How to Crack Bullwhips
When you hear a bullwhip make a "crack," you are hearing a miniature sonic-boom. This is when it breaks the sound barrier, creating a sharp noise. Bullwhip tips fly faster than the speed of sound. Learning to crack a whip is exciting but dangerous. Improper moves can cause the whip to strike your face or body, which is a painful experience.
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Instructions
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Forward Crack
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1
Grip the bullwhip handle in your dominant hand. In a fluid motion (do not be jerky), bring your arm up and over your shoulder, flinging the bullwhip tip behind the body. This is called the upswing.
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2
Step forward on the front foot when the tip begins to fall behind you. "Throw" the tip of the whip up and over your shoulder in one fluid motion. "Flip" the tip when your thumb is at about ear level, keeping the handle moving forward. This is the "throw" and "follow-through."
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3
Keep the arm extended out in front of the body, thus allowing the whip popper (tip) to crack as it hits the end of its range. Don't drop the hand toward the ground as this causes the popper to fall to the ground, denying the crack sound.
Sidearm Crack
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4
Grip the handle in the dominant hand. Bring the whip back behind the body with the arm going behind the back at torso level. "Reach" behind the body so the popper goes out behind you, not over you. As the popper begins to go past the middle of the torso, begin the flip forward.
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5
Push the arm back toward the front of the torso in one fluid motion. Flip the wrist when the arm is equal to the body. Do not let the tip fall to the ground.
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6
Listen for the crack as the popper hits its apex.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Start slowly and watch where the popper ends. Use this to prevent unwanted strikes to the body or face, and never practice with someone too close.
References
- Photo Credit Zedcor Wholly Owned/PhotoObjects.net/Getty Images
