How to Spin a Pencil Around Your Thumb

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

Did you ever watch someone in class or at the office skillfully twirl a pencil around their thumb? Have you ever wondered how to do this cool trick effortlessly? The steps required to spin a pencil around your thumb are easy to grasp, but harder to master. With plenty of practice you'll soon be twirling your pencil like a baton! See Step 1 below to get started.

Steps

PDF download Download Article
  1. Grasp your pencil in your dominant hand . Your index and middle finger should be spaced apart from each other by about the width of your thumb. In other words, if the pencil was not there, your thumb should be able to fit comfortably between your index and middle fingers. [1]
    • Opinions vary about which part of your pencil you should grip. Some prefer to grip the pencil in the middle, near its center of gravity, while others like to center their grip at the end of the pencil. It's up to you - experiment to see which you find easier.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Spin a Pencil Around Your Thumb
    Pull with your middle finger like a trigger. In this trick, your middle finger provides most of the energy for spinning the pencil. Gripping the pencil between your thumb, index, and middle fingers as described above, pull or flick your middle finger inwards as if you were pulling the trigger of a gun. Ideally, this will cause your pencil to begin turning around your thumb. If you're having trouble getting the pencil around your thumb, re-examine your grip - if your middle finger and thumb are aligned too closely to each other, you may be pulling the pencil into your thumb, rather than around it. [2]
    • It's tricky to find the perfect amount of force with which to move your middle finger. Too much force will cause the pencil to go flying, but if you use too little force, the pencil won't make it all the way around your thumb. Practice makes perfect - with time, you'll develop a sense of how much force makes your pencil spin "just right".
    Advertisement
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Spin a Pencil Around Your Thumb
    Roll your wrist to help get the pencil around your thumb. Beginners usually experience trouble spinning pencils at the outset. Often, they have difficulty getting the pencil to turn completely around the thumb. To make this easier, try rolling your wrist as you pull with your middle finger. Gently turn your wrist (as if you were turning a doorknob) away from your body as you make your "pull". This imparts added momentum on the pencil, and, as an added benefit, helps to keep your fingers out of the path of the spinning pencil.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Spin a Pencil Around Your Thumb
    When you're learning how to spin a pencil, it's important to be conscious of the positions of your fingers after the initial "pull" from your middle finger. One common mistake among beginners is to unknowingly obstruct the path of the spinning pencil with their index or middle finger. There are several techniques for keeping your fingers out of the way - two are listed below: [3]
    • After the initial "pull", tuck both your index and middle fingers in so that they are under the joint of your thumb. The pencil should spin around your thumb above your fingers.
    • Simultaneously fold your middle finger in at the joint closest to your hand and extend your index finger as far as it goes. Your middle finger should end up resting with the inside of its last joint on the thumb. The spinning pencil should miss your extended index finger.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Spin a Pencil Around Your Thumb
    The most impressive part of spinning a pencil isn't necessarily the spinning pencil itself - it's the fact that the person spinning the pencil is able to effortlessly catch the pencil and repeat the trick over and over. Once you've gotten the hang of spinning your pencil, work on "catching" the pencil without fumbling it. After one turn, angle the spin of your pencil into the side of your middle finger. As it makes contact with your middle finger, use your thumb and index finger to support the pencil from opposite sides. [4]
  6. Watermark wikiHow to Spin a Pencil Around Your Thumb
    The act of spinning a pencil will undoubtedly feel awkward at first. However, like any feat of dexterity (such as riding a bike or performing a sleight-of-hand trick ), with time, the motions involved in this trick will become so natural that it will be difficult to spin the pencil incorrectly . As you practice, experiment with different grips, techniques and angles until you find the perfect combination. [5]
    • For added practice, once you've mastered this trick in your dominant hand, try using your non-dominant one!
    7. Advertisement

Community Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    How long will it take until I get it right?
    Community Answer
    It can take a while to perfect it, but everybody is different. For me it took 4-5 months to get it down.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 244 Helpful 338
  • Question
    What's the best pencil for spinning?
    Community Answer
    A soft Number 2 pencil is the best.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 211 Helpful 249
  • Question
    Where do I place my fingers to spin a pencil?
    Community Answer
    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).
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 196 Helpful 155
See more answers
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      • Remember, you do NOT want to flick the pencil. Folding the middle finger should cause the pencil to "roll" off of it. If the pencil flies off without touching the back of your thumb, you're flicking it.
        Thanks
        Helpful 7 Not Helpful 0
      • Do not apply a great force while you spin the pen up with your middle finger. Try not to push too hard. Pushing too hard will send the pen flying.
        Thanks
        Helpful 4 Not Helpful 0
      • Once you've gotten good at spinning the pencil around your thumb, you can try spinning it back the other way! This will return the pencil back to its original starting position.
        Thanks
        Helpful 1 Not Helpful 3
      Show More Tips

      Tips from our Readers

      The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
      • If you find it too hard, try changing the size of the pencil to fit your hand. A thinner pencil might work better for smaller hands!
      • Practice somewhere private first, so that you don't distract your classmates or even lose control of the pencil and hurt someone.
      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      Warnings

      Advertisement

      Things You'll Need

      • Pens or pencils. Unsharpened pencils are the best because they are long, moderately heavy, and perfectly balanced. Some fanatics even take to customizing pens to get them just right.
      • Try using a drumstick. Its weight is such that it becomes hard to spin too fast. Hold it close to the center.

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Spin a Pencil Around Your Middle Finger
      How to
      Tie a Knot in a Cherry Stem With Your Tongue
      How to
      Open a Beer Bottle with a Lighter
      How to
      Snap Your Gum
      How to
      Flip a Butterfly Knife
      How to
      Drop an Egg Without It Breaking
      How to
      Do the Pen Flip: Best Tricks for Beginners
      How to
      Snap a Towel
      How to
      Spin a Drumstick
      How to
      Suck in a Helium Balloon
      How to
      Sharpen Your Pencil at School Without a Sharpener
      How to
      Suspend an Object in Jello
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://www.kapwing.com/resources/learn-how-to-spin-a-pen-in-5-gifs/
      2. ↑ https://www.kapwing.com/resources/learn-how-to-spin-a-pen-in-5-gifs/
      3. ↑ https://www.kapwing.com/resources/learn-how-to-spin-a-pen-in-5-gifs/
      4. ↑ https://kidactivities.net/pen-spinning-tricks-how-to-spin-a-pen/
      5. ↑ https://kidactivities.net/pen-spinning-tricks-how-to-spin-a-pen/

      About This Article

      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 2,501,850 times.

      Reader Success Stories

      • Jaden T.

        Apr 18

        "I enjoyed learning to spin a pen in this website. All the other websites are trash, but this is the best. Now if I ..." more
      More reader stories Hide reader stories
      Share your story

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement