Best cards?

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Lord Nikon
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Best cards?

Unread post by Lord Nikon »

Is there really decks that are best designed for Cardistry / XCM / Flourishing or are they all created equal? My son is the magician and when he opens a new deck I check out the cards. Personally, outside of Mavericks and Aviators I don't really notice a difference in the feel.
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Re: Best cards?

Unread post by MagikFingerz »

As far as I know, no deck has been created specifically for cardistry when it comes to stock and finish. Visually, the Virtuoso deck was designed with cardistry in mind; otherwise there are simply some that work better than others. One type of design that is popular with flourishers is the minimalist Jerry's Nuggets clones (bold color and single element), but apart from a deck's visibility in videos it's really a matter of taste.

The "feel" of a deck is also highly subjective, some prefer stiffer stock and a more slippery glide, and vice versa. That said, the general consensus right now is that Bee Casino stock USPCC decks are (still) the best choice for card handlers. But with Legends/EPCC trying out new stuff all the time, they are potential contenders until you try them out and feel for yourself. For example, I just opened up a deck of Serpentines and found them handling very nicely.

Something that was pointed out to me a while ago that stuck with me (thanks, Sinjin), is that it's generally better for a deck to be too stiff and too slippery, rather than the other way around. Stock can be softened by breaking in the deck, and glide can be more easily manipulated with fanning powder on a more slippery deck.

As always, I still think that nothing has been better than decks printed by the USPCC's Ohio factory (which was moved a few years ago) along with certain select older decks. These include RJRTC Watermelons (thick stock), Virginia Slims (thin stock) and Tally Ho's ca 1989 (smooth finish). If you can find any of these for a decent price, I highly recommend trying them out.
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Lord Nikon
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Re: Best cards?

Unread post by Lord Nikon »

I picked up a pack of Watermelons for about $8. I'll see if he likes them today and get his impressions on the cards.
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