How to Twirl a Pen

Here are directions for how to do a certain method of pen twirling that involves revolving a pen in a circular motion with just two of your fingers. While this trick can be done by several different methods, this way of explaining it has helped several of my friends learn the talent with dedicated practicing. Although you should obviously stick with whatever method you find easiest to do this little pen twirling trick, try out this simple instructions if you are having a difficult time in grasping the basic principles of the practice. (These directions are written for someone who is right-handed. If you are left handed, try reversing all of them in order to apply them to you as well.)

1) Grab a pen that is fairly balanced on both sides of its ends. If one side is particularly heavier or chunkier than the other, then start with the heavier side pointing away from your body/out from your hands.

2) Place the pen (with the sides positioned as mentioned in step one) between the first and middle finger of your right hand. You will want to start with the pen all the way up towards the tips of your fingers, around the spot of the joint line in your fingers that is closest to the ends of your fingers/the beginning of your finger nails. Although you will find that you will often flip the pen out of your fingers when you have it so far close to the tips of your fingers, this is the way that you will want to twirl the pen once you have mastered the talent. If you learn it properly first, then you won't have to learn how to correct it later.

3) Now, your natural tendency will be to move the pen between your fingers in a simple rocking fashion, sort of like a see-saw. This is not what you want to do when pen twirling. Instead, when pen twirling, move your upper finger (your first finger) in a circular pattern while your lower finger (your middle finger) remains fairly stable. This combination of upper finger rotation and lower finger stabilization of the pen should cause it to move in a circular motion.

Trouble shooting: If you are having problems with this method of pen twirling, here are a few more trouble shooting tips.

1) Make sure that you are moving your fingers in the manner described in step three. It may even be helpful to practice pen twirling without the pen; that is, to do it with just air in between them. This should help you get down the basic feeling of moving your upper finger in a circular fashion.

2) Sometimes it is helpful to practice using a longer thin item, such as a drumstick. The added weight on each side of the stick can help encourage the rotational momentum of pen twirling.

3) Practice! Practice! Practice! Pen twirling is not an automatic skill; instead, it is a talent learned only by those who keep trying and dedicating themselves to many frustrating hours of practicing, often within a classroom setting.