Hello all. I am new to this forum and pretty new to magic. I have a question about what is commonly referred to as "springing the cards."

I have read about it in a few different places, and I understand the basic technique of bending the cards inward so that they will slip out, but I was wondering: Is there any secret to this? Do you hold the right hand an inch away from the left and still have the cards fly onto the ground over and over and eventually they'll get more control? What is the difference between springing the cards becoming the all-popular flourish: 52 card pickup and a nice clean spring?

Thanks in advance,
JMagi

When I learned it, I kept on springing the cards at a very short distance, probably at best a couple inches. I did this until I could spring the cards out at a consistent rate. After that, it's just more practice to increase the distance of your hands. I hope this is of some help.

I learned it by first holding my left hand a bit under my right and quite near my stomach. Your body then helps keep the cards in order until you get more control. You should always let the cards escape from one side only; I always release them from my thumb. With practice it comes.

As others explained, it's really a question of practice. At the beginning, you'll make cards to go everywhere except in your left hand but after some hours of tries, they will finally go where you want them to go!

You first release the cards with the right thumb, targeting the middle of your left hand, wide open. You may also control the cards with your left little finger (maybe it's not the best way to do it but it works)

It should be also easier to begin with half a deck rather with a full deck, harder to bend.

Finally, you'll be able to find a description of this flourish in many books (RRTCM, CC, etc.) or vids, for example in The Exciting World of Magic DVD from M. Ammar.

Good luck!

Earl.

When I first learned how to spring a deck of cards I went out and bought a deck of Bee playing cards. I noticed they were a lot more flexible then Bicycles or Aviators and it made it a lot easier. Start out by keeping your left hand close to the deck while your springing the cards and when you start to get comfortable with that start moving your left hand a little lower. Before you know it you'll be doing it everytime you pick up a deck. It can become a fancy habbit.

Ok, thanks all.

Oh, I do have another question about this. After the cards are "sprung," are they supposed to be bent enough that they have to be bent back to their normal position? Or is it possible to spring them and have them remain straight/flat?

Thanks,
JMagi

I have been practicing this very thing for about a week now, and I see no way after properly springing the cards that they will stay flat.

I started just like you, dropping them all over the floor, and now I can spring them from a distance of about .5 inches without dropping them!

Keep up the practice,
grieve

There are occasions when you want to put a bend in the deck (or at least a part of the deck if you want to make a bridge) springing the cards is an ideal way of doing this - it looks casual and it is not obvious what you are doing.

Cheers

Mark

And it seems like even a good way to "break in" the cards if you have a brand new deck. If you want them broken in, that is.

That brings up a good point. You may find it easier to spring older, used cards.