How to Get Hand Strength When Shuffling a Deck of Cards

Improving your hand strength is important when learning how to do more elaborate card shuffling. Many tricks require a very secure grip to perform correctly, and lots of patience and practice to master. Though hand strength is important when shuffling, it's not the only skill you'll need.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Deck of cards
• Grip tool
• Rubber ball

1. Learn a wide array of ways to shuffle. This develops reflexes and builds hand muscles.

2. Practice shuffling with a deck of cards. This builds up the specific hand muscles needed to do a special shuffle. Practice works best when you're looking to perform one specific fancy shuffle well.

3. Let gravity help you shuffle whenever possible. It's often possible to angle the cards and let them slide into place instead of using brute strength.

4. Exercise your hands with a grip tool or routine. Improving your grip strength will help you improve all card shuffles.

5. Balance the cards correctly when shuffling. Keeping the deck balanced is tricky, but it takes less effort than forcing the cards together.

6. Position your fingers correctly. This way your finger pressure is on the correct points, and the cards don't go flying.

Tips & Warnings

• If you're not willing to invest in hand grips, squeezing a rubber ball works almost as well to improve hand strength.
• Avoid taking shortcuts or using a table when practicing shuffling moves. These habits are hard to break and prevent you from improving your skill.