This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Eric McClure. Eric McClure is an editing fellow at wikiHow where he has been editing, researching, and creating content since 2019. A former educator and poet, his work has appeared in Carcinogenic Poetry, Shot Glass Journal, Prairie Margins, and The Rusty Nail. His digital chapbook, The Internet, was also published in TL;DR Magazine. He was the winner of the Paul Carroll award for outstanding achievement in creative writing in 2014, and he was a featured reader at the Poetry Foundation’s Open Door Reading Series in 2015. Eric holds a BA in English from the University of Illinois at Chicago, and an MEd in secondary education from DePaul University.
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Fidget spinners are a great way to keep yourself busy in your free time. They’re cheap, fun, and easy to use. If you’re looking to elevate your fidget spinning skills, there are several tricks that you can learn to impress your friends or keep yourself busy while you’re bored. From a simple hand transfer to a double-spinner switch, there are a variety of tricks available for beginners and experts alike. With enough practice, you’ll be spinning all over the place in no time!
Steps
Performing a Hand Transfer
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1Hold a fidget spinner in your dominant hand. Pinch the finger pads on both sides of your fidget spinner with your thumb and index finger. Pinch it firmly so that it doesn’t slip out of your grip.[1]
- The finger pads are the stationary platforms in the middle of your fidget spinner. There is one pad on each side of the spinner. The parts that spin are called prongs.
Tip: You can test your grip by quickly turning the fidget spinner upside down and right-side up. If the fidget spinner doesn’t move in your grip, you’ve got a good handle on it.
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2Spin it hard with your nondominant hand. Use the index finger on your opposite hand to spin one of the prongs hard. The fidget spinner will start spinning rapidly. If it isn’t spinning hard, try again. You want the fidget spinner to spin hard while performing this trick.[2]
- If you can’t get a good speed going, try switching your hands and use your dominant hand to spin it. For some people, using the opposite hand to spin a fidget spinner is easier.
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3Spread your hands 1–1.5 feet (30–46 cm) apart. Spread your arms apart and keep them level with one another. Turn your free hand over so that the palm is facing the spinning fidget spinner in the opposite hand.[3]
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4Use your arm to toss the spinner to your other hand. Lower the arm holding the fidget spinner a little and move it up quickly to toss the spinner to your opposite hand. Toss it slightly upwards so that you have time to adjust to the fidget spinner as it falls.[4]
- Try to lob the spinner so that you don’t have to move your hand to catch it. It will be more impressive and will keep your audience from getting distracted by your arm moving.
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5Catch the spinner between your thumb and index finger. Spread the fingers on your free hand out as the fidget spinner travels through the air. Track it with your eyes and pinch the finger pads with your thumb and index finger to catch it as it falls.[5]
- For an added layer of difficulty, try throwing it back to your original hand immediately after you catch it using the same steps.
Doing a Finger Transfer
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1Spin the fidget spinner using medium speed. This trick is actually harder if the fidget spinner is spinning quickly, so give it a medium spin. Flick it with your finger and level it out so that the prongs are spinning parallel to the floor.[6]
- You can spin the fidget spinner by holding it in your dominant hand and spinning it with your nondominant hand. You can also do the opposite if that’s more comfortable for you. You can spin the fidget spinner in the same hand that you’re holding it by using your middle finger to hold the pad on the opposite side of your thumb if that’s easier.
Tip: Use the same hand that you’re holding it in if you want to do the entire trick without using your opposite hand. To do this, start with the fidget spinner between your middle finger and thumb. Use your index finger to flick it to get it spinning. Keep your free hand behind your back for the duration of the trick to really impress your friends!
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2Take your thumb off of the spinner and balance it on your index finger. Carefully remove your thumb from the top of the spinner. Keep your index finger as still as possible to avoid letting the spinner fall to the floor. Adjust the pad of your finger until the spinner is perfectly balanced in your hand.[7]
- Keep your palm facing directly upward to give yourself the best chance of balancing the spinner.
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3Toss it in straight up in the air by lowering and raising your arm. Without adjusting your wrist, lower your forearm 3–6 inches (7.6–15.2 cm). Lift it quickly to toss the fidget spinner directly in the air. Keep your eye on the fidget spinner as you’re tossing it.[8]
- Don’t move your wrist while you’re throwing it, or you’ll risk sending it flying at an angle.
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4Catch it on your middle finger. When the fidget spinner reaches the highest point in the air, adjust the position of your hand so that you can catch it on your middle finger. Brace your middle finger by putting your ring and index finger underneath it on either side, and lower your middle finger as the fidget spinner lands to brace it and cushion the fall.[9]
- If you find yourself dropping the fidget spinner when it lands, try tossing it lower in the air.
- If you can’t get the fidget spinner to stay straight when you throw it, focus on keeping your wrist firm as you throw it in the air.
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5Toss it back into the air and move it back to your index finger. Toss the fidget spinner back in the air using the same downward and upward motion. This time, switch back to your pointer finger to catch the fidget spinner.[10]
- If you get good at this, you can toss it and switch fingers quickly to create the illusion that you’re making the spinner bounce.
Executing a Hand Twist
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1Spin the fidget spinner in your dominant hand. Spin the fidget spinner hard in your dominant hand. Once it’s spinning quickly, remove your thumb from the upper finger pad and balance the spinner on your index finger.[11]
- You have to rotate your wrist to perform this trick, so try to balance the spinner on your finger with your wrist at a 45-degree angle.
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2Lower your arm with your index finger still underneath the spinner. Keep the pad of your index in the center of the finger pad and lower your arm. Keep the spinner parallel to the ground as you do this. Lower the spinner 6–12 inches (15–30 cm).[12]
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3Rotate your wrist around the outside of the spinner. With your palm facing your body, rotate your wrist around the outside of the spinner in a half-circle. Move your arm slowly, with the forearm pointed directly towards the ground. Stop moving your arm once you feel some strain in your wrist or elbow.[13]
- You should reasonably be able to move your arm at least 6–8 inches (15–20 cm) before you feel any strain in your arm.
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4Return your arm to the original position. Once you’ve rotated your wrist on the opposite side of the spinner, bring your arm back along the same path to return it to the original position. Raise the spinner as you’re returning your arm to mirror the original motion that you made.[14]
Tip: To perform a difficult version of this trick, combine the hand twist with a finger transfer once the spinner is at its lowest point.
Spinning behind Your Back
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1Start spinning the fidget spinner in your dominant hand. Spin the fidget spinner as you normally would in your dominant hand. Don’t worry about getting a fast spin going. Keep the spinner pinched between your index finger and thumb.[15]
- This trick is harder to pull off if you start with the spinner in your nondominant hand, since the throwing motion is kind of hard to get right.
Tip: The most impressive part of this trick is the catching of the spinner, and not the spinning itself. Don’t worry about getting a super powerful spin off when you start this trick.
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2Lower your arm and stick your hand out 6–8 inches (15–20 cm) behind you. Slowly move your hand so that it’s sticking out behind your back. Keep it extended out while you readjust your wrist to keep the spinner parallel to the ground. Stick your free hand behind you so that it’s on the opposite side.[16]
- Adjust your free arm until it’s symmetrical with the arm on the opposite side.
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3Use your arm to toss the spinner to the opposite hand. Loosen your elbow a little and use it as hinge to swing your forearm towards your free hand. Release the grip on the spinner to send it directly to your opposite hand. Lob it slowly to give yourself time to catch it.[17]
- Arc your toss a little bit so that the spinner doesn’t fall directly to the ground.
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4Catch the spinner with your free hand between your thumb and index. Try to gage the angle of your toss and predict when it will land in your hand. Keep your index finger and thumb separated and pinch them down quickly to catch the fidget spinner between the finger pads.[18]
- Listen to the sound of the prongs as they spin to give yourself a sense of where it is behind your back as it travels through the air.
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5Bring your arm out from behind your back and show the audience. Once you’ve caught the fidget spinner, slowly bring your arm in front of you. Raise it up to show your audience that the spinner is in your opposite hand.[19]
- This trick is tough, but it’s extremely impressive if you can pull it off quickly while facing your audience.
Performing a Double Spinner Switch
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1Get 2 fidget spinners and hold them between your thumbs and middle fingers. Use 2 identical fidget spinners so that you have an easier time spinning them at the same speed and catching them. Spin them at the same time with the hands that you’re holding them in by sticking your index fingers between the prongs and flicking them.[20]
- If you use 2 different spinners, the weight difference between them can make them hard to catch without dropping.
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2Toss each spinner at the same time, throwing them to the opposite hand. Hold the spinners out in front of you and lower your arms a little bit. As they’re both spinning, toss them to the opposite hand by throwing the spinner in your dominant hand over the other spinner.
- Bend your knees as you do this to keep your tosses consistent.
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3Catch each spinner between your thumb and forefinger on the opposite hand. Release each spinner at the same time and keep your hands where they are to prepare to catch them. Keep your eyes forward and use your peripheral vision to track them while they’re in the air. Pinch each fidget spinner on the finger pads by using your thumbs and index fingers.[21]
- Keep your knees bent while you’re catching them to maintain the spinning.
Tip: Lower your arms a little as you’re catching them so that you cushion the spinners and prevent them from falling.
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4Allow your spinners to continue spinning. Keep your hands raised and allow your fidget spinners to continue spinning as you present them to your audience. Repeat the trick again quickly to make it seem like you’re juggling the spinners.[22]
- Exaggerate your catch a little bit to make it seem even more impressive.
References
- ↑ https://youtu.be/DH1fRza6SOU?t=7
- ↑ https://youtu.be/DH1fRza6SOU?t=7
- ↑ https://youtu.be/DH1fRza6SOU?t=11
- ↑ https://youtu.be/DH1fRza6SOU?t=19
- ↑ https://youtu.be/DH1fRza6SOU?t=22
- ↑ https://youtu.be/DH1fRza6SOU?t=39
- ↑ https://youtu.be/DH1fRza6SOU?t=41
- ↑ https://youtu.be/DH1fRza6SOU?t=51
- ↑ https://youtu.be/DH1fRza6SOU?t=51
- ↑ https://youtu.be/DH1fRza6SOU?t=55
- ↑ https://youtu.be/DH1fRza6SOU?t=58
- ↑ https://youtu.be/DH1fRza6SOU?t=58
- ↑ https://youtu.be/DH1fRza6SOU?t=65
- ↑ https://youtu.be/DH1fRza6SOU?t=70
- ↑ https://youtu.be/DH1fRza6SOU?t=87
- ↑ https://youtu.be/DH1fRza6SOU?t=87
- ↑ https://youtu.be/DH1fRza6SOU?t=87
- ↑ https://youtu.be/DH1fRza6SOU?t=87
- ↑ https://youtu.be/DH1fRza6SOU?t=87
- ↑ https://youtu.be/DH1fRza6SOU?t=111
- ↑ https://youtu.be/DH1fRza6SOU?t=117
- ↑ https://youtu.be/DH1fRza6SOU?t=117
About This Article
To do fidget spinner tricks, start with something easy like a hand transfer. First, hold the fidget spinner in your dominant hand and spin it hard with the index finger of your opposite hand. Once it's spinning rapidly, spread your arms about a foot apart, keeping them level with one another. Turn your free hand over so your palm is facing the spinner in your opposite hand. Then, lower the arm holding the fidget spinner a little and toss it slightly upwards to transfer the spinner to your opposite hand. Spread out the fingers on your free hand and catch the spinner between your thumb and index finger as it falls. Once you're able to do that, try tossing it back and forth between both hands as fast as you can! To learn how to do a trick using 2 fidget spinners, scroll down!
