Club Obi Wan

Hi everybody,

My names Chase and I'm a whip performer in central Florida and I'm brand new to club obi wan.
I wanted to start out saying hello and just wanted to start a disscusion whether you perfer Joe strain or terry jacka?

P.S. I'm trying to make a decision which one I should get.

Thank you everybody.

Both? This is a a can't go wrong either way. They are both fine makers and it will come down to what you want in a whip? Looking for a longer handle? What length? Do you want to keep it screen accurate or are you looking for a a good all around whip? In addition to maker, there are many other varibles that can help with your decision. So it becomes "This is the whip I want, who do I want to make it." Good luck!

The cost of a Jacka whip is considerably more than a Strain whip. I do not have much expertise with the Jacka whip, but I have handled both. They are both fine whips. I believe the Jacka whip is heavier and thicker in the handle and belly area if you weren't already aware of this. Perhaps someone who owns both can show you the difference in a photo. I'm sure that this difference shows up in the performance of the whip. Anthony Delongis must have had good reason to choose this whip for Crystal Skull. You might look elesewhere on this site for that info.

Indiana Jake

Hi Chase,

I prefer the look of the Joe Strain's whip.
As for cracking, the other members are certainly much aware!

In the end, you'll make a good choice, wether it's a Joe Strain or a Terry Jacka.



JP

Hi Chase,
Hope these pictures will help you on what you are looking for:
Overall pic:


The following contains a Joe Strain 10ft (upper right) and the Terry Jacka 10ft KOTCS whip(center), there is a great deal of size difference between the two.

Joe Strain 10 ft:


Terry Jacka 10 ft:


One thing I will add, the Jacka will take a great deal of time to get used to. My forearms looked like Popeye's for a while!

Crack On!
Allen

Since you didn't mention you were looking for an "Indy" whip, both makers have other types of whips as well. And you can save money by ordering from Terry Direct.

If this helps at all, I would say that on a purely visual basis, Strains to me are like the coupes of Indy whips, while Jackas are the SUVs. The former is sleek and fluid, while the latter is bulky and takes some musclin'! Both are screen-used and screen-accurate, although the Jacka gets more screen time (think of Jacka as the action movie star, while the Strain would be the stunt double).

Though I own both, I only use my Strain mainly due to the weight, but also due to the cost. Since the Jacka costs a little more, and was a lot more trouble getting in here, I plan on using it exclusively as a display piece. Which is hard to do, because it REFUSES to coil, even after half a year! I've read that the only way you can get it to coil in that perfect, tight 'O' is by actually using it to get it broken in, but since I won't use it, I'll have to settle for it being a 'G'!

And lastly, I don't know if this matters to you at all in deciding which whip to get, but like I hinted at above, I'd say the Strain is the faster whip to get, although I don't know if that's still true today. When I ordered my Strain, it got here a couple months later, while I had to wait for my Jacka for half a year, due to the demand. Also, Strain is based in the US, while Jacka sends his out of Australia, so you'll have to contend with export permits, and a bit of a longer shipping time.

Aww, get the one you like the look of best, if you can't try em first.

They are both great whips. I like the feel when cracking of the Morgan style whip best.

I have both: Joe's whip are braided extremely tightly and I think are some of the best whips in the world. I have an 8' KOTCS whip, a 10' Raiders whip, and a matched pair of 4' whips. His whips are tight, beautiful and of top quality!

Terry's whips are stiff, beautiful and of top quality. They are also a fair amount heavier and thicker. I have a 10' KOTCS whip, which is a monster compared to most whips, let alone a Strain any other Morgan style Indy whip. I also have a 7' DeLongis whip, and it is also heftier than my Strain 8' Indy whip.

They are both TOP whip-makers, but in many ways they don't compare. They are just different. I would say, having both a 10' Strain and 10' Paul Nolan, that they compare more. That it is to say, I can put my 10' Strain in one hand and my 10' Nolan in the other and crack them together with ease. They are both of the same quality and are both trying recreate the size and weight of the Morgan. Bernardo Del Carpio also makes whips of the same weight and size as Strain and Nolan and are also top notch. I have a 9' Del Carpio and I love it.

If you want a traditional Indy whip, Terry is not the way to go, but if you want an Indy IV whip, and you can get it from Terry, than he's the only choice, naturally.

DHW

PS Hi, everyone. I'm back.

Indiana County Jr. wrote:
One thing I will add, the Jacka will take a great deal of time to get used to. My forearms looked like Popeye's for a while!

Crack On!
Allen

Allen is right! I've had my Jacka CS whip for 3 weeks now and I'm just now getting used to it.

Kyle

I just picked up an 8' J series Jacka whip from a fellow member. I also have an 8' Joe Strain Indy bullwhip as well.

The craftsmanship is unquestionable on both whips. The Strain whip is much lighter, thinner, and has a very slim handle and end knot. The Jacka on the other hand has the really thick handle which is very stiff up to about 6 inches past the top knot. While both whips are easy to crack, the Jacka definitely throws the fall out quicker because of the larger and more pronounced handle really 'whipping' the cracker out. The longer handle also keeps the business end a little farther from my body than the Strain. The Strain is super accurate with targets and I haven't had the chance to try targeting with the Jacka but from what I read and what Anthony DeLongis has said I think it will be great for targeting.

I am finding that it is easier to throw the Jacka than the Strain to get cracks. Keeping in mind that the Jacka is still almost brand new and the Strain has been nicely broken in so it's pretty stringy all the way to the top knot.

While I love both whips, my leanings are already to the thicker, fuller handle which gives slightly more control and makes doing combos and such easier. It just feels beefier, too, and I like that. As for color, I do prefer the lighter natural tan of the Strain whip as opposed to the dark mahogany of the Jacka. The naturally coloring natural tan is THE color of Indy's whip in my mind and memories.

Final assessment: If I had to choose one to go into battle with, at this point I'd choose the Jacka. It's bigger, faster, and stronger. Both are extremely well made and beautiful whips, and this is in no way to diminish the quality and satisfaction of a Strain whip. Like comparing a Charger and a Mustang. You're going to get a rush from either one.

Keep in mind these whips are very different and this is not a perfect side by side comparison. Only a review and comparison between the two whips from both makers which I currently own. Also, I'm a big guy (6'4" 275) and lean toward things more my size. If you are in the 5'4" - 5"11" range with average build the Strain will react similar to the Jacka for you at first, and will break in a lot faster. The Jacka will be a work out, but in a good way. My forearms are definitely going Popeye! ~


Hope this helps.


W.E.