Downs Palm Suggestions

Struggling with an effect? Any tips (without giving too much away!) you'd like to share?

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Downs Palm Suggestions

Postby SpongeBallSlight-of-hand » Mar 7th, '06, 01:33



I have Bobo's Modern Coin Magic Book, and I think it's wonderful. Although I have a hard time performing the magic because I'm a very visual person, it's hard for me to read it and visualize what is happening. So a video would help. I've always done spongeballs and that's what I specalize in, only sponge balls. I think it'd be best to branch out more, to better magic, like mentalist magic, or good coin magic. I remember seeing a magician who took a small coin, and somehow made it into a huge coin, I always wanted to know how he did it. He was probably mid 20's, mid 30's, still much better than I am at age 18.

To the point: Whenever I Try and do the Downs Palm, I always manage to flash the coin. How can I do it in such a way not to flash the coin? I can do the downs palm, I have it mastered, it's just I always put my hand in such a way that it flashes the half dollar.

Oh, and another thing. I've studied numismatics since I was a boy, and I've collected coins since then. Would it be a good idea to use well worn coins for the Downs Palm? I don't think I have anymore LIberty Head Half dollars...I may have some Barber's though. (I think they are the same thing...)

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Postby dorian » Mar 7th, '06, 01:53

Greetings

I would recomend using a half dollar coin with a good condition milled edge.

Where is the coin flash ocurring? when you have placed it on the palm or during the placement?

I hold the coin flat between fore-finger and middle finger then bring the hand down and whilst doing this I make a loose fist and clip the coin between the thumb and part of the hand beneath it then bring the hand up and the coin is in the downs palm.

Does this help?

Dean

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Postby SpongeBallSlight-of-hand » Mar 9th, '06, 01:32

dorian wrote:Greetings

I would recomend using a half dollar coin with a good condition milled edge.

Where is the coin flash ocurring? when you have placed it on the palm or during the placement?

I hold the coin flat between fore-finger and middle finger then bring the hand down and whilst doing this I make a loose fist and clip the coin between the thumb and part of the hand beneath it then bring the hand up and the coin is in the downs palm.

Does this help?

Dean



The flashing occurs after the placement because I Have to turn my hand around 180 degrees to show it empty.

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Postby mccabe24 » Sep 5th, '06, 15:45

You might have missed something when reading about the Down's Palm. If you are palming the coin in your right hand, have the left side of your body face the spectator. Vise versa for the left hand. This angle makes it easier to keep the coin hidden. Also, curl the tip of your thumb down just a bit. Study the illustration and try to make your hand look just like that hand. Then stand in front of a mirror and experement with different wrist angles.

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Postby katrielalex » Sep 5th, '06, 16:32

SpongeBallSlight-of-hand wrote:The flashing occurs after the placement because I Have to turn my hand around 180 degrees to show it empty.


Well, if you try to turn your hand 180 degrees with a coin in downs palm you are definitely going to flash the coin - you can't look at downs from the top!

Two options: show the back of your hand by moving it across your body (i.e. show the front of your hand on your right then move your hand to the left to show the back). If you touch your thumb to your index/middle finger while turning the coin should not be visible.

The other option would be to squeeze the coin into a thumb clip to show the back.

Kati

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