Club Obi Wan

Howdy folks. Well, I got my brand new David Morgan 10 ft whip. I must say it looks pretty sweet. Anyway, I went out back with the safety goggles, but I am still afraid to crack it.

Any suggestions for us first timers? Tutorials?

Goggles, hat, gloves, jacket, long pants, mouthguard, chainmail, bulletproof vest, steel toed shoes....

Just keep all of your body parts covered...

Well, there are tutorials all over. Just dig a little and you'll find them on this site. Other than that, just remember to keep swinging it over your head after each crack so it doesn't hit you in the face.

Here is a video link with directions for the Cairo whip cracking.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u00duDw0ViI

This is a good starter instruction video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnUQEYFt51o

Good luck and be sure to wear protective clothing and especially goggles when learning.

Paul ô¿ô

Congratulations on the new Morgan, Any pictures of it?

While there is no need to fear your new bullwhip, a good healthy dose of respect and common sense is a smart thing to have when using it. First check out the Bullwhip FAQ at http://www.bullwhip.org and http://bullwhip-info.com/ they will give you a good overview of what to expect. There is also a wealth of knowledge here to read thought.

It would be best if you had someone locally to work with, someone who could teach you what to do and what not to do, but otherwise a video or two like Whip Cracking Made Easy wouldn’t hurt. There are also many homemade tutorials posted on Youtube and other video host sites, some are better then others so you have to take them with a grain of salt. A really good one that comes to mind is by fourm member and whipmaker Bernie Wojcicki . http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnUQEYFt51o

Remember the safety goggles, and start simple, go slow and easy. Focus getting a feel for the whip and learning the basic cracks the right way. Don’t worry about getting the loudest crack possible, don’t try to over muscle the whip or force it to crack, the whip is designed to crack and you will get the best results using proper technique with the least possible effort.

Dan

Hi, I'm on the same boat as @Chewie Louie, I just got a new (well my First Whip) few days ago. OK it was not a Morgan one, but a very nice made one from Pagey.
any way I didn't have time to go out an tray to crack it, I'm working every day, and since I'm living in a city (Frankfurt am Main Germany) I have no Garden or back yard to train, and it's also raining every day since I got it, I couldn't go either to a park to tray it out. I did just few indoor crack, which gave me some marcs on my white Roof... #### it...

Well my question is, is that normal that a new Whip is stiff?? When I see all the videos on youtube I can see how flexible a whip actually is, but mine...!!!!
And I'm really afraid about the fall, it looks like he will break any time soon, I don't know if I got it like that or is due to the indoor crack (touched on the Roof etc...) but judge your self.


http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg14 ... C00066.jpg
http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg14 ... C00063.jpg
http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg14 ... C00061.jpg
http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg14 ... C00083.jpg
http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg14 ... C00082.jpg
http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg14 ... C00081.jpg
http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg14 ... C00077.jpg
http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg14 ... C00076.jpg
http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg14 ... /whip2.jpg
http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg14 ... /whip1.jpg

Yep, definitely normal. New whips are supposed to be stiff and then break in. Good luck. :junior: -M

Just get out there and do it son!!! Dont over think it and dont try to over power it. the cracks will come with time.

This is a good starter instruction video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnUQEYFt51o

I'll second the suggestions by Paul and BullWhipBorton for this video. It's the one I've been using with my IOAB.

And as others here are saying, take it easy - let the whip crack itself. Usually when I'm having trouble, I find I'm trying to over-muscle the whip.

Have fun!

I'd advise you to, as well as look after yourself, also look after the whip! My first real whip was redhide (cowhide) - which is pretty tough stuff - but I managed to break one of the strands in the point (the thin end of the braiding) in the first week. It was raining and I couldn't wait and took it out onto the wet grass.

Remember that roohide is tough and strong but it can be easily damaged by hitting it on hard or rough surfaces, especially when wet.

So do look after the whip. Once you become very proficient with a whip you'll know how to use it in such a way that it has maximum effect for a minimum of stress to the leather. To start off learning some cracks perhaps you might do well to have a cheap whip also, if you can afford an extra whip. All the best and have fun!

I'll third it. I downloaded Bernie's video to my computer and must have watched it 50 times. Then I got a copy on DVD with my whip

That's a great way to put it BullWhipBorton, not "fear", but "respect".

Tron

Remember that a 10 foot takes a lot longer to crack than you'd think. So if you are getting frustrated at trying to crack it and it's not, then adjust your timing, not necessarily your power.

xoxo

Louie

I've got a 10' paracord whip and it seems to be quite a bit harder to get a good crack out of it than an 8' whip. But when the stars align and you do it right... the neighbors think you're shooting guns in the back yard.

Russ

Jedinizar wrote:Well my question is, is that normal that a new Whip is stiff?? When I see all the videos on youtube I can see how flexible a whip actually is, but mine...!!!!
And I'm really afraid about the fall, it looks like he will break any time soon, I don't know if I got it like that or is due to the indoor crack (touched on the Roof etc...) but judge your self.

Jedinizar, Congratulations on your new Pagey bullwhip, The stiffness in a new whip is fairly normal, It will eventually go away as its used and broken in.

I am not exactly sure what’s going on with your fall; I’ve never seen one quite that fibrous. Usually when they start to get a “fuzzy” look, they are getting too dry and need conditioning with a good leather dressing. I’m not sure if Pagey is using Red hide or Latigo for his falls, but I was always taught that the more furry or fibrous the leather, the weaker it was. With that said though, I can’t imagine him using a sub par fall leather on his whips. You want to keep the falls well conditioned at all times though, that will really help maintain their strength and durability. Try a bit of leather dressing, if it doesn’t help or if it gets worse, check with Pagey, he might have more insight.

Dan

My old dad used to say," don't let fear hold you back"

woo-hoo . . . got my first crack. Pretty exiting to hear the crack for the first time. Thanks for all the advice you guys posted. Right now, I am taking it nice and easy and not trying to force anything. The whip is still stiff but I'm sure it will get easier as it breaks in.

yeah, BE CAREFUL, i just started 'cracking' myself and had no idea it was so easy to whip yourself

The idea that when your first learning it's more dangerous is in my mind ridiculous. If you start with safety in mind, get good coaching in person or through a decent video tape, you'll find it's no more dangerous then learning a golf swing. If you fear the whip, it will give you cause to. It's a relationship built on understanding and knowledge. When you start flinching and anticipating, that's when accidents happen.
I'm in the "Less is More" camp and it's very true. When you move beyond making it go "Bang" and work on the proper mechanics to get there, the safe mechanics, the "Bang" happens because you were safe and understood what the whip and you were doing.
When you hit yourself, and we all do, you've done something wrong. The whip has just told you that. Learn what you did and how to correct it. And if you're using less energy, no one's going to die and you can move without fear and build confidence.
Stay Safe

Just remember this:

"Ouch is the sound of learning"
<i> -Sebastian of the Whip Enthusiasts</i>

jedidentist wrote:Goggles, hat, gloves, jacket, long pants, mouthguard, chainmail, bulletproof vest, steel toed shoes....

AND A CUP! LORD GOD, YOU'LL WISH YOU HAD.

Here is where I am getting afraid with my whip: I have been trying the horizontal crack, the one where you swing the whip over your head and cut back the other direction. I am having problems cutting back now, I did the crack the first time got too confident and ended up hitting myself many times. Now when I try to do the crack now I duck my head a little when I try turning my hand the other way, no good. I need some help or I guess some confidence. Towards the end of my practice it got a bit better, but then I am back to square one when I am out there. I have got the circus crack down snap, and am getting the forward crack, but the horizontal is giving me troubles, making me fearing of doing that crack and also making me frustrated as well. I think I am not using my wrist, I am not sure what I am doing wrong, probably a multiple of things. Any advice people??

IndianaChris

There is nothing diffrent between the Circus, Diagonal, and Overhead cracks. It's the same motion on three diffrent planes. From the Cicrus, you roll your palm down, it's a diagonal. Roll the pinky up and it's an overhead. Nothing changes. When the whip reaches around 2:00, begin your reversal, with not cutting back, but out. You point your hand where you want the whip to go, the loop should form BESIDE you, and the crack will follow.
I'm not sure how others teach, but as a DeLongis guy, his idea of "railroad" tracks for safety reall take the guess work of of these cracks. I use it much success when teaching.

Finally, some pics of my David Morgan 10 ft. Here it is outside pictured in direct sunlight with an AB shirt and Todd's strap.



Close up on the handle.


Still practicing whenever I can, but I have a long way to go. Sounds awesome when I do get one off though.

Very nice Chewie. You're starting with a ten footer, so don't be surprised it's taking you a while to get the feel for it. But in the end, you'll be better off, I think.

Now, lets see a video of you cracking. I've never seen a wookie crack a bullwhip.

(j/k)

Chewie that's a great looking whip you've got, you should be very proud! Take it easy and as Bernie says "Don't let fear hold you back".

I won't be able to afford a good whip for a while so I wondering if there are good training substitutes? A decent size rope? Nylon whip? Or should one just get a cheap leather whip for practice? Not so much worried about sound as I am technique.

My goal is to be proficient by Halloween, so when people ask me to crack it, then I can deliver a good show.

Now... crack that thang!

-Nebraska

My first chance to use a quote from CS!

"Quit acting like a child and find something to fight with!"

BroadSword, I would recommend you try an Indy on a budget, a few people make them, and start with that. From what I hear they are well-made innexpenssive whips that work well. No reason you can't have sound and looks all at once. But a rope won't teach you anything other than how to handle a rope, and as far as nylon whips go, well I've never tried one so I can't say, but they aren't leather are they?

Montana Plains wrote:My first chance to use a quote from CS!

"Quit acting like a child and find something to fight with!"

Nicely done.