Q&A for How to Throw Playing Cards

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  • Question
    How do you throw playing cards accurately?
    Zach Waldman
    Professional Comedy Magician
    Zach Waldman is a Professional Comedy Magician based in Los Angeles, CA. He has over 20 years of experience as an entertainer and performer. He is a comedian, magician, and mentalist, and he customizes his show to be distinct for every audience he performs for. His clients include some of the biggest corporations in the world, including Microsoft, Google, BusinessWeek, Absolut, the L.A. Kings, Anheuser-Busch, and more. He has been a member of the Academy of Magical Arts (AMA) since 2001, and performs regularly at the Academy’s clubhouse, The Magic Castle. For the past 20+ years, Zach has been a mainstay at many other reputable Los Angeles theaters and comedy clubs including the El Portal, the Comedy Store, the Improv, Flappers, and the Laugh Factory. Before moving to L.A., he attended the Player's Workshop of the Second City. He received his degree from the University of Central Florida.
    Professional Comedy Magician
    Expert Answer
    The definitive guide is a book by Ricky Jay. It is called Cards As Weapons. Ricky Jay was an amazing magician and a great actor. There are all kinds of stunts in the book and plenty of tips on how to throw playing cards.
  • Question
    Will the card go through a foam plate?
    Alexis Albright
    Community Answer
    If you throw the card fast enough and hard enough it can. Most likely it will take a lot of time and practice, though.
  • Question
    Is there a game that involves throwing cards?
    Community Answer
    Yes, you can use this skill for playing a game called Horsemen. First, you build a card castle or house. Then, with the help of a single card, you try to takle the castle from a distance. The best part is betting about which floor or which line in the castle of cards will fall and which will remain and throwing the card accordingly. To learn more, watch the film 'Now You See Me'.
  • Question
    Can you use UNO cards?
    Daniel Howell
    Community Answer
    Yes. The heavier the weight of the card, the faster/farther it will go.
  • Question
    What is the best card to use?
    Community Answer
    Any card would work just fine, but heavier cards will probably fly faster/hit harder.
  • Question
    Can you use gift cards?
    Community Answer
    My friend does and they fly faster and harder than playing cards. Make sure you aren't throwing them at people.
  • Question
    Do you need special cards to succeed?
    Community Answer
    No, but use inexpensive cards because they may bend when hitting walls.
  • Question
    Do I need special cards to succeed at card throwing?
    Community Answer
    Not really. But I recommend using cheap cards, as they will probably bend when they hit the wall.
  • Question
    What type of card should be used, like paper or plastic?
    Community Answer
    Any cards should work, Ones that are linen lined and thin-edged work the best.
  • Question
    Is there something that I can use instead of the card hitting the wall like foam or something?
    Community Answer
    Yeah. Foam would be best (the cheap 1x1 that you can get at craft stores, Target, etc.). You could also hang a cloth so that when the card hits, it will stay still for a second and you can see what adjustments you need to make.
  • Question
    Will using cards like EX Pokemon cards work since they are a bit heavy and sleek?
    Community Answer
    They should, but inexpensive and cheap cards are the best to start out with.
  • Question
    How hard do I have to throw?
    Community Answer
    The harder you throw, the faster the card will fly, but you need to make sure you still have control of your aim.
  • Question
    Are there any other ways to throw cards?
    Community Answer
    Another way you might try is putting your hands in a fist and putting the corner of a card in the middle of your index finger and throwing.
  • Question
    Can I use Yu-Gi-Oh cads for this trick? I have a lot of them that I don't use anymore.
    Community Answer
    Yes, those would work fine.
  • Question
    Will the cards fly faster if I use two fingers?
    Community Answer
    Yes, in my experience, but this is harder, so if you're a beginner I wouldn't recommend you try it that way first.
  • Question
    What should I use for my target practice?
    Community Answer
    Use a foam board. They are surprisingly cheap and you can easily get yourself one anywhere. Even the ones that come along with packaging are efficient.
  • Question
    Are Bicycle playing cards a good choice for throwing?
    Community Answer
    Yes, those are good cards to use for throwing.
  • Question
    Can I use it to cut something in half?
    Xxx_dragonslayer_xxx
    Community Answer
    If you throw a card fast enough, you can slice through fruit, vegetables, even other cards! There are many videos about this on YouTube. One of the best is on a channel called "The Modern Rogue". The video is called "Throwing Cards Like a World Champion".
  • Question
    Will it matter if it's an old card when I throw it?
    Xxx_dragonslayer_xxx
    Community Answer
    If it is bent, then it will affect the throw. Get some newer cards and try with them. You can even get special cards that are designed to be thrown that will last for a long time.
  • Question
    Is there a sport relating to throwing cards?
    Xxx_dragonslayer_xxx
    Community Answer
    Throwing cards is a sport. The current world record was set by Rick Smith Jr. on December 2, 2002. He threw a card 216 feet and 4 inches (65.96 meters).
  • Question
    How far can a card go?
    Xxx_dragonslayer_xxx
    Community Answer
    The current world record was set on December 2, 2002 by Rick Smith Jr. He threw a card 65.96 meters (216 feet and 4 inches). If you would like to know some of his secrets, you can check out a YouTube video by "The Modern Rogue" called "Throwing Cards Like a World Champion."
  • Question
    Do classic cards work?
    Minecraft Tan
    Community Answer
    Yeah, classic cards do work. In the above instructions, classic cards are used. You can also use tarot cards.
  • Question
    Could we use bank cards for throwing?
    KnowHow 17
    Community Answer
    Yes, those will hurt more, and fly farther. However, you will have a hard time getting them to stick in the wall or similar surface.
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