Whip Cracking Style & Technique

It must be emphasised that cracking a Whip is not achieved by strength or hard and fast actions.
A person who goes out and uses all their strength to get a whip to crack will quickly tire and need a rest.
Cracking a whip involves timing, skill and easy flowing motions.
When learning a new trick, don't worry about getting a crack out of the whip.
Concentrate on getting the motions correct.
By doing this, you will not be forcing the whip to travel fast and therefore if it does happen to hit you, it shouldn't hurt.
Once you have mastered the correct motion, then speed up the whip(s) slightly and concentrate on getting the crack by focusing on your timing.

The correct and most comfortable stance when Whip cracking is to have your legs slightly apart and square to your shoulders.
Look straight ahead of you at eye level, do not look at the ground or try to look at the Whip as it travels past you.
The basic cracks described here all start with the Whip being cracked to either the right or lefthand side of your body (depending on whether you are right or left handed).
The Whip will travel in a line, perpendicular to your shoulders.
The movement of your Whip is very much affected by your arm action.
It is important to move your arm in such a way that keeps the Whip traveling in this perpendicular motion and not angled to the left or right.
If you can practice this to begin with, then you will find it easier when you begin to use two whips simultaneously.

Most of the cracks described can be done on four different planes around the body as shown in Figure 1.3

Planes 1 & 3 are both done to the side of the body with either your right or left hand.
As you become more advanced, try creating new methods to crack a whip.
Once you can crack a Whip on each one of these planes, then you can change from one to the other in a continuous motion.
Another way is to use your right hand to do a trick on the left side of your body.
Also, why not try it behind your back!
Let your imagination run wild as you try to find new ways to do a trick!

The correct way to grip the handle is to hold it as shown in Figure 1.4
The most important thing to note is that the thumb is pointing straight down the handle towards the keeper.

Reprinted with kind permission of Angie Mooney