The following is a list of the most common cracks used in sport and performance cracking. If the name of a crack is highlighted, click on it to see a tutorial from our Youtube Channel!
Not sure which cracks to try first? Check out the chart on Whipipedia!
Arrowhead: A volley done while moving the whip from side to side, so the whip creates an “arrowhead” shape while looking from a birds-eye view.
Boomerang: A flick/reverse overhead crack that is cut back over the head.
Breakaway: A Fast Figure 8 with a third crack added at the end by swinging the whip in front of you horizontally.
Cattleman’s Crack: A vertical crack done by raising the whip up, over, and behind you, and then bringing it back down.
Coachman’s Crack: A variation on the Cattleman’s Crack. The whip is brought up like a cattleman’s crack, but the whip cracker waits longer before pushing the whip up and out rather than bringing it straight down. When done with good form, this crack should happen beside the whip cracker’s head.
Cow and Calf: A Cattleman’s Crack followed by an Underhand or Sidearm Flick.
Fast Figure 8: A Cattleman’s Crack followed by a Back 8 Crack.
Fast Helicopter: Similar to the Slow Helicopter, but without the extra spin between the cracks.
Hassett’s Four Corners: A four crack pattern which is widely considered to be the hardest single-handed whip technique, created by Charlie Hassett. While doing a Slow Helicopter, push the whip out in front of you after doing each of the backward cracks in order to get a flick type crack in front of you. This four crack combination is usually only possible on a stock whip because of its long handle, and got its name because it sends the cracks in four different directions.
Hungarian Pig Drover: A crack done primarily with Hungarian style whips. While swinging the whip around your body, pause momentarily so the thong passes the handle, and then continue swinging in the same direction. This crack can be done after overhead and reverse overhead cracks, or multiple times in a row while spinning in a circle.
Overhand Flick: A crack done by bringing the whip up behind you so it is parallel to the ground, and then throwing it forward over your shoulder.
Overhead Crack: A horizontal crack where the whip is swung around your body clockwise and then cracked by reversing to a counter-clockwise spin (these spins are switched if you are left handed).
Queensland Crossover: An Overhead Crack followed by a Reverse Overhead Crack.
Reverse Cattleman’s Crack: A variation of the Cattleman’s Crack, where it is performed in reverse. The whip is brought up behind you, and brought back down once the cracker is in front of you.
Reverse Overhead Crack: A variation of the overhead crack where the whip is initially swung counter-clockwise, and cracked clockwise (directions switched if you are left handed).
Sidearm Flick: A crack done by lifting the whip up horizontally behind you and throwing it forward. This crack is typically used for can-cutting.
Slow Figure 8: A Cattleman’s Crack followed by a Reverse Cattleman’s Crack.
Slow Helicopter: A variation on the Queensland Crossover where the whip is cracked aiming backwards, spun around, and then cracked the other way while aiming backwards.
Sydney Flash: A Fast Figure 8 done with an Overhand Flick instead of a Cattleman’s Crack, followed by a Cattleman’s Crack.
Singleton Special: A trick created by Andrew Thomas where the whip is cracked under your feet. While spinning the whip clockwise (if you are right-handed) bring the whip down and behind you. Jump over the whip and pull out away from your body. When the whip has passed underneath your feet, sweep the whip across in front of you.
Snake Killer/Drum Roll: A variation of the Cattleman’s Crack. The whip is brought back up in front of you after being cracked.
Tasman Flick: Similar to a snake killer/drum roll but done like an overhead crack. The whip is flicked forward and brought underneath itself.
Tasmanian Cutback: A crack that happens behind your back, typically after an overhead crack or fast figure 8. With good form, this should look and feel like a Cattleman’s crack behind your back.
Underhand Flick: A crack done by having the whip lying on the ground behind you, and throwing it forward and up.
Victorian Cutback: A crack done by swinging the whip out in front of you, waiting, and then pulling it down and back.
Volley: A set of cracks done by swinging the whip back and forth, like the motion in the Fast Figure 8.