Club Obi Wan

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Here's links to pic of two new 8-plait cowhide bullwhips that I finished recently. While I was at the WWAC convention a couple weeks ago I was able to look at and handle quite a few Indy-style whips (Morgans, Strains, etc.) including the WSP 8-plait cowhide Indy. I found out that the size of my IOAB bullwhip is actually pretty close the dimensions of most of the 'roo Indys out there, while my 8-plait and 12-plait whips are a little large.

I made these two bullwhips with the intent to get the size down to something that's more Indy-appropriate. The lighter brown whip is 2.3 cm in diameter at its widest point and the dark one ended up 2.5 cm at its widest.

Now the next challenge is to get the size of my 12-plait cowhide whips down. I'm not sure if I want to keep both plaited bellies and get rid of the bolsters, or keep the bolsters and use only one plaited belly.

-Adam, www.winrichwhips.com

I wish I saw you web site a liite sooner. i have a whip that 12 foot long and it's a lot to handle.

Those whips look awesome. Well done, my friend.

Hey Adam,

Nice looking whips! You are getting closer and closer to the look of the roo Indy whips. I was wondering what's the construction of these 8 plait bulls...1 belly? or two? bolsters?

Even though the pics are small, I also noticed the thinner point, apparently ending with 4 strands. Am I correct?

The knot that secures the fall is also different than your previous whips, isn't it?

Regards,

Bernardo

I purchased one of your IOAB whips last week and I love it! This is my first whip, but I'm already cracking it quite well. I'm going to probably get a roo whip eventually, but I'm quite happy with this one for now.

I see nothing but gobbly gook writing when I click on the links.

Feezle wrote:I purchased one of your IOAB whips last week and I love it! This is my first whip, but I'm already cracking it quite well. I'm going to probably get a roo whip eventually, but I'm quite happy with this one for now.

Welcome abaord, Feezle! Stick around and enjoy the madness!

I have a prototype IOAB whip (it's the one that's pictured on his website) and I love the whip. It's broken in very nicely and is a joy for me to crack and learn on.

bink

Thanks! By the way, any tips for an aching shoulder? I feel like I'm gonna lose my arm!

Get used to it! When I first started learning, my shoulders ached for days! The more I worked with the whip, though, the more I got used to it. Whip cracking seems to be a good workout for your shoulders and upper arms! Also, try learning with your weak arm, too. I read somewhere that when you learn to crack with your weaker arm, it helps improve your overall skill and technique. It's true. In fact, some days I can crack better with my weaker side! Besides, when one arm gets tired, just switch!

bink

Binks got a good point.

Something I was shown when you're trying to learn a new crack and are having problems with it, try it with your off hand.

It's easier to get the mechanics of it down with the hand that doesn't think it knows what it's doing. Your off hand will actually "listen" to your brain.

When you get the motion down, and can feel how the crack works THEN try it with your dominant hand.

Now, the problem with this for me, is that I'm left-hand dominant, but not left-handed, (I write and eat left handed, but just about everything else, I do right handed or can easily switch off.) So figuring out which hand I'm better with at certain tasks is a pain. For instance, I'm better at volley cracking with my right hand, but I can target better with my left hand, (I'm left eyed.) So, I'm screwed up all around ;-)

Something else. When you first start cracking, you're probably over working your muscles. It takes NOTHING to get the whip to crack. As you learn, not only do you build up those muscles, (as Bink points out,) but use less energy to get the whip to crack.

I had this problem when learning the sidearm crack. I was really throwing a lot of full body motion into it. Lots of twisting at the waist. I was really losing those lovehandles I've been developing since I turned 30! (OK, they pre-date that. It's the bloody desk job, Man!) It was great! Then, I realized that I was actually working too hard, and was overpowering the whip. Now I throw sidarms with no effort, and get a nice, solid crack out of the whip. No effort at all.

And the bloody lovehandles are back!!!!

Ah well,

Just means I can crack my whip a lot longer without having to rest

-Dan
(Been quiet lately, guess I'm making up for it now!)

Bernardo,

These whips both start with a steel rod that is slightly under 1/4", which is covered with a bolster/core, then a single belly, bolster, and the 8-plait overlay.

I also lead loaded the butts of both the whips pictured using what I guess is the standard Morgan method of starting the overlay about an inch away from the end of the handle, wrapping the lead, and then bringing the yoke up and over the whole works. When you first told me about this method I didn't really understand it. At first I thought the only reason for using it was to make sure that the lead was secure, but now I also see that by using it more lead can be placed in the butt while keeping the size of the knob down.

Yes, the points are finer on these whips as well. I also concentrated on getting the plaiting tighter in these two whips. I felt that these changes were important since most of the people ordering these whips are looking for an Indy-style whip.

-Adam, www.winrichwhips.com

PS: About the shoulders, I usually never feel the hurt, but I was really hurting during and after the WWAC convention given that I did nothing but crack whips all day. I was even using my best technique and I still got sore!

Indiana Texas-girl wrote:I see nothing but gobbly gook writing when I click on the links.

Try opening them in Internet Explorer, as I know you use Firefox too.

Well done, Adam!

Regards,
Swindiana

thefish, I know what you mean! I'm basically left handed, but there are many things I do right handed. I catch and throw righty because I could never find lefty ball gloves as a kid. I play guitar righty, but this actually makes more sense to me, seeing that my left hand is doing most of the work. I am also left eye dominant.... and in my thirties... hey, are we related?

Feezle, once you get the crack technique down, you will begin to crack it with very little effort. The other day I tried to see how little energy I could put into the whip and still get it to crack. I was quite surprised at how easy I could do it!

bink

I like it alot Adam!!! The 12 plait I bought from you last week is sweet!! Bulky compaired to my roo JS but awesome none the less......When you get your 12 plaid cow hides down smaller......I'm gonna buy a 10 footer off of you!

P.S. I wish your Cow hide whips were a bit stiffer too.......Just a though

Okay, I'm now addicted. I was out cracking again, and realized how suprisingly easy it is to target things. Plus when you are concentrating on hitting something, it is a lot easier to crack because it takes your mind off of it.

I've been working on putting less effort into it too, as well as using both hands.

My girlfriend has been using it almost as much as I have. She lashed herself in the face yesterday, and I thought that would be the end of it, but that made her even more determined. I had to promise to get her a whip of her own. She wants a black one for a catwoman costume. She does have kind of a hard time cracking mine, and I thought about maybe just getting her a 6 footer. That would be easier right?

Hi Feezle,

Yes, IMHO a 6 footer would be easier to handle than an 8. While at the WWAC convention 6 foot whips seemed to be the standard for beginners.

FYI, I can make the IOAB bullwhip in black, 6 ft. long, and without a wrist loop for $60 plus shipping, just in case she's looking for a moderately priced whip for her Catwoman persona.

-Adam, www.winrichwhips.com

6ft!?!?! I dunno........Too short for me.........I use a 10 footer with no problem and The 12 plait 8 ft Cow hide I just bought from Adam was for my 13 yr old nephew who can crack it really well........Heck he can crack my 10 footer pretty well.....He's pretty dog on good