Relaxed Hands

[Goldi]

I'm not an experienced picker by any means. However form a newbie standpoint I have made some observations. This may be synonymous with such advice as using light tension etc. But I noticed that when I specifically focused on relaxing my hands/fingers my picking skill improved substantially.

I found that focusing on keeping the fingers on my tensioning hand loose and relaxed it was easier to control the amount of tension I was applying and with my fingers relaxed it helped to prevent me from over tensioning.

The same goes for my picking hand. Before I started doing this I tended to hold my pick really tightly and lift the pin with small, sharp movements. This worked to some extent, however I discovered once I relaxed my hand and held my pick firm but not too tightly I was able to lift the pins much more softly and received much more feedback of what was happening in the lock.

Anyways I don't recall seeing any advice specifically about relaxing your hands so I thought I would offer my observations. Helped me pick my first 5 pin tumbler so maybe it will help somebody else.

Also, greetings from Australia!

[MrAnybody]

Yes, you're spot on Goldi. And welcome to the forum.

This is excellent advice that beginners really need to take notice of. It may be obvious to some, but it's an important point to consider. You've now overcome a very common obstacle for beginners; that of being heavy-handed with a pick and applying for too much pressure with a tension tool.

[Ruff_Dog]

Yup! You're correct, in my opinion. Welcome to the forum. I've always used light tension (I watched a ton of videos while I waited for my picks to be delivered and everyone was like "LIGHT TENSION!!!!") so for me, that's natural, but I have to focus on where I am in the lock. I'll get confused and end up trying to set the second pin, when I think it's the first pin. And then I get bothered by that and restart..

[fgarci03]

Excelent advice Goldi! And welcome to the forum too

Even I, who admitedly am a heavy handed picker, find this to be true.

I tended to hold my pick really tightly and lift the pin with small, sharp movements.

Exactly how I did it back then!

once I relaxed my hand and held my pick firm but not too tightly I was able to lift the pins much more softly and received much more feedback of what was happening in the lock.

Exactly! The movement should be gentle and soft, to allow you to have the perception of what's going on.


Very nice first post!

[knowspicker537]

Fatigue is an enemy, can't tell you how many times this has been a huge factor. It's like one day I'm picking my practice locks in minutes, then the next day I'm tired and can't even pick a defiant, lol. If you're tired and having no luck, put it down and come back to it later or the next day

-knowspicker537

[Rino7603]

As a farirly new picker, I have noticed quick success with a heavy hand. It seems that I can feel and hear the 'clicks' better with heavier tension. However, I also get serious fatigue in both hands. I can lighten up for spools when I need to, But ultimately find myself back on heavy side. I also fear that this method may be causing too much wear on my practice lock ( I have purchased the Ultimate Practice 7 Pin Lock and love it!!).

I have tried starting with light tension many times and always end up heavy handed before I realize it.
Have most of you started heavy handed in the beginning and learned to lighten up or did you start light from the beginning?

[Dune]

As a farirly new picker, I have noticed quick success with a heavy hand. It seems that I can feel and hear the 'clicks' better with heavier tension. However, I also get serious fatigue in both hands. I can lighten up for spools when I need to, But ultimately find myself back on heavy side. I also fear that this method may be causing too much wear on my practice lock ( I have purchased the Ultimate Practice 7 Pin Lock and love it!!).

I have tried starting with light tension many times and always end up heavy handed before I realize it.
Have most of you started heavy handed in the beginning and learned to lighten up or did you start light from the beginning?

There are definitely times to use heavier tension but when you get up to something like the American padlocks they will force you to have very light tension.
Learning to vary tension for the situation is certainly a skill to develop.

Dune

[QuantumEntangled]

Excellent advice, OP.

I found that I had much more success holding the pick "like a pencil" with the top of the middle finger lightly resting just where the tang met the handle. A couple grams of pressure at most. My thumb and index balanced the tool firmly so it wouldn't drop to the floor, but held loose enough so that when gliding over pins the pick could move and pivot gently. This helped me to begin to understand feedback. With practice, you gradually can interpret these sensations to form a picture of what just happened in the lock. Did a pin set? Is it over set? Does it need to be set? Is it binding or should I ease off the tension a bit? This development of tactile interpretation became crucial because on poor tolerance locks what you *hear* may be a dead giveaway about what is happening. On better locks, hearing is still important but it is the sensations and tactile feedback that truly paint the full picture. There are times when I do not hear a thing especially with better locks. Pick as many different locks as you can. Each one will hone your growing skill set.

[LocksportSouth]

I've found that one of my major stumbling blocks is figuring out how to hold the pick and /how/ to apply less tension. I definitely have more luck when easing off on the tension but it's a constantly battle as I tend to tense up in frustration. Good lessons for all

[Br0keN]

lite tension will not just help you pick the lock but also preserve your picks a little because you wont need as much force on the keypins to set them.

[LockPickViking]

I remember when i was starting out i used my picks as prybar, and the more fustration i got the more force i used on my prybar haha