You should never continue to pick a lock that you have already beaten several times. If you pick the same lock enough times in the same way you’ll eventually memorize the process of picking that particular lock. From there on, picking that lock becomes more about recalling a series of vague events rather than relying on your skill.

As a matter in fact, continuing to pick the same lock over and over can actually put you a few step back in progressing your skill. As they say — if you don’t use it, you lose it.

So continuing to challenge yourself is crucial for improving but the problem is, this can get expensive. How can we be expected to buy a new practice lock every time we conquer one? Beating a lock should be a time for excitement and joy, not a time to feel sorrow for our wallets.

One of the quickest ways of progressing in any craft is knowing exactly what steps to take, and in which order to take them. With lock picking this can be as simple as knowing which locks to focus on first.

With every new lock you pick, you’ll walk away with some new knowledge — a lesson taught through the sweat and struggle of picking.

The purpose of this little guide is to give you a progression of locks that will not only give you the greatest lessons, but do so in an order that will prepare you for the next lock on this list.

From absolute beginner to tackling serrated security pins — all in 9 locks!