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Bob G Inner circle 2831 Posts |
Hi folks,
I've been practicing (as usual) my DL's, and I find that I form a two card-break I almost inevitably form what Roberto Giobbi calls a "ski jump," in which the inner right corner is pushed up too high and would be obvious to an observant spectator. This is particularly pronounced now; I'm working on a pinky count. Any suggestions about how to avoid the problem? I'll be happy to post a video if that would help people. Thanks so much for your help, Bob |
Chamberlain Special user 629 Posts |
You can either:
-rest your thumb across the deck, thus pushing down the double to hide the break -transfer the break so that it rests against the edge of your thumb instead -when you take the break immediately slide the double to the side of the deck and clamp it down with the thumb - watch steve draun at the 1.20 mark https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IG7n3Zn4huc -learn the Jennings snap double |
magicwiia Regular user 120 Posts |
Hi Bob. I know exactly what you're talking about and have found the same dilemma. I will qualify this post by saying this is going to be the grasshopper offering a suggestion to his sensei...so take it with a grain of salt!
I pull down on the upper right (and front) part of the deck with my middle finger while I slide my pinky out so it barely keeps the break. That seems to flatten the ski jump for me and it went from Eddie the Eagle to Bjørn Daehlie. |
Rupert Pupkin Inner circle 1452 Posts |
Hi Bob,
A common fix for this is to pull DOWN on the cards below the break, rather than allowing the flesh of your finger to push UP on the cards above it. That'll leave the top of the deck on a flat plane. An easier fix (insofar as it requires less active tension from your fingers) is to allow the back end of the double to pop up and remain supported between the heel of your thumb and your pinky. In other words, a small Tilt-style break. Does that make sense? I would NOT recommend laying your thumb across the back. Not only does that make the curvature of the broken cards more pronounced (as more weight is applied to the break), but it’s also an unsightly and inelegant way to hold the deck. Hope that helps. Let me know if you have any questions. |
Rupert Pupkin Inner circle 1452 Posts |
Quote:
On Nov 29, 2019, magicwiia wrote: Yes, this is a great point. Your breaks should, ideally, operate with as little flesh between the cards as possible. |
magicfish Inner circle 7004 Posts |
Quote:
On Nov 29, 2019, Bob G wrote: don't let the pinky tip enter the break. |
Rachmaninov Inner circle 1076 Posts |
I second Ruppert. And his advices are in card college. The deck goes down, with a little diagonal down flex (from front left corner to the back right corner (where the break is held) direction). A 3 millimeters break is fine. I’m doing the pinky count from the regular grip, so with the thumb on the left side of the deck, not across, which is inelegant. It’s more difficult but so more natural.
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Bob G Inner circle 2831 Posts |
Thanks for all these great ideas, everybody. I'll work on them and get back to you. I do have a couplel of questions. The tip of my little finger isn't entering the break, but the break is certainly more than the 3mm that Rachmaninov suggested. Any advice about how to keep such a small break without losing it?
Keeping the thumb off the back of the deck is a new idea to me. I'll try it out. Rupert, when I flick two cards off the deck, it seems to me that they'll automatically go upward, rather than the deck moving downward at the inner end. Could you clarify, please? I haven't studied the Tilt; maybe that's why I'm having trouble visualizing this. -- Actually, I think I wasn't reading carefully. *After* flicking the cards, you pull downward on the remainder of the pack, no? magicwilia, this is an interesting idea. Do people think it would signal to the audience that something is happening? (I like your colorful references; gotta look them up!) Chamberlain, I'll look at your ideas, and video, later. The snap double is a bit showy for for my tastes, but I don't want to dismiss anything out of hand. |
Rachmaninov Inner circle 1076 Posts |
Dear Bob,
I don’t see other answer than practicing a lot to slowly reduce the break. The big tell of the pinky count is when the first card is escaping from the pinky, it makes an obvious « pop » which is very visible. Performers like Ortiz and Ladanye found a way to hide that by turning down their hand during the technique. But I discover that if you make a tiny pinky count (just 2 or 3 mm) with the thumb on the left side, and you just naturally move a little that hand during the first card count, nothing can be seen. But granted, it’s not easy. |
Bob G Inner circle 2831 Posts |
Dear Rachmaninov,
Thanks for these details. There are times when I wonder whether it's worth continuing to practice the DL. Regardless of the method, I find it very hard to be consistent. But maybe just more practice is the answer. See you, Bob |
Rachmaninov Inner circle 1076 Posts |
Yes Bob, like in piano, dedicated, thorough and smart practice with the proper technique. No miracle !
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Bob G Inner circle 2831 Posts |
Right! The analogy is apt. So there's no magic road to learning magic, eh? (Even if there's a royal road.)
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Bob G Inner circle 2831 Posts |
Hi there, Rupert. I may be guilty of not doing my homework here, but could you describe what you mean by a tilt-style break? I'm familiar with the tilt but have never tried it. And I'm too scattered as it is, so I thought maybe you could help me avoid reading about yet another sleight. I feel the need to focus and learn just a few essential sleights.
By the way, the same problem occurs when I get a break under a *single* card by sliding the top card a bit to the right and then pulling it back in over my little finger. Maybe the solutions is the same -- once the break is caught, pull down on the deck rather than pushing up on the top card? Thanks for all your help, Bob |
Maestro Special user 801 Posts |
Quote:
On Dec 3, 2019, Bob G wrote: If you look up the "tilt" move, a card control, you will see that there is a break in which the whole back of the top card is slightly lifted up (or rather the deck is tilted down). I think he means do something like the tilt move position, but less exaggerated. |
Bob G Inner circle 2831 Posts |
Thanks, Maestro, that helps. I'll look it up.
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