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bronz wrote:Something which I've found useful is to make sure that you always turn the top card over in the same way, whether you're DLing or not. This means that the specs will always be used to you turning over the cards in this manner, often in situations where it is obviously only one card, so when you turn over a double it will be consistent. If you don't do it quite right it just looks like you fumbled a bit, no biggie.

Exactly what I do. I only use the thumb count method so if I am lifting a single card I thumb count that off and turn exactly as I turn the double. I findnow that I can lift three this way as well. But a lot of it, whichever way you do it is down to our old friend practice.

I literallyalways sit when I am watching TV with a deck in my hands doing bits and pieces but mostly just double lifting. It is great practice time.

As a magician, try to develop a manner in which you are always slightly moving (You will see professional pick-pocket entertainers doing this). If your hands are often coming together innocuously, it gives you perfect cover for a thumb count, or anything else for that matter.

I mean, for goodness' sake, you have to bring your hands right together for a pass etc, why suddenly do people suggest you have to be able to get ready a DL one-handed with people burning your hands?! Learning to use mis-direction and appropriate cover moves is an *integral part* of magic, not a get-out for people who can't do truly invisible moves. Therefore, I suggest the the thumb count is 99% useable.

This is where I have to fall back on my frequent argument - magic (or at least, *my* magic) is for laymen specs. I refuse to waste my time perfecting something so that it "fools" magicians, because magicians are never fooled - they may not know how it's done (in which case you get a fleeting sense of smugness) but they know it's done by sleight of hand; they enjoy magic in a very different way.

In short: if you want to show off at magician's sessions, practice for months in front of a mirror to get the perfect non-prep DL. But I would advise mastering the magician's first tool - patter and misdirection - and using the thumb count, which - if done properly - your specs will simply not notice.

Happy lifting

Here Here!! Some very good advice above!!