Card Throwing
Turn a deck of cards into a ranged weapon. For fun.
physicalcreativeFree15 mindifficulty 2/5
Card throwing is the art of flicking playing cards with enough speed and spin that they embed in watermelons, slice bananas, and stick into cardboard from across the room. It sounds ridiculous because it is. But the technique is surprisingly learnable, and nothing says 'side quest completed' like splitting a grape at 10 feet.
How to start
- 1Grab any deck of playing cards. Cheap ones are fine โ you'll destroy them.
- 2Hold the card between your middle and index finger, wrist cocked back.
- 3Snap your wrist forward and release. Spin is more important than force.
- 4Set up a cardboard target 2 meters away. Aim for consistency, not power.
- 5Watch Rick Smith Jr.'s tutorials for proper grip and throwing mechanics.
What you'll need
- Deck of playing cards (bulk pack)Essential~$5
- Cardboard target boxEssentialFree
- Throwing cards (heavier stock)Nice to have~$8
Where to learn more
Plot twists
Ways to spice this up when the basics get boring.
- Try to slice a banana in half. It's possible and deeply satisfying.
- Set up a row of candles and try to extinguish them with thrown cards.
- Throw with your non-dominant hand. Instant hard mode.
- Use novelty giant cards. The physics change completely.
- Speed challenge: how many cards can you stick in a target in 60 seconds?
ADHD notes
Pick up a card, throw it, see if it sticks. The feedback loop is two seconds long. You'll throw an entire deck before you realize it.
Fun fact
Rick Smith Jr. holds the record for the farthest card throw at over 65 meters. He can also throw a card fast enough to slice a banana in mid-air.
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