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Hey guys sorry I'm new here, I know everyone hates noobies haha. Anyway, I have been doing alot of simple illusions such as Zero Gravity, etc and I pull them off well. Now I want to move into the realm of cards, the double flip, etc I can do flawless. I can't do the Glide.

I know it's simple but do you think you guys could give me some tips? My problem is that I know how to grip the deck and everything but I can't make my 2 fingers move in the downward motion . They just refuse to slide the card. My pinky will push it off way to the side, but not downward....

Has anyone else had a similar experience or ... ?

Try using your ring finger instead. The ring finger has more control and strength than the pinky.(No bingo please). If that doesn't work keep practicing with the pinky. These things take time and you will build up finger strength and what to do so the card goes the way that you want it to. (No bingo)

There are those more experienced than myself in the area of cards. I don't often use the glide but...

Any questions feel free to ask,
Ian

For starters, make sure you're using good quality Playing Cards. Bikes, Bee, pretty much anything made by the the USPCC. They have a top quality finish and need barely any pressure to move.

I've never used the little finger to do the move, it feels quite unnatural to me. I always use the middle and ring fingers. I remember finding the move really odd when I first started with it but I think that it's one of those things that will get easier the more you work on it.

Decent cards really do help, old cards tend to get stick and don't slide over all that easily.

i just hold the deck and us what ever finger happens to be in the right place at the right time.

Are you holding the deck in your left hand? A very important aspect of the glide is how you hold it. You have to hold it very loosely.

I use either the last 3 fingers on my left hand to push the card off and then take the second last one with my right hand, or just use the last three fingers of my right hand when I come over to pick the card.

And as stated before previously, the condition of the cards is very important as well. If you have older/stickier cards, then you can just push the bottom card slightly away from the rest of the deck first while looking at it before turning it face down to execute the move.

Thanks to everyone! you guys are really friendly and nice! I appreciate it especially since I am new...

I am using the bicycle limited edition. They are new, so they are very firm... I dont know if that affects it.

I took your advice and am using my index/ring and that is helping but it still seems to slide to the side more than downward... Maybe I am holding them too tight...

Also, does the fact that the cards are new and so firm affect anything?

You seem to be almost there but just need a bit of tweaking to get it right.
Try this and see if it helps. As you are holding the deck make sure the index finger and the thumb protrude below the pack and are fairly straight. The index finger needs to be near the corner of the deck and the thumb just above half way on the long side of the pack.
The middle and ring fingers should now be able to bend comfortably and hold the deck.
Put slight pressure on the pack from the index finger and thumb as you do the glide. These should act as a 'channel' for the card and stop it from coming off the side.
Hope this helps

Just had another thought...
Maybe you are trying to push the card too far.
Remember the purpose of the glide...
You do not have to move the card very far to accomplish this.

I remember having problems with the glide.

The way I overcame this was as follows:

I'm assuming you're holding the deck in your left hand. Forget about using your left hand fingers to slide the card back - when the right hand comes down to take the "bottom" card, slide the card back with the middle finger of the right hand, then proceed to take the next card with the thumb and first 2 fingers of the right hand.

It sounds a lil' complicated, so I hope you can understand what I'm getting at .

It's not the best method - but it certainly helped me until I mastered the glide .

I have used the idea of gripping the deck for the glide, but rather than pulling the card down with the fingers. Use the fingers to just apply friction to the card and use the forefinger and thumb to lift the deck upwards slightly. Same move but perfomed the other way round.

Hard to describe in words but a very easy way to overcome this problem.

Richard

I don't want to complicate matters but once you have all learned how to do the glide then let me know. I shall then give you an addition (note that I said "addition" not alteration) to the move that will double the effectiveness of it and add to the illusion.

It is not my idea. Lewis Ganson wrote it up and I have never seen anyone ever use it apart from myself. It is based on the retention of vision.

I also put mr finger on to the face of the card before i turn the deck over, really does add to the illusion. Great retention of vision.

Richard

mark lewis wrote:I don't want to complicate matters but once you have all learned how to do the glide then let me know. I shall then give you an addition (note that I said "addition" not alteration) to the move that will double the effectiveness of it and add to the illusion.

It is not my idea. Lewis Ganson wrote it up and I have never seen anyone ever use it apart from myself. It is based on the retention of vision.

Wouldn't mind knowing that myself if it's all the same Mark

You can use your thumb and forefinger that ensure that the card doesn't get pulled to the sides immediately. You also use whichever finger(s) you're gliding with (I use both ring and middle) to keep the card straight by gliding it at an angle instead of dead straight. In fact, having just glid.....err...glided...Hmm......having just performed the glide, my gliding fingers seem to move in a a slight curve, initially heading towards my little finger but then veering towards the heel of my thumb.

Newish cards are a must, as is a very light grip.