Ball & Tube Magic Trick

Magic is enjoyed by both young and old.

Performing the impossible is what magic is all about. Although our brains logically tell us that there must have been smoke and mirrors, sleight of hand or misdirection involved, some forever child-like piece of the human soul is always fascinated with a good magic trick. One of magic's classics is the ball and tube trick.

History of Magic

Although the term "magic" most often conjures up images of men with capes and black top hats, waving a wand on stage to amaze the audience with feats of illusion, the concept of magic is believed to be as old as humanity itself. Cave paintings are believed to have been created as an ancient form of magic, in hopes their power would result in a successful hunt in the future. Ancient Egyptians used magic figurines, amulets and rites. Ancient Greeks and Romans used crystal balls, dreams and oracles as a means of magically divining the future. Throughout the Middle Ages and even the early history of America, magic affected society resulting in events such as the witch hunts that spread along the Eastern seaboard in the late 1700s. Today, magic performances can be high- or low-tech. From simple card tricks to making an elephant disappear, the awe and wonder inspired by magic remains from the days of cave dwellers.

Overview of the Trick

The ball and tube magic trick is one of the classic magic tricks in a magician's arsenal. The audience is shown a metal tube and a ball. The magician demonstrates that the ball is clearly too big to go through the tube, by sitting the ball on top of the tube. However, with a few magic words and a wave of a wand or hand, the ball miraculously slips into the tube that only seconds ago was too small for it and then travels through the tube on its own accord. The trick ends with the magician allowing people to inspect the ball and the tube to verify that they are both metal and indeed the ball is too large to pass through the tube.

Magic Trick Components

The components for the ball and tube magic trick are simple--two tubes and one ball. The tubes and ball are most often made of brass or steel; however, plastic could be used. Both tubes are the same length; however, one tube has a slightly smaller inner and outer diameter than the other.

The Secret

Setup for this magic trick involves sliding the slightly smaller diameter tube inside the larger diameter tube. Pressure on the sides of the tube, from the magician's fingers, prevents the smaller tube from slipping out. When the ball is placed on top of the two tubes together, the smaller tube on the inside prevents the ball from passing through. However, as the magic words are being said, the magician releases the pressure on the sides of the tube, allowing the smaller tube to slip slowly unnoticed into the palm of his hand, and allowing the ball to pass through the larger tube that remains.

Showmanship

As with any magic trick, showmanship will make or break the ball and tube trick. The magician begins with showing the audience the tube and ball. As the tubes are only fractionally different in size, the audience is shown the view through the tube, to ensure that there's "nothing inside the tube." The ball is demonstrated to be solid by rapping it on a table.

The most difficult part of the trick is not only allowing the inner tube to slip into the palm of the hand holding the tube unnoticed, but then also making the tube switch after the ball passes through the larger tube. Once the ball has magically gone through the tube that's too small for it, the magician uses sleight of hand to switch out the smaller tube he's palmed with the larger tube the audience has been seeing the entire time. In this way, he can then allow the audience to inspect the tube and ball together to show them that there simply is no way that ball would go through that tube.

References

• Thinkquest: History of Magic
• Grand Illusions: Magic Ball Trick