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gilbreath76 Loyal user 279 Posts |
Does anyone have any tips for card spinning? I consider myself a hard-core card guy, but I can't do a simple spinning of the card. You know, where the card is held parallel to the ground pinched between your thumb and middle finger, and it spins like helicopter propellers. Is this taught in any books? I don't think there's anything to teach, from what I observe every time I see a magician do it is that the card is pinched between the thumb and middle finger. Maybe it's not the thumb and middle finger... Any info would help. Thanks.
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pyromagician Veteran user Tennessee 312 Posts |
P.S. this is what part of the alphabet would look like if "Q" and "R" were eleminated
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Burt Yaroch Inner circle Dallas,TX 1097 Posts |
I think the above link is to card shooting which could be easily confused with what I think Gilbreath is talking about.
Tip #1- I tried to do this unsuccessfully for months. Then one day as I was walking down the stairs, I looked down to my left (non-dominant hand) and there was a card spining there. I wasn't even thinking about it. It just happened. The point: if you have been unsuccessful with this for months try the other hand. Tip #2- It helps if your fingertip is slightly tacky. Naturally sweaty hands should do the trick. If not just tap the end of a tounge (yours will do just fine) and then wipe it off with your thumb. Tip #3- Start off by balancing the card on the fingertip. If you don't have it balanced, it isn't going to spin (and we are talking second finger here, the longest one). My hand, when I spin is not parallel to the ground but angled up and away from me very slightly (if parallel is comfy, go with that). Tip #4- Baby steps. Start by just trying to get the card to go a quarter turn. Then move up incrementally. If it's falling right off either it's not balanced or your finger isn't tacky enough. Tip #5- The spin. Jeese this is going to be hard to explain, but I'll give it a shot. The spin is delivered by a very slight movement of the thumb and first finger. (I spin counterclockwise in the left hand, clockwise in the right. I'm gonna talk left hand from here on out and I'm using a King of Spades Rider Back, face down.) Balance the card on the second finger with the short ends facing toward and away from you. Place the thumb just slightly off center and above the second finger (say on the wheel of the angels bike) this causes the card to tip down and away from you. Place the first finger right about on the kings mouth beneath the card to make it level again. I begin the spin with a slight cocking motion clockwise. Keeping the first finger in contact with the card, push straight to the right with the first finger only (it moves about 1/2 an inch), letting the other two fingers pivot in position, while you turn the card about 1/8th of a turn clockwise (the inner left corner of the card should be pointed toward the base of the thumb.) During this action the thumb looks like it stays in the same spot, the second finger will cock very slightly toward the palm. Now if you return the fingers to the starting point while simultaneously releasing the thumb the card will turn about 1/4 turn (don't flick it, just return it for now). Once you get that down you can give it a gentle flick with the first finger, the thumb will also pull toward the palm just slightly. Your second finger will also begin to extend in a simultaneous action to move the card away from the palm to give it clearance for the spin. All of these actions are performed with a very, very light grip on the card. I can barely feel my first finger underneath there. That's a hard move to explain without showing it at the same time. Hope that helps.
Yakworld.
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gilbreath76 Loyal user 279 Posts |
Yakandjak,
Thank you so much for taking the time to write all of that. I will print this page and go at it. I will keep you updated as to my progress. |
gilbreath76 Loyal user 279 Posts |
Yak,
That was a good tip about trying the other hand. I've been trying with my left hand, which is actually my off hand, when I switched to my right, it actually spins. The mechanics just came natural with the right hand. This enabled me to see what I've been doing wrong with the left hand. Funny thing is, I have sweaty palms, so I thought this was the reason why my card wasn't spinning. Now that I got the mechanics down, the sweaty fingers are very benificial. Thanks Yak!! |
Burt Yaroch Inner circle Dallas,TX 1097 Posts |
Yes sir!
Hey your best bet is probably to pop down to the local magic shop. The guys down there can probably get you going pretty quickly as well as sell you the latest cool video. I guess I was assuming you didn't have easy access to this resource. If you do definitely dont pass it by.
Yakworld.
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Rolando Santos New user Atlanta, Ga. 86 Posts |
The descriptions above are very very good. To me is it the same motion as when I spin a top. The last second whip of the hand when the the string ends gives it spin.
It is also similar to the motion of throwing a frisbee, except you hold on longer and snap your hand to give it BACKSPIN. good luck rolando |
flourish dude Inner circle from ? But I know where I am going! 1195 Posts |
Nice job Yak!
Here is how I do it. Card spinning. Take a look at a Bike card on the back. There is a propeller looking thing in the middle of the card. This is where your center point is. Pinch the card between the tips of your thumb and middle finger at this point. I spin my card clockwise. Now take the tips of your first finger and your third finger and place them next to the middle finger forming a line with all three fingers. The way your fingers naturally line up. Here is where the practice will come in like I said I spin clockwise the first finger pulls in towards you and the third finger pushes out away from you at the same time and your thumb lifts up. The hard part is getting your first and third finger to move at the same rate. I do a little wind up before I spin which means I move my first and third finger in the opposite direction before I spin. The first finger pushes and the third finger pulls thus cocking the card to your left. This is done to give me more motion for a longer spin. So this is what I call the STARTING position. Then I thrust my finger in the directions above. To get the hang of moving your fingers keep the card pinched and work on moving the card back and forth, to the left and then to the right then back to the starting position then let go and spin. Like Yak said this is a light touch. Don't move your fingers too fast cause the card will just fly off the tip of your middle finger.
Nothing of the same will bring any change, take action today!
Just taking a step, is a step in the right direction because when you stop working, your dream dies. www.magicalmemories.us |
grieve New user Austin, Texas 37 Posts |
Speaking of card spinning. I saw a magician named Peter Studabaker(sp?) do an incredible card spinning trick. The spectator would select a card, shown to all. Peter would spin the card and reveal a different card to all. He would then spin it again and show the original card. He was able to do this repeatedly. It was just a small bit in a larger card trick. So my question is, does this effect have a name?
--grieve |
Geoff Williams Special user St. Pete Beach, FL 617 Posts |
Be sure to have your hands well moisturized before practicing the spinning. It'll help immensely.
"Saját légpárnás tele van angolnák."
(Hungarian for "My hovercraft is full of eels") |
thelastdoctor New user Dayton Ohio/USA 70 Posts |
Oh what I'd give for moist hands....
Thanks for the tips and the instructions. I have to admit I don't think I could write out those instructions. The next club meeting is only 3 weeks away, I'll never get to bed tonight! The Last Doctor ?who? :stout:
The Last Doctor
?who?:stout: I’m always looking for the perfect pint or sugar free Jelly Babies... |
Daniel Meadows Veteran user Manchester, UK 392 Posts |
The flourish is briefly mentioned in Card College vol 4, and I think is credited as Racherbaumer's Whirl Flourish in Card Finesse.
Cerberus Wallet, Equilibrium, Counterfeit, Deadly Marked Deck, Infamous, Instinct
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