talkmagic.co.uk

Name: <FONT SIZE="+2"><FONT COLOR="0000ff">Combo Cups and Balls</FONT></FONT>

Price: £39.99 at Abrakazam

Type: cups and balls

Difficulty: 1 for basic - 5 for advanced many routines possible

Performance time: ?

Examinable: Yes

Reset Time: none but would depend on routine.

What you get: 3 copper cups one chopped 4 knitted balls one gimicked

Effect:
Beautifully crafted set of 3 copper cups, one gimmicked as a chop cup, 4 knitted balls, one ball gimmicked, and a drawstring carrying bag. These are an absolutely superb professional prop
Unlimited routines are possible with these

Comments:
I love cups and balls and these are such a pleasure to work with I just enjoy owning these. I am told that Prince Charles gained access to the magic circle with a cups and balls routine so get practicing

Overall Rating:10/10

Sorry to betray some ignorance here. Does the use of a chop cup mean that the set becomes unexaminable after the routine? In other words, is a chop cup gimmicked in such a way that it will be apparent if examined?

Thanks for any response.

Not really examinable, would stand up to a quick glance, but one cup is not as deep on the inside, and slightly heavier.
My local dealer has a combo set with five balls (one gimicked) and a woolen pom pom type thing as well for only £18 including a booklet on cups and balls an on the chop cup. No doubt the quality isn't as high but the price is incredible!

yep - the chop cup means it is basically unexaminable - though there is a school of thought that suggests that if the audience asks to examine your props, you haven't performed it right!!! the chop cup does however allow you to perform a couple of very nice extra effects (most basic - you can lift it to show that the ball has disappeared from above a cup, before showing the penetration - if you see what i mean) which makes everything else stronger by association.

i wouldn't buy the combo set if you're starting out with C & B but if oyu've tried it and like it and it fits your style, then it's a good investment, that could lift your act.

Cheers - Doreck

[Anonymously Posted by: 'doreck']

Actually iv done cups and balls with my combo set, and still no one has ever figured it out since the cup is still tottaly solid its not any different...well. If someone asks say that it was from a different set or whatever. I did this close up and allowed them to look at them.

I do the cup and balls with for regular card board coffe cups no gimmicked balls or anything I did not know that there was another way.

Most laymen should not spot the gimmick in a well-made chop cup

Even so, the ideal set would be a matching set of 3 cups PLUS matching chop cup and the appropriate number of balls. It is a shame that Laurence's site is not a little more descriptive when it comes the the cups 'n balls - he should make it obvious which (if any) of the stand alone chop cups match the cups and balls sets.

By the way, for a mind blowing routine with just two cups (thus getting you out of the bind of having a chop cup on the tabel if you have a combo set) get Carl Andrews Tabel Hopping Cups and Balls DVD (not sure if it is on video as well). Brilliant routine!