Club Obi Wan

Has anyone seen or tried one of the Terry Jacka Australian style (Batman Returns) whips? How does it compare to the Joe Strain Indy style? Western Stage Props has both for the same price.

Any comments are appreciated.
Thanks.
-Dittmer

Dittmer wrote:Has anyone seen or tried one of the Terry Jacka Australian style (Batman Returns) whips? How does it compare to the Joe Strain Indy style? Western Stage Props has both for the same price.

Any comments are appreciated.
Thanks.
-Dittmer

First difference is that the Terry Jacka style bullwhip has a longer handle foundation. It's about 10 inches vs. about 7 inches compared to the Joe Strain. Also, the weight of a Terry Jacka is much lighter. The longer handle in theory, makes it more of a target style bullwhip. A longer handle whip makes the whip more accurate, in theory, for target type work. The analogy of the rifle vs. pistol is an accurate analogy.

If you are looking for a more screen accurate whip, a better weighted, a better balanced whip, then the clear nod goes to the Joe Strain whip. A Joe Strain whip is a much better crafted bullwhip. What can I say, Joe Strain is the premier whip maker in the American Bullwhip style. If you haven't read the recent postings here at this forum, Joe Strain incurred a significant injury to one of his hands. As a result, his whip production has fallen off. So if you can get one from WSP, do so. Joe's whips are a work of art. I couldn't make it more clearer than that.

And when you call WSP, you will either talk to Marty or Jo. Make sure to tell them that "Sergei" from Indygear sent ya. They will take care of you. BTW, I have no connection to WSP, nor do I get any discount there or from anybody else. Just trying to be a straight shooter here and everywhere else.

-Sergei

Thanks for the reply, Sergei. I've been bitten by the whip bug and want to get one but I'm not exactly sure which one to get. I'm leaning towards spending a bit more to get a really well-made one so something like the Joe Strain is definitely a consideration.
-Dittmer

Dittmer wrote:...I'm leaning towards spending a bit more to get a really well-made one so something like the Joe Strain is definitely a consideration.
-Dittmer

That's a good philosophy to live by. So many people just want to get something that resembles a whip to hang off their belt. I suppose there is nothing wrong with that, if that is all you want to do. But if you got the bug, then you might as well get quality. You will learn the sport of whip cracking much better with a quality constructed whip and will have a much better experience. If you get tired of it later downline, then unloading a quality whip, will be that much easier. Trust me!

-Sergei

Sergei wrote: Also, the weight of a Terry Jacka is much lighter.

Sergei wrote:A Joe Strain whip is a much better crafted bullwhip.

Could you be more specific since these too statements seem a bit odd?

I have a 12 foot Terry Jacka and have had the opportunity to compare it to a Joe Strain in the real life.

I know the differencies and just want to know if you do...

Just for the record, I have nothing against Joe Strain or his whips.

Well, I can tell that 8 foot Terry Jacka versus 8 foot Joe Strain whips ARE different!
Somehow Terry Jacka whip IS lighter...thats the word I would use too.
I have have both and there was such difference that I found it disturbing when using them same time.
Double whip work was quite odd and after you get used to Joe Strain whip Terry Jacka felt like...thicker and slower when Joes felt like tighter and faster.
I dont remember if there is difference with foundation of the handle??
Joe uses steel or such and Terry something lighter but thicker stuff?











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I think I heard that Terry uses cane in his handles.

Canasta

Frank Wolf wrote: Could you be more specific since these too statements seem a bit odd?

I have a 12 foot Terry Jacka and have had the opportunity to compare it to a Joe Strain in the real life.

I know the differencies and just want to know if you do...

Just for the record, I have nothing against Joe Strain or his whips.

I have cracked a Terry Jacka whip a lot, both his stockwhips and bullwhips. I have friends that have them, as well as the WWAC there are plenty there that I always crack.

I didn't mean to be insulting of Terry, but I think you should have shown some restraint towards me. It's ok to disagree, but we can be civil about it and not be personally attacked. But, I can understand and have seen people like the Terry Jacka whips over the Joe Strain. They like the longer handles (which Joe can do) and the lighter weight.

Remember, "Celebratin Life"...

-Sergei

Sorry if you feel I was attacking you. No meaning to be rude.

My 12 feet TJ is considerably heavier than the 12 feet JS I handled so it seems weird that you think it's lighter? And about the workmanship on these two whips I don't agree. Both whips are very well done.

If you prefer the short handle (or bullwhip) over the long handle (or stockwhip) you shouldn't tell people that the whip with the long handle is inferior in quality. It gives a wrong impression about the whipmaker and his/her whips.

These two whips are completely different to handle and JS has without a doupt faster and lighter action but it still doesn't mean that TJ is inferior in quality or workmanship as you stated.

I don't really care who makes my whips as long as the workmanship is good and prize is right. I also don't have a preference on the length of the handle as long as the whip is delivering what I ask from it.

Sorry Mr. Wolf. I reread my original post. I can see that I let my enthusiasm over Joe Strain whips affect my opinion over Terry Jacka.

My opinion was solely based on my preference for a whip made like Joe's. I stand corrected that I should not have mentioned quality, but my preference for medium to heavier bodied whips.

I do like a whip that is weighted heavier than a Jacka whip. A lighter whip for me, I am not able to feel it as well when cracking. I need to feel the whip constantly so that I know where it is. The longer handle has nothing to do with me liking one whip over the other. In fact, I had Joe Strain make me a custom, matched pair of bullwhips that had longer handles like a Terry Jacka.

So Ditmer, you have read this thread. It boils down to preference between these 2 whips. They are different in style, one is light and one is medium weight. Both are available from WSP, which means something. WSP stands behind their product. They sell hundreds of whips a year to newbies, serious hobbyist, semi-pro and fulltime performers. They have zero tolerance for inferior whips. So if they see whips being returned a lot back to the store, they just drop carrying the whipmaker's whips in the catalog. So Jacka's whip and Joe's whips have probably been in their catalog the longest compared to any other whip maker. David Morgan also carries the Terry Jacka whip, so that says something too.

-Sergei

I think what Sergei meant in his original post was that the JS 'Indy' style bullwhip is much better in terms of Indiana Jones screen accuracy and bullwhip style. At least that's what I read from it.

As far as whip differences I would say that a Terry Jacka bullwhip and a JS bullwhip are very close in weight. However, a DM or PS bullwhip is much heavier in comparison. DM likes a bullwhip to have a heavier balance. Joe likes a lighter whip. Terry, being an Aussie, balances his bullwhips closer to that of a stockwhip. Australians really prefer stockwhips, which are generally light and fast, and don't have a lot of experience in making American balanced bullwhips. They only really make bullwhips for us Yanks. As a result their bullwhips will almost always be lighter with a longer handle and a faster action.

I own a seven foot competition style stockwhip made by Terry Jacka and I've cracked his bullwhips before. With out a doubt Terry makes an awesome whip of the highest quality craftsmanship. The strands are meticulously even through out and the taper is perfect. The plaiting is smooth and even. Terry uses much narrower strands than DM or JS. (JS being in between the two.) I'm not exaggerating when I say that the strands at the point of my stockwhip are between 2/16" and 3/16" wide. The balance is fantastic and Terry's whips are just beautiful to watch roll out in front of you and crack. I highly recommend Terry's whips. He makes an honest product of great quality.

However, if you are going for an 'Indy' style bullwhip then the TJ is not the way to go. If you're not concerned with accuracy or you want to expand your collection then you can't go wrong with a Terry Jacka whip. It will give just as many years of service as a JS or DM. Also, a TJ whip will break in and become very supple in a much shorter time than a JS.

I briefly toyed with the idea of selling my TJ stockwhip in order to buy a Mike Murphy whip but it is such a beautiful whip and such a pleasure to crack I can't seem to part with it.

Sergei wrote:So Ditmer, you have read this thread. It boils down to preference between these 2 whips.
-Sergei

I think that about sums it up best. I'm glad to see some other people offered opinions as well. Still not sure which one to get though... HA!
Thanks.
-Dittmer

Confusing ain't it? Well, that's why I have over 20 whips in my collection. You just have to find your preference and it does boild down to personal perference. I think I may get a Jacka after this discourse. But read Kyle's response above. That does sum up my opinion. Sometimes, I try to be too crisp and sometimes that gets me into trouble. Well I at least I admit it. Mr. Wolf, I hope you are reading.

-S

Hey, no hard feelings? I've gotten myself in similar (kind of) position when I commented about an american made sword years ago. It was a japanese katana (or samurai sword)-style sword and I made a few stupid comments about it just because I assumed it couldn't be very good coming outside Japan.

My teacher almost kicked my ### off for it, even after it occured that the sword was inferior in quality.