Sleight-of-hand is no slight task.

It’s one of those things that I know I’m not particularly great at, but I still practice to keep my abilities halfway in tune. Sleight-of-hand is pretty cool when it gets done right, and it can keep your hands in shape – especially if you are aware of conditions like arthritis that might affect your hands (or already are). 

It’s also a fun way to kill some time.

Here are a few tips for practicing. 

The Single Best Starting Resource

Modern Coin Magic by J.B. Bobo stands as one of the single best starting resources out there.

Anyone who is even remotely interested in learning the basics techniques behind sleight-of-hand, card or coin tricks should check into this resource first for methods like simple “palming” and how to do it.

From there, many YouTube videos use the book as a practical example if any users have to see in order to learn.

Heavier Coins

At the very beginnings of practice, I’ve found it easier and more practical to start off with larger and heavier coins or tokens. 

All countries have a bulkier form of coin currency that makes for a better practice method than smaller ones. If not, tokens from game arcades are also particularly useful and even casino chips can work.

Stand-In Objects

Who said coin tricks have to involve coins, or card tricks can only be done with cards? 

Practice holding, flipping, palming and twirling other objects before moving on to ones that require a finer touch. It helps your hands to get more used to things – and I’m convinced it can make sleight-of-hand using smaller objects feel much easier by comparison.

Small rocks make for great stand-in objects, but anything that fits between the fingers can work.

Different Hands

For many people, their left hand isn’t as apt as their right – or the other way around. 

Switch hands around for practice: Left one day, and right the next. It does more than just keep your hands busy. It also helps to develop different parts of the brain.

Remember Stress Balls? 

I remember a time when stress balls were all the rage. 

For kids who don’t, they were the immovable versions of the fidget spinner – and usually, squeezed too hard, they could explode.

Stress balls have a practical function other than being a quirky gift from somewhere in the nineties. They’re great for relieving pain and tension in the hands, and they’re recommended for use at the first signs of strain or arthritis. 

A simple stress ball can be made at home by filling up a balloon with flour or corn starch, then sticking it in the freezer to cool it down. Squeezing the stress ball for a few days per minute can do a lot for reliving discomfort and generally gaining hand-strength after any injury or muscle damage. 

Should You See a Doctor? 

Should card and coin tricks be more difficult for you than for everyone else, it might have more to do with your hand health and less to do with your technique.

If you experience numbness, discomfort, heat, pain or swelling in your hands, there are many conditions that might cause it.

It’s always better to see a doctor rather than not. 

The signs and symptoms you experience might be triggered by an underlying conditions, and these might not be as obvious as you think