Diminishing Golf Ball Routine
By Ballantine

Ireland's diminishing golf ball effect is one of the smartest effects in modern manipulative magic. However, the routine worked out by Laurie Ireland has one defect for the night club performer--bad angles. People on the side or rear can see the gimmick as it extends from the hand. (See "Greater Magic", page 649.) I have worked out a method of handling the balls which enables the performer to work surrounded on all sides.

A colored silk is thrown over the left hand. The right hand holds the large ball at its fingertips. The gimmick is inside, Figure 1. The ball is placed on the silk and held through it by the fingertips of the left hand. The gimmick Is underneath the ball, concealed by the silk, Figure 2. The right hand is cupped over the ball. Pretend to squeeze it, but really palm it off. At this instant, the left hand turns over, allowing the silk to hang so that it conceals the gimmick, Figure 3. Run the right hand down the silk several times, stating that you have caused the ball to diminish in size.

The left hand turns upright again to its original position, permitting the silk to fall away and reveal the large end of the dumbbell gimmick, Figure 4. The right hand goes to the pocket and brings out the palmed ball in order to compare its size with that of the diminished ball. Replace the large ball in the pocket. The left hand again turns over. As it does the left fingers reverse the ends of the dumbell. The right hand strokes the silks several times, then the left hand turns back to its original position. The silk falls away and reveals the small ball, Figure 5. The large ball is again brought out for comparison, then replaced.

The right hand now grasps the edge of the silk nearest the audience and folds it back over the small ball. As it passes over the ball, the gimmick is thumb palmed. The right hand goes to the pocket, leaves the gimmick and brings out the large ball to compare it with the ball which, apparently, is still in the silk.

The left hand shakes the silk open, holding it by one corner, to show that the ball has vanished. Remark that the ball is now so small that it is invisible.