So, you’ve decided to finally try your hand at the art of whipcracking. For those of you who are fans of everything Western, from film to clothes, learning how to crack a whip as though you’re at the rodeo can be the ultimate way to get close to the cowboy culture. Even though whipcracking may seem extremely difficult, it all comes down to selecting the right whip and taking your time to practice the techniques with it. So, first things first, here are some helpful tips on how to choose a good whip.
Decide Between a Bull Whip and a Stock Whip
While there are many varieties of whips, usually they fall into two categories – bull whips and stock whips. Bull whips include shorter handles attached to thongs (the body of the whip) that are braided straight out of the handle. Their size is measured starting from the handle knot all the way to the fall attachment. On the other hand, stock whips have a longer handle which offers better control and include a hinged attachment. Their size is measured from the handle hinge to the fall attachment.
The type of whip you should choose depends on personal preference. Cracking a bullwhip is usually a bit faster due to its shorter handle. This kind of whip is also more popular in the United States. On the other hand, Australian stockmen and drovers have been using the stock whip since the early 19th century. Even today, it’s still the preferred whip for Australians. With that being said, you are likely to come across a huge variety of stock whips for sale Australia wide, which means you’re more likely to find something suitable for you in this range.
Material
Whether you’re looking for bullwhips or stock whips for sale Australia stores offer models made from a wide range of materials such as nylon, polyester, red hide white hide or kangaroo hide. Although durable and almost indestructible, kangaroo hide is not the best choice for a beginner. With that being said, you’d want something in the middle – that’s affordable but still offers good value for your money. While nylon and polyester are more likely to tear while cracking them, red hide and white hide whips are stronger, more flexible and attractive as well. Then there’s also the number of plaits. The more plaits, the stronger the whip is. For a beginner, a good choice is a 4-6 plait red hide whip.
Length
Then there’s also the length to think about. If a whip is too long, you might have trouble manoeuvring it properly and may be a danger to the surroundings. Shorter whips, on the other hand, are easier to use in small spaces. However, the shorter the whip is, the faster it will move. This means that some trickier techniques will be difficult to perform with it due to faster timing. In general, a beginner needs a medium whip to learn how to properly crack it. A whip that’s somewhere between 1.5m and 2.5m long is an excellent choice for beginners.