This can be a daunting task for a new whip handler, but the following information will help guide you toward your ideal first whip. If you’re having trouble making a decision, a hybrid whip (described below) is almost always a great first choice. You’ll probably own many whips over your whip cracking journey, and you won’t know what you like until you’ve already handled many different whips.
Types of Whips
Bull Whips
The bull whip is an overwhelmingly common form of whip, with a short rigid handle that continues directly into the thong. Generally bull whips are favored for target cutting, wrapping and grabbing objects, and a little bit of everything else. The typical heft of a full size bull whip helps to connect the user’s full body to the momentum of the whip as it moves, which can make it a great starting point for beginners. A bull whip is measured from the heel to the fall hitch.
Stock Whips
The handle and the thong of a stock whip are two distinct parts that connect to each other via the keeper, which is a knuckle that allows for extremely versatile flexion through complex movements. For this reason, stock whips are favored for fast and intricate 2-handed combination cracking. Stock whips are generally much lighter than bull whips, and allocate resistance to muscle groups in different proportions than a bull whip during handling. They are measured from the keeper to the fall hitch, with the handle length declared separately.
Snake Whips
A snake whip has no rigid handle, and has a heavy shot bag at the core. They’re usually on the shorter side (most commonly from 2-4 feet), but can also be made as full-size whips. In the case of a full-size snake whip, flicks are generally much easier to execute than cattleman’s cracks or any other crack that reverses the direction of spin. Most snake whips are favored for indoor target work, and don’t have much utility in most other subdisciplines of sport whip cracking. However, because they’re fully flexible and are usually very short, a snake whip can be an excellent choice for travel and storage in tight spaces. A snake whip is measured from the heel to the fall hitch.
Hybrid Whips
Hybrids (also known as Performance Hybrids, PH whips, or sometimes pipe whips) are arguably the first historical example of a whip designed from top to bottom for sport whip cracking. They are usually much less expensive than stock whips, but handle very similarly. The form of a hybrid combines the dimensions of a stock whip and the handle-to-thong connection of a Florida cow whip, while helping to connect the user to the thong similarly to a bull whip. Hybrids are almost always nylon, with very few exceptions, and are best for two-handed combinations, flow and contact techniques, and a little bit of everything else. This type of whip is measured from the start of the thong to the fall hitch, with the handle length declared separately.
Understanding Material
Kangaroo Leather
Kangaroo is the preferred material for professionally made whips. It’s very strong, dense, and smooth, and is somewhat resistant to abrasion. In the hands of an expert craftsperson, kangaroo leather can yield some of the richest aesthetics and handling imaginable. Some of the most iconic whips from popular media were made from kangaroo leather, including the whips used by Indiana Jones, Cat Woman, and the Lone Ranger. Whips made from kangaroo can be expensive, and will require mindful handling and active care over the years, but can last for generations.
Nylon Paracord
Nylon paracord is an inexpensive, highly accessible material that can be used to make a wide variety of whips. It’s available in an incredible array of colors, and is favored by performers and beginners for the relatively low cost. A nylon whip will be preferable in wet or otherwise sub-optimal conditions for that same reason. The main drawback is that the woven fibers of the cord may fray over time, until the whip ultimately needs to be retired or replaced. Even so, with proper use a well-made nylon whip should last for many years.
Choosing a Craftsperson
There are many highly skilled artisans who earn their living by making whips, and each of them has their own specialties, themes, and construction methods. Below is a list of accomplished and reputable craftspeople from all over the world. You can visit their websites to get a feel for their body of work, pricing, and artistic choices.
Torrance Fisher, USA, Swordguy Builds
Paul Nolan, USA, MidWestWhips
Blake Gorey, USA, Smoky Mountain Whips
Dakota Winrich, USA, Dakitty Whips
Nick Schrader, USA, Nick’s Whip Shop
Johnny Ohgren, Sweden, Witchcraft Whips
Peter Thorndike, Australia, Peter Thorndike Stockwhips
Sylvia Rosat, Switzerland, Silver Whips