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 just recently acquired a pair of 5.5 ft. two-tone Mike Murphy stockwhips. They're used and I got them from this forum. Actually, my nephew and I went in together to buy them. Money was a little tight on my end, but this was a way for us both to get a great whip and still keep them together (in the family) as a pair as they were meant to be.
These are some of the lightest whips I've ever used. I thought my Joe Strain stockwhip was light, but these things are feather light, and super fluid. I guess part of their fluidity comes from the fact that they were already broken in when I received them, so there was no stiffness left in them. They're extremely easy to crack with the added benefit of not tiring you out because they weigh almost nothing.
Question: For those of you with Murphy stockwhips, do they tend to be lighter than most? Or does this have more to do with the fact that they're only 5.5 feet long?
Below is a quick pic and also a short video of one of the whips in action....I'm just not good enough yet with two whips to post a video of two-whip action...it's coming, though.
My pair of Schultz Stock whips, 5.5 footers as well, are very light as well. They are hard for me to get used to having been using long heavy bullwhips mostly. That said they are coming around and I do enjoy the pain, ah challenge, working with one in each hand. Not very good at it, but trying.
ksteryous, I see where you got your stocks from. I think the original owner would be happy to see a fairly new whip enthusiast using them and continually approving. Murphy whips seems to always be super light weight. The pair of stocks that I used were 4 plait. For 4 plait, they were super nice whips but extremely light weight. I too was taken back considering I thought my Simon Martin stocks are lightweight. Apparently mine are, but they get lighter! Might I recommend some 2 handed dvd's specifically for stocks? They briefly cover single handed stocks as well to help get you going.
WhipDude wrote:Might I recommend some 2 handed dvd's specifically for stocks? They briefly cover single handed stocks as well to help get you going.
Please do....as of now, I can basically only do synchronized cracks, and only the cattleman's and slow figure eight. I haven't even tried yet to do cracks where my two arms aren't synchronized together. I would love to pick up some DVDs, so feel free to recommend some, and thanks in advance.
Sounds like you are just starting with the 2 handed. I would highly recommend checking out Fundamental Whip Cracking Techniques by Mike Murphy. You can pick it up over at Western Stage Props. He is on a stage with a good setup so you can see the whips moving against a product back drop. Mike will give you the run down for some of the easier stuff. He'll start off easy and establish the differences of doing the whips together, staggered, and balanced. He'll give you some various routines. It's nothing complex but will get you prepared for 2 handed routines. It takes a little bit to get use to having 1 whip going in one direction while the other is going in another. A couple practices a week for a couple months and you'll be conditioned to move on to another dvd. I've seen some other 2 handed dvds and I wouldn't recommend any others. Simon Martin's is awesome but no way is it a good source for a beginner. Same with Murphy's other available dvds.
ksteryous wrote:
Below is a quick pic and also a short video of one of the whips in action....I'm just not good enough yet with two whips to post a video of two-whip action...it's coming, though.
Kenton, Mike's stock whips are pretty light, but are also very responsive and ideal for multiple cracking combinations. I'm really glad this matched pair went to a good home too I know they will be well looked after
BTW your whip work is looking very good, I'll also second that recommendation. Mike Murphy’s fundamentals of whip cracking would be an ideal for you. After you work your way through that, then check out Simon Martin's Two-Handed Whip cracking-Level 1 DVD and Mike Murphy’s "No Bull" whip cracking.
Might I recommend some 2 handed dvd's specifically for stocks? They briefly cover single handed stocks as well to help get you going.
I know they will be well looked after 