improving my swing

cooperhill

cooperhill

Joined
Nov 14, 2011
Messages
1,018
Looking for comments on how I can improve my swing (for bucking/chopping). Difficult to show it in pictures I'm sure as it is different most times. I think overall i need to square up more -it looks like I'm golfing in some pics :D . at 6'4" i also have a hard time getting low enough. should I bring the axe up higher.

thoughts? comments? I'm not having any real issues per se (I think my cutting angle is pretty good and I have good hand eye coordination and contact) and I don't want to over-analyze but always looking to improve.

left handed



right handed



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Your technique looks OK in the photos. When chopping a downed log, I usually make my chop width about the same width as the diameter of the log if, If I can't roll the log. 1/2 the diameter if I can roll the log. I always take every chance to break the log when possible instead of taking those last 10 chops. Sometimes old age and wisdom is better,than youth and energy
 
I don't switch my hand position when I chop. Dang Coop, You're a big boy. I could chop faster if I was that big.
 
Good old article Grease, just read it twice. My grandfather taught to chop and he preached the top, bottom, center cut pattern as well (wonder if he subscribed to outdoor life?). My favorite line in the whole article was "when I go to the mountains, I want everything light, except 2 things, my ax and my rifle bullet"
 
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In my opinion, keep doing whatever is natural, comfortable, accurate, and safe.
Perhaps getting a different sized axe could help? It does look like you bend at the waist a good bit.

Like you said, don't over-think it, have fun. If I change my natural, comfortable swing too much I end up pulling a muscle or getting fatigued much quicker than usual. Not good.

I'm interested to hear if there are any simple secrets.
 
cooperhill said:
....... at 6'4" i also have a hard time getting low enough.
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Nullity said:
Perhaps getting a different sized axe could help?
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I think that axe is too short for a man 6'4" to buck with. I'm only 6'0" and I like a 32" to 34" axe for bucking. Your axe looks like about a 30".

Your back swing is plenty high. I only reach up if I'm making a super-swing while splitting. Even then, it doesn't add much.
 
I might second that suggestion for a larger axe. Or a longer handle, at least. You kind of make yours look tiny in the pictures... :P

Nullity said:
I'm interested to hear if there are any simple secrets.
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Let the tool do the work it knows how to do, mostly. Gravity does a fair job of making heavy objects hit the ground hard. :)
 
I think the size or length is ok. If you look at racing axes, they are usually on 28-32 inch handles, and obviously those guys know what they are doing. Hence why tall guys like Coop and myself have to adjust to the axe accordingly.

Also, when u go with a larger axe, remember that's more overall weight, and more weight means you will get tired quicker, and when u are tired that's when you get sloppy, and that's when an accident happens. Staying in that 28-32 range allows one better accuracy via less weight and handle more control, and for longer. You get a #4 to # 5 lb head on a 36 in handle that's a beast to swing after awhile, and you leave yourself open to a better chance of an accident IMO.

Now, that being said, my fav axe is a #4 lber on a 36 inch handle, but my day in day out user is a #3 lber on 31 inch handle.

As far as swinging technique, you can read that in the good ole days guys from different parts of the country would all swing different according to their geographic locations. I'm sure this had a lot to do with the trees they were encountering, kind of axe being used, and also monkey see monkey do as well. You could tell where a guy was from just by seeing how he swung his axe. So not a lot of guys will swing an axe the same, and that's ok.

All I can say about the swing is try your best to bend at the knees as much as possible and use a whip technique to swing to gain head velocity to increase effectiveness. When u get tired take a break and go clear brush or whatever else there is to do.

Hope I didn't derail thread. Keep doing what u are doing Coop.
 
Thanks Op. The axe I was using was just one of many. I have so many axes and try to use as many as I can. I generally stay within the 3-3.5# on a 28-32" handle range. Thanks all for the tips. I just keep on doing what I'm doing. I was taught left and right handed swinging through the forest service. I'm not competing and I like the idea of not wearing myself out with one side. Learning left handed swinging has been one of the best thing for me. Overall, I'm happy with the results but feel I can always improve.

thanks for the comment of the swing reach Pegs. I've seen some people really reach high and I've wondered what for.
 
If you are looking to add power (velocity) that's where the glutes and hams really come in. Not that I'm good at it.
 
Operator1975 said:
I think the size or length is ok. If you look at racing axes, they are usually on 28-32 inch handles, and obviously those guys know what they are doing.
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They're racing. They're swinging an axe for 60 seconds or less most of the time. Bending way over and constricting the diaphragm is fine for a short spurt of power. But a man who works with an axe all day swings it differently than a man who swings one for 60 second bursts. The feller who worked with a 40" axe knew what he was doing just the same as the racer.
 
I tried out my 32" Keen Kutter today and it worked better for pieces on the ground. I try to focus more on technique and aim than power to be honest. Power is just there for me.
 
Square_peg said:
They're racing. They're swinging an axe for 60 seconds or less most of the time. Bending way over and constricting the diaphragm is fine for a short spurt of power. But a man who works with an axe all day swings it differently than a man who swings one for 60 second bursts. The feller who worked with a 40" axe knew what he was doing just the same as the racer.
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I typically don't chop for more than a couple minutes at a time, then break, as stated. So I would rather have lighter weight and accuracy and safety then swing something 36-40 inches. And I'm sure old fellers knew what they were doing but there isn't many of them left today.
 
I'm pretty sure the 40 inch handles were exclusively designed that way for reaching across really broad trees.
 
I always thought that you should be exhaling on the downward stroke and inhaling on the upstroke.
 
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