Ricky Jay says you need to learn to throw accurately before you can throw powerfully, if you want to penetrate the outer layers of the melon with a playing card.It is possible to learn different throwing styles, grips and how to get the most accurate tosses with enough practice.
Step 1: Correctly grip the card for a toss.
The throwing style with the most power and potential for accuracy is an overhand toss.One of the earliest public practitioners was a stage magician named Howard Thurston, who used an overhand toss to put power and accuracy into his tosses, wowing audiences.The most important part of learning to throw is finding a grip that works for you.The Thurston grip was named after famous card throwers and involved pinching the short side of the card between your index and middle finger.The other fingers should be out of the way.The Hermann grip is a trick that involves pinching the card between your thumb and middle finger in the center to help control the spin.The majority of the card should be facing you.
Step 2: Put your hand up.
The basic toss with the most accuracy happens when you bend the card up next to your head and release it with a flick of your wrist.To get the right spin on the card, you need to turn your palm up and use the grip style of your choice.
Step 3: Wind your arm over your shoulder by twisting your wrist.
To get your arm ready for the throw, bend your elbow and draw your hand up next to your head.When your arm is ready, your pinkie finger should be close to your ear.If you want to learn the proper motion, just curve your wrist up without putting your whole arm into it and try tossing the card with enough spin.Bring the card up beside your head when you're practicing the toss to get more power into your tosses.
Step 4: Attach your wrist to the object.
If you want to get the most power and accuracy out of the card, you need to swing your arm forward from your shoulder and throw like a baseball.Spread your middle and ring finger over your wrist at the end of that motion to release the card.
Step 5: Don't give up practicing.
Try to get a clean release of the card by practicing the motion.Keeping the motion as smooth as possible is the key to getting the card to spin and cut through the air, rather than floating on it and moving everywhere with the breeze.As you toss the card, pay attention to how you unfold your wrist into a smooth line with the rest of your arm.It's all in the wrist, but the power comes from your elbow.
Step 6: Make sure to grip the card correctly.
The frisbee-style toss is a common and accurate throwing style pioneered by Ricky Jay and others.If you want to learn the Ricky Jay grip, place your index finger on one corner of the card and put your thumb on top.The bottom of the card has three fingers on it.The grip is similar to the other two styles.The thumb on top should be on the other side of the card, like the Hermann grip.
Step 7: The card should be Curled into your wrist.
If you want to Curl the card back into your wrist, hold it parallel to the ground with your pinkie facing down.If you wrap your arm around your body, the card can be seen on the opposite side of the body from the hand holding it.Ricky Jay lifts his throwing hand up over his head, almost as if he's going to do an overhand throw, but the mechanics are more like a frisbee toss, or some combination of the two.It looks like the card will hit the ear on the other side of his head.
Step 8: Don't let it go out of the wrist.
To get the mechanics of the spin right, there should be almost no arm movement.To practice, grab your arm and wrist at the same time.After practicing and being able to throw cards without missing, you could try moving your arms.
Step 9: You should flick your wrist forward.
Keeping your arm as straight and level as possible relative to the ground will keep the card from wobbling side to side.You can practice tossing the cards using your wrist, similar to the overhand throw.The mechanics are the same, but in a different direction.The power comes from your elbow, not the wrist.
Step 10: The card can be released.
If you want to hit the target, let the card go with a final vigorous flick of your wrist, extending your fingers quickly and straight to release it.Learning to throw accurately requires careful attention to the details, but it will take some practice to get the whole maneuver put together correctly.
Step 11: There is a focus on spin.
A card moves on its spin.In an X-Men comic, cards fly through the air stock in a straight line.If you want to get the most accuracy out of your throws, spin the card as much as possible.In one fluid motion, extend your wrist and fingers.Put some flick into your wrist when you speed up your motion at the top of your toss.This will be the difference between a duck and a card.
Step 12: Aim at the right place.
Styrofoam and fruit are popular targets for card throwing.melons, apples, Styrofoam backing, cardboard, and other objects can be stuck into a potato by experienced card throwers.Throw until you can get the corner to stick in.Don't throw cards at people.If you don't have much power yet, a card in the eye can be very dangerous.Throwing cards at targets is a good way to practice.
Step 13: Try out different grips.
There's no one correct way of throwing cards, so practicing will be a matter of experimenting with different grips and techniques and seeing what works for you.Pick your favorite parts of each technique and welding them together into a hybrid style of throwing.Make it work for you.You can watch Ricky Jay throw cards on the internet to see the kind of motion he uses and the snap he gets into his cards.Pick up all the tricks of the trade when you watch a magician or card expert perform.
Step 14: Your wrist needs strength.
It's a good idea to build strength and dexterity in your forearms and wrists to get better at sleight-of-hand tricks.The stronger your hands and wrists, the better you will be at throwing cards.It's a good idea to loosen your wrists after you throw cards.If you want to do this, you have to get down on your knees and put your palms on the ground.If you want to stretch out your wrists, bring your butt toward the ground and keep your palms flat.
Step 15: Don't use old cards.
It's easier to throw new, stiff, crisp cards than it is to play old ones.If you want to make it easy on yourself, get some new good-quality cards that will stand up to throwing, and replace them regularly to get the most accuracy and power out of your throws.