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The Effect

Swing-a-ring

A steel ring is threaded onto a shoelace. The ring is seen swinging at the end of the shoelace and the magician is able to remove the ring from the shoelace in full view of the audience. The ring can also be removed from the shoelace while the ring and shoelace are held in someone's closed fist. As a finale, the ring can be dropped and caught by attaching itself back onto the shoelace.

Cost

Under £10 (I think I paid £6)

Difficulty
(1=easy to do, 2=No sleights, but not so easy, 3=Some sleights used,
4=Advanced sleights used, 5=Suitable for experienced magicians only)

1 to perform but perhaps 3 initially until you have learnt how to thread the ring onto the shoelace - this needs some practice.

Review

This is one of my favourite effects.

I bought this effect over the counter at a magic shop and received two sets of instructions. The standard set of instructions are very poor. The second set, possibly provided by the shop where I bought this effect, are much easier.

A second ring is supplied, but I find the effect is much better with only one ring.

The steel ring is a good size for close-up audiences. There is a bad weld on the ring which I point out to the audience. This raises their suspicions, but helps to distract them from the gimmick.

The ring and shoelace can be handed out to the audience, but it best to have the ring examined at one side of the audience and the shoelace examined at the other side of the audience. If anyone tried to put the ring on the lace they may discover the gimmick.

I had a problem when the gimmick came out the place where the gimmick is held. I was able to put the gimmick back, but the shop eventually replaced the effect.

The effect can easily be repeated with no setup.

There is no 'patter' supplied. I try to explain how a magician has to work within the laws of physics (i.e. gravity, centrifugal force, centripedal force) and then I introduce the little known left-handed-logic force and simply grab the ring with my left hand...removing it from the shoelace.

Overall

For under £10 this effect is well worth trying out. Once you can thread the ring onto the shoelace in a natural looking way, this is a stunning effect and one that my audiences are always talking about afterwards.

Overall I'd say 9/10 for the audience reactions - but 7/10 for the poor instructions and my having to to get a replacement gimmick.

Admin - I searched for swing-a-ring this but found no results. Apologies if this has already been reviewed.

Nice review thanks.

It sounds like a John Derris effect I have called Staggering. From the sounds of your review it works the same way.

It is not jist a really nice effect but a great routine. With just the ring and bootlace you have 3 or 4 minutes of entertainment and that can't be a bad thing at all.

There is a bad weld on the ring which I point out to the audience. This raises their suspicions, but helps to distract them

Mine too, it actually works in your favour doesn't it.

I have to say though the extra bits of mine weren't that well made, in that it fell out after one use, so swing a ring sounds better.

There are other versons too. I believe that Duane Laflin may have one. It may not be him - but certainly was someone I saw lecture in the last two years (how sad is that - I have seen so many lectures now, I have started to forget who said what - oh the joys of being a member of a magic society)

anyway - thanks for the review., I may just get mine out again (mandrake - just don't say it!) and see if I can fix it.

I may just get mine out again

Who? Me? Nah, would I ever!

OOOH! matron

It is indeed a super effect for Closeup & Stand Up. John Derris uses it in his great lecture KISS. He has routined it superbly and sells it. However the original effct and method is by U,F.Grant.(USA) He originated, over the years, numerous ideas and effects from The Victory Carton Illusions to the smallest of effects. A little on the lines of Britain's Tom Sellers who was again such a great ideas man.
Allen Tipton

I have this. It's also available from MagicTricks.co.uk at £5.99 - a good price, definitely. Some angle considerations and can need careful handling (I've had a few mishaps with this ).

Everything can be examined, but this isn't always recommended. Instructions supplied are a bit fiddly; I don't bother with the routine involving two rings, it seems a bit peculiar. One ring routine's good though.

Allen Tipton wrote::) It is indeed a super effect for Closeup & Stand Up. John Derris uses it in his great lecture KISS. He has routined it superbly and sells it. However the original effct and method is by U,F.Grant.(USA) He originated, over the years, numerous ideas and effects from The Victory Carton Illusions to the smallest of effects. A little on the lines of Britain's Tom Sellers who was again such a great ideas man.
Allen Tipton

Derris published his version, "staggering" in the book " come a little closer ", available from Davenports, and all good magic book suppliers.