Hi Guys, I'd like to start learning a 3 Fly routine, but don't know where to begin. Most of the time I thoroughly reseach a routine, finding all the resources I can, then attempt ALL of them for various insights and what fits my style. This immersion seems to fit my learning style and usually leads to a hybrid (i.e. my own unique routine).

With 3 Fly, there are SO many ideas on handling, I'd like to know what routine YOU consider easiest to start with, then progressing to other ideas.

I'm begining / intermediate level with my sleights and own many books and DVDs that teach 3 Fly in various ways. And I own most trick coins; various Split Coins, SS, flippers, Siamese Coins; that are sometimes suggested. I do NOT own any of the very expensive sets often cited for this routine.

I'm excited about hearing your suggestions and think they would be valuable for many of fellow coin magi here.

Hi Atom, though I have a version of 3 Fly, I simply call "My Fly," I would point you to start at the very beginning with Chris Kenner's initial offering of this trick. It was called "Menage et Trois." It is an gaffless handling that I still believe is the best way to do it and clearly the cheapest way. It takes a little practice but you can do it. Once you get the basic moves down, repetition smooths it out in time and begins to open your eyes to greater possibilities as to it. It's a great exercise to learn from.

There are many other versions that use gaff coins as well, some of them really nice and quite creative but before doing all that, might as well learn the nuts & bolts of where it all comes from, then who knows, you might not even have to go there. Always good to begin at the beginning.

Kenner covers his 3 Fly in his book, "Totally Out of Control" and perhaps on dvd somewhere as well. You should be able to track this handling down pretty quickly one way or another.

Thanks for that info!

I got Eric Jones' Metal DVD and I like his 'simplex 3 fly', though it reminds me of getting herpes. That is currently the only one I Have practiced though.

I have a One touch 3 fly useing just a shell Coin! It's in my Las Vegas Notes ! Thanks!

Heres Mb's grandpa coins video, absolutely stunning and gaff free too! hope you get something from it. Mb has been a massive help with advising me in my journey into coin magic too

Atom, From all the no-gadget 3 Fly routines that I have learned, practiced and performed, I recommend MB's Grandpa Coins and his newest "My Fly" for its originality. In the classic 3 Fly plot the coins just fly from hand to hand; in MB’ routine, which I am learning now, the coins don’t just fly from hand to hand, they also multiply, fly and turn back to their original state.
You will also learn very clever and practical moves not found in other routines of this type.

This is the trick coin section, so it seems you're interested in gimmicked versions. There are a number of variations using only a shell which aren't that difficult and play very well.

Nicholas, I'm interested in both sleights and gimmicked versions. I posted here because I find that 3 Fly is most oftened mentioned in this section.

Troy Hooser's Destroyer's book has some cool handlings.

Simplex 3 fly is great!

I have to agree...Simplex 3 fly, minus the name is a great effect...even just watching myself do it in a mirror fools me...its easy, its quick, very direct, and makes sense...I know its not a gimmicked version that is very clean, but it still looks really good!

For gimmicked 3 Fly version, Bob kohler Ultimate 3 FLy and B'Fly by the super nice Rannie from Manila are in the top of my list. For this 3 Fly version I developed a technique to make the required gimmick for performing this effect.

Daryl put out a 3 fly routine w/ DVD. Great teacher and simple
Routine. Ungimmiced. Also gives you 4 different colored chips to practice with and follow along with the DVD.

I mostly do one of the following: Eric Jones's "Spectator Visible Coins Across" from his Mirage Et Trois DVD; Troy Hooser's "Coins Across" with a shell and in the spectator's hand; Lee Asher's "Three Stylin'" with poker chips; and MB's My Fly. Not all necessarily meet the "3-Fly" specs, but I am including coins across routines.

A few more I have done though less frequently: David Roth's "Winged Silver"; David Regal's "Trans-Locations".

Jim

I also believe Eric Jones Three Fly routine Simplex is a great place to start.

There is a three fly effect put out by every major performer. Some years ago, Dan Watkins put out a list of the effects put out up until that time. some weere gimmicked, many were not. R Paul Wilson had a great routine called Crowded Coins, that used an extra coin, no gaffs. Darryl's routine was very popular, and also non gimmicked. My own Retro Fly (on the NYCMS DVD vol 1 on coins across, was also non gaffed, and ended clean. Eric Jones used to use it before he developed his own routine. On that same volume one by the way are three fly routines by Kainoa habottle and Geoff Latta. Latta's Trick with Three Coins is a great routine that incrporates Three Fly as one of its phases. And let's not forget Gary Kurtz, with a routine that can arguably be called the first three fly, that I believe predates Kenner. Jonathan Townsend published a version of his own routine that started the craze in Genii. We have a nice table discussion of three fly on the NYCMS volume 1 as well.

As an aside, on the Coinvention DVD from 2003, thre is a table discussion that is very interesting where Chris Kenner talks at length about his own contribution to the effect.

Yea And also on the Coinvention Round table I performed My International One touch Three fly!

Eric Jones teaches a great 3 fly on his Metal DVD not sure which one it's on but I use it all the time.

Have you tried Sanchez fly by David Gabbay? It's an easy and clean looking routine with a shell.