Zenith Bullwhip by Peter Jack of New Zealand

Types of Whip
There are four basic types of whip used today by sports whipcrackers and performers.

They are:
• Bullwhips
• Australian Stockwhips
• Snakewhips
• Florida Cowwhips

Whips in Sports Whipcracking
Whips are used in one of today's quickly-growing sports: Sports whipcracking. There are a variety of skills that can be learned and perfected with the whip. Among them are the cutting of targets, the wrapping of objects, the moving/manipulation of objects, and multiple cracking patterns.
Multiple cracking is the most popular aspect of whipcracking today, and has become a nationally recognized sport in Australia. In a multiple cracking competition, whipcrackers display their knowledge of cracking whips in various patterns and planes around the body. Often, two whips are used at the same time, and the rhythm created is judged. Contestants are judged on form, presentation, and for having audible cracks where indicated.

What can one do with whips?
I do a variety of tricks and stunts with whips. Some of the tricks I have mastered are: cutting styrofoam strips from the hands and lips of a live assistant, snuffing the flame from a candle, hitting objects thrown into the air, wrapping various objects and assistants' body parts, and shattering glass bottles. I've recently started double whipcracking, with one whip in each hand--this is very challenging, timing is everything.
While the above tricks I can vouch for being able to personally do myself, I've heard of quite a few others. Purportedly some whipcrackers flick things from assistants' tongues, drive tacks into wood, write letters... Amazing stuff. Peter Jack, a whipmaker from New Zealand, evidently throws an arrow and then catches it with a long whip. Flicking flies off a post isn't unbelievable. I've heard stories of stagecoach drivers launching lizards into the air and cutting them in half before they hit the ground--while I'm fairly sure a whip could easily cut most lizards in half if aimed properly, I find the picking up the hard part to believe. Who knows. Point is, whips can do amazing and extremely entertaining things.

My Whips
My personal collection of whips has grown quite a bit in the four years I've practiced whipcracking. My current arsenal includes bullwhips, snakewhips, and cowwhips. I use the term "collection" loosely since I have more than 1 whip, but, really, the amount of whips I own pales in comparison to some of the avid whip collectors out there. Some people own hundreds of whips from all over the world, notably, Uwe from Germany. His website, World Wide Whips, features a staggering number of examples of all types of whip.
To see the whips in my humble collection, click HERE