Page 16 - Mark Gommers "Bowlines Analysis"

More Terminology

Loops and turns… a very loopy issue!

This particular subject matter receives limited attention by many knot book authors. Ashley
deals with this topic at page 13 in ‘ABoK’ but, with the advancements made since his
publication, greater technical detail is required, since the differences between loops and
turns is not fully explored. Dr Harry Asher’s ‘The Alternative Knot Book’ is one of the few
books that examines ‘handedness’ (or chirality) with loops at page 22. The chirality of a
loop cannot be changed – even if it is flipped over. An example is a left and a right shoe. A
left shoe cannot be flipped over or rotated to make it a ‘right’ shoe – it is always a left shoe.

Loop Loop
Chirality: Left hand Chirality: Right hand
Aspect: Overhand Aspect: Underhand
Left hand Right hand
(S twist) (Z twist)

Note:
In this paper, the nipping
component of a Bowline is
identified as a loop – which
gives rise to the term
‘nipping loop’ rather than
nipping turn.
Left hand nipping loop
Right hand nipping loop

Note:
In this paper, a turn refers to
the rope wrapping around a
post, rail or similar rounded
object. For example, a ‘round
turn and 2 half hitches’ is
generally tied to a tree, a post
or a rail.
U turn (180 degrees) Turn (360 degrees) Round Turn (540 degrees)

Page 15 of 59 Bowline Analysis Version 2.7a 16 July 2016 © Copyright Mark Gommers