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once upon a time I wrote:

FINDING the binding pinstack can be done in one of two ways... lets call them 'pattern testing' and 'sweeping'.

PATTERN TESTING
Just as the name implies, each pin is methodically tested while following a pattern. This insures we don't miss any pins.
That 'perfect threshold' pressure is applied to each pin as we work our way from the back pin, to the front pin... or we might work
from the front to the back. Whatever pattern you prefer, it will likely have to be repeated several times over before the lock opens.


SWEEPING
Here, we start at the back of the lock and lightly run/pull our hook over the pins to the front in order to locate the binding pin.
With this motion, our hook tends to kind of catch, snag, and stop at the solid binding pin. Sweeping is a wonderful time saver.
It allows us to quickly zero in on the pin that needs to be targeted, while wasting no time on the pins that are not yet binding.

Oldfast wrote:Hmmm. Hard to say. Personally I tend think neither necessarily has any distinct advantage over the other.
In which case it really just comes down to personal preference. But sure, it's possible each might have its'
pros & cons depending on what lock you're picking... the bitting, binding order, what pick you're using, etc.

So again, whether you pick your way in or work your way out from the back depends on how you like to pick.
Take for example these two common techniques below. Both of these, by the way, have been used for ages...
I simply put a name to each of them for the ease of writing the article I was working on at the time.

once upon a time I wrote:

FINDING the binding pinstack can be done in one of two ways... lets call them 'pattern testing' and 'sweeping'.

PATTERN TESTING
Just as the name implies, each pin is methodically tested while following a pattern. This insures we don't miss any pins.
That 'perfect threshold' pressure is applied to each pin as we work our way from the back pin, to the front pin... or we might work
from the front to the back. Whatever pattern you prefer, it will likely have to be repeated several times over before the lock opens.


SWEEPING
Here, we start at the back of the lock and lightly run/pull our hook over the pins to the front in order to locate the binding pin.
With this motion, our hook tends to kind of catch, snag, and stop at the solid binding pin. Sweeping is a wonderful time saver.
It allows us to quickly zero in on the pin that needs to be targeted, while wasting no time on the pins that are not yet binding.

Sweeping is almost always my initial attack when it comes to nearly any lock.
So obviously I tend to always work my way out of the lock starting at the back.

Now, if you tend to systematically lift/test each pin individually (pattern testing),
then you could start from the front or the back. Again, just preference. A lot of
people I watch start with the first pin and work their way back. But then again,
I've seen plenty of people doing the opposite, lol.

Hell, I dunno. Try it ALL. See what you like. Whatever opens locks - stick with that.

EDIT: Also, good point from flywheel.

Solomon wrote:Great post. I describe the "sweeping" technique in my book, but I always called it the speed bump method because when you hit the binding pin it's like hitting a speed bump on the road lol. Sweeping sounds much better... damnit!!.....

ForSquirel wrote:I've asked this question before. I actually start at pin 1 and move in. I don't think it really makes a difference.