| Coin tricks are one of the most respected and | | | | give people a clue that your hand isn't as empty |
| entertaining forms of magic. So if you want to | | | | as you might like them to believe. |
| perform professional looking coin tricks it's vital to | | | | Try practising in front of a mirror until you can |
| develop the ability to palm objects. | | | | use the classic palm technique to hide coins of all |
| Palming is a technique that allows you to hold or | | | | shapes and weights in a natrual manner. |
| conceal an object in your hand. As the name | | | | And when you start practising, it's a good idea to |
| suggests it involves hiding the object (for | | | | use the largest, yet lightest coin that you can find. |
| example, a coin) in the palm of your hand, | | | | For example, the American half dollar is a perfect |
| although other versions of palming involve the use | | | | size for practising and the fact that is has a |
| of your fingers or thumb. | | | | strongly milled edge provides more grip. In |
| When done skillfully, you should be able to palm a | | | | contrast, smaller and heavier objects take more |
| coin while conveying the impression that your | | | | skill to palm naturally. |
| hand is empty. Top magicians continue the illusion | | | | 2) The Finger Palm: This is a slightly easier way to |
| by maintaining unnatural hand positions with both | | | | conceal a coin. From being displayed at the end of |
| hands so that the hand used to palm the object in | | | | all five fingertips, the coin is released and slips |
| question looks less noticeable. | | | | down inside the hand to the crease in the skin |
| There are three main palming techniques that can | | | | where your fingers meet the palm of your hand. |
| be used to conceal coins. | | | | This allows you to hold the coin securely using a |
| 1) The Classic Palm: This is the most common | | | | natural looking hand position. It also has the benefit |
| method and involves holding a coin between the | | | | that your hand can be viewed from a wide range |
| muscle at the base of the thumb and the fleshy | | | | of angles without revealing the coin. |
| part on the edge of the hand. The coin is kept in | | | | Often magicians reinforce this technique by |
| place using a small amount of lateral pressure. | | | | combining it with misdirection or picking up another |
| Ideally, you should use just enough pressure to | | | | object. This further reinforces the idea that their |
| keep the coin in place when your palm is facing | | | | hand is empty. |
| down. Any more pressure will make your hand | | | | 3) The Back Palm: This method of palming is used |
| look unnatural and defeat the purpose of the | | | | to conceal a coin behind your hand, while showing |
| palming technique. With practice you'll soon know | | | | your audience that the palm of your hand is |
| the right amount of pressure to use. | | | | empty. It's also the technique that magicians use |
| When practising this technique there's a natural | | | | when they pretend to pluck a coin out of the air |
| tendency to hold your thumb further away from | | | | or from behind a person's ear. In most cases the |
| your fingers in order to increase the amount of | | | | coin is gripped between the pinkey and the finger |
| grip that you can apply to the hidden object. If | | | | next to it. The other fingers and the thumb are |
| possible, try to resist this temptation as it can | | | | then used to conceal the coin. |