Flair Lesson #33: Shadow Pass
A Shadow Pass is a move in which you toss any bar item behind your head and catch it with a no-look catch. You can do this with glassware, tins, beer bottles, etc. It can also be performed with a ton of variations on both the throw and the catch. Get good with the basic Shadow Pass because we’re going to add some awesomeness to it later.
I wish someone would’ve given me these tips when I was learning this move, as I likely wouldn’t have hit myself in the head as much. I learned the Shadow Pass by repeatedly trying the full distance throw behind my head and experimenting with where to hold my catching hand until I finally caught one (100s of attempts later.)
Don’t do what I did. Try this instead: start with a comfortable grip on the bottle. Bring the bottle up towards your ear and then – behind your head – place it in your other hand. Your palms should be facing each other, thumbs pointed up. Repeat that again, but this time give the slightest little toss – 1 inch at most – rather than simply handing it across. Repeat again, and slightly increase the distance. Each time you do this, move your throwing and catching hands further and further apart. And each time practice stepping into it: with one foot forward, lean your head and body forward as you pass the bottle behind it.
DON’T try to turn your head and look for the catch. You WILL miss it. Instead, what you want to watch is your throwing hand. With enough time and practice, your muscle memory will kick in and you will learn instinctively how to adjust your catching hand just by watching your throwing hand.
This is one of those moves that I think feels particularly awesome when you master it. Plus, your guests will be impressed with your no-look catch. Danger can be so rewarding when you’ve conquered it. Be careful and be safe when you’re learning the Shadow Pass. It’s not unheard of for people to hit themselves in the head while practicing. Follow the tips I give you here and don’t be one of those people.
As with a lot of moves in the first 20-30 tutorials, get good and comfortable with this move – ambidextrous if possible – because we are going to be expanding upon it in future videos.
The Discussion...
2 Responses to “Flair Lesson #33: Shadow Pass”
Can I do this with a tin?
Absolutely! As you progress, you’ll start to discover that many of the flair moves we learn here can be done interchangeably with a bottle or a tin – or other objects like an ice scoop, glassware, etc.