Hey hey,

So I'm up to chapter 8 in Royal Road, the backslip. I'm getting fairly smooth with the action, and gradually reducing the noise. However, I can't quite work out how this should be performed? I've looked up a few different videos of it to see how people use it, and it looks really unnatural. If I do it with my hands in an even remotely natural position, the angles are terrible. How are you using it? Can anyone provide a link to a video where it's being performed naturally? I don't need a tutorial, just to see it being done and see where I'm going wrong. Otherwise can someone explain it?

Thanks!

Personally, I occasionally use it as a force. I used to use it all the time.

I'll describe it as a force:

Hold the cards as described in the book. However, with the left hand use your thumb to riffle down the edge/corner. The riffle should make it feel more natural. Invite the spectator to tell you to stop. Once you stop, do the backslip and in the same smooth motion take the removed packet and tap them on the pack in your left hand. This appears that you are squaring the removed packet and removes the sound issue. Even if you do not square the pack, the backslip shouldn't be seen if performed smoothly. They key is that the move should be performed in one fluid motion.

I was playing around with it last night and it's definitely getting smoother. I'll try out your tip regarding squaring up the deck, thanks!

Personally, I love the Backslip as a force, I practiced to get it smooth and now I use it as my Go-To-Force. But you need to find techniques suiting your style and needs, so if you can't get along with the Backslip look for something else.

Thanks for the advice everyone,

Mrbuffoonery, I used your tip, and it works well. I've performed a couple tricks now with the backslip and your method, got away with it cleanly every time!

Squaring up the cards works well as mentioned.

I used to do a turnover of both hands as I did the move/cut and would take the opportunity to use my left hand to point at the card they cut to on the face of the upper pack. I would say something like, "When you cut the cards you cut to two different cards, one we can see, and one we can't. (I roll the hands back over and point to the cut to / force card). Let's use the one we can't see." This turnover move basically makes the slip invisible and covers angles on all sides. Maybe worth experimenting with.

R. Paul Wilson on the Backslip:


Study RRTCM and learn a better force. Not to be a jerk or anything, but the backslip just shouldn't be used that way. If you haven't been called out for it yet by a spectator, you will, and you've probably already been caught and the spectator's too nice to tell you.