Friday, August 17, 2007

Notes on the SWE shift

I just stumbled across these notes because someone asked a question about the SWE on another website. Maybe this can help some of you out there that have trouble with the move.


Covers for the move:
-Tapping the table (Wesley James)
With the body slightly turned to the left the short edge of the deck is tapped against the table while performing the shift

-Blowing on the deck (Chris Kenner)
While bringing the deck up to the mouth to blow on it, perform the shift.

-Rotating the deck
Have the long side of the deck almost contacting table- top card facing audience. In rotating the deck (so the back of the top card faces toward yourself) perform the shift.

-Change the style of cut (Magic Cafe member Pavloter)
With the deck tabled, cut off top half and place in left hand in SWE position. Pick up original bottom half from table and perform shift while apparently placing the packets together to complete cut in the hands

-Perform at the table edge (Magic Cafe member Papermechanic)
With the deck tabled, cut top half away from performer and place on table. Complete the cut on the table holding a break. Slide deck to table edge and perform shift pinning the bottom packet (which will be shifted to top) to the table with the right second and third finger. Left hand pulls back top packet and completes shift.

Getting the break for the SWE
-Diagonal placement
With deck tabled, cut top half away from performer. Grab original bottom packet with right hand and place diagonally (almost so the two packets form a very tight “X”) creating the ‘step’ to utilize when cards are picked up from table.

-Pull back method a la Steve Freeman
With deck tabled, cut top half away from performer. Grab original bottom packet with right hand and place further forward on original top packet, leaving a step below the right thumb. In sliding deck back toward performer apply pressure down with right thumb while pulling original bottom packet back with right fingers to form break at back.

-From deal (the way Erdnase would probably do it)
Hold break with pinky while dealing. Bend left wrist so index finger points toward performer. bring right hand over deck, palm down (fingers contacting left thumb) allowing right thumb to pick up pinky break. Release left hand and turn counter clockwise inserting pinky as in Fig 72 ready for shift.

Tips
-Control the right thumb- do not let it kick out when performing shift. Keep it as far down as possible.
-Focus on top packet. Pull it back as fast as possible. It may help to perform the shift in front of a wall or hard object to prevent you from kicking the bottom packet forward. (I’m told this is how Chris Kenner practices)
-Make sure the deck stays as square as possible. Do not allow the left fingers to get in-between the packets when the bottom is being shifted to top.

Alternate Uses for SWE
-False Cut
-Dead Cutting to any card
-Elevator effects
-Transformation

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Jeff, since you obviously know a lot about shifts, I was wondering if you could explain the Romney Shift. I heard it's an updated version of the Kerry Shift, which involves a back-and-forth motion of the hands, kind of like a flip flop.

=)

J. Wessmiller said...

Hey there,
I am not familiar with either of those shifts. The shifts I am aware of that have a back and forth motion are Doc's 'infinity pass' and the 'deep palm pass'.
be well,
JW

Unknown said...

Jeff, it was supposed to be a joke about how Mitt Romney and John Kerry are notorious for changing their political positions.

J. Wessmiller said...

Good lord, here I was searching books for the Kerry shift. Haha, good one tony.

Anonymous said...

...please where can I buy a unicorn?