we all have similar stories here).
Thankfully I can now have fun throwing whips in shorts and tshirts and have not gotten hurt in years and years. But the learning curve was painful!
Cheers (and be bloody careful mate),
Franco
This reminded me of my early trials and tribulations with my first whip, back when I was 11, a long, long time ago now.
I never cut myself and thank goodness never in the face, especially since it never dawned on me at the time to wear protective eyewear... But I do remember hitting myself in the small of the back with the whip and it taking a moment before the pain reached my brain (I knew it was coming, but I wasn't prepared for when it arrived...) -No kidding, it felt like a hot poker had been jammed in my flesh! I droped the whip and with clenched teeth, tensed up in a pose that must have looked like the devil from Fantasia! I had never felt ANYTHING that painful in my then short life! Completely immobilizing in both mind and body. So I do understand (I think we all have similar stories here).
Thankfully I can now have fun throwing whips in shorts and tshirts and have not gotten hurt in years and years. But the learning curve was painful!
Cheers (and be bloody careful mate),
Franco
-
- Dig Worker
- Posts: 19
- Joined: Mon Mar 10, 2008 9:19 pm
Man thats gonna be an awesome scar!!! I've never been concerned about hitting my face. My first real whip, at age 11, was 8 foot. Then My first high end indy whip was a 10 footer. I went outside immediately and started cracking it, wearing shorts, flip flops and a short sleeve shirt. I dunno...I guess I'm more adventurous than most.
The worst facial injury for me was a flathead screwdeiver in my left eye...lol. Got lucky and no real major damage.
Just take your time guys and gals and start SLOW!!! You're probably not gonna be doing overhead cracks your first time out. I taught my 15 yo nephew on my 10 footer and then bought him his very own 8 footer from Adam. He's a natural and has made up some of his own cracks. Just go slow and practice your form without the whip a few times before you try new cracks.
The worst facial injury for me was a flathead screwdeiver in my left eye...lol. Got lucky and no real major damage.
Just take your time guys and gals and start SLOW!!! You're probably not gonna be doing overhead cracks your first time out. I taught my 15 yo nephew on my 10 footer and then bought him his very own 8 footer from Adam. He's a natural and has made up some of his own cracks. Just go slow and practice your form without the whip a few times before you try new cracks.