Does anyone else tie a knot at the non-dart end of their rope dart? Every dart i've ever ordered was un-knotted. I've never roped without one, or a "Dragon's Tail" as i prefer to call it, usually with a bit of rope frill hanging out the back of the knot for decorative purposes. The reasons for the knot are: so i know when i'm out of rope and have something to pinch on to if i'm blindfolded and can prevent it from flying at bystanders; it adds a bit more play to the non dart end that forces you to play with/be wary of the dragon's tail as it can whip you quite hard; and for using the dart as a whip by grabbing the dart if so desired.
Share your thoughts and experiences please.
Share your thoughts and experiences please.
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Re: Tail Knot Debate
Thu, April 3, 2008 - 9:54 AMMost people here tie the dart to their left wrist. I do not, I have a knot at the end that I hold, similar to you. I prefer this because it allows hand swaps, which I use often.
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Re: Tail Knot Debate
Sun, April 6, 2008 - 8:01 PMI prefer a knot although early on I did throw it a time or ten. now I have a double knot [more accurately a single knot passed through twice] where I hold it and single knot about 5 inches past that at the end. the double knot is what I use to hold it and the second knot is an emergency knot for if I let the first knot slip through. I've only needed the emergency knot a few times and haven't thrown my dart since I started using this set up. I'd advice that if you're using a knot because then noone even has to know when you screw up. I pass my dart from hand to hand way too much to ever teather it. but then I use a much shorter dart than most so the momentum isn't near a much when I do snaps and whips with it.
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Re: Tail Knot Debate
Tue, April 8, 2008 - 6:47 AMI don't usually use a knot. I tie a small monkey-fist in the end and just hold-on.
If I'm performing for a paid-gig, then I'll knot.
-Scott -
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Re: Tail Knot Debate
Tue, April 8, 2008 - 1:47 PMI knot around my wrist. This means I can't do hand transfers, but thats fine by me. I first picked up rope dart while I had a serious shoulder injury and shouldn't have been using my left arm to do anything at all. Everything in rope dart for me is very right dominant. Limitation, yes, but it is a limitation that I am ok with. I use that, and wrapping the rope around my wrist to vary the length of my rope. I usually spin with around 8 feet extended, but I have about 13 feet avaliable for those long rope tricks, like the Cross empty knot, or extremely long wrapping sequences.
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Re: Tail Knot Debate
Thu, April 10, 2008 - 12:10 PMi currently have a tightly knotted loop that i use on the tail end and slip over my left hand, and secure it at the wrist...i find this to be the most flexible and easiest to use as it allows my left hand to be free for tricks if needed...
i've used knots before and also darts that had the monkey fist end, but i find them limiting because of the need to hold onto the end...
if you're concerned about your knot coming undone, you may want to glue or tape over the knot to add more security...or do the double knot...
hope that helps... -
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Re: Tail Knot Debate
Sun, April 13, 2008 - 4:46 PMi've found i've gotten really good at using my left hand's fingers to control the rope via the knot without sacrificing the whole hand to hold on which still allows for many tricks/moves to be performed with the left hand whilst maintaining control of the rope. :-) Really helps to build up your manual dexterity as well as it gives you a bit more of a "feel" for the rope, and allows for left/right hand switches more easily. Give it a try!
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Re: Tail Knot Debate
Mon, April 14, 2008 - 2:02 PMfor performance i've considered and practiced teathering it to my waist so i wouldn't even have to grab it. I tried the neck for the right gig but at the end of the day i prefer to be able to flow with the music especially if its a gig where I'm not bringing the music. But really I'm not so conventional with the dart, its just a flow toy to me, maybe my favorite because of its simplicity and how easy it is to move and dance with. my dart is only a little over 7' its not conventional either I've got a meteor that's longer.
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Re: Tail Knot Debate
Mon, June 2, 2008 - 5:12 PMI'm new to this tribe and this is prob. a bit late but... I use a 13' rope, loop around my left, and diagonally wrap up and around my shoulder. With that much rope you can actually keep it tethered AND switch hands if you feel like it. Takes some getting used to though.
