talkmagic.co.uk

Now, this is true newbie question.

The basic, one handed fan (i.e.- holding the deck in the left hand and fanning them with the right) - mine turn out like a pile of c*** (not the best) - uneven, unstable and unuseable (if someone pulled a card I'd likely be playing 52-card pickup again).

Is this really a case of practice makes perfect?

Or is it just technique?

I find the cards hit my thumb, or my palm or something else before they become a neat fan- how do people do it?

Any top tips here folks?

Chris.

You should grip the deck between your Thumb and Frist finger with the short edge of the cards running paralel to your fingers ... then with you Right Hand thumb pivot the cards round.

It is quite a Nacky thing, as is the one handed fan, i practiced for quite some time ... and untill this past weekend i couldnt 1 handed fan for toffee ... then suddenly it clicked and i now dont have issues any more.

I use the technique taught by Oz Pearlman in Born To Perform.

Rob

I use the same technique as taught by Oz and had what appears to be the same problems as Rob.

I used an application of fanning powder and everything seemed to click into place, if you see what I mean. Now, I don;t need the powder to fan a new deck but I reckon that it definately helped me sort out the technique!

first of all make sure your using reasonably new good quality cards and dont grip too hard with your left hand

The cards are a nice new set of bikes.

From what you're saying, it sounds like lots of practice is required. One of those things that just snaps into place I guess.

I'll get there in the end. Besides, reaching down to the floor to pick up the cards every so often will get me fit., if nothing else...



Chris.

well it also depends on what your trying to do..ie a thumb fan or a pressure fan.

thumb fan- hold the deck between the thumb and first finger of the left hand along the bottom edge of the deck ( i hold it just off centre towards the right corner) press the right thumb against the top left corner of the deck and move in a circular clockwise motion.

pressure fan- harder to do but once you have the knack its a breeze. Deck is held in the same position in the left hand but this time the left thumb is almost covering the index pip(cards are face up) at the right bottom corner, the right thumb is on the edge of the deck below the left thumb, the first two fingers hold the deck at the top right corner. apply pressure with the right fingers as you rotate the right hand in a clockwise direction. the left thumb will slide towards the left side of the deck while this is going on.(try and keep the right thumb against the left one as you rotate your right hand.. the right thumb will end up halfway along the left thumb due to the "rolling" motion)

job done easy peasy!

Ya see, I could do a thumb fan from the very first attempt but just couldn't get the knack of the one handed fan, even trying Mog's suggestions.

Just stick at it and it will come - eventually

Can I be the first to point out its both technique and practise.

From my notes this sleight took about two weeks to perfect (fit for purpose but could do better). From recollection, the most helpful
changes I made were a fresh deck, and correcting my finger position.

The best description of the sleight (for me) was from giobbi. Nip into your local magic dealer and take a peek (pun was intended).
I do own the superb Born To Perform but I do prefer to work from books for sleights, I'm just funny that way.

I can't remember if reducing the deck size was helpful, perhaps others can advise.

Ok number 1 vital piece of advice i can give you for starting with cards, especially flourishes and coin malipulations too.....................................................................................................
................................STAND OVER YOUR BED WHEN PRACTISING

This will save you time and your back too! As for this paticular move it's practice, technique and knack. Just keep trying and you will get it. it make take an hour a day for a couple of weeks but this is the kind of thing you can practise infront of the telly (once you stop dropping the cards )

You'll get it

Personally, I thought it was quite easy to get this technique done. I honestly don't remember practising the smear fan (one handed fan). I guess I've been doing this since I was little when messing around with cards.

Well, I can't get the smear fan perfectly smooth but I don't drop the cards. There are several techniques to doing the fan but the most common would be having all four fingers beneath and using the thumb to smear the pack. Other methods include using just 3, 2 and even 1 finger on the bottom of the pack and using the others to smear the pack. This creates a HUGE smear fan which I cannot do.

I call this a smear fan because the one handed fan I would call is the perfectly round fan like a thumb fan but done with one hand. (XB owners would know what I mean)

Try the Xtreme Beginnerz DVD from ellusionist. That teaches all sorts of fans for over an hour in superb detail! Thats how i learnt my Thumb Fan!

Thank you all guys.

One thing I have learnt here (from Mog's description) is to hold the deck with the thumb further towards the right. I've been holding the cards more towards the inner corner, which explains why the cards were hitting the base of my thumb before the fan was complete. It also means I've got a better grip on the cards when one is removed.

Surprising how something so simple (and so blindingly obvious when you think about it) can make such a difference.

Cheers folks,

Chris.