Surfaced

By Chad Nelson
(Photos, and Text)

The Clip Shift is a utility move, like a double lift. It can also be used to palm a card, as a color change,
a control, a pass and so much more. Its a move with infinite possibilities and on this DVD are some
of Chads favourite applications and tricks.

The Clip Shift

The Grip / step one
With your right hand, grip the deck in a modified overhand grip.
This grip is vital in learning the shift properly, so study it carefully. Notice the finger joints extend out
beyond the edge of the deck. The first finger is curled on top and will remain in this position
throughout the sleight.
(Note: the photos above have been taken with the hand palm up for clarity. In performance, the
sleight should be executed palm down.)
The Clip / step two
The tip of the little finger contacts the bottom card near the outer right corner. Using the little
finger, side-jog the bottom card to the right the width of the second finger or about half an inch.
Once side jogged, pull the card forward with the little finger, toward your spectators, levering it off
the edge of the deck about half an inch or until its extended slightly beyond the middle finger.
Clip the outer left corner of the card between your middle and ring fingers.
The Shift / step three
Its important this sleight is executed silently. To achieve this, pay close attention to the following:
Begin to extend the thumb to the right, rotating the deck clockwise just enough for the clipped card
to clear the outer edge of the deck. To facilitate this, maneuver the clipped card upward by curling
the joints of the second and third fingers inward. When the card clears the deck, push it up into your
palm with the ring finger, releasing it from its clipped position between the second and third fingers.
Pinch the card tightly between the outer joint of the little finger and push it upward into the palm.
Its important the index finger remains curled above the deck. The biggest challenge when learning
this will be to avoid an instinctive reflex to use the index finger to help move the deck out of the way
of the clipped card as its shifted up into palm.
When the card is transferred from below the deck into palm, it should seem to melt through the
deck. The card can be transferred quickly as there is no friction or contact between the card and the
deck.

The Replacement / step four

The card should be firmly pressed against the palm of the hand, clipped by the little finger. Notice
the first finger is curled about the palmed card. This happens naturally as long as the first finger
remains curled throughout, from the start, and is vital for executing a quick replacement of the card
to the top of the deck.
To replace the card, the top joint of the index finger presses down on the palmed card and continues
to press down until the joint has come in contact with the deck.
To quickly align the card with the deck, the following actions happen simultaneously:
Slightly extend the third and fourth fingers until the card falls flat on top of the deck. Begin to curl
these fingers back inward, wrapping them around the outer edge of the cards and simultaneously
aligning the card with the deck. The outer joint of the index finger also aids in aligning the card by
quickly moving forward toward the outer left corner in a thrusting action. The final photos above
show the ending position from the front and the back.
I hope you have enjoyed this torrent, only at AOM.
Thanks,