How to Rotate the Pen Around the Thumb

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Have you ever seen someone in a class or office twirling a pen around their thumb very skillfully? Do you wonder how to make this skill so easy? The steps to rotate the pen around the thumb are easy to understand, but difficult to practice. You will soon master this skill if you practice a lot! See Step 1 below to get started. ]]

Table of Contents

Steps

Image titled Spin a Pencil Around Your Thumb Step 1

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Hold the pen between your index finger, middle finger, and thumb. Hold the pen in your dominant hand – index and middle fingers should be spaced about the width of your thumb. In other words, if the pen wasn’t there, the thumb would fit between the index and middle fingers. ^{[1] X Research Source}

There are mixed opinions about where to hold the pen. Some people like to hold the center of the pen, near the center of the pen, but others like to hold it at the end of the pen. You should experiment to see which location is more convenient.

Pull your middle finger as if you were pulling the trigger of a gun. With this game, the middle finger will provide most of the power to rotate the pen. Holding the pen between your thumb, index finger, and middle finger as described above, pull or tug your middle finger inward as if you were pulling the trigger. If done correctly, the pen will begin to rotate around the thumb. If you can’t rotate the pen around your thumb, check your grip again – if the middle finger and thumb are too close together, the pen will be pulled into the thumb instead of around it. ^{[2] X Research Source}

It is not easy for you to find the right traction for the middle finger. Pulling too hard will cause the pen to fly away, but if you pull too lightly, the pen will not be able to rotate all the way around the thumb. There’s a daily grind to the iron – over time, you’ll know how much force it takes for the pen to rotate “the right way”.

Rotate your wrist to create more force to rotate the pen around your thumb. Beginners often find it difficult to rotate the pen. Often the hardest part is getting the pen to rotate enough around the thumb. To make this easier, you should rotate your wrist while pulling the middle finger. Gently rotate your wrist (like turning a doorknob) outward from your body while pulling your middle finger. This move will transfer more force to the pen, in addition to helping the fingers avoid the rotation of the pen.

Move your fingers so you don’t get in the way of the pen. When learning how to rotate the pen, it’s important to notice the position of your fingers after you’ve “pulled” your middle finger in. A common beginner mistake is accidentally letting the index or middle finger get in the way of the pen. There are many techniques for moving the fingers – here are two: ^{[3] X Research Source}

After pulling the middle finger back, bring both the index and middle fingers together so that they are under the joint of the thumb. The pen will rotate around the thumb that is resting on the index and middle fingers.
At the same time, bend the middle finger at the knuckle closest to the palm, and extend the index finger as far as possible. The middle finger will rest on the thumb on the medial surface of the last vertebra. The pen will not rotate on the extended index finger.

Grab the pen. The most impressive part of this game is not exactly the stage when the pen is spinning, but when the spinner can catch the pen easily and repeatedly. Once you get used to rotating the pen, practice “catching” the pen without fumbling. After one rotation, the pen will go from bottom to top of the middle finger. When it makes contact with the middle finger, use your thumb and index finger to balance the pen on opposite sides.

Practice, practice and practice. When you are new to the practice, the pen rotation will look very awkward. However, as with other dexterous activities (like riding a bike), over time the movements will become so natural that it will be difficult to turn the wrong way . ^{[4] X Source of Research} When practicing, you need to experiment with grip positions, technique, and rotation to find the perfect combination.

Once you’ve masterfully rotated the pen on your dominant hand, you can try doing it with your non-dominant hand!

Advice

Do not pull the middle finger too hard when rotating the pen upwards. Try to avoid pushing too hard, or the pen will fly out of your hand.
Remember, you SHOULD NOT bounce the pen. Folding your middle finger in will cause the pen to spin around and fall out of your hand. If the pen flies away without touching the outside of your thumb, you are bouncing the pen.
When the pen is rotated properly, the center of gravity of the pen should be between the thumb.
If you keep practicing and still can’t do it, then check to see if the thumb is flat or not. This is where the pen will rotate on. You should not tilt your thumb to push the pen away.
When you can rotate the pen proficiently, try to rotate it in the opposite direction. To return the pen to its original position. Find instructions online on how to reverse the pen rotation.
If you are rotating the pen disproportionately, hold the heavier end.
To make it easier to practice turning the pen, you should imagine rotating the pen circling the thumb at the base.
Practice with the long pencil first, then upgrade to the shorter one.
After pulling the middle finger back, try to move the thumb so that the space between the thumb and the hand is wider. This step will create more space for the pen to fall into.
This game is easier to do with the long pen. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

Warning

When pulling the middle finger, you should not pull too hard. You only need very little force to push the pen around.
Never use a pencil with a sharp tip.
Pencils without guts are better to avoid stabbing your hands.
Be careful not to get the pen in your or others’ eyes.

Things you need

Ballpoint pen or pencil. An unsharpened pencil is best because it’s long, heavy, and well-proportioned. Some pen spinners even edit the pen for added convenience.
Try using a drumstick. It is quite heavy so it is difficult to rotate quickly. You should hold it at the center point to make it easier to rotate.

Steps

Advice

Warning

Things you need

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