I've recently hit a block. I've been working on one move for quite a while, many hours of practice. And I just can't get it. And today, I just seemed to have gone two steps backwards - I thought I'd been making slow progress, but it was like being back at square one.

This is very frustrating, and it isn't the first time this has happened to me. Previously I'd just abandoned the move, which meant abandoning the trick. But I can't accept that I just can't do all these tricks ...

What do people suggest when they hit a frustrating block?

I've double checked the instructions a lot of times, super slow, and thought about it, and made tiny adjustments and careful alterations ... But to no avail.

What next?

I have had to abandon unproductive lines of practice, some after months of work.

It is painful but I don't want to spend more good time after bad, so to speak. There are many places where that practice time could go further.

I occasionally re-visit those projects just to see if I've gained some insight from leaving the project for a while. Sometimes it helps but sometimes it hasn't.

It is your call but if a move is that hard, how confident will you ever be in the real world? How about as you age?

Best luck. I feel your pain.

I've been picking up cards over one card jugglery move several intense practice bouts per year for years. It works just often enough to keep me trying but I know in my heart it will never make my pro. repertoire. Some things you practice just because you enjoy the chase.

-Mary Mowder

Sometimes laying off those moves or effects you cannot seem to get is the best way..you may find that sometime in the future you will approach it with more knowledge or skill so that you will be able to do it. Some moves may just be out of your ability also..I have tried for years to muscle pass a coin but to no avail...I just work harder on the sleights that I will need to use for the effects I wish to perform. Don't put time into things you will probably never need...Howard

Often times I will practice something and hit a wall just as you have. The thing to do is take a break and come back to it at a later time. You may notice that you pick up on it quicker when you approach it again.

Thanks for th input folks

I'm. Not quite ready to abandon it yet (I'm a little stubborn), but if it doesn't happen soon I'll probably take a little break and try to come it again fresh, after I've developed some other stuff.

Last night it seemed to be making progress again ... So who knows, maybe I'll crack it this week