talkmagic.co.uk

Hello there
I am interested in learning coin tricks, I have sent for Complete Introduction to Coin Magic DVD by Ammar and have some info from books.

I want to learn with real coins and have the odd trick coin on me as well.

What i would like to know is:

Do most people use American coins or are english sizes as easy to learn to palm etc?

And what trick coins are recommended?

Hope someone can point me in the right direction.

Many thanks

I can't speak for what people use - since that's dictated partly by where you live and the availability of specific coins.

Personally - I learned using US Half Dollars. They're a bit larger - which helps build the muscle and grip needed - and as such makes it easier (for me, anyway) to palm smaller coins.

A large majority of gimmick coins come in American and British currency. I haven't seen many beyond that, save for the custom work of guys like Lassen and Schoolcraft.

Some cool gimmicks to look into:

Scotch and Soda
Hopping Halves
Coin Unique
Flipper Coin

There are tons more - but these will give you some strong foundations for great coin magic.

okey dokey like card magic coin magic was populsrised by the americans therfore the american half dollar and silver dollar proliferate coin sleights.

an old english half is aproximatly the same size as a half dollar so is a £2 coin.
basicly the larger the coin the eaiser it is to palm and the showier it is when produced, a coin with a hard milled edge is also eiser to palm

I read somewhere that the cap of a beer bottle is good to practice Classic palm because the edges make it much easier to grip...

Kati

katrielalex wrote:I read somewhere that the cap of a beer bottle is good to practice Classic palm because the edges make it much easier to grip...

Kati

Spot on.

Before you learn which coins are best to palm, it's essential to learn WHERE in the hand they actually sit.

It's a different sweet spot for everyone, but it's usually a lot closer to the wrist than most people imagine.

The way to actually get used to where is get a small coin (or indeed, a beer bottle cap) and place it in the palm, in the crevice between the lower part of the thumb muscle and the muscle which runs on from the pinkie.

To grip the coin, keep the hand mainly straight, and you should only need to use these two muscles. To find your 'sweet spot' touch the tips of your pinkie and thumb together, keeping the other fingers straight. Keep adjusting the position of the coin until you find a grip point.

Once you've found it, practice holding this smaller coin tight for a few minutes each day. The muscles will build, and you'll discover your perfect palming position.

THEN you can decide which coins suit you best. Most prefer American 1/2's as mentioned. Mainly because they're a good size to grip, and are very 'visual' to the audience. They also have a nicely milled edge, which assists in gripping it.

But definately, I would recommend starting with smaller coins. As with all muscle building and training, the MORE you can train the range of the muscle the stronger it will become. And you won't get as much initial range to your grip by starting with large coins.

The beer cap is a great start, as it is easy to grip. Get the sweet spot, and just grip hard for about a minute, then release. Wait a while, then try again. Soon you'll build up strength and you'll be able to literally fold the beer cap in half with your palming grip.

Another great way to keep the muscles building is to get a squash ball from your local sports shop. Practice gripping and squeezing, especially with the pinky and thumb (You'll be shocked at how initially weak your pinky is!)

Not only will the squash ball strengthen you for general coin magic, it will teach you and climatise you to manipulations with your fingers, making them more supple and usable in all manners of effects—coin rolls, tenkai/goshman, and even card effects such as glides, pulldowns, one-handed effects and much more.

Back to coins: There ARE specifically lablelled 'palming' coins, which are thinner and easier to grip, but unless you're doing predominantly flourish work, I'd recommend you practice with your native currency—mainly because when doing borrowed coin effects, that's what you'll be using.

UK
£2 coins are good, but because of their thickness, they are a bit difficult to catch a good grip on. Plus, whenever I've asked to borrow a coin, I've never been offered a £2 one.

50p pieces are great, but because they have smooth edges, you'll have to practice with these too.

2p's are good, they're smaller and easier, and 10p's are good too, because they're milled.

5p's, for me, are almost impossible. I just can't grip them, but 1p's are OK, as are 20's.

Hope that blurb helps in some way !

US Half dollars are great.
Norwegian 20kroners are ok (though, they don't have those tracks)

i find that a standard size of poker chip is the perfect size for me to work with, (but i guess we all have our different preferences). i think it's about the same size as a half dollar, but a lot lighter.
also makes for a good bit when someone accuses you of using a magnet!

(although... this will restrict the amount of people who will want to play poker with you, no one really likes to play with a person who can manipulate both card AND chips)

seige wrote:Before you learn which coins are best to palm, it's essential to learn WHERE in the hand they actually sit.

It's a different sweet spot for everyone, but it's usually a lot closer to the wrist than most people imagine.

I'm glad Seige brought this up, as it is critical. The descriptions I have seen for the classic palm tend not to go into enough detail. This is particularly true of Bobo (but I do have an old version, so the description may have changed). This is further compounded by the advice to keep practising till your hand begins to look more natural. Of course, if you get it in the wrong position, this will never happen, and disillusionment follows.

I can't disagree with any of the great advice here, but I will add that for me starting out by palming multiple coins was of great benefit. I can't remember where I picked this tip up from (probably Roth) but it was certainly a great help.

pdjamez wrote:I can't disagree with any of the great advice here, but I will add that for me starting out by palming multiple coins was of great benefit. I can't remember where I picked this tip up from (probably Roth) but it was certainly a great help.

This is indeed a true statement, and I think it is mentioned by Roth several times in his books AND videos. Deep palming several coins and holding them there is a fabulous way of training the muscles. (And of course, training to drop one coin at a time from this grip can lead to some rather excellent productions ).

If you're stuck learning the palming technique, as pdjamez mentions, Bobo's isn't the greatest place to start. Roths' work concerning palming is hugely beneficial, and is a great set of general/advanced coin work too.

For an accompaniment to Bobos, go here:
http://www.coinvanish.com/

Go to the Foundations section, and there's a hugely rewarding illustrated guide to coin basics. (You'll have to answer a coin magic question, but it's pretty easy )

Good luck! Before you know it you'll be muscle-passing a coin higher than your rooftops (maybe !)

seige wrote:Good luck! Before you know it you'll be muscle-passing a coin higher than your rooftops (maybe !)

I think one of these might help you with that... gripmaster.org

I heard that Reed McClintock had a new DVD devoted to coin palming. Does anyone have any views on this disk?

I have McClintock's 'Coin Patriot', but I don't think this could be described as a palming instruction

Thanks everyone, theres lots of info there to get me on my way

Thanks again

with no coin magic experience where would be good place to start?
i prefer dvd to books.

cheers

highlander

And what trick coins are recommended?

Well I really like the quarter or half dollar with a rubber band loaded top so that you can perform a few miracles. (i.e. bite out of coin, coin through top of bottle, coin through bottom og bottle, two coins become one, etc.