At first blush this sounds like a grip problem. It is possible your fingers are not straight across. The finger on the right die may be lower or the finger on the left die may be higher.

Another possibility is your grip is not loose enough. You may be gripping the right die tighter than the left die. The grip should only be tight enough to keep both dice in your fingers. They should feel like they are about to fall out of your fingers.

If the one die is dying without hitting the back wall you may be throwing the dice too high with too much of an arc causing them to die too much when they land. If that is the case you need a little more energy in the swing and lower the arc a bit. A slightly and I mean ever so slightly bigger back swing (no more than an inch or so) might help. You can bring your hand back to your shoulder on the back swing but no further than that.

Others may have additional ideas and I hope folks jump in with other suggestions.

As an "independent event" I also received a PM from the same student asking for assistance on a problem with the toss.

I found it interesting how consistent Skinny’s and my responses were to this student. I think this also reflects the consistency of GTC’s classes and teaching, instructor to instructor.

Here is my reply to the student:

Re: Having some trouble with the toss

Sent: 21 Oct 2013 18:20
by Timmer

Hard to diagnose from an email… Is this happening at home during practice or in the casino during live play?

Could be a grip issue – uneven front fingers, adding more revs to one die, unequal thumb imparting more energy on one die over the other…

Are you still using your gripper regularly? If not, get back in the habit of using it regularly…

Are you decelerating your arm during your swing trying for a softer toss? The throw and armswing should smoothly accelerate throughout the toss.

If in the casino, are you playing on a [different suface] layout than at home? Perhaps a newly resurfaced table? – Different layouts can sometimes cause the dice to catch and/or react strangely and inconsistently…

You should post this problem on the craps board and ask for help from others.

😎 😎 😎

Grip…Grip….Grip…

NFF

When I had a similar problem my thumb placement was off.

Practice the grip with 4s on top 5s facing you. The pip pattern of the 5s will help you see how your thumb sits. Also thumbs can be tricky. It is not how the thumb looks straight on. It is how the thumb touches the dice. You have to look along the surface of the dice to see where the thumb actually touches.

My humble suggestion, to check your grip,
is to use some cosmetic (blush?) powder on the tips and pads
of your fingers and thumb to detect where they are touching
the dice when you grip them.
Looking at your fingers and thumb when they grip the dice won’t do.

As everyone before me has said, it sure sounds like a grip problem.

How many hours a week are you working on your grip???????

Most people work on their toss 99.9% of the time and maybe .01% on their grip. I think it should be 50 – 50 at the beginning and after 1 year maybe 75% toss and 25% grip.

Now I am about 90% grip and 10% toss.

"SevenTimesSeven" wrote: My humble suggestion, to check your grip,
is to use some cosmetic (blush?) powder on the tips and pads
of your fingers and thumb to detect where they are touching
the dice when you grip them.
Looking at your fingers and thumb when they grip the dice won’t do.

7X7,

I think you are on to something there. Great tip!

I can see men all across the nation suddenly becoming very interested in their wife’s makeup cabinet and color choices!! 😮 😆 😆 😆

Skinny, you were right about the grip. I was gripping the dice to tight and trying to land a softer shot. I was trying to get the dice hit the back wall and then die within 2 to 3 inches of each other. Trying to control to much with to tight of a grip and to many revolutions. Finger and thumb placement always on point. I hit the same spot with no troubles. Shot back to normal. Thank you all.

I just finished my practice session. I hit 4 no.’s then 7. I hit 29 no.’s then 7. I hit 39 no.’s then 7. Shot getting back to normal.

Good, I am glad it worked out for you. Keep using the message board if you have problems in the future. That is why we are here, to help you and everyone else become the best you possibly can. The folks on this board are only too happy to share their experience and ideas with all who ask for their help.

Keep the questions coming.

To Skinny and others,

I just want to say thanks to everyone for their thoughts on the matter. I thought I was losing my shot. Thank God I didn’t lose it. I used the toothpicks and it helped my shot get back on track. Why? Because the toothpicks put my fingers and tips back in alignment. My shot looks and feels GREAT! Thanks to all!!! 😀 😀 😀