Allright, I have done pen spinning for... no need to tell. At least I can do it right away. It was really fun, however sometimes it makes me can't leave my pen XD. Honestly, it was an easy hobby to be done. But then, it really takes time and patience to be learnt, however it will give you a proud and happy feeling when you successfully done it.
Before giving you info about the pen spinning I will give you an amazing video of pen spinning. This is a video of the pen spinning world tournament 2013. Enjoy!
More video, spectacular edited video of PSWC'14 JEB Qualification
Enough for the introduction (Isn't it boring reading many introduction?) ,now I will give you some info about all the things I know in pen spinning.
Finger Slots, Notations and Breakdowns
Spinners use a variety of systems, symbols, abbreviations and short forms to help them express how the pen is spun.
Finger Slot System
For convenience pen spinners have adopted a common numbering of fingers and the spaces between them ("Finger Slots"). The fingers are numbered sequentially from "1" the index finger, to "4" pinky. The thumb is the letter "T". Finger slots are represented by combining any two of these. For instance the space between the middle and ring fingers is "23". A pen held between index and pinky is in slot "14". Sometimes the space between the thumb and index fingers near the palm is called "TF" (thumbflap) and the slot of the tips of the thumb at the index finger is called "T1". The palm is sometimes notated as "P".
Notations
The notation system consists of a combination of abbreviations and short forms of tricks and their direction slot system to define the direction and position of a trick. Words that define direction/how the move is performed are usually shortened. The 3 words that get shortened are "reverse" to "rev", "inverse" to "inv" and "fingerless" to "fl", the shortened versions are sometimes followed by a period/".". (E.g. reverse sonic is changed to rev. sonic and inverse shadow is changed to inv. shadow.)
Names of tricks are sometimes shortened or abbreviated. For example, the modifier "Fingerless" is often abbreviated to "FL" while the tricks "Thumbaround" and "Indexaround" are often abbreviated to "TA" and "IA".
Breakdowns
Breakdowns are annotations of links (a mix of a few tricks) and combos (combinations of links) which are used to define how a link or combo is performed. When moves are defined on where it is performed, spinners use the finger slots to help them; they write the trick first, the slot it starts at and a "-" after, and the slot the trick ends at (exemplis grata Sonic 23-12). When writing breakdowns, spinners usually follow two standard structures. The 1st structure is normally Direction (Rev) then "how" (Inv, FL), the trick name, and the slots it is in (exemplis grata Rev Inv Sonic 12-23). The 2nd structure is similar to the 1st one however, the "how" is written first, then the trick name is written, then the abbreviated notations and then the slots (exemplis grata Inv Sonic Rev 12-23). While many spinners write their breakdowns in these formats, they are not strictly necessary and are often deviated from.
The Tricks
Fundamental Tricks
In Pen Spinning there are 4 main fundamental tricks, spinners should learn first (it is a should, not a must).
- Thumbaround
The "ThumbAround" (previously known as "360 Degrees Normal") is performed by pushing a pen by one's middle finger (the index finger is also used to make it look smoother in a combination of moves) so to initiate the pen to spin around one's thumb a single time, then catching it in between the thumb and index finger. There are many variations, but one used most often for combinations uses just momentum and only a rotation around the thumb with a jerk of the hand or a push with the middle finger. To do this the 1st finger is put on the eraser, the 3rd finger near the middle, and the thumb in between. Pressure is then added on the pencil/pen with the thumb. This is most easily done with pens and pencils with a center of mass nearer to the writing tip, such as mechanical pencils and cheap disposable pens.
- Fingerpass
The "Pass" involves spinning the pen through the fingers. A combination of Passes are called FingerPasses. The FingerPass was used in the James Bond film GoldenEye by Boris Grishenko, in a variation using only three fingers instead of the usual four
- Charge
The Charge does not involve spinning the pen around any fingers or any body parts, rather, the pen is manipulated in such a way with two fingers, that it seems to spin in a very fast motion, in a conic-shaped path. Its conic path and its speed thus create an illusion of the charging motion of the pen. This trick is often performed by drummers using drumsticks rather than pens. It looks like the pen is spinning in the two fingers. Right-handed people performing this trick would mean that the pen is revolving clockwise. If it is going the opposite direction, it is called Charge Reverse.
- Sonic
The idea behind the Sonic is to move the pen from one finger position to another finger position in as little time as possible. In this trick, the pen is normally held between the middle and ring fingers (but could be performed with other fingers using mapping) and is moved so that it ends up between the middle and index. The move is done by revolving the pen in a conic-like motion behind a finger (or fingers). As this trick can be executed in a very short amount of time, its name means a supersonic movement
Advanced Tricks
In addition to the 4 fundamental tricks, more have been invented and used successfully in combos by numerous people
- Infinity
The pen should begin by being held in the writing position, near the tip of a pen. A wiper reverse is performed, where the pen pivots from the top of the thumb and index finger to the bottom of the thumb and index finger. A pass to the index/middle fingers is then performed. The pen pivots from the top of these fingers to the bottom. The pen is then swung back up to the writing position. When the pen is not passed to a different finger slot, the trick is called "Figure 8". When two passes are involved, the trick will be called as "Double Infinity".
- Shadow
This is a trick where the palm is facing down. The pen starts at any finger slot and does 0.5 rotations in the charge position before traveling up to the top of the hand. The pen should revolve 0.5 times on top of your fingers. As it nears the end of the 0.5 revolutions on top, slowly lift any of your fingers to catch the pen . At the end, a final 0.5 revolutions of charge should end the trick. Doing a total of 1.5 revolutions.
- Thumbspin
The ThumbSpin is a variation of the ThumbAround, except it spins more than one revolution and spins on top of the thumb. The starting and ending positions are the same as the ThumbAround
- Palmspin
This is a trick where the palm is facing up. The pen spin for more than one revolution on the middle of your palm. Usually, it starts after thumbaround. While you are doing thumbaround, you let your pen spin rather than catching it. While the pen is still spinning, you turn your palm until your palm is facing up.
- Triangle Pass
This is one of the popular trick where the pen starts on the top of the end of any of three of your fingers (too many "of" I guess). Usually, the fingers used in this trick are the thumb, index and middle finger. Starts by pushing the pen a bit with your middle finger. The pen should rotate 0.5 times on the thumb and index finger while your middle finger is going back to the first position. So, the result is 0.5 rotations, but it can be done more than that by continously rotating the pen. The more advanced spinner can do this trick on another fingers such as index, middle and ring or middle, ring, and pinky.
- Spread
Spread is a trick when you throw/bounce your pen up with your finger. The finger used in this trick are all your fingers except your thumb. Thumb has an aerial release only, there is no spread trick for thumb.
- Korean BackAround
The Korean BackAround, or simply "Bak", is a popular trick where the pen goes around any of the four fingers that are not the thumb. It is basically a Fingerless FingerAround Reverse, except follows a diagonal motion when spinning. A Bak that goes around the index finger would be called the Index Bak. A popular mini combo executed by pen spinners is called the BakFall (Korean BackAround Fall).
The last thing I want to share is just a simple video by KTrinh93.
I hope that video will encourage you to learn this cool hobby.
Well, that's all from me. I'll make another blog of the tricks spefically later. If you can give me ideas or correction about this blog, please comment down here!
Thank You!
The last thing I want to share is just a simple video by KTrinh93.
I hope that video will encourage you to learn this cool hobby.
Well, that's all from me. I'll make another blog of the tricks spefically later. If you can give me ideas or correction about this blog, please comment down here!
Thank You!
