What is a lasso? The definition comes from the Spanish word, which means a loop or rope that contains a ring at the end.
If we talk about the lasso, as a device for catching animals, then it is a rope with a knot tied up in a casual way, capable of tightening the loop when tensioned.
To understand what a lasso is, it is enough to familiarize yourself with the life of American cowboys. Residents of the southern states use several methods of tightening knots to prepare the device. The most common options for making an arcana are the "Flemish" node and the Honda compound. To create each of them, a rope of a certain strength and rigidity, about three meters long, is required.
Arcana Elements
To understand the design features, it is enough to understand what a lasso is, having decided on its appearance. The traditional version of the device involves the use of a sufficiently long rope, on which a self-tightening loop is created. The knot here should be quite large, which will allow the rope to slide freely through its weave.
If a lasso with a long ending is used, its hanging segment is folded into a ring, which is clamped with your free hand or wound on the palm of your hand.
How to choose a suitable rope?
Having figured out what a lasso is, you can move on to choosing a rope. For the manufacture of the device, it is better to use a special American-made cord, which is used to perform tricks. This cord is called Spot Cord and consists of a strong elastic base, as well as a well-sliding outer braid. Due to the relatively rigid “core”, this type of cord is not twisted and not intertwined in preparation for the throw.
Where to buy lasso? It is quite difficult to find a special rope for manufacturing the device on the shelves of domestic stores. However, if you wish, you can order it on foreign online services. Moreover, it is better for novice "cowboys" to stop on a rope of minimum thickness, which will allow their hands to get less tired during training.
Flemish knot
How to make a lasso? You can prepare a rope with a tightening loop using the so-called Flemish knot.
To begin with, the cord is laid on a flat surface. One end folds in half to a third of the length. Then the double rope is already wrapped with an eight. The double end extends through the loop at the top of the resulting structure. In conclusion, the node is tightened tightly. It will help to correctly make the lasso photo presented in this section.
Honda Knot
Preparing the lasso in this way is an order of magnitude easier compared to the previous version. It is enough to tie a tight knot closer to the end of the rope (about 20-30 cm from the end). The second bundle is indented by a third of the length of the cord. To get a lasso ready for use, it remains only to stretch the first knot through the somewhat weakened plexus of the second, and then tighten the rope.
How to learn how to handle a lasso?
The basic trick, the implementation of which is entrusted to beginners, is known as the “flat loop”. Despite the obvious simplicity, mastery of this technical element affects the success and speed of subsequent training.
The trick got its definition due to the location of the loop in the horizontal plane during rotation. When performing the task, the hand is located quite high, in close proximity to the node. As a result, the loop does not touch the floor and legs during the swing.
Why, when spinning an arcanum by experienced users, an even ring is formed? The answer lies in the occurrence of centrifugal force, due to which all elements of the device are discarded from the center of rotation. At the same time, the size of the loop remains the original, since the lasso is also affected by gravity, which “presses” the rope to the ground. For successful rotation of the device, it is enough to maintain the right balance between the oppositely directed forces.
When achieving uniform acceleration, the person who is involved in the performance of the stunt feels a certain level of structural rigidity during loop tension. As you develop the correct technique for handling the device, it is enough to understand a few defining points:
- If during rotation there is a decrease in the diameter of the loop, this indicates insufficient acceleration of the product.
- When the unwinding of the lasso leads to an increase in the ring, then excessive force is applied to the rotation of the device.
- If the loop does not decrease and does not increase in size, then the necessary effect is achieved.
To achieve the desired result, it is enough to practice handling the lasso, which will allow you to find the right balance to achieve the optimal diameter of the loop during the acceleration of its movement. At the same time, it is not recommended to pull too much on the free end of the rope. All kinds of experiments will allow you to adapt to the lasso and understand how the cord reacts to certain actions.
The desire to try your own strength while performing other tricks with the device will require confident mastery of the presented technique. Therefore, before moving on to more complex tasks or field training with trapping animals, it is necessary to spend some time understanding the basics.