Changing Techniques

[DevilFish]

Greetings!

I've been into locksport for the past year, since coworkers came back from DefCon armed with all kinds of picksport goodies.

I find that I've developed a silverback gorilla approach to picking, though; I use so much pressure with the pick that I actually bend flimsy picks and end up with a sore thumb. While this approach has succeeded for any number of Master locks, several Chateau locks, several filing cabinet locks, numerous practice locks and even the Abus 55/40....it's limiting. I do not have the sensitivity I need.

Now, I am trying for a lighter tension, and holding the pick appropriately (as opposed to like a knife) and I find the success rate here to be nearly nil. What's the best way to re-learn correct picking technique?

Thanks!

-DevilFish

[GWiens2001]

What is your location? That will help us to make recommendations of locks available in your area.

A quick answer is to get a lock from a door. In the United States, a deadbolt. In most of Europe, a euro-profile cylinder. Or go to eBay and buy a practice lock. A member here, MrWizard, sells them on eBay and gives great service. Great guy, too.

Gordon

[high_order1]

Hi!

Neat hobby, but I'd be very careful who I shared it with.

Brute force overcomes a *lot* of technique some times, as you've figured out.

I'm going to suggest getting a few locks you can take with you. Mount them in a board. Make SURE they actually work. Get some dry lube and make sure they are kind of free / key turn with little effort. (you're practicing technique, now). Then, spend some time actually learning what's happening in there. Use a small hook instead of a rake or snowman, and see if you can find the individual pins or wafers. Watch what the core does when you manipulate them. Try and play 'how little tension do I need to be successful'.

Make a tension wrench with a spring.

If you want to progress through to more difficult locks, learning a light touch will be incredibly important. It is something I occasionally struggle with myself.

[cz851]

If you want to progress through to more difficult locks, learning a light touch will be incredibly important.

I thing that i have problem there. I opened my training 7 pin lock ( with 4 pins inserted) with very very light tension very quickly . But i don't have any good pin response , no clicks or sign of sets. When i increase a tension the pin response is much better and i am more consistent BUT my time is going up .So the question is : Should i pick the tension to the point that i have better pin response ? Thanks

[DaWolfMan]

DevilFish

I would recommend doing 2 things. first look for a "Clear Practice Lock" this will allow you to apply slight tension and start setting pins while being able to look inside the lock and see what you are feeling. second, i would also look for a progressive lock, this is a lock that has Allen screws capping each pin chamber and lets you start with just 2 pins and work your way up to 6 pins gradually, you can also add security pins (Spool, Serrated, mushroom, ETC) in as you get better at picking for more of a challenge. If you are using so much force that you are bending or breaking picks it will be hard to ever get proficient enough to really enjoy what you are doing. most of the time it is about feeling and finesse. don't get me wrong though sometimes you do run into the PIA lock that needs some force exerted on it, but normally it is not required.

DaWolfMan