How to Levitate a Metal Ball for a Magic Trick

Levitation Illusion

• 1

  Produce the illusion of levitation by holding the sphere in the same position in space with a claw-like grip while pivoting your hand around it. Grip the ball between the tips of your thumb and index finger. Your palm should not touch the ball.

• 2

  Hold the ball on top of your fingers then smoothly move your hand up in front of the ball so that it is blocked from an audience view.

• 3

  Dangle the ball in your grip, and rotate your hand down the side. It's vital to keep the ball stationary in space. Moving the ball will upset the illusion.

Wringing the Towel

• 4

  Perform the "wringing the towel" isolation move by keeping the ball stationary in space and moving your hands around it. Begin by holding the ball atop a fist so that it looks as though you are holding an ice cream cone. Place your other fist on top of the ball and switch the placement of your fists by rotating them around the ball, holding the ball in a stationary position.

• 5

  Open your bottom hand by extending your fingers, one at a time, until the ball lands atop your fingers. By raising your fingers in sequence, from index and down, the ball will roll.

• 6

  Catch the ball on the pinky finger side of your other hand, lifting each finger to continue rolling the ball. As each finger lifts, form a fist and end with the ball again atop your fist in an ice cream cone shape. Repeat the steps above, aiming to improve your technique, smoothing the moves to create the illusion of levitation.

Wiper Maneuver

• 7

  Learn the "wiper" move by first practicing how to cradle the ball on the back of your index, middle and ring fingers. This is best accomplished by holding your arm parallel to the ground. As the ball sits, holding your middle finger slightly below the other two will facilitate the sense of a cradle.

• 8

  Learn to move your arm around without dropping the ball. Advance to gently tossing the ball an inch or two and catching it in the three-finger cradle on the back of your hand. Begin to toss the ball then catch it on the underside of the fingers and toss it again to catch it on the backside of your fingers.

• 9

  Cradle the ball with your arm parallel to the ground then pivot your arm on the axis of your elbow in a windshield-wiper movement. As your arm reaches 90 degrees, the ball should be rolling up your fingers, cresting your fingertips and rolling to the underside of them as your arm and hand swing to catch the ball in your palm. Pivot your arm to roll the ball up the underside of your fingers, catching it in the cradle on the backside of your hand.