Tops, Seconds and Bottoms available from here.
The Effect
Not really an effect but a DVD teaching how to deal the top card, the second card and the bottom card from the same grip (Mechanics).
Cost
£12
Difficulty 3/4 me thinks
(1=easy to do, 2=No sleights, but not so easy, 3=Some sleights used,
4=Advanced sleights used, 5=Suitable for experienced magicians only)
Review
Well I had been searching for the bottom deal for a long time and had all the known books and whatever for teaching the bottom deal but they just weren't good enough as they had dodgy grips.
Being able to bottom deal from the Mechanics Grip is a great way to make all dealing look natural. I think if any magician or even card dealer would pick up a deck of cards, they would automatically put it into the Mecahnics Grip.
Top Card Dealing
I think every person, including laypeople, know how to deal the top card. But Ian teaches it to make it look the same as a Second deal and a Bottom deal. I didn't learn anything new from this part except throwing the card to the person you are dealing it to. The throw is a little different from what I did but as before, makes it looks exactly like a second.
Second Card Dealing
Again, I already knew how to second deal. Ian teaches the Strike Second in glorious detail, all the way from how far you push the top card off, where to put what finger where, how much pressure you need, taking the card, and throwing it. Looks more like a Top deal than a Top deal
Bottom Card Dealing
The main part of the DVD for moi. It is taught from the Mechanics Grip as are the other deals and was created by Ian. It is hard to get down, I havn't completely got it yet, but I know that it is worth learning because if you can't deal a top, second and bottom from the same grip then there is little use in learning it IMHO.
Prepare to put quite a bit of practice into learning the bottom deal. Just watching the TV and doing it helps a lot, like other sleights. Also, as suggested by Ian, is using a Monotone. A series of beeps thats is set out and you must deal accordingly to each pile.
Again, Ian tells you where to put what finger and how much pressure to use, where do all the bits go when you've taken the card, and how to cover it.
Overall
Very good for people trying to learn bottom deal. I have found a much easier way dealing from the bottom but uses a different grip, which I was not happy about.
Practice - 9/10
Money - 8.5/10
Teaching - 9.5/10
OVERALL - 9/10
