Is there any way to increase my ankle crank?

General footbag-related topics that don't fit elsewhere go in here.
Stoneman
Shredalicious
Posts: 86
Joined: 27 Jan 2007 15:02

Post by Stoneman »

tell cody that :lol: wait, that was mean.

dude, read my first and last posts. Im asking about ways to improve ankle flexability. THis was not supposed to turn into my crankisvital vendetta. It just kind of exploded. Im not making excused for my style, ive never seen it. I truly believe that good crank is necessary. Its something that sucks about footbag. If you want to be a ballerina, you have to be skinny and naturaly flexable. If you want to win the 100 meter dash at the olympics, you need a biomechanicaly perfect body with as high of a percentage of fast twitch muscles as posible. Footbag has alot of these things. Mostly because its not something humans naturaly do.

I think that most people who posted here saying crank isn't needed have a twisted view. They might have crap crank and not realize how much easier things would be with good crank. They might have supercrank and not realize how hard it is to without it. But the facts seem to agree with me, at least as far as i can tell. the top 2 routines at worlds = supercrank. admitidly, third had as bad of crank as me, but he also had NONE of the hardcore shred in vasek's and Jim's routines.
Julien King
User avatar
PegLegHolly
Swashbuckler
Posts: 2475
Joined: 02 Aug 2006 17:43
Location: Cleveland, OH
Contact:

Post by PegLegHolly »

hey buddy, they were trying to help you out. going off and saying that the people who said crank isnt such a big deal have twisted views and bad crank isnt the right way to handle how you feel. you probably havent seen these people play, so try and keep the personal comments to yourself.


i think the general point they were trying to make is dont focus so much on crank, but on your form. with enough practice, your crank will improve... you just need to give yourself some time and practice, and your ankle will follow. people of all levels have responded to your topic with lots of helpful ways to work on it. so just take it all with a grain of salt and figure out what works best for you. everyone is using these high level players as examples, but you need to keep in mind they all practiced really hard and very often. keep at it. dont give up. dont get pissed. just footbag.
Holly Mathews
peglegholly.com
Stoneman
Shredalicious
Posts: 86
Joined: 27 Jan 2007 15:02

Post by Stoneman »

All this about clipper placement. I KNOW

I try to pace them very exageratedly behind me, like felix does. When I doent turn my support leg in, my crank literaly becomes 20 degrees farther from parallel.

If im wrong and im actualy performing clipper incorrectly, please just wait and mercelessly critique me then. Edit: by that i mean " critique me when i post a video, which i will do when my knee is tracking properly."
Last edited by Stoneman on 21 Oct 2007 21:40, edited 2 times in total.
Julien King
Stoneman
Shredalicious
Posts: 86
Joined: 27 Jan 2007 15:02

Post by Stoneman »

yah, your right holly.

Its just annoying to have people tell me to focus on my style, when literaly over 90 percent of my session is devoted soley to style. I will never have really good style though, because I am not biomechanicaly economic, and i dont have supercrank. The best part is i still manage to injure myself all the time because my body is shit. Now i sound like im feeling sorry for myself, which I suppose I am

what i didnt do is say they all had bad crank, those two suggestions were what seemed to me to be logical conclusions for why said persons seemed to be making an illogical conclusion: that crank "isnt very important". That conclusion makes no sense to me

I want everyone to understand that im not attacking anyone. I appreciate the replies, and i never intendid this thread to end up like this. I just wanted to know if static stretching of the ankles can be harmful, and what the risks were. Only 3 of the people who posted here actualy gave an answer to that.
I was annoyed because i couldnt believe someone who played footbag was telling me crank doesnt matter. That makes NO sense
Julien King
User avatar
Zeb Jackson
Post Master General
Posts: 2783
Joined: 19 Dec 2005 12:57
Location: Boise,Idaho, USA

Post by Zeb Jackson »

i personally think i have good ankle crank, so lets no assume anything ;)

easily average, or a little more
Zac Jackson
Fearless
Posts: 641
Joined: 27 Oct 2005 08:44
Location: Provo, UT
Contact:

Post by Zac Jackson »

Stoneman wrote:I was annoyed because i couldnt believe someone who played footbag was telling me crank doesnt matter. That makes NO sense
ankle crank does matter, but not as much as you would think. you can easily do without godly ankle crank

i for one have shitty ankle crank. but i do fine
Your next task: Go to the bathroom.
Wash your face.
Put your shoulders hunched upwards.
Look really, really slowly upwards towards the mirror like in the movies
And slap yourself in the face.
With your game face on.
And go shred with jim.
It'll work, trust me.
-Jay Boychuk
User avatar
Dat
Atomsmashasaurus Dex
Posts: 987
Joined: 14 Aug 2002 21:56
Location: San Francisco, CA
Contact:

Post by Dat »

Stoneman wrote:I was annoyed because i couldnt believe someone who played footbag was telling me crank doesnt matter. That makes NO sense
If you don't quit because of injury and in a couple years actually progress to a point where you're happy about your game, stop and think if you still care about ankle crank. The people who are telling you to not worry about crank already went through this crank phase and are over it. We're imparting wisdom on you; don't take it so personally.
Dat Phan
-

CL: openFrameworks
User avatar
slapdash21
Futureless
Posts: 4681
Joined: 29 Sep 2004 14:50
Location: Beantown, kidd

Post by slapdash21 »

Dat wrote:If you don't quit because of injury and in a couple years actually progress to a point where you're happy about your game, stop and think if you still care about ankle crank. The people who are telling you to not worry about crank already went through this crank phase and are over it. We're imparting wisdom on you; don't take it so personally.
this made me realize i havent thought about my crank in like a year.

so true.
Pete Bowler
B$C
keeps it offah da ground.

617 FOR LIFE
Stoneman
Shredalicious
Posts: 86
Joined: 27 Jan 2007 15:02

Post by Stoneman »

only if ive given up my dream of being one of the best.
which I suppose i will have.
Julien King
User avatar
PegLegHolly
Swashbuckler
Posts: 2475
Joined: 02 Aug 2006 17:43
Location: Cleveland, OH
Contact:

Post by PegLegHolly »

youre still not getting it, dude.


edit: a year from now, youll be able to look back at this thread and laugh at yourself
Holly Mathews
peglegholly.com
User avatar
professor
Post Master General
Posts: 2319
Joined: 09 Oct 2004 18:57
Location: Las Vegas

Post by professor »

Why did you ask a question if you've obviously made up your mind on the subject? You're gonna do what you want anyway, so do it already and hopefully your ankles stay healthy.
Ben Skaggs

Amateurs practice until they can get it right.
Professionals practice until they can't get it wrong.

No, I don't play soccer. Yes, there are competitions. 4 years. Lots of practice.
Stoneman
Shredalicious
Posts: 86
Joined: 27 Jan 2007 15:02

Post by Stoneman »

not at all, ive yet to decide what i will do.
Julien King
Zac Jackson
Fearless
Posts: 641
Joined: 27 Oct 2005 08:44
Location: Provo, UT
Contact:

Post by Zac Jackson »

I like how you asked a question , got answers, and then dis agreed with some of them :lol:

what ever though, i gave you my 2 cents worth. alot of good players have answered you. take that in mind. this is my last post in this now pointless thread.
Your next task: Go to the bathroom.
Wash your face.
Put your shoulders hunched upwards.
Look really, really slowly upwards towards the mirror like in the movies
And slap yourself in the face.
With your game face on.
And go shred with jim.
It'll work, trust me.
-Jay Boychuk
User avatar
Bringerofpie
Fearless
Posts: 508
Joined: 31 May 2007 13:12
Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL

Post by Bringerofpie »

Here's a different angle:
I have far above average crank. Nearly supercrank. I'm not very good. I've only been playing for a few months. Seriously for about two.

Practice>Physical attributes.
"Fuck it man, you just gotta do it."

Joe Snyder

Representing FLF (Fort Lauderdale Footbaggers)

http://onlycountria.myminicity.com
User avatar
King Monkey
Post Master General
Posts: 2745
Joined: 18 May 2003 04:39
Location: Sydney, Australia

Post by King Monkey »

I have terrible ankle crank and pretty bad style, and ive been playing for at least 4 years. Style has improved slightly but crank has not at all. So the argument of 'just practice and your crank will get better' should not be as authoritative as it sounds. As someone said, some people just arent biomechanically designed or suited for footbag.

Ive seen quite a few people with super crank with what i consider pretty poor/ugly style. Also some of the people with the best style have extremely good crank. I think very good crank is a great advantage and if you use it well you can have brilliant style even with only basic technical level. Having poor crank makes it extremely difficult to have good style whether basic or advanced technical level, IMO.
Ian Pritchard - http://www.ausfootbag.org

'People, just play Footbag and stop being dickheads!' - Michał Biarda
User avatar
footymatt
Shredaholic
Posts: 182
Joined: 15 Jul 2006 05:33
Location: Footy Footbaggin, Yorktown, Va

Post by footymatt »

my 2 cents...

Work with what you got. Bad crank? adjust whatever seems to work for you best. You know your body better than your girlfriend does, so only you can really find out what makes you play better. In the end I'd say PRATICE MORE OF EVERYTHING! Maybe you need to work on toe moves for a while (like one month) then go back to clipper tricks and start fresh. Who knows?....you know. LTR
<--==╡"F♂OtYmÄtT"╞==-->
To bend and move is natural; to play footbag is naturaler!! Ha Ha
-Matt Hennemuth
Footy Footbags Club
User avatar
shredzilla
Post Master General
Posts: 3260
Joined: 14 Oct 2005 06:24
Location: Paradise Lost
Contact:

Post by shredzilla »

Stoneman wrote:only if ive given up my dream of being one of the best.
which I suppose i will have.
Half of being the best is having the opposite of this attitude. Someone who wants to be the best will do so despite any limitation.

I have terrible crank. Sometimes I wonder how I ever catch an osis :lol: But yeah, your body just naturally learns how to compensate. To be honest, I wouldn't like Vasek-type crank too much. Too much crank ruins your form. If you look at Vasek's game compared to Dave or Penske, his form is much more loose.

And I'll be the umpteenth person to tell you, Yes we've all had the "I wish I had more crank" phase. It's just a phase. Go out there and drill hard. If you drill hard enough, you can have a SHOT at being among the best. That's how it works.
J. Chris "Thread-killer" Miller
User avatar
gMoney
Think Pink
Posts: 1210
Joined: 10 Sep 2006 14:17
Location: Chicagoland Suburbz

Post by gMoney »

Yes we've all had the "I wish I had more crank" phase.
meh, I don't think I really ever did. For me it was more about leg positioning and stuff. When I was first learning clippers and inside stalls I'd never even heard the words "ankle crank." Or at least not together :wink:
Grant Mooney
Footblog
Challenge
User avatar
King Monkey
Post Master General
Posts: 2745
Joined: 18 May 2003 04:39
Location: Sydney, Australia

Post by King Monkey »

For my mind, Chris, Vasek has the greatest form of anyone. He is THE example of people with super-crank using it to the best advantage and not relying on it. His form is virtually impeccable.

To qualify: In my mind, style and form are two different things.
Ian Pritchard - http://www.ausfootbag.org

'People, just play Footbag and stop being dickheads!' - Michał Biarda
User avatar
professor
Post Master General
Posts: 2319
Joined: 09 Oct 2004 18:57
Location: Las Vegas

Post by professor »

shredzilla wrote:To be honest, I wouldn't like Vasek-type crank too much. Too much crank ruins your form. If you look at Vasek's game compared to Dave or Penske, his form is much more loose.
What!?! Haha. Vasek's form is almost as close to perfect as you can get. Check the many videos from Worlds and it's apparent that he has the utmost control of the bag.

But it's not all due to his crank because his toe game is the same way.
Ben Skaggs

Amateurs practice until they can get it right.
Professionals practice until they can't get it wrong.

No, I don't play soccer. Yes, there are competitions. 4 years. Lots of practice.
Post Reply