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What Makes a Whip Crack?

by Mistress Michelle Peters

What makes a whip crack is its design; a heavier handle that tapers down to a lighter point. The user imparts energy to the whip by throwing it. The energy travels down the thong accelerating the whip past the speed of sound. Therefore, a whip crack is nothing less than a small sonic boom. Regardless of the type of whip you choose, the principle is the same.

What Makes a Good Whip?

A good whip is one that cracks easily and is durable. For a whip to crack easily it must have a firm body, a good taper, and good weight distribution. The whip with a loose or a coarse braid enounters more friction as the thong travels through the air. The more a whip is used, the more supple it will become, and a loosely plaited whip will loosen up more and more, becoming limp and shortening its life. A whip does not have to be heavy to crack easily. A light whip, balanced well, is more enjoyable to crack in most instances.

Why Use Kangaroo?

Kangaroo is the strongest leather in the world. It cuts easily into very fine strands. Other leathers are too heavy or weak to do the beautiful work that is possible when using kangaroo. There is just nothing else like it!

Do's and Don'ts

  • Don't use your whip on abrasive surfaces such as gravel or pavement. It will ruin your whip!
  • Don't hit objects, sharp or otherwise, because doing so can cause serious damage to the object, you, and your whip. A whip that is made to crack should not be used to hit things.
  • Don't swing on your whip. That is a Hollywood trick and will ruin your whip.
  • Do use your whip on grassy or carpeted surfaces to protect it from abrasion and to make it last longer.
  • Do dress the whip regularly with a good leather preservative.
  • The fall should have a dressing applied much more frequently than the body of the whip as the fall tends to wear out much more quickly if allowed to dry out. We recommend Piccard's Leather Dressing for this purpose. Avoid using light oils that can loosen knots and stretch laces thereby changing the shape of the whip.