bullwhip

[FredKJ]

Well I recently got a new toy.  It's a 6', 12 plait kangaroo hide bullwhip.  Got a video and a book and have been practicing.  It's amazing if done right how little force you use to get it to crack.  The whip generates the energy.  If you have ever done fly fishing as I have it is very similar.  Kangaroo hide is the best used as it is four times stronger than cow hide.  They are also made these days using nylon cord. 

[Pacu]

When i was a kid i popped myself in the face with a bullwhip and i've been sideways of them every since.

I saw a cool show on tv called Time Warp where they capture the whip on high speed cameras. Neat viewing.

[Pacu]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDFu3GbG0X0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWGpulY1LTs

[FredKJ]

When i was a kid i popped myself in the face with a bullwhip and i've been sideways of them every since.

I saw a cool show on tv called Time Warp where they capture the whip on high speed cameras. Neat viewing.

That's because you cracked the whip without control.  Most people have a tendency to pull back to make the crack which will do just that send a weed wacker to your head.  All you do in a vertical crack is bring your forearm down and then flip the wrist.  That slight action rolls the whip and makes it crack.  Of course most people's experience with a whip is a real cheapy.  A good whip practically cracks itself if you do it right. 

[FredKJ]

Along these lines add another use for duct tape.

http://www.skiptomylou.org/2008/05/29/how-to-make-a-duck-tape-bullwhip/

The kiddies will love this. 

[jzmtl]

I used to have one that's about 3' long, all leather when I was young. It was the real deal, the type used to drive bull to plow the field, but I lost it in a move.  It cracks easily, heck I was 10 and can do it all the time, but yeah you throw it up and down, not pull toward your face. 

[John]

Here's mine,not a bullwhip but a snakewhip I got this one back in 2006 from murphy's whips Australia,

It's a 4' ten plait kangaroo hide the handle is weighted with shot,it's a fantastic whip and easily carried should you so wish 

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

I'm always a bit wary of weapons like that

I prefer my tools of destruction to be a bit more positively controlled

[FredKJ]

Nice snake whip.     Done properly it is very controlled.  Remember it's primary purpose is not a tool of destruction but a noise maker to control stock.  If you guys look at that snake whip its difference from a bullwhip is that it doesn't have a rigid handle.  At the other extreme is the Stockman's whip which has a very long handle, its purpose to keep the whip away from the horse.  Accidentally popping a horse with a whip while riding it is generally not a good thing.

[John]

I'm always a bit wary of weapons like that

I prefer my tools of destruction to be a bit more positively controlled

What like a kukri   I agree  

with a whip in the right hands you can have full control and with practice you can switch lights off very easily,
that said put one in the wrong hands and they're more likely going to switch their eyesight off or at the very least lose an ear  

Archery is the same also and I have heard people lose an ear by drawing the string behind their ear  
I have also witnessed many a lacerated arm when people don't place the arm correctly  

[John]

I should point out it's recommended and practised to wear a brimmed hat and safety glasses when practising with your whip,especially in the early stages  




[edit] this is to prevent the fall from tucking around those sticky out ears and you would not want that cracker in your eyes NO SIR! 

[FredKJ]

I should point out it's recommended and practised to wear a brimmed hat and safety glasses when practising with your whip,especially in the early stages 

Absolutely and let's add a long sleeve shirt and long pants.  Besides keeping the whip from taking ears off, etc the broad brimmed hat looks really cool when working with a whip.  As for control I know there is one whip artist who pops a coin off his assistant's tongue.  Note: Don't try that one at home. 

[FredKJ]

The broad brimmed hat also disciplines you to keep your hand out to the side.  Of course if you are into Van Gogh you can skip the broad brimmed hat. 

[John]

  Of course if you are into Van Gogh you can skip the broad brimmed hat. 

what is interesting the crack is actually the whip breaking the sound barrier 

[FredKJ]

  Of course if you are into Van Gogh you can skip the broad brimmed hat. 

what is interesting the crack is actually the whip breaking the sound barrier 

Yep and amazingly if you do it right you apply very little force to the whip to get it to do this.  The whip does all the work.  The only thing I find I need strength for is to keep the arm steady, not to crack the whip.