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Double Lift
- Thread starter Memphis
- Start date
I'm sure other guys will have better advice than me but..
It really depends what kind of DL you're using, if you tell us we could probably give you some pointers and help you out a bit. My first DL was really simple; all I did was push over two cards with my left thumb and pick them up with my right hand and bend them. It took me roughly a month and it fooled the average guy. Some people also like to riffle the bottom-left corner until they get two cards and then just pick them up and bend/flip them ontop of the deck.
To answer your question: It took me a month two get a ''usable'' DL down but has taken me 2 years to get a pretty nice DL down (the strike)
It really depends what kind of DL you're using, if you tell us we could probably give you some pointers and help you out a bit. My first DL was really simple; all I did was push over two cards with my left thumb and pick them up with my right hand and bend them. It took me roughly a month and it fooled the average guy. Some people also like to riffle the bottom-left corner until they get two cards and then just pick them up and bend/flip them ontop of the deck.
To answer your question: It took me a month two get a ''usable'' DL down but has taken me 2 years to get a pretty nice DL down (the strike)
I believe it is called the 'instantaneous double lift'. Where you hold the cards in mechanics grip and use your index finger of the opposite hand to snag two cards and then hinge them and turn them over. I can do a triple lift fine for some reason, but the double is what is perplexing me.
yea depending on the dl, it will take longer or shorter. i would start with a basic DL. getting a break then just turning the card over using the middle/pointer and thumb on the corners to turn it over.
once u get that work on just flipping it with the thumb and pointer in the center. (to make it look more natural) it took me more than a month to be comfortable with a DL. but yea deff practice a little every day. you'll get it.
once u get that work on just flipping it with the thumb and pointer in the center. (to make it look more natural) it took me more than a month to be comfortable with a DL. but yea deff practice a little every day. you'll get it.
If this is your first DL I would definitely not recommend the strike, it's a bit more advanced. For now I would work with something like chris said, or something similar. Once you get that down I would then do the strike. If you do decide to do the strike, make sure you include the subtleties that make it awesome: when you flip the cards over outjog them and then push them towards you with your index finger, hold the deck flat and don't angle it towards the ground, try and bevel the deck to make it easier to lift the two cards, when you are flipping the cards over have some pressure on your thumb.
I hope this helped,
Mehar
I hope this helped,
Mehar
Memphis - forget all the nonsense of doing fancy pinky counts and push offs. Go to Aaron Fisher's site and get his little tutorial on Double Lifts. From a spectator and entertainment point of view that is all you'll ever need.
The action of doing the double lift, about a good solid month of practice.
Doing a double in front of people, about 2 months. Nerves...
Getting a break before hand is another issue that'll take some time as well.
Doing a double in front of people, about 2 months. Nerves...
Getting a break before hand is another issue that'll take some time as well.
Like b 08 said (and prob aaron), you should always think of the SIMPLEST DL. Nothing fancy. The DL is supposed to look like you're just flipping a card, not doing a flourish. That's why I personally like the strike 
Like b 08 said (and prob aaron), you should always think of the SIMPLEST DL. Nothing fancy. The DL is supposed to look like you're just flipping a card, not doing a flourish. That's why I personally like the strike
In my opinion, the instantaneous/strike turnover is one of the most unnatural looking double lifts out there. Each to his own though I suppose!
I think the best double to start with, especially if you haven't got a lot of performing experience, is to take a break way ahead of time by finding an excuse to gesture with the top card, then pushing over the second one to establish your break, then replacing the top card. Then just use a basic turnover in a way that feels comfortable.
One of the best advice I've ever received many years ago about "magic techniques" came from a magician at The Magic Castle named, Rich Cowley. He's a terrific guy and a great entertainer.
He was showing me a trick and he told me to shuffle the cards, which I did, then he said, "OK, now show me the top card". And I did. Only thing was because I was being the spectator, I showed him the card in a way that was completely unlike my DL. He said, "That is exactly how your DL should look like". He was giving me a lesson in the middle of a trick because that was when I was going to be at most natural.
From then on I started to look at all moves through that same lens:
1) If you're doing a coin matrix, how would you lift the card if you weren't stealing the coin? How would your hand be positioned? How would your shoulders look? Etc.
2) If you were really placing a card in the middle of the pack (Marlo Tilt), how would your hands be positioned? How would your head be angled? Etc.
3) If you were really NOT palming a card, how would your hand, arm, shoulders, body be positioned? Etc.
4) If there was really nothing under that cup or that box is not tricked out or those cards are really not stacked....etc etc....you get the idea.
It's a nuance that has increased my technical (not performing) abilities dramatically without me having to learn one single new move.
He was showing me a trick and he told me to shuffle the cards, which I did, then he said, "OK, now show me the top card". And I did. Only thing was because I was being the spectator, I showed him the card in a way that was completely unlike my DL. He said, "That is exactly how your DL should look like". He was giving me a lesson in the middle of a trick because that was when I was going to be at most natural.
From then on I started to look at all moves through that same lens:
1) If you're doing a coin matrix, how would you lift the card if you weren't stealing the coin? How would your hand be positioned? How would your shoulders look? Etc.
2) If you were really placing a card in the middle of the pack (Marlo Tilt), how would your hands be positioned? How would your head be angled? Etc.
3) If you were really NOT palming a card, how would your hand, arm, shoulders, body be positioned? Etc.
4) If there was really nothing under that cup or that box is not tricked out or those cards are really not stacked....etc etc....you get the idea.
It's a nuance that has increased my technical (not performing) abilities dramatically without me having to learn one single new move.
Whether a double looks natural or not is directly connected to the (character of the) magician and the way he handles a deck of cards. For magician A it may look natural for the spectators when he turns over a card in a special (fancy) way. For magician B it may not.
That´s why I refrain from saying a strike double or a push-over DL with the fancy spinning action looks unnatural. In David Blaine´s hand a push-over spinning DL looks natural. I can do that push-over DL, but it wouldn´t look natural because it doesn´t fit my style.
What really looks unnatural and often exposes many doubles is a sudden change in tempo, smoothness and tension of the hands.
That´s why I refrain from saying a strike double or a push-over DL with the fancy spinning action looks unnatural. In David Blaine´s hand a push-over spinning DL looks natural. I can do that push-over DL, but it wouldn´t look natural because it doesn´t fit my style.
What really looks unnatural and often exposes many doubles is a sudden change in tempo, smoothness and tension of the hands.
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Memphis-definitely, definitely, absolutely, positively take the time to watch that Aaron Fisher that B_08 recommended. Even if you already had a good double lift I'd recommend it for the finer points he covers.
Also, I want to second, (or third or fourth...whatever) what people are saying about being natural. Go through the motion of doing what the audience is supposed to think you are doing. That is to say if you are practicing a double turnover pay attention to what it looks like when you turn over a single card. Paying attention to the speed at which you naturally perform it as well as the speed at which you talk during the performance.
Anyway, just check out the vid. Its free. Its awesome. You'll learn. Enjoy
Also, I want to second, (or third or fourth...whatever) what people are saying about being natural. Go through the motion of doing what the audience is supposed to think you are doing. That is to say if you are practicing a double turnover pay attention to what it looks like when you turn over a single card. Paying attention to the speed at which you naturally perform it as well as the speed at which you talk during the performance.
Anyway, just check out the vid. Its free. Its awesome. You'll learn. Enjoy