At my restaurant gig, I always do the chop cup behind the bar. I load 2 real baseballs and lately have been loading from my front pocket. I don't perform the 3 cup routine much these days, but for Thanksgiving, I performed at a private dinner for 9 people and decided to try my luck with it. 2 in each side and it went smooth as silk. It felt more natural. If I take a ball, and am going to put it in my pocket, (and steal a load) it seems more natural to put it in my front pocket and not my back one. I'm using a slight variation of Vernon's loading sequence and had NO problem loading a lime, kiwi, nectarine and an apple. I forgot to position the apple so it was the last one revealed, and it was actually the first. Other than that, I think it felt perfect. Anyone else load from the front?

Hello David
I've always loaded from the front pocket (shorter path and the palming hand doesn't have to come from behind with its back towards the audience, which is less natural)
Loading from the back probably more discrete for people living in warm places in jeans and T-shirts (when then pockets may seem bulky). If you live in a more temperate climates and big cities with normal pants and jacket, it's not even a question.

Hello Etienne! So good to see you. Not sure if you remember, but we met a few years ago in Vegas. My thoughts exactly, less distance to travel. In most of my situations, I'm in black jeans or slacks with an untucked shirt. Black seems to cover bulges easier. I would do this for strolling, as it might be tough for pocket management, but the long shirt easily provides enough cover. Thanks for your thoughts!

I keep three loads in my trouser pockets, and the final load in my right-hand jacket pocket. I think going to two separate pockets makes it harder for a spectator to catch on. Definitely can't do it with jeans though!

For a three cup routine: Three in the left jacket pocket and the fourth in right jacket pocket.

Larry

I've always thought going to back pockets in the guise of putting a small ball away seems odd. I know some of the greats (Vernon, Ammar, Thompson) do it, but it seems odd, to me.

Marh

I load from my front pockets, I load spongeballs as my final load though, I have experimented with pool balls, but I need a different jacket because the pockets I have in my current one suck. I never liked loading from the back anyway, it looks ridiculous.

I have one load (the first) in my front pocket and the final in my back pocket. I use a lemon/lime ending most of the time (working on a stage version) but for table work I've found it's easy and the second load has so much misdirection to it I can take it from almost any pocket so it's more of a space solution for myself.

My final loads are 4 practice golf balls, two in the right jacket pocket, two in the left. Works like a charm. Dai Vernon did his bit sitting down, I do mine standing up. Don't know if it matters, but that's what works for me.

Sir Richard.

Hello David,
There was no risk that I could forget you. I followed your health fights on Facebook, as you may remember. I'm not trying to be friend with everyone but I takes a lot to make me backtrack on the friendship that I extended.
You can rely on me for many more years.
Nice to hear from you. Since I'm moving to the US, we may have more opportunities to see each other again.

Wonderful! Europe's loss is our gain. To where and when are you relocating?

Two of my favorite Café posters are David and Etienne. I always learn so much from them!

Wow, that's an honor to be included in the same thought as Etienne. Everything I know about cups and balls, I learned from Bill, Pete, Etienne and Johnny Thompson.