About Thumb cut

[omer009]

Hey guys!
I'm having some troubles to reach the other side of the pack when i'm trying to do a Thumb cut.
I don't have little hands or something, my hand size from the top of my middle finger to the bottom of the palm is about 8 inches and from my thumb to the end of my palm are about 7 inches.
I'm getting exhausted because I don't know how to start practice on that.

If someone has experienced the same problem and got through that i'll be more than happy to read your comment.

thanks a lot guys!

 

[TeeDee]

I think most people will have experienced this problem when learning the cut, so you're not alone. An early reference to it in the literature (Robert-Houdin's Secrets of Conjuring and Magic, to be precise) is as a one-hand shift, where it's actually described as impossible with short fingers. I think that refers more to performing it as an invisible pass, though, because it's certainly possible to execute the mechanics openly with small hands.

The key to it is to make sure the deck is well down into the palm before attempting to reach over with the thumb. For me, the simplest way to find the right position is hold your hand flat, with your thumb sticking straight up. Now, with your other hand, place the deck into your palm standing on the long side, leaning against the thumb. Adjust it into a position where you can bend your thumb over the deck and grip a packet. You have now found the starting position for the thumb cut, so you just have to get used to adjusting into that position with one hand.

I hope that makes sense!

 

[omer009]

Hey TeeDee!
First of all , thanks a lot!
But after I'll practice that way, how can my thumb adjust to the original way to do that?
Because it easy to do it in the way you said that, to place the packet in that position already.
I need to squeeze the deck with the other hand so that i can reach to the other side of the pack, it's like my thumb is not long enough and I don't have small fingers or something like that.
can you say about yourself that you're now doing it well as it supposed to be ?
Thanks

 

[TeeDee]

The way I do it is as follows:

1. Take the deck in normal mechanics or dealing grip.
2. Regrip the deck with thumb on top and fingertips below.
3. Move the deck about 1 cm towards the fingertips.
4. Tilt the deck up towards your thumb with your fingertips.
5. Reach over the deck with your thumb, and cut!

The distance in point 3 will depend on the size of your hands, but essentially you're getting into the position you used the other hand to find as per my first instructions!

Does that make sense? You may still find that it's not automatic as you might need to build up the flexibility of your thumb, but that's essentially the process.

 

[omer009]

Great, the instructions works great, I can see from now how the progress will be.
Thanks a lot buddy!

 

[TeeDee]

Great, the instructions works great, I can see from now how the progress will be.
Thanks a lot buddy!

Happy to help!