Ed’s Cups & Balls Routine

Setup:

 Cups stacked mouth-up.

 3 small balls in top cup.
 1 small ball in middle cup.
 4 loads in back pocket.
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Phase 1: Outer to inner cup.
Effect: The three cups are placed mouth-down in a row on the table. One ball is placed under
each cup. The balls magically gather under the middle cup.
Method:
1. Hold mouth-up stack in left hand.
2. Tilt stack to pour out the three balls from the top cup.
3. The left hand holds the mouth-up stack vertically.
4. The right hand removes the bottom cup and places it mouth-down on the table to the
magician’s right. [The rightmost position].
5. The right hand removes the next cup from the bottom of the stack and places it
(together with its hidden extra ball) mouth-down to the left of the tabled cup. This is the
middle cup. [The middle position].
6. The left hand inverts the remaining cup and places it mouth-down to the left of the two
tabled cups. This is the left cup. [The leftmost position].
7. Place one ball in front of each cup.
Position check: Three cups are in a row on the table (extra ball is hidden under the
middle cup) and one ball is in front of each cup.
8. The left hand tilts the rightmost cup back slightly as the right hand apparently scoops
the rightmost ball under the cup (retaining it in finger-palm). No balls are under the
rightmost cup; the audience thinks there is one ball under it.
9. The left hand tilts the middle cup back slightly as the right hand scoops the middle ball
under the cup (adding the finger-palmed ball). Three balls—the originally hidden ball
and the two balls that were just added—are under the middle cup; the audience thinks
there is only one ball under it.
10. The left hand tilts the leftmost cup back slightly as the right hand apparently scoops the
leftmost ball under the cup (retaining it in finger-palm). No balls are under the leftmost
cup; the audience thinks there is one ball under it.
 11. Express a magical gesture and lift the outer cups, clanging them together above the
middle cup, to reveal that the balls have vanished. Right hand is holding out (finger-
palming) the extra ball.
12. Show inside the mouths of the cups to the audience then replace the cups in their
respective positions (secretly adding the extra ball under the rightmost cup).
13. The right hand lifts the middle cup to reveal that the three balls have gathered under it.
14. The left hand lifts the three balls and the right hand replaces the cup in its middle
position.
15. Distribute the three balls; one in front of each cup.
Position check: Three cups are in a row on the table (extra ball is hidden under the
rightmost cup) and one ball is in front of each cup.
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Phase 2: Under spectator’s finger.
Effect: The rightmost cup covers the rightmost ball. A spectator places her finger on top of the
cup. The middle ball is placed under the middle cup and magically joins the ball under the
rightmost cup under the spectator’s finger. The leftmost ball is placed under the middle cup
and magically joins the other two balls under the rightmost cup under the spectator’s finger.
Method:
1. The right hand slides the rightmost cup forward, tilting it back just enough to cover the
rightmost ball (making sure not to flash the extra ball hidden beneath it).
2. A spectator, seated near the front right corner of the table, is asked to place her finger
on top of the cup.
3. The left hand tilts the middle cup back slightly as the right hand scoops the middle ball
under the cup (retaining it in finger-palm).
4. The left hand lifts the leftmost cup and, as a magical gesture, clangs the cup against the
middle cup then replaces it at its leftmost position.
5. The right hand lifts the middle cup to show that the ball has vanished (secretly
positioning the finger-palmed ball beneath it in pinkie-grip).
6. The spectator is asked to raise the cup she has her finger on and she discovers that there
are now two balls under it.
7. The left hand takes the cup from the spectator as the right hand covers the two balls
(secretly adding the pinkie-palmed ball).
8. The left hand takes the leftmost ball, the right hand tilts the middle cup forward slightly
and the left hand pretends to place the ball under the cup (secretly rolling it behind the
cup to the right hand which finger-palms it).
 9. The left hand lifts the leftmost cup and, as a magical gesture, clangs the cup against the
middle cup then replaces it at its leftmost position.
10. The right hand lifts the middle cup to show that the ball has vanished (secretly
positioning the finger-palmed ball beneath it in pinkie-grip) and replaces the cup at its
middle position (secretly adding the pinkie-gripped extra ball).
11. The spectator is asked to raise the cup she has her finger on and she discovers that there
are now three balls under it.
12. The right hand takes the cup from the spectator and places it at the rightmost position.
13. Distribute the three balls; one in front of each cup.
Position check: Three cups are in a row on the table (extra ball is hidden under the middle
cup) and one ball is in front of each cup.
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Phase 3: Stacking
Effect: The middle cup covers the middle ball, the rightmost ball is placed on top of the cup, the
rightmost cup is stacked on top of these and both cups are lifted to show that the ball has
penetrated the cup and joined the ball beneath it. One cup covers the two balls in the middle,
the rightmost cup is stacked on top of the cup, the leftmost ball is placed on top of the stack,
the leftmost cup is stacked on top of these, and the stack is lifted to show that the ball has
penetrated two cups and joined the other two balls beneath the stack.
Method:
1. The left hand slides the middle cup forward, tilting it back just enough to cover the
middle ball (making sure not to flash the extra ball hidden beneath it).
2. The right hand picks up the rightmost ball and places it on top of the middle cup.
3. The right hand picks up the rightmost cup and stacks it on top of these then
immediately lifts the stack to reveal two balls. Apparently, the second ball penetrated
the cup.
4. The right hand tilts the stack it is holding backwards into the awaiting palm-up left hand.
5. The left hand holds the stack vertically, mouth up. (There is a ball hidden in the bottom
cup).
6. The right hand removes the top cup and places it at the rightmost position then takes
the remaining cup from the left hand and places it over the two middle balls (together
with its hidden ball).
7. The right hand picks up the rightmost cup and stacks it on top of the middle cup.
8. The left hand picks up the remaining (leftmost) ball, places it on top of the two-cup
stack, picks up the leftmost cup and stacks it on top.
9. Pause. The right hand holds the tabled three-cup stack as if to stable it.
 10. The left hand runs a finger down the left side of the stack as a magical gesture then the
right hand immediately lifts the stack to reveal three balls. Apparently, the third ball
penetrated two cups.
11. The right hand tilts the stack it is holding backwards into the awaiting palm-up left hand.
12. The left hand holds the stack vertically, mouth up. (There is a ball hidden in the bottom
cup).
13. The right hand removes the bottom cup and places it (together with its hidden extra
ball) mouth-down at the rightmost position.
14. The right hand removes the next cup from the bottom of the stack and places it mouth-
down at the middle position.
15. The left hand inverts the remaining cup and places it mouth-down at the leftmost
position.
16. Place one ball on top of each cup.
Position check: Three cups are in a row on the table (extra ball is hidden under the middle
cup) and one ball is in front of each cup.
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Phase 3: Vernon
Effect: Each ball is made to vanish and reappear under their respective cups.
Method:
1. The palm-up right hand is positioned at the right side of the rightmost cup and the left
hand tilts the cup to the right (making sure not to flash the extra ball hidden beneath it)
tipping the ball from the top of the cup into the awaiting right hand.
2. A false transfer is executed from the right hand into the left hand (retaining the ball in
right hand finger-palm).
3. The right hand picks up the wand, taps the left hand then the left hand opens to show
that the ball has vanished.
4. Table the wand behind the cups (or to your right).
5. The palm-up left hand is positioned at the left side of the middle cup and the right hand
(now secreting the extra ball in pinkie-palm) tilts the cup to the left, tipping the ball from
the top of the cup into the awaiting left hand (secretly adding the pinkie-palmed ball
beneath it).
6. The right hand picks up the wand, inserts the left end of the wand into the pinkie-side of
the palm-up left fist which is still holding the ball. The wand is pushed through half way
then the right hand lets go but remains where it is with its back towards the spectators.
In one fluid motion: the left fist turns clockwise and, when it is palm-down, secretly
drops the ball into right- hand finger-palm then the right hand grasps the middle of the
 wand at the thumb side of the left fist and pulls it to the right until it is completely
withdrawn from the left fist.
7. The right hand taps the left hand with the wand then the left hand opens to show that
the ball has vanished.
8. Table the wand behind the cups (or to your right).
9. The palm-up left hand is positioned at the left side of the leftmost cup and the right
hand (now secreting the extra ball in pinkie-palm) tilts the cup to the left, tipping the
ball from the top of the cup into the awaiting left hand (secretly adding the pinkie-
palmed ball beneath it).
10. Option 1 (advanced): Execute either a strike-vanish of Vernon wand-spin vanish then
table the wand to your right.
Option 2 (easier): The right hand takes the ball from the left hand (ostensibly to show it
to the spectators at the right) then execute another false transfer into the left hand
(secretly retaining it in right-hand finger-palm). The right hand then picks up the wand,
taps the left hand then the left hand opens to show that the ball has vanished. Table the
wand to your right.
11. With the extra ball in right-hand finger-palm, place the right pinkie on top of the
rightmost cup, the left pinkie on top of the leftmost cup and both forefingers on top of
the middle cup then, to reveal that all three balls have returned to their respective cups,
tilt the cups back simultaneously so that they are lying on their side with their mouths
towards the spectators and the balls in front of them.
12. Line up the three balls in a row and cover them with the cups.
Position check: The three cups are covering the three balls. The extra ball is in right-
hand finger-palm.
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Phase 4: Load sequence
Effect: Each ball is pocketed but they reappear under their respective cups. Two balls are made
to vanish, the third is put into a hypnotic sleep and then pocketed. The magician fails to
reproduce the balls under the cups because three large balls (or fruits) are occupying the space
inside the three cups. An additional fourth ball (or fruit) is finally found beneath the middle cup.
Method:
1. The right hand secretly shifts its finger-palmed ball into pinkie-palm.
2. First load: The right hand lifts the rightmost cup; the left hand removes the ball from
beneath the cup then the right hand replaces the cup (secretly adding the pinkie-palmed
extra ball beneath it).
3. The left hand pockets the ball and comes out of the pocket palming the first load.
4. The right hand lifts the rightmost cup again, transfers it to the awaiting left hand (which
secretly loads the cup), picks up the ball, and the left hand replaces the cup with the
load hidden inside.
5. The right hand executes a false transfer into the left hand (secretly retaining the ball in
pinkie-palm).
6. The magician holds the left fist at ear level (palm towards the spectators), blows on the
fist and immediately opens his fist to show that the ball has vanished.
7. Second load: The right hand lifts the middle cup; the left hand removes the ball from
beneath the cup then the right hand replaces the cup (secretly adding the pinkie-palmed
extra ball beneath it).
8. The left hand pockets the ball and comes out of the pocket palming the second load.
9. The right hand lifts the middle cup again, transfers it to the awaiting left hand (which
secretly loads the cup), picks up the ball, and the left hand replaces the cup with the
load hidden inside.
10. The right hand executes a false transfer into the left hand (secretly retaining the ball in
pinkie-palm).
11. The magician holds the left fist at ear level (palm towards the spectators), blows on the
fist and immediately opens his fist to show that the ball has vanished.
12. Third load: The right hand lifts the leftmost cup; the left hand removes the ball from
beneath the cup then the right hand replaces the cup (secretly adding the pinkie-palmed
extra ball beneath it).
13. The left hand pockets the ball and comes out of the pocket palming the third load.
14. The right hand lifts the leftmost cup again, transfers it to the awaiting left hand (which
secretly loads the cup), picks up the ball, and the left hand replaces the cup with the
load hidden inside.
15. The right hand places the ball into the palm-up left hand and induces the ball into a
hypnotic sleep.
16. The left hand pockets the “sleeping” ball and comes out of the pocket palming the
fourth load.
17. The magician proclaims that, with a click of his fingers, he will make all three balls
magically return to their respective cups.
18. He clicks his right fingers above the middle cup then tilts the cup forward to look inside.
19. Something has obviously gone wrong.
20. The right hand lifts the middle cup to reveal its load, transfers the cup to the awaiting
left hand (which secretly loads the cup) and picks up the visible load. The left hand
replaces the cup with the additional (fourth) load hidden inside and the right hand
places the visible load on top of the cup.
21. Both hands simultaneously lift the outer cups to reveal their loads, tables the cups
behind them then places their loads on top of them.
22. Finally, the left hand lifts the middle cup (with its visible load on top) to reveal the last
(fourth) load, tables the cup behind it (in line with the outer cups) then places the final
(fourth) load on top.

Finis