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I know the vast majority of people, like me, use bikes for all their card magic. However I've found it difficult to perform some flourishes, i.e. the cards tend to stick together when trying to fan them out etc. I was wondering whether people thought it would be worth investing in a high quality deck like KEM plastic coated ones (or whether I just need some new cards because I've probably over-used these ones).

Any opinions welcome.

Stick to bikes. When they stick together as you say it sounds like you have used the deck a lot and probably need to open up a new one. You will be extremely surprised at the difference

Don't bother getting plastic coated ones, stick to bikes. But if you are interested in other types then check out www.ellusionist.com or www.cards4magic.co.uk

It sounds to me as if you may be using cards that are a bit warn. I know that newer bikes definately don't stick when fanning them.

Then again he problem may not be in the cards you are using but the way you are fanning. I know that if you hold the bottom of the deck incorrectly then you tend to get a few cards here and there that stick.

My advice would be to invest into a new pack of bikes and if that doesn't help then have a look at your fanning technique

Hope that helps

Sam

I'd say stick to anything made by The U.S. Playing Card Company. They are the cards to use. Also, I find their poker chips are good for muscle passes.

The best type of cards are those that YOU are happiest with, easy to get hold of and are cheap.

yes, most people use Bikes but that doesn't necessarily make them the best. It's all about personal preference.

That is not true! CONFORM, CONFORM! Use the bikes, they call to you!

Thanks for the help guys, I reckon I'll invest in a brick of bikes. I'll have to wait a few weeks though; my mum said that if any magic-related stuff comes through our letterbox before my last exam is over then she'll burn it...

now theres a mum with her priorities right, get the business acumin first then slay them with your magic, you'll thank her for it later, you will honest.

I guess I've been lucky. I just took my three AP exams for my four AP classes (it works out, but in a weird way that is too long to explain) and now I basically have nothing to do in half of my classes until the end of the school year. My regular classes aren't even going to go into review for another four weeks! In that time, I can basically just chill.

I use bikes and I find that if I've been playing with one deck too long they start to feel warm and this is when they start to stick together and are not as smooth to use. I don't know whether it's the grease or sweat from your hands, or the fact that I bend the cards a lot practiing different moves, but I find if I open a pack I haven't used for a good few hours then the difference is instantly noticable. Obviously after longer periods it is probably a good idea to have an entirely new pack, which is why I am ordering a nice bundle of bikes come payday and I'm stupidly excited about it

Try Tally-Ho's.

majortom wrote:Try Tally-Ho's.

How do they differ from normal bikes? (apart from the design, obviously)

Tally Ho's are made with a thicker stock and they feel very nice when being handled.

Graba deck of Bikes, Bees and Tallys and maybe some others like Bulldog Squeezers, Aviator, Hoyle and Fournier.

Just one of each and play around with them, see which one you feel comfortable with and stick with that one.

I generally use Bikes as a rule, but find Tally Ho's to have a very nice feel to them.
Bikes tend to wear quite quickly, especially the standard ones. It's best to have a deck for practicing (particularly if you need to rehearse flourishes, palms etc) and a seperate one for peformance.

I have quite a lot of decks and none of the decks I use compare to the lovely feel of World Poker Tour cards. Sure, they are basically Bees but they look so much better and they have a white border!

For longer lasting cards that are great for flourishing, magic, etc. use Aladdin 1001's. 1002's are gilded and not as great, but usable.

I recently got 6 decks of old Texan #45's and they are great but very difficult to find. I was lucky when I bought it. They have a very nice stock.

I suggest using either Bikes, Tally Ho's or WPTs. Bikes are cheaper and good when bought by the dozen. Tally Ho's have a slightly longer lasting stock and IMO look better. I haven't used Tally Ho's in a while but I feel the WPTs are better.

Steve