On pulling a bell off at hand stroke the clapper will strike just as the bells revolution is nearly completed, on pulling it off at back stroke the bell will strike again just before the bell regains its upward vertical position.

With the bell set at hand stroke a ringer will 'pull off', the rope will first move in a downward position, as the bell moves over the point of balance and starts it's down ward swing. The ringer will have to release the sally as the rope starts to go up as it gathers around the wheel. as the bell reaches its rotation and balance point the ringer will hold the rope end firmly in both hands. The weight of the bell at balance point is held for a brief moment, The ringer then pulls down in back stroke. The sally will at this time come down from above as the rope uncoils from the wheel. The ringer will not catch the sally at this time. As the bell again reaches its rotation and balance the ringer will catch the sally and take the weight as it comes up to the original hand stroke set point. We have now rung a bell. It is not easy explaining how it actually feels but we hope we have given you some form of idea how a bell is rung.

Once you have mastered the art of striking your bell it is time to learn to follow another and to ring in rounds. As a rule you would start to pull in hand stroke when the ringer in front of you has pulled 3/4 the length of the sally (Just as they begin to release the sally). Try to keep the same distance at back stroke or pull, just as the hands of the ringer in front approach there face.