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So, as a concerted effort to return to fooling around with magic (I was never more than a hobbyist), I've made a concerted effort to learn one card sleight per week. Last week, I worked on the glide (and an associated trick) and got it down pretty good. This week I'm working on the Back Palm. This is where I'm running into problems. I can do it, but only very slowly and I have to focus on what I'm doing. I'm making progress, but not much. My questions are this:

I'm using Poker cards, but I have small hands. Are card sleights easier or tougher if I use Bridge cards?

Are my cards too new? They aren't as flexy as if they're old, so sometimes the card corner slips out from my fingers and snaps audibly...

Any general tips/suggestions to help me get over the back palm hump?

You went from the glide to back palming? Okay I am curious as to why you wish to learn a back palm. But really the best way is from a good book, dvd or actual person. I use regular bicycle poker sized cards and I work them in, there is a technique for this. Again McBrides series of card dvd's are a great resource.

Tarbell Volume 2 covers the back palm really well with good diagrams.
That's where I learnt it from.

bmat wrote:You went from the glide to back palming?

Took the words right out of my mouth.....

Depending on what, where, and how you wish to perform, the backpalm is veeerrry limited to its uses in close up, etc....and very angle sensitive. Many good books out there and I second the McBride DVD as a source.

My honest opinion would be to get some suggestions from us here as to sleights thare are often used and ones that you are going to find useful in the "real world" on a regular basis....more utility moves, etc....like regular palming, D/L's, forces, Elmsly count, various card controls, etc....

Time waaay better spent in my opinion.....otherwise McBride Art of Card Manipulation

Well the man asked for advice - and although I've never used the back palm for anything other than fooling with "card to ear", it does build hand strength, especially the little finger muscles.

First up - use cheap cards, and the more flexible - the better. Bridge size isn't an advantage - you can back palm more poker cards since the greater width'll give you more to hang onto.

As for the mechanics, hold the card bottom center between index and thumb - rest of the fingers curled in but straight at the base forming a "finger fist". Ride the card using the thumb along the knuckles till you're holding it against your middle and third finger (more the middle finger). Hook the little finger around the overlapping edge of the ring finger and squeeze to get a good grip. Next hook your index finger in lightly to flex the card outwards. Release the thumb, instead gripping between little/ring finger and index finger. Straighten your fingers pivoting the card behind the hand allowing your index finger to rest against the middle finger bowing the card out. To reveal the card separate the index finger from the middle finger and form a "finger fist" to pivot the card back. Use a catching motion to snap your thumb against the knuckles to disguise the action.

Hope that helps.

mmmm i also see this as a bit limited in its uses too but if you learn a good (not decent but good) D/L then use the B/P move as if you've vanished that card and brought a chosen selection back maybe, maybe not it would be useful

However, i think the key to this move is confidence and practice. Dont be afraid to bend the card and dont worry if two slight corners peek out a bit no one ever really notices (in my opinion) unless its two big flaps poking out

I like bikes, so no matter what that's what I would go with. Now as for your technique. It does help a little to start if you're using cards that have been broken in. Get a really old deck to start with because they bend much easier and it'll be easier to start and get the move down. If you don't have a worn out deck then get to wearing one out. Shuffle it up on both face and back, and dribble it a lot. That should help to bend them out a bit. No matter what, it'll take just a little time to get down. Knowing what to do and getting your hands to comply are two different things. Do it slowly at first. Work on the transition to the back. Once you get that down and you're comfortable then you can start getting faster. I don't know that giving yourself only a week is enough time to be honest. What you might want to do is practice for 30 to 45 minutes (and concentrate on what you're doing) and take a break. Come back to it after an hour or so and try again. You don't want to keep doing it non stop. If you go at it like that it may take you longer then a week, and it may take less. It's good to set goals, but don't force yourself in to a time limit because then you might wind up rushing it and you won't be as comfortable when it comes to use this sleight.

Hope this helps.

Thanks for all the advice... It took me quite a bit longer than the week... Oh well, it's just a hobby so no harm no foul.

The reason I went from the glide to the back palm was because I relearned the glide just to show my wife a trick. Then I moved to the back palm to challenge myself. I figured if I could master something tough (at least finger strength/angles wise) than it would make others easier. Time will tell if my logic is flawed!

... And next week, Raise Rise!

Seriously, I would master the moves to make routines instead of single sleights routines. And Personally, I never bothered trying doing something like a sleight per week because different sleights require different amounts of practice and rehearsal. The sleights value and flexibility should also be taken into account- as previous posts have stated. The pass, for example, depending on the person, can take up to a couple years to master. Others, like Mark Lewis and I, have learned it relatively quickly (I had the basic move down in about an hour- I'm still playing around with variations for different situations). The move is extremely useful and versatile, as is the DL. Both are techniques that people work on a little at a time as long as they do sleight of hand with cards.

Regarding the backpalm- the subject of your post- I would say that if you really like the effect, it just takes practice. Start slowly with one card, the work to gradually increase your speed until you can just snap it into position while waving your arm. I just sat down and practiced the hell out of a few advertisement cards until I got it right.
As Lord Freddie suggested, I would read through Tarbell 2 to learn of all of the technique's uses.