ARM TWIST ILLUSION

THE EFFECT: This mind boggling illusion created a sensation on a
recent national TV special. This totally impromptu routine is easy to do
and uses no props. You ask a spectator to copy your actions. Both of you
place your hands palm down on the table and begin to turn them in an
anticlockwise direction. The spectator is unable to turn his hand more
than part way, but you continue turning your hand in a full circle! One
and a half times! This routine must be seen to be believed. On many
occasions, people have been so shocked - they have actually screamed!
REQUIREMENTS: A top with long-sleeves.
PREPARATION: Put the sweater on!
THE SECRET AND PRESENTATION:
Ask a spectator to do the same thing you do by placing your
1 hand on the ground just like picture 1. (Note: the pictures were
taken showing the arm, but with the real trick YOU DO NOT show the
1
spectators your arm, it is covered by the sweater). Ok, They should put
their hand like the picture opposite.
4 5
2 3
While the spectator is Now turn you arm in a
2 3
putting their arm on the clockwise direction, basically
floor following your directions you are winding your arm up ready
you can use this as great to be unwound. See pictures 3, 4,
MISDIRECTION so you can quickly 5, 6 and 7. Because your arm is
do the SECRET MOVE as follows: covered by the sweater the
Place the palm of your right hand spectator believes their arm is in
face down on the floor with your the same position as yours, but in
6 7
fingers pointing away from your fact yours is would up. This move
body. Picture 2. will need a little practice to master.
With the secret move complete and your arm covered by the
8 sweater (picture 8) it looks exactly like your spectators arm as in
picture 1. Now all that is left to do is a lot of showmanship ie. acting
to pretend that it takes great skill and/or power to perform!
PERFORMANCE: With the spectators hand and yours on the ground
(looking like they are in the same position) ask the spectator to
follow you and start to turn your hand towards your body. The
spectator will stop very shortly as they can not move their hand
further than past their body - this is where you shine as your hand
keeps going past you body and all the way round. You can keep
going until you reach where the spectators stopped. One and a half
turns later!
TIPS: When the spectators hand can’t go any further get them to pull
your hand round with theirs this adds to the effect greatly. That way
they can feel a real hand so can’t say it was fake at the end of the
trick. You can also hide a piece of plastic (ie from a bottle of Coke or
Pepsi) up the sleeve of you arm which you can squeeze with the
8 other hand to to create a real nice bone crunching sound! Do not
forget to act as though you are in great pain to heighten the realism!
DON’T FORGET: If you are right handed like me, then just reverse the instructions given for the opposite hand!