Elm-entary My Dear Swat-Son

     There are two basic strokes to use in sledge work which will be discussed in this sixth article in the series on team striking.  The genesis of the strokes is scientific research, practical experience, and a generous portion of "I do it like dis cuz I like to."  This leaves ample license for those swinging to the beat of a different drummer to say that my way isn't the only, or even the "right" way; so I'll beat you to it--This isn't the only or even  necessarily the "right" way.

     The "half swing" is used by most strikers in a smithy largely because it is easier to control and much easier to put the brakes on.  But...that's right, a years supply of band aids for the man in the third row; that means that the velocity of the projectile (hammer-head) must be slower than the full swing.  More importantly, for honing one's long handle skills, the full swing is a whole lot harder to control and administer than the half swing.  Moreover, once you can amputate, at your choice, the right or left wing of a gnat lighting upon the face of your anvil while leaving the rest of the poor animal completely serviceable with a full swing, you won't have to practice the half swing--it'll just be there.

   For the purpose of simplicity (my own) I will describe the swing of a right handed striker; lefties will, of course, have to stand in front of a mirror and take directions from the other fella.  To begin a full swing, the striker points his left foot directly at the target, knee bent about 7°.  The right foot is about a shoulder width away, behind and to the right, 60° off parallel with the left foot as in Fig.1.  At rest most of your weight is carried by the right leg.  The left hand grasps the sledge handle a safe distance from its end--1/2 to 1" to avoid accidentally losing it.  For this reason a flare at the handle butt is desirable.  The right hand grasps the handle just below the head.  Begin with both arms hanging limp, thumbs toward the head.  Left and right hands are raised smoothly, almost straight  up from the hanging position using mostly the right bicep and the left forearm and shoulder muscles.  The left hand is now eye high with the right hand cocked behind the right ear (Fig.2).