There are two types of swings that are used. The forward swing and the straddle swing.

The forward swing is set up anywhere, to two tall trees standing 10 to 15 feet apart and with enough clear space for safe high swinging. Strong braided rope would be tied 20 to 25 feet up each tree, so that the bottom of the loop was 3 to 4 feet f rom the ground when someone sat on it. Two smaller pulling lines (one-quarter inch rope and 15 to 20 feet long) would be tied to the bottom of the swing loop, so that one person would pull the swinger to the rear and one would pull to the front.

The straddle swing used trees that are 15 to 20 feet apart. The straddle swing was set up in the same way as the forward swing with pulling ropes attached. The swinger would sit straddling the rope. The rope pullers would begin taking turns pulling him back and forth until they have him high in the air. If they could not unseat him in this way, then they would pull him violently in other directions as well.

The straddle swing required great ability to stay on. Swingers could be judged on their ability to stay on the swing for a period of time.