When I used to skateboard, the main element of pretty much any trick was the Ollie. An Ollie involves kicking the laminated wood skateboard hard against the ground so it pops back into the air; once in the air you manipulate the board to spin or turn or whatever trick it is. A new board has a certain amount of 'pop' a subjective measure of how easily it 'pop's into the air, but after a while as the wood slowly breaks down or as the glue loosens, the board gradually "loses its pop" and at that point you can't Ollie as high, and you have to kick harder to get the same height. If you keep using that board it will break. It'll last some time in that less poppy state, but you just won't be skating as well.
The exact same wear process happens with the rattan swords we use in SCA heavy.
When you first make up a new sword it's rigid and hits hard and makes a clean smack sound when it hits. This is the same as a new board's pop. People will notice when their rattan starts to break and when it has gone mushy, which is the broken state, but it's important to know when it has lost its "pop".
When that happens you'll need to hit harder and the sound when it hits will become more dull.
If you're at the top of your game, just like the pro skater, you may want to just stop using it once it's lost its pop; rather than waiting for the rattan to break down completely. Assuming you have a good rattan supply.
Even if you can't get a new stick, it is worth being aware of the stick losing its pop, so that you can adjust your power levels. You can't make it hit the same as it did when it was new, but it helps to be aware of it.
So the question is, has your current sword lost its pop?
The exact same wear process happens with the rattan swords we use in SCA heavy.
When you first make up a new sword it's rigid and hits hard and makes a clean smack sound when it hits. This is the same as a new board's pop. People will notice when their rattan starts to break and when it has gone mushy, which is the broken state, but it's important to know when it has lost its "pop".
When that happens you'll need to hit harder and the sound when it hits will become more dull.
If you're at the top of your game, just like the pro skater, you may want to just stop using it once it's lost its pop; rather than waiting for the rattan to break down completely. Assuming you have a good rattan supply.
Even if you can't get a new stick, it is worth being aware of the stick losing its pop, so that you can adjust your power levels. You can't make it hit the same as it did when it was new, but it helps to be aware of it.
So the question is, has your current sword lost its pop?
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