Ringing on a bell lighter than you are used to will help you develop a good handling style. You will learn how to fine-tune the two strokes to avoid bumping the stay.  Striking a light bell can be a challenge – on a light ring the speed of ringing will be much quicker than you are used to, whilst ringing a light bell in a 10 or 12 bell tower will mean that you can’t use the natural rhythm of the bell to help your striking.

A light bell has a smaller wheel and its natural swing will feel quicker than the bells you normally ring. If all the bells in the tower are reasonably light then you may ring a light bell at or near its normal rhythm, but in a 10 or 12 bell tower it will be necessary to hold the light bells on the balance to match the slower rhythm of the back bells.

You will need a light touch for a light bell in order to sense the balance point without bumping the stay.  Be careful not to over-pull at backstroke when the falling rope weight may contribute to the pull, or to under-pull at hand stroke when the rising rope weight will tend to slow the bell.

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