Finesse

[Caladan21ph]

Ok, so I started using the camera to see my sleights. Although some of my sleights I can do, one thing I noticed is that my hands lacked finesse or any sort of smoothness in performing the sleights. How do I get this? My fingers seem too stiff, and it doesn't look good.

 

[UncleMings]

Ok, so I started using the camera to see my sleights. Although some of my sleights I can do, one thing I noticed is that my hands lacked finesse or any sort of smoothness in performing the sleights. How do I get this? My fingers seem too stiff, and it doesn't look good.

This is somthing that cant be learned IMO. Finesse will come with time as the more you practice and fiddle with cards. Just keep going at it it the smoothness you seek.

I think Dai Vernon once said that it takes about 10 years for a person to handle and hold a deck a cards correctly. I got this from one of Richard Turners dvds. If you think long and hard about it. It makes sense.

Kind regards,

Mike

 

[SleightedMind]

One general tip to look smooth is to slow down your sleights. And you could probably use naturally smooth flourishes like the Le Paul spread or a slow spring/cascade or the beautiful faro-like cascade where the two packets fall into one hand.
And be sure to use a HD camera to look smooth. LOL

 

[praetoritevong]

Feel the sleight. Feel the cards. Finesse comes in time when you become more comfortable with a deck of cards in your hand. Once your understand a sleight - practice it, and streamline it. There's nothing that can be done except practice more.

 

[Caladan21ph]

What about gestures? Do I have to practice those too in front of the mirror. I figured there mght be hand exercises so that my hands will be less tense. Thanks!

 

[saborfang17]

There are a few hand exercises I found on the "everythingelse" dvd of the trilogy that have helped me. The best tip I can give you is to practice with a loose grip - loose enough to feel little to no tension, but tight enough to have a good grip on the cards. I just experiment until I find the right combination.

 

[Silver]

Finesse is chiefly something that comes with time. As you practice, you'll feel more loose, more comfortable, and less awkward.

 

[scarecrow1]

In Card College 1, Giobbi says to hold the deck like a bird. Tight enough so that it doesn't escape, yet loose enough so you don't kill it.

Just practice more. As soon as you get a sleight/effect down so well it just flows, then finesse will come naturally.


Cheers

 

[praetoritevong]

What about gestures? Do I have to practice those too in front of the mirror. I figured there mght be hand exercises so that my hands will be less tense. Thanks!

Yes, absolutely, but practice them in context.

First, next time you go speak with someone, or do a presentation, make a note of what gestures come naturally to you. For example, I like to walk around in a presentation and gesture in a wave with my right hand. I also tend to sometimes avoid eye contact when I'm thinking too hard about my presentation.

Once you know what you do, you can work on a) making it look better and b) eliminating gestures that don't look like you. In this way you can streamline how you use your body in performance and feel more at ease with yourself.

As far as hand exercises, yes, there are quite a number of dexterity exercises around. XB has some as well, from memory.