Scientists find 'perfect way to pull a cracker'

Scientists have come up with a formula for “the perfect Christmas cracker pull”.

According to research organisation QinetiQ, the best snap is produced by keeping a firm, two-handed grip to prevent the cracker being torn at your end.

Tilting your end of the cracker downwards at an inclined angle during the pull is also said to maximise your chances of winning its contents.

After stringent laboratory tests, a team from QinetiQ’s human sciences division concluded that the perfect pulling technique depended on seven key factors.

In addition to grip strategy and incline angle, they found that a steady and controlled pull was necessary to maximise “peak force”.

But using too much “twisting force” should be avoided as this increases the strain on the shoulder of the cracker, making it more likely to rip in your opponent’s favour.

The remaining factors to be considered are the distance to the centre of gravity of the cracker, the length of the cracker and the quality and density of materials used to construct the cracker.

“We tried hundreds of cracker-pulling variations,” said QinetiQ scientist Alex Bunting.

“There are several key factors that can influence the outcome in one person’s favour, most important of which is a steady, evenly distributed pull applied via a firm two-handed grip, without undue stress or yanking.”