How to Flick a Card

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: June 2, 2022 Tested

Want to send a card flying in the air? It will take a little bit of practice, but flicking a card is a fairly easy parlor trick once you’ve got the mechanics down. This is a great way to end a card trick with panache, play up your dark and mysterious energy, or simply pass the time. In this article, we’ll break down what you’ll need to do to flick a card.

1

Grip the deck with three fingers.

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and your middle finger on the short side between them. You're now holding the deck with the sides of your finger, between the first and second knuckles. Keep your palm and pinky finger off of the deck.

2

Place your thumb on top of the deck.

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Press the tip against the deck with moderate pressure. Some magicians keep the thumb near the middle of this space, while others pull it back to the corner near the ring finger. ^{[1]
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Research source}

3

Flick the top card with your thumb.

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Move your thumb outward across the card, toward the far corner. Flick your thumb off the card as it moves. This motion should pivot the card around your index finger and send it flying and spinning.
- Make sure your thumb is moving along a curve. If you flick it straight, the card may flick the wrong direction or fail to flick.

4

Practice until the move is consistent.

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This should be one, fluid motion that looks totally effortless. It can take some time to figure out exactly how this motion works. Experiment with the following until you can get it every time:
- Your thumb and the grip of your fingers should apply moderate pressure. Adjust if the card keeps slipping, or buckles too far to move easily.
- Speed up the movement of your thumb for better results.
- Rotate your wrist as you flick for additional force.

5

Catch the card.

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Snatch it out of the air with your opposite hand. Catching the card can actually be more difficult than flicking it, in terms of how much practice it takes. Once you can flick consistently in the same direction, try to catch it with your other hand. It may help to watch the card as it leaves your hand, and follow it with your eyes. ^{[2]
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Research source}
- If you're not confident you can catch it, flick the card directly at a spectator instead when you perform. This won't derail the act in the same way dropping the card could.

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Tips

Flicking a card isn't much of a trick by itself. This excels when you use it to reveal a card as part of a larger card trick.

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Warnings

Overusing your wrist can cause repetitive stress injury. Take a break if you feel tingling or pain.

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A long thumbnail will make this difficult.

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How to Flick a Card

Steps

Grip the deck with three fingers.

Place your thumb on top of the deck.

Flick the top card with your thumb.

Practice until the move is consistent.

Catch the card.

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