How to Twirl a Pen Around Your Thumb!

Welcome!

Ever sit in class, mesmerized by a fellow classmate deftly twirling a pen around their thumb? Ever try this yourself with horribly awkward and unsuccessful failures? Your troubles have been solved! In this guide I will teach the basics of twirling a pen around your thumb!

Pen/Pencil Tricks​

Though there are many different types of tricks you can do with your pen/pencil, this guide will only cover specifically with spinning around your thumb (the classic pen trick).

Step One: Getting The Proper Pencil to Practice With​

It is suggested that for beginners you use a standard, unsharpened HB pencil. Starting right away with shorter pens is possible but you will have more trouble getting started.

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The reason why you want to use a pencil to start off with is because there is more balance, where as most pens will not be as balanced near the end.

Step Two: Positioning Your Hand​

Hold the pencil with your thumb, index finger and middle finger; holding the pencil in place by holding it in between your index finger and your thumb with you middle finger balancing the pencil.

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Your fingers should be around the base of the pencil, a bit under where the eraser should be.

Step Three: Spinning the Pencil​

Keeping your thumb locked and straight, push your middle finger to the bottom joint of your thumb while releasing your index finger to let it continue moving around your thumb.

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You do not want to "flick" the pencil or apply too much force as that will cause the pencil to fall out of your hand. Instead, try doing this step slowly while guiding the pencil with your other hand to understand the direction and motion the pencil is going in.

Step Four: Catching the Pencil​

This part comes almost naturally (for me atleast!). As the pencil wraps around your thumb and is making the return, move in your index finger as the pencil hits your middle finger to catch it.

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So what happens is this, push the pencil with your middle finger to send it around your thumb at the same time moving your index finger out by pointing straight. As the pencil comes back around and hits your middle finger, retract your pointed index finger to wrap around and catch the pencil before it falls.

Step Five: Practice!​

This is definitely not something that will happen right away so don't get discouraged if you can't get it on the first try. Keep practicing when you are bored and you will get it in no time!

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Conclusion​

I hope you guys enjoyed the guide and are diligently practicing to master this fun little hobby! Remember to make sure you do this at home or somewhere you can make a bit of noise as dropping the pen/pencil will happen in the beginning. Also make sure you keep the lid on the pen!

Good luck!

Here's a quick video example of how to properly spin the pencil around your thumb. (Thanks Benny!)

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*Any constructive criticism is welcomed!*

References:
Images from Google Images
Own personal experience
Video by Bennytheberry *thanks!*

 

I prefer breaking my pencils and throwing them at girls I find attractive in a desperate attempt to gain their attention. Although if it does get their attention I often get too embarassed and look away as if it wasn't me.

 

I suggest HB pencils for maximum attention-ness then

 

I love this guide! I'm learning to spin pens and pencils around my fingers, but haven't mastered the thumb yet. This has helped me so much!

 

When i went to school, a few could do it, a few had different pen tricks lol

 

Haha you will get it eventually! I'm glad you enjoyed the guide

Yea at my university I see the strangest pen tricks I would never attempt to do, I found this one was the best for me

 

I've always wanted to do this. I remember trying many times. Might give it a go now

 

Once you get the hang of it, it is really addicting to do haha.

 

Thanks for the tip! All this time I've been wasting my time on 4B.

 

Haha I'm I could help in some way.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMkUxm7gMJg

I saw you didn't have a video, so I uploaded one quickly.

In regards to the technique: I spin with my ring finger (as opposed to middle), and I catch differently so that I can spin the pencil back. It's still something to look at though.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTkQIx_Bl84
^^ that's the way you're showing how to do it?

 

Great guide. I did this in my math class and seemed to have gotten lucky. Two new phone numbers. >.<

 

Thanks! I'm glad it helped... and yes it's great for attention ^_^

Yes for sure it is! Thanks so much for helping me out in uploading a video, I'll link it at the end of my guide if that's alright with you <3

 

I can do that but I was looking if you know and can make a guide on twirling the pencil back. Meaning when you do this steps above it'll drop like you said but I'm looking for when it drops on the hand naturally , I wanna twirl it back like the very first.

Any idea how ?

 

I have some sense on how to do it, maybe I'll add more to my original guide for those who want to go a step further. Though I will have to figure out to do this before I go and make a guide on it!

 

Practicing but unintentionally applying too much force. Damn me.

Nice guide, by the way.

 

Yea that was my biggest problem trying to learn it, it's more of a "push" instead of a "flick" though it's easier said than done >_< and thanks!

 

Thanks Hope to see the upcoming guide of twirling a pen / pencil.

 

Been messing around a bit, it's alot harder than it looks

 

Its good that youre teaching people the ways of the Korean
If you look up "penspinning" on yt, then youll see how advanced spinning a pencil can get.

I recommend making more guides for the other basic tricks like Sonic, fingerpass, and reverse thumbarounds. (assuming you know them)