talkmagic.co.uk

Hey just a quick question I hope you can help me with, I did a search and could find nothing about this. If there is something already I apologise.

I'm a rather big person (6ft 5in) and have big hands. This can sometimes give me problems in card sleights, especially a finger break. I have tried using my third finger for this and have found it more comfortable but it leaves a bigger gap and is more exposed.

Should I use techniques I find most comfortable and develope them? Or stick with approved techniques and let practice take care of my problems?

BTW I've been using bike cards if that matters.....

Well, I'm 6ft 7" and have really big hands.

It's a combination of everything. If you practice the tried and tested methods then you'll begin to find that this becomes the most comforatbe anyway. You'll also add a little natural adaptation.

Whichever way yo do it, it's the end result that counts and if you fool the specs then job done.

Well lucky you with the big hands, mine are too small.
I have to use my 3rd finger for a pinky break. I don't see how you have to use the 3rd finger as well.
Some moves are impossible for me to pull off "the proper way" but with a bit of practice they can be adapted to suit your own needs. I can't even do a charlier the standard way, it's all about balance. And a palm for me is just possible.
But I suppose your lucky enough to be able to palm at least 3 decks of cards at once.

Good point there Beeno, I forgot my manners and didn't consider people with smaller hands.

I suppose having big hands could be more useful in the long run, I just need to practise and improve my technique.

And yeah your right I find palming cards and one handed cuts easier than the other maneuvers.

Have you seen the size of Marlo's or Ken Krenzel's hands?

Those guys make a deck of poker cards look like a postage stamp!

But, they certainly cannot be badged 'slouches' in the sleights department

Anything is possible, it just takes practice.
Max Mallini (spelling?) had incredibly tiny hands, it's amazing that he even attempted what he did.
It just takes practice on the moves, or practice on misdirection.

People that went to the International Magic Convention can vouch for this...

Jon Armstrong suggested a drill of putting a rubber band/elastic band on a deck of cards and try holding a pinky break while doing other things like watching TV, etc. This should build muscle memory.