Bullwhip Instructions
Cracking a bullwhip is a fun and entertaining activity. Bullwhips vary in length, may be up to 12 feet long and are made of leather with a popper at the end of the whip. Leather should be kept dry and cleaned with saddle soap if necessary. Choose a whip that is a good length for you. If you are short, you will want to choose a shorter whip. It is important to practice in an open area where you will not hit any other people or objects.
Instructions
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Cracking a Bullwhip
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1
Clear the area where you will be practicing. Gently swing the whip over your head and around your body to ensure that you have adequate space and you will not hit anything while you are practicing.
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2
Hold the handle of the whip with the whip trailing behind you. Swing the whip in a circular motion over your head. When your arm is slightly in front of you, flick your wrist back. The whip will follow and crack. This is one of the easiest methods of cracking a whip.
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3
Hold the handle of the whip with the tail of the whip straight behind you. This time, bring your arm up and forward, like you are swinging the whip in a vertical circle. When the tail of the whip comes behind you, throw your arm forward like you are throwing a baseball. The whip will form a loop that will travel down the tail of the whip and pop at the end. At the end of the throw, your hand should be pointing at the target. This is called a forward crack.
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4
Hold the handle with the tail of the whip trailing behind you. Hold your arm out to the side, palm-up, and throw the whip forward like you are throwing a baseball. Your thumb should be pointing at the target at the end of the throw. This is a sidearm crack.
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5
Practice regularly. Once you have mastered the basic methods, begin practicing combinations. For example, after completing a side arm crack, continue swinging the whip above your head and crack like in step 2. Practice with both your dominant and non-dominant hands.
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Tips & Warnings
Be sure the bullwhip you choose is a good length for you. If you feel the whip is too long or heavy, you will find it difficult to crack the whip.
While you are learning to crack the whip, you will probably hit yourself at least once. Consider wearing long sleeves and long pants to protect your arms and legs. You may want to wear safety glasses to protect your eyes.
References
- Photo Credit flingshot demonstration image by pcphotos from Fotolia.com
