Survey, How do you swing?

atomicscott · Jul 9, 2012

Just hoping to get an idea on how everyone swings! I've only been detecting about 1.5 years, and I started out swinging in the typical arc (just about a half circle). After reading a book by Charles Garrett in which he advises to sweep in a straight line (side to side of course) in front of you, I decided to try it. I've never gone back! It seems that I have much more accuracy swinging and I can grid an area much faster and be more precise. So my question is do you swing in an arc or straight line? thanks for any responses. Scott

Treasure_Hunter · Jul 9, 2012

I sweep side to side in front of me as I walk, coil is never more than 1-2 inches off the ground through entire sweep. I love to follow people who are swinging in an arc...

ticm · Jul 9, 2012

I see your from Cal. If you lived around me I would suggest that you continue to do what your doing. But you don't detect around me so if I were you I would do what Treasure Hunter does.

You may want to define what you mean be arc.

atomicscott · Jul 9, 2012

ticm said:
I see your from Cal. If you lived around me I would suggest that you continue to do what your doing. But you don't detect around me so if I were you I would do what Treasure Hunter does.

You may want to define what you mean be arc.

Actually i did say an arc meaning like a half circle.

cactusrat · Jul 9, 2012

While swinging in the open, sunny areas. I swing in a straight line in front of me, maybe a six foot path. I go slow.

Whenever I am swinging in the shade of a tree, I stand in one place and swing in a half circle around me. Then I move to one side of the arc and swing over where I was standing. I repeat this over and over until all the shaded area is covered really well.

Down here in South Texas, our shade trees are pretty small and far and few in between, so once one in found you are not in a hurry to leave it. :toothy2:

norbyx · Jul 10, 2012

I swing in a very open arc type . I swing in the most comfortable way so I can do it longer.

worldtalker · Jul 10, 2012

With the best of them,sorry,couldn't help myself! God Bless Chris

TerryC · Jul 10, 2012

Heterosexual, definitely heterosexual. TTC

cudamark · Jul 10, 2012

All my coils have a cover on them so I just lay them on the ground and slide it side to side as I slowly walk. It also takes a little weight off your arm that way. Naturally, if the ground is uneven or rocky, it's a little harder to do but the idea is to keep the coil as close to the ground as possible to get the most depth.

TerryC · Jul 10, 2012

I believe Garrett suggests 2 inches. I like to get to within an inch but not drag it along. TTC

norbyx · Jul 10, 2012

TerryC said:
I believe Garrett suggests 2 inches. I like to get to within an inch but not drag it along. TTC

I agree. I would never let the detector drag on the surface. if I am detecting on grass I make the coil barely touch the grass, but I never have any weight on the coil, that, in my opinion, could prematurely damage the lower shaft and stress all the detector components. Just my 5 cents but for me sliding the detector coil with weight on it is wrong.

cudamark · Jul 10, 2012

norbyx said:
I agree. I would never let the detector drag on the surface. if I am detecting on grass I make the coil barely touch the grass, but I never have any weight on the coil, that, in my opinion, could prematurely damage the lower shaft and stress all the detector components. Just my 5 cents but for me sliding the detector coil with weight on it is wrong.

I just slide it across the ground. I don't put any weight on it or use it as a crutch. Been doing it for over 40 years now and haven't even worn out a coil cover let alone damage any components.

canadiandigger · Jul 10, 2012

iv always swing in an ark always worked for me

Terry Soloman · Jul 10, 2012

Some people say I swing both ways.. But I swear I am swinging straight! :laughing7:

U.K. Brian · Jul 11, 2012

All depends on the detector used and its filtering set up. Do the short straight "swing" with high filter detectors and you don't achieve maximum depth and most accurate discrimination.
Scrubbing the ground (sliding the coil on the surface) has the drawback of reducing performance with many detectors due to backreading from the soil.

atomicscott · Jul 11, 2012

worldtalker said:
With the best of them,sorry,couldn't help myself! God Bless Chris

Haha~ very good Chris! Lol! God bless you too.

atomicscott · Jul 11, 2012

Terry Soloman said:
Some people say I swing both ways.. But I swear I am swinging straight!

Thats too much Terry, you are out of control!!!!

atomicscott · Jul 11, 2012

U.K. Brian said:
All depends on the detector used and its filtering set up. Do the short straight "swing" with high filter detectors and you don't achieve maximum depth and most accurate discrimination.
Scrubbing the ground (sliding the coil on the surface) has the drawback of reducing performance with many detectors due to backreading from the soil.

Why would swinging in a straight line achieve less depth than swinging in an arc, if the coil is the same distance from the ground?