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Hi Guys'n'Gals,

After getting David Stone's Close Up Vol1 I have decided to take the plunge into coin work. So, I've been delving into my little read copy of Bobo's book and practicing my vanishes, clips and palms.

I noticed that Mr. Stone has well developed muscles on the palm of his hand, particularly the one that runs from the little finger to the wrist. Can anyone recommend any exercises that would strengthen this muscle? I thought maybe one of those gadgets that guitarists use to strengthen their finger muscles (I'm not sure what they're called).

Thanks in advance
Gary

i use to do tension/resistance-training for my fingers, as i used to teach guitar...

a very cheap little thing to buy some strong rubber bands, thread one end of one over your thumb, then place the other end over the tip of your index finger (gun style), and start slowly stretching your fingers in and out, against the resistance of the band...then swop fingers after a little while...

but! i dont know if this'll give you the same kinda muscle/dexterity that you'll need for coin work...try it, but try not to "ping" anyone's eyes in the process...

Presumably the practicing of the Palms and sleights themselves would be the best way of developing the muscles?
I know you can buy hand grip devices as Abraxus said but again would they necessarily develop them in the right fashion??

yeah...dont forget, for the guitaring, its more about flexibility, looseness and speed/accuracy...the strength for me at least, comes from the underside of the forearm more than the fingers themselves...

coin work though...dunno..you'd have to ask Mr. Jay when he's on here next...my hands are too effeminate and small to perform decent coin magic...

One of the best tips I was told was to, when going shopping, carry the shopping bags using just your little finger and thumb. Worked for me.

Also, just classic palming a coin and flexing, unflexing the muscles.

And I developed an exercise that may have worked, may not have, but I practiced coin rolling whilst classic palming a coin. After a while I got it and that may help.

Look up also Curtis Kams 'Palms of steel'. I have heard good things about it and the rotuines there are devised to strengthen the muscles used in coin work.

I thought maybe one of those gadgets that guitarists use to strengthen their finger muscles (I'm not sure what they're called).

Hey, Gary --

I own one of those. At least from where I bought it, it's called a "Gripmaster." They sell them in "low," "medium," and "high" tensions. They stopped making the high ones for a while, but they're back on the shelves now. I can tell you that they do provide strengthening, especially of the little finger, as well as dexterity and coordination if you use them properly.

Sports shop: squash ball (pack of 3 = £2)

I usually do one finger at a time, clench-hold-clench

Squash balls are fab.

Thanks for the tips. Given my current financial situation I think I'll go with squash balls. And practice!

Any muscles that you use regularly will naturally strengthen and how well you can see and notice them will depend on the level of your body fat - even on your hands.

Some people are naturally more 'lean' than others but that doesn't mean that they have more developed muscles.

You then start getting into genetics so don't worry about exercies - the best way to develop the ability to do something is to keep doing it until you perfect it.

I think the best thing to do is to just keep palming coins as your exercise. Then when you've got that, muscle passing is probably the best thing to build them up fully.
You need to build up calouses in the right places as well as your muscles, and you need to build the muscles in exactly the right places as well.
I don't think other non coin exercises are going to be that helpful to you really.

Muscle pass is excellent for building muscle.

Also, if anyone is into freeweights pinching plates between fingers and thumb works a treat. hold for as long as you can.

Also deadlifting does wonders for your grip if you go heavy.

seige wrote:Sports shop: squash ball (pack of 3 = £2)

I usually do one finger at a time, clench-hold-clench

Squash balls are fab.

I agree with the squash balls, however if your reeeeealy skint, 2 old socks pref clean, down to B&Q and half fill the socks with saw dust...tie tops on a knot and hey you got it.

If your friends say "Why you got socks in your hands" Say " It's Magic and if I told you well" Then fall silent.

Mr Deck wrote:

seige wrote:Sports shop: squash ball (pack of 3 = £2)

I usually do one finger at a time, clench-hold-clench

Squash balls are fab.

I agree with the squash balls, however if your reeeeealy skint, 2 old socks pref clean, down to B&Q and half fill the socks with saw dust...tie tops on a knot and hey you got it.

If your friends say "Why you got socks in your hands" Say " It's Magic and if I told you well" Then fall silent.

what if you can't afford the socks...?

what if you can't afford the socks...?

I'll send some if the person is that poor
OR
Wait until your next door neighbours are out on wash day.

Tc All

I just find that holding a coin in the palm will make it easier over time. I started out by putting a 2p into the palm and holding it there while I was working to be a great way to develop the hand for palming. To start with I'd bedropping it all the time but now I'm sitting here with 3 5ps palmed for the last hour.