Hi,

I'd like to start this topic on the two card push-off for the double lift. Just to clarify on what exactly I'm talking about, its the exact method David Blaine uses for his double lift. It's basically using your thumb, while you hold the deck in mechanic's grip, to push off two cards as one.
It's a method quite unlike other double lifts or even other sleight of hand, as this particular sleight requires a knack or a feel.
Any thoughts, opinions, advice on this?

Kammall

My honest opinion is that there are better DL's out there. But I'm not about to talk about the one I use, I don't want everyone using it

Kammall, this was discussed quite recently. See this thread:

http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewt......;forum=2

He was in that thread.

Hideo Kato

All the more surprising, Hideo.

Daryl's double left get ready is much more superior to Blaine's kindergarten card handling.

Everbody is talking about Blaine's handling but for laymen it's a good double lift I think.

I'll bet Martin Nash would agree.

Paul

Blaine doesn't do a two card push-off.
I think he uses a Derek Dingle DB.

Alex

I used to think so too, but the DD has no get-ready. If you look very closely Blaine always gets a break. He does it a number of different ways, but it's always there...

Since there is no need to use a break in the DL push-off, it is obvious that Blaine is not using it in his show.

Trust me.. the months of work to perfect the double push off is definitely worth it. That is the most natural I can find.. anything else is just worthless. How you do really push a card over? By pushing the card with your thumb. I have seen so many DLs and the thing that makes a DL crap is not the lift itself...but the get ready (if you need one). I can see that a mile away and so will your audience.

Don't mistake a DL to be a simple move.

Tony C.

The lift is taught on Wilson's double lift video, Double Take and it is not kindergarten sleight of hand. I think it's very deceptive and learning a double push off can greatly improve your card magic: double deals, seconds, false counts, etc...

I agree with LiquidSn: the double push-off seems (to me) to be the most close-to-normal-move (turning over one card). And it avoids the need of a break (even if you CAN take a break, and do a very easy double push-off that looks great!)

And, as he stated, it allows you to do into the second deal ala Simon Lovell (which is GREAT), it allows you to get a break below two cards without fumbling, in fact, I feel that it would make easier a lot of little utility moves in a lot of situations.

I said "would" because I have not mastered it yet... So, back to work!
Jonathan.

There are times when you may want to push off more than two!

DLs are difficult if you make them that way. If you take the time to master some of them properly you would realize that more comes into play than just the actual sleight. Timing and misdirection are a considerable factor in the overall success or failure of the DL. Good luck! Lee

No sweat. I learned if you know how to push two off perfectly 3 or even 4 is easy because you can "feel" the diffence.

For those non-believers out there:
http://www.tonychang.net/magic/DL.mov

Tony C.

I agree the push off DL is the way to go. (I believe Greg Wilson calls it the Knock-out double lift on his video Double Take.) I mean there is no get ready, pinky break, just push off what appears to be a single card and turn it over. No need for misdirection. The spec can burn your hand as you do it and all they see is that you are thumbing off a single card. That is if you do it right. After six months of intermittent practice I can always get a double and not a triple, but the cards don't always coalesce so you can see a slight jog or wider white border. So I tilt the deck back toward me to give a little cover. But when I hit it, I almost fool myself. I mean I think I only got a single even though I can feel the exta thickness.

Hugh

The push off double lift is the only sleight I do really well. I have gotten off to a fine art, and once perfected, it can't really be detected. The one tell is the fluid motion. I know this may sound strange, but the better you get at it, the more fluid the action of sliding the cards off, and taking with the other hand and turning over, the more likely it is that someone might suspect that it was a move (maybe this is just paranoia, 'cause I've never been caught). I take the cards with my left hand (I hold the deck in my right) with a motion which also serves the purpose of straightening the cards if they become misaligned by brushing them over the right hand grip. That is the tricky part of it I reckon. The push off is hard, but not as hard as taking them with the other hand and retaining the straight edges.

The push off was the only DL I learnt, because to me, it seemed the most natural. Any "getting a break" business was just too much like tempting fate. If you wanted to do two DL in quick succession then you're screwed. Although I can't think of a trick which does. Anyway, my input would be to perfect it; it's worth it. It's a combination of bevel, grip, push, take, square, display, flip back on to deck. Once all of these happen naturally and with fluidity, you've cracked it. The next trick is to make sure you take two cards EVERY single time. I have on occasion, taken 3 whilst doing a trick, and had to do my best to start again without anyone noticing. Luckily, the spec didn't, but this was luck than judgement. (Made the punchline all the more satisfying.)
Ta,

Dom.

MagicBear I can so relate! HAHA most of the time I say to myself.."man I didn't even come close to hitting that double" and it is a double. haha. I guess when we do Ambitious card to people we can actually be really suprised that the card did indeed come to the top

Tony C.

Forgive me, but...

Isn't the "Two card push-off" known offically as the "Block Push-Off"? Maybe I'm confusing the two terms, but that's the way I always refer to it, but I do mainly packet tricks. I do a HORRIBLE DL, as my pinky fingers have long since gone numb from pinched nerves. Getting a pinky break is difficult, if you can't feel it, LOL!

Heavy misdirection is called for, if I HAVE to do one, ala Stranger's Gallery...I DO get by...

Doug