I am going to try the two finger because I get too much movement and inconsistency with the three or four fingers and my fat hands…any comments?

It’s an advanced grip that we don’t recommend to folks that have not gone through the advanced class. It requires a very high level of precision when it comes to pressure, equal balance of skin, all the way from setting to delivery.

It is, however, used to help remediate problems with a throw…..and only used for a handful of shots before going back to a normal three finger grip.

Regards,
SectionEight

Here is my take on the 2 finger grip versus the 3 finger grip.

I was taught by Sharpshooter and I assume you all know who he is. I played a lot of craps with SS(sharpshooter) in my early day’s of becoming a dice controller. He told me I had a great throw with my 2 finger front grip but he told me if I wanted to become the best I had to develop the 3 finger grip because this gives the dice the "Perfect /Fulcrum" to roll off of.

I went home and worked on my 3 finger front grip for 4 month without playing in a casino for the entire time. the first time I played it was with Dom and Bill Burton at Foxwoods and I proceeded to throw a 50 number hand the first time I got the dice. I am sure Dom will remember the day, I told him to use caution because I was going to use this new grip for the first time.

I have used the 3 finger grip for over 12 years except for the last 1 1/2 years since I developed arthritis in my right thumb. During this time I have noticed my toss regress because I had to return to a 2 finger grip, quite frankly I could not throw the way I wanted too. I was prepared to give up throwing the dice.

After our class in March in AC I helped one of our long time students correct a flaw in his pickup and as I was demonstrating what I wanted him to do I noticed my thumb did not hurt when I picked up the dice. I have since used this new pickup and my thumb has stopped hurting when I pickup the dice. I have gone from picking up the dice on one side of my body to the other side and my toss has never been better.

In my opinion stay away from the 2 finger grip, the 3 finger grip is the best for optimum dice control. It is not easy and it needs constant practice but if you want to be the best you can be stick with it.

Finesse,
I read your post with fascination. You certainly have been around this game awhile. And your knowledge base is amazing.
I never used the two finger grip, but I am having trouble with pain in my thumb.
I see you switched the side you pick up the dice from. Did you switch from right to the left side?
I would like to try it. Right now it is only my thumb on the right hand. But I am concerned because my index finger of my left hand is also hurting. I am hoping it doesn’t spread to my other fingers in a bad way.
If you can offer any advice to me, I would very much appreciate it.

HI

For pain in any of your fingers, I recommend two things:
1) Get some hand therapy putty, the size of a tennis ball. Use this in the morning, squeezing it between each 2 fingers, repeat 5 times, particularly for problem fingers. Then reshape the putty in a ball followed by squeezing with all five fingers, repeating 10 times. Finally, reshape the putty into a ball, squeeze with all five fingers while rotating your hand and wrist. This came from my occupational therapist.
2) Before going to a craps table, or before a practice session, take 2 ibuprofen and apply a topical analgesic, such as CBD (strongest you can get) or Aspercream ( cheaper than CBD).

Finesse mentioned reaching for the dice, with the dice placed on his left side instead of his right. This reoriented his hand so that either different muscles and tendons in his hands were used, bypassing the inflamed muscles and tendons, or, if his arm and shoulder are the real problem, moving the dice to a different side invoked different arm and shoulder muscles and tendons. In either case, in addition to the hand therapy putty and topical analgesic, you should also take time to stretch your arms, shoulders, and back prior to going to the table. This is the same thing athletes do – stretch before expecting their bodies to function with precision.

In my case, I have had to start using a 1 finger grip (which I mislabeled a 2 finger grip in an earlier post). It’s not easy. I miss having a properly functioning hand. Since only my index finger is on the backside of the dice and on the midline, it is very difficult to get my dice to land flat. Practice makes perfect. But I would never recommend a 1 finger grip to anyone.