Q&A for How to Spin a Pencil Around Your Thumb

It can take a while to perfect it, but everybody is different. For me it took 4-5 months to get it down.

A soft Number 2 pencil is the best.

You are going to lay your thumb under the pencil, your index finger above the pencil (slightly left to where your thumb is), and your middle finger below the pencil while the middle finger's nail is touching the pencil (again, placed slightly to the left of the index finger).

It may help you get a feel for rotating something around your thumb, but it probably won't make a huge difference.

Try steadying on counting, or breathing anything to keep your heart at a steady enough beat. If you must, try counting/breathing slower than usual.

Just keep practicing and you will get it, eventually.

Try doing it slowly without your pencil first, and concentrate on your thumb. The more you practice, the easier it will get.

Push it harder with your middle finger, but not too hard or it will go flying.

Just practice, practice and more practice. It took me 2 months to not drop the pencil and another 3 to spin it around my thumb nonstop.

Try relaxing while doing it. If you too tense then it'll be harder. If you still can't do it, try a different way of doing it, as there are many other ways to try.

Mirror the videos and images shown here. Meaning, if you were practicing with your right hand, just mirror the same motions with the left and vise versa.

Try using less pressure on your middle finger as you spin the pen. Use small amounts of pressure and gradually work your way up until you find that golden spot.

Yes, it could. You just need to account for anything else on the mechanical pencil, such as clips and such. It should be the same weight, so spinning it is just a matter of getting used to the feel of it.