Hello guys,
it seems that there are not any topic about problem with the French Drop in sponge balls routines.
I'm trying to learn a good sponge balls routine and I'm currently using Jay Noblezada's DVD, Sponge in order to learn all the basics moves and I have some troubles in the French Drop. I'm using the 1.5 inches sponges (Super Soft By Gosh) and the move results to be very unnatural, the ball stucks in my hands or drops. Only if I do the move very slow I can complete the drop almost good. Do you guys have some suggestions? Some videos about french drop for sponge balls?

Thank you

Ps.: I don't have small hands.

The French Drop works best with heavier objects, rather than objects which tend to stick to your fingers. It has nothing to do with the size of your hands unless you are trying to French Drop a tennis ball instead of a ping pong ball. Stick with retention vanishes is my advice. A close relative of the French Drop is a roll vanish which works well with sponge balls.

You can also do a modified Schneider Snap Vanish for fake-take, but only has a temporary hold.

I also have an unpublished SwingPass if you get desperate It is a False-Take/Kickback rather than a fake-Take,
but limited as to follow-up moves. Incredible when it can be used as the passing hand is shown empty.

I thought so, then are you telling me that it is better to focus on something else?

So, I will go into roll vanish and Schneider Snap Vanish. Are there some resources were to find these moves?



funsway, can you give me more information aboute this move?

Thank you,

Snap Vanish is in "Al Schneider Magic"

contact me at ken@eversway.com for explanation of this and SwingPass

Thank you funsway Can't wait to know more from you!

Stick with one NATURAL LOOKING vanish, and learn it with both hands. I use my own variation of the Garcia master move. Other than the weight problem, the serious flaw with the french drop is the fact that it is an unnatural motion. Here are some key points in a vanish;
1. Make it natural. Pick the sponge up between finger and thumb, place into hand, and WITHDRAW IN THE SAME POSITION.
2. Make it natural, again. Withdraw is a loose term. When the hand with the sponge 'places' it in the other hand, the hand that 'has the sponge' should continue the motion, and the 'empty hand' should stop. Humans have a pretty short attention span, and they will forget about the motionless hand. DO NOT MOVE THE 'EMPTY' HAND UNTIL YOU HAVE RELOCATED THE 'FULL' HAND. DO NOT MOVE BOTH AT ONCE.
3. Make it natural, one last time. When you execute the vanish, think that you are taking the sponge. Once you have 'taken' the sponge, believe the sponge is in that hand, and when you make it vanish, believe you are making it vanish. IF YOU DO NOT BELIEVE IT, NEITHER WILL YOUR AUDIENCE.

I know this does not help with the french drop, but these are good guidelines for selecting a vanish.

There are so many vanishes with sponge balls. If the French drop doesn't work well for you don't do it. Try one of the other dozen vanishes.

Thank you ColtonRaelund and krowboom. I know other vanishes and I think I'm good at least at three of them. I would like to also learn the french drop but maybe is better to focus on the ones more suitable for sponge balls.

I've never had a problem with a french drop with a sponge ball. Make sure the ball is clean and dry. You can do french drops slow, they can be even more convincing that way if you do them correctly. You might need to adjust the angle of the hand holding the ball. Watch in a mirror and try to make the drop as "steep" as possible. Remember, what makes any french drop is the motion, body movement and eye movement with the taking hand.