How do I perform the Boomerang Card Trick?

May 10, 2004 1:50 PM

The Boomerang Card Trick: While in Vegas over the weekend, I saw a magician throw a playing card such that it went around is body and returned to his hand. Didn't look like a "trick" so much as a very specialized way of throwing a card. Supposedly Ricky Jay has written about this in the past, but the book in which it is described is out of print. Anyone know where I can learn how to do this?
posted by aladfar to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (12 answers total)

Jay's book is about $150 on the used market. There were some scans from it online, but they didn't show the boomerang trick.

Googling "boomerang card trick" and clicking on "groups" gets you some good advice.

google loves you
posted by mecran01 at 1:55 PM on May 10, 2004

Response by poster: Well, it was google that pointed me toward the Ricky Jay book in the first place. But $150 is a bit more than I'd like to shell out to learn the secret.

Didn't think to check the groups link though. Thanks for the tip! Still, it doesn't really address my question - I saw a fellow throw a card in a tight circle around his body. The Google link above only explains how to throw a card away from you and have it return.

Any MeFi folks actually know how to do this?
posted by aladfar at 2:27 PM on May 10, 2004

I could tell you how the effect is produced, but it would really ruin it for you. (The mechanics, like the inside workings of most magic tricks, are pretty simple, and when you stop and think about it, a bit ridiculous.) If you're really curious, email me, or if you want to be fair about it, go to your local magic shop, ask the guy at the counter if they have the trick, and if he'll demonstrate it for you. Then, buy it, and he'll tell you how it works.
posted by majcher at 4:06 PM on May 10, 2004

without ruining it, majcher, you are essentially saying that this is an actual artificial trick, and not just skillfull throwing? i.e. I can't do this with any old playing card?
posted by rorycberger at 4:56 PM on May 10, 2004

majcher: I'd be really interested in how the trick is done, but I can't seem to find an email address for you (looked on mefi and your website). Could you email (it's on my userpage) it to me?
posted by thebabelfish at 7:20 PM on May 10, 2004

It is possible to throw playing cards in a boomerang way without a gimmick. You can practice it - it's pretty easy once you get the hang.

However, if the card goes around your body, there is a gimmick, but you *really* don't want to know the secret. It totally ruins the excitement and pops the magic bubble.
posted by jasper411 at 7:49 PM on May 10, 2004

This is best tutorial I've seen on card throwing I've seen. Covers some of Ricky Jay's stuff, including his grip.
posted by Remy at 7:53 PM on May 10, 2004

Response by poster: A reader, without a MeFi account, sent to a video at Penguin Magic. They don't reveal the trick, but if you watch closely, it's pretty obvious. At least I think I figured it out . . .

The Ricky Jay method of the boomerang throw doesn't use a gimmick, but I don't think will look quite as impressive.
posted by aladfar at 7:57 PM on May 10, 2004

It is actually a trick, not a throwing skill, but you can do it with any playing card. Heck, you can do it with credit cards, coins, light personal items like eyeglasses, whatever. Just think of the stupidest, most obvious way to achieve the effect, and you've probably figured it out.

For the sake of posterity, and those who can't find my email, I'll post it here in rot-13, but you should really try to figure it out yourself, or plunk down your ten or twenty bucks to learn the trick from someone in person. That said, it's a pretty fun trick for beginners, so, if you do read the following, don't just sit there and revel in your ill-gotten knowledge - get it together, go practice, and don't show it to anyone until you can almost fool yourself with it. If someone asks you how you do it, make them work harder for the secret than I'm making you work, at least.

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Trg n yvggyr qno bs orrfjnk, naq n svar cvrpr bs pbggba guernq. Chg n fznyy tybo ba rvgure raq bs gur guernq - bar raq fgvpxf gb gur pneq, gur bgure raq fgvpxf gb lbh. Qrcraqvat ba ubj lbh jnag gb znavchyngr gur pneq, hfr n sebag ohggba, pbyyne ohggba, ung oevz, be, zl snibevgr, fgvpx vg oruvaq lbhe rne. Lbh pna gura whfg syvpx gur pneq bhg, znxr vg fcva nebhaq, naq vs gur guernq vf napuberq uvtu rabhtu, znxr vg beovg nebhaq lbhe obql. Gur gevpxl cneg vf gb pbageby gur guernq jvgu lbhe unaq jvgubhg znxvat vg ybbx yvxr lbhe unaq vf znxvat vg zbir nebhaq; hfr lbhe zbql naq nez zber guna lbhe unaq, naq vg pbzrf bhg cerggl arng.

Gurer lbh tb. Fgevat naq jnk. Zntvp!

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Stupid, huh?
posted by majcher at 2:38 AM on May 11, 2004

Majcher -

You have betrayed magicians everywhere! You must now watch the Linking Rings 5,000 times!!!

Like I said, you *really, really* don't want to know the secrets of magic tricks!!!! Wonder is so rare in these days of cynicism and irony. It's much better to just hold onto your sense of astonishment!!
posted by jasper411 at 9:36 AM on May 11, 2004

I do this trick alot for kids. It is a dumb gimmick but works well in many situations. I dunno what rot13 is, but generally, giving up magic tricks is verboten. Unless you buy it. Which somehow justifies it.
posted by BrodieShadeTree at 1:33 PM on May 11, 2004

If you need to quickly read this then go to rot13.com , cut and paste the scrambled text in the text box there and press the cypher button.
posted by stuartmm at 1:39 PM on May 11, 2004