ok maybe a little slow but i cant seem to get it and do you have to use it
Not really , you can become proficient with the half hitch. But if you learn it which only really takes about 5 minutes you will have more options and in my opinion it makes a neater fly. Plus when using the half hitch every once in a while you lose grip on the fly and flub the whole thing.
http://www.flyanglersonline.com/flytying/beginners/part6.html
http://www.flyanglersonline.com/flytying/beginners/part5.html
Here is a video showing how to use the matarelli
http://copperfly.net/fly_tying_videos.php
I find the Matarelli easier to use but your milage may vary .
Easy to learn and quite soon you will wonder why you ever had problems with it.
The more complicated to use Tompson whip finisher is the better one to use when finishing a head near your hackle . It will not so readily trap the long hackle feathers and ruin the fly. It is worthwhile learning how to use it if you do a lot of dry flies.
There are also half hitch tools that you can use.
No you do not have to use a whip finishing tool. You can perform a whip finish with your fingers. Now on the other side, for wet fly tying I prefer to use the whip finishing tool to help form a nice smoothe looking head. All my classic wet flies for show and fishing are done with a Matarelli whip finisher.
Fontinalis
AKA Andy B
It’s best to learn to whip finish by hand before you start using the tool
…unless your hands have as much callous as mine do from my work. No amount of hand cream ever gets them soft in the winter, so the Matarelli is my friend. I also use half hitch tools for small flies.
Joe
I also find it hard to use the Thompson whip Finisher, and then i got the Matarelli and i have never looked back - but i must get out the thompson and try again soon. It came as part of 1st kit when i just started out…
i find the hand whip finish is difficult to acheive for me as much as i try to do it - i had an operation on both my hands a few years back and they are still a bit stiff for stuff like this.
Jeanne
You don’t have to use a whip finisher but I think you will get a better result if you do, compared to half hitches. The Materelli is simple to use, but maybe hard to explain how to use it in words. If you can get someone to show you, you will see how simple it is.
Whether you whip finish with a tool or by hand, the principle is the same.
Google whip+finish+video and you’ll find plenty of videos.
I believe to be competent a fly tier should choose witch to form a whip finish. If you can’t do one method then you can’t choose to use the other you are stuck with it. By its very nature a tool is slower. You have to find it each time and sometimes you will drop it on the floor. That of course doesn’t matter if speed is not a consideration.
Cheers,
Alan.
The Materelli is the way to go. The Thompson is more complex to use adding to the fact that it cannot be used by a left handed tyer without a modest but critical modification.
Hey Joe ! I had a fella turn me on to using 80 grit sandpaper on my rough old metalsmith’s hands. It really works, and cuts way down on the snaggs.
And… for Mudflaper… I been using half an old ball point pen to do half hitches for years. I had a bugger of a time figuring out the whip finishers. I finally got it down this past spring, though when tying some of Al Campbell’s Too Simple PMD’s Take a look at his tutorials on those flies in the FAOL archives, I think it’ll help you too.
Also, lately, (after I glued my mouth shut) I discovered the magic of Krazy Glue on my half hitched heads. Truth is, though, a well done whip finished head is more attractive most of the time…Happy tyin’…ModocDan
No you don’t have to use one. You can use half hitches instead and use head cement. As other suggested the Matarelli whip finisher is an easy tool to master. If you do decide to go with the Matarelli I would suggest the extended reach model.
An example of another…to each his own
I like the shorter Matarelli most of the time …and use a hand tie if I need to extend… and once in awhile the extended reach Materalli…
I’m thinking the shorter is easier to master for a beginner.
I would definately recommend you learn to use it, Its a nice skill to have if you ever feel the need for it.
I use a Matarelli standard.
A pretty famous flyfisherman, tyer, and book writer does not use a whip finish. Two half hitches and head cement. I can find the book where he states this if anyone wants to know exackery where it is. Fellow goes by the name of Randall Kaufman.
Gemrod
I used a couple of half hitches and a dab of head cement for years and years. I still do when the spirit moves me even though I’m proficient with several whip finishing methods. I’ve never had flies fall apart with either method. 8T 
There is one thing going for the guys who use a couple half hitches with any kind of tool that fits well over the eye of the hook. It lets you push back any wayward hackle barbs that lean too far forward.
try this link for alternate ways for finishing heads
I am a very competent fly tier but i only use 3 half hitches to tie off my fly heads. and they dont come loose.
learning on line is pretty hard to teach.
i see you live in the denver area and with so many fly shops out there all you have to do is go into one and sit with any owner and theyll be glad to show you the mechanics of the whip finisher. you need to see it being used and then try it for yourself.