The flail was very similar to the mace in theory, that is, put a hard object with mass on the end of a stick so you could build up
momentum before striking the target. In flails, separating the striking object (example: metal balls, spiked or not) from the shaft
by a chain gave flails flexibility. This flexibility increased the impact force of the strike and made parrying the attack much more
difficult. While also similar in concept to a morningstar or ball and chain, the flail generally consisted of multiple chains and balls
attached to a haft; thus, the flail was even more of an weapon impossible to parry against. The earliest flails were merely
adaptations of agricultural tools (grain threshers, for example) but served well as weapons of war. Both cavalry and dismounted
soldiers used flails; the cavalry flails were generally smaller and lighter.