How to Do Cool Tricks With a Slinky

Co-authored by Amber Crain

Last Updated: June 29, 2021

If you love your slinky but you're tired of the same old tricks, like flipping it between your hands and walking it down the stairs, there are a variety of cool tricks you can try out! Impress your friends and family with advanced tricks like The Energy Beam, The Escalator, and the Slingshot and Flip! Perform these tricks in the order they appear, since they gradually increase in difficulty.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

The Energy Beam

1
Grab the bottom 2 to 3 slinky coils with your left hand. Collapse the slinky and hold it vertically with your left hand underneath it. Get a good grip on the bottom 2 or 3 coils with that hand. Hold the slinky out in front of you at about chest level.^{[1]
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- It doesn’t matter which hand is your dominant hand, since you’ll be manipulating the slinky equally with both hands.
2
Grab the top 2 to 3 coils with your right hand. Keeping the slinky collapsed and vertical, simply grab onto the top of the slinky with your right hand. Grip onto the top 2 to 3 coils. Don’t move your bottom (left) hand at all.^{[2]
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3
Whip your top hand up 10 in (25 cm) and to the right to create an arc. Use your right (top) hand to quickly whip the top of the slinky up about 10 in (25 cm) and then out to the right, so that you’re creating a small arc. Stop your right hand about shoulder width away from the left one. Both hands should be approximately even with each other.^{[3]
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- It will look like you’re holding a small rainbow in front of you.
4
Wait for the slinky to start the bounce back to your left hand. When you whip the slinky to the right, it uncoils and expands. As soon as your right hand stops and the slinky makes the arc, the slinky’s body will immediately want to bounce back to the left like a spring. Keep both hands in position and wait for the moment it starts the bounce back.^{[4]
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5
Give the slinky a short, quick tug with your left hand. As soon as the slinky starts to bounce back to the left, whip your left wrist a few inches forward and to the left, like you’re giving the slinky a little tug. Return your left hand to its former position. Aside from the tug, keep your left hand in the exact same position.^{[5]
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- Do not let go of either end of the slinky! Your hands will stay in the arc position the entire time.
6
Let the slinky’s body bounce back to the right side of the arc. After you tug it, the slinky’s body expands forward and to the left to mimic the movement. When you return the left hand to its former arc position at chest level, the slinky lines back up with your right hand. Visually, the slinky creates a cool swirl motion. Then the slinky’s body starts bouncing back to the right side of the arc.
- Try not to push or pull with either of your hands. Let the slinky’s body move naturally on its own.
7
Give the slinky another quick tug with your right hand. As soon as the slinky’s body starts bouncing back to the right, give it a tug with your right hand. This is basically the exact same thing you did with your left hand, except you’re thrusting slightly to the right instead of the left this time. The slinky will make another cool swirl movement on the right side.^{[6]
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8
Keep alternating hands and tugging to create the Energy Beam. Do not let go of the slinky at any point, and keep your hands at about chest level the entire time. It will sort of look like you’re juggling. If you’re having trouble maintaining the Energy Beam, try slowing down to the slowest speed the slinky will allow.^{[7]
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Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

The Escalator

1
Hold your left palm out flat with the slinky collapsed vertically on it. Collapse the slinky and hold it vertically with your left hand underneath it. Your left palm should be facing up and outstretched, so that you’re creating a little table for the collapsed slinky to sit on. Hold it at about chest level.^{[8]
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2
Grab the top 2 coils with your right hand. Grab onto the top of the slinky with your right hand. Grip firmly onto the top 2 coils. Don’t move your bottom (left) hand and all. Keep it in the “table” position.
3
Whip your top hand up and to the right to create an arc. Use your top hand to quickly whip the top of the slinky up about 10 in (25 cm) and then out to the right, so that you’re creating a small arc. Stop your right hand about shoulder width away from the left one. Both hands should be approximately even with each other at chest level.^{[9]
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4
Let the slinky’s body bounce the right side of the arc. The slinky will start pulling itself to the right naturally as it coils in that direction. Instead of continuing to hold both ends like you did with the Energy Beam, let the slinky pull itself off of your left hand.^{[10]
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5
Let the slinky flop over to the outside of your right wrist. When the slinky pulls itself off of your left hand, that end of the slinky will pull itself directly over your right hand. Its momentum to the right side will naturally continue, and the loose end of the slinky will flop over your right hand and start creating another arc to the right.
6
Bounce the slinky off of your right hand. As the slinky’s natural momentum pulls itself to the right in another arc, let it lightly bounce off of your right hand. Don’t hold on to it – let the slinky pull itself off of your right hand.
7
Catch the loose end of the slinky with your left hand “table.” As the slinky arcs to the right, quickly move your left hand, which is now free, over to the right side of your right wrist. Position your left hand about 6 in (15 cm) below your right hand. The slinky will bounce off of your right hand, and your left hand will be there to catch it.
8
Repeat the same movement as you alternate hands. Continue letting the slinky bounce off each palm as you quickly move your free hand to the other side of your wrist to catch the other end. It will arc over each time. This looks just like a slinky that’s going down a flight of stairs, except you’re creating the stairs with your hands!^{[11]
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Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Slingshot and Flip

1
Hold your left palm out flat with the slinky collapsed on it. Collapse the slinky and stack it vertically with your left hand underneath it. Your left palm should be facing up and outstretched, so that you’re creating a platform for the collapsed slinky to sit on. Hold your left hand at about chest level.^{[12]
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2
Grab the top 2 to 3 coils with your right hand. Don’t move your bottom (left) hand and all. Simply grab onto the top 2 or 3 coils of the slinky with your right hand.^{[13]
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3
Whip your top hand up and to the right to create a basic arc. Stop your right hand about shoulder width away from the left one. Let the slinky’s body expand into the basic arc shape. Both hands should be approximately at the same height and even with one another.^{[14]
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4
Let the slinky’s body bounce over to the right side of the arc. The slinky’s natural momentum will start pulling the body to the right as it coils in that direction. Let the left side of the slinky lift off your left palm – don’t hold on to it! It will pull itself right off your hand.
5
Drop your right hand about 6 in (15 cm). Keep your right hand firmly gripped onto the slinky – you will not be letting go of it. This is just like the beginning of The Escalator except when you drop your right hand, the slinky’s momentum to the right increases even more and it expands with more force.
6
Let the slinky flop over to the outside of your right wrist and hit the ground. The extra momentum gives the slinky enough power to flop itself all the way over your right wrist and touch the ground. Let it expand how much it needs to in order to touch the ground. Continue holding it firmly with your right hand.
7
Give a little tug toward yourself with your right hand. As soon as the loose end of the slinky makes contact with the ground, quickly tug your right hand just a few inches closer to your body. It doesn’t take much tugging, because the slinky naturally wants to spring back up!
8
Let the slinky pull itself into a full left arc. After you tug, the loose end of the slinky will begin a large arc to the left because of its natural momentum. Let it bounce all the way up and over your right wrist so that it completes the arc to the left. Do not let go with your right hand!
9
Catch the loose end of the slinky with your left hand. Once the left arc completes, catch the loose end of the slinky with your left hand at about chest level. Both hands should now be at chest level again, returning you to the original arc position.^{[15]
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Community Q&A
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Question

Will a metal slinky work?

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Staff Answer
This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

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Staff Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this staff-researched answer.

Yes, you can do these tricks with a plastic or metal slinky. A plastic slinky may be slightly easier to work with, though.
Question

Where do I get a working Slinky?

Community Answer

Ask at the toy store for a brand new one. Be careful of dollar store or used Slinky toys, as they may not work as well.
Question

What is the coolest trick?

Community Answer

Everyone has a different preference. You will have to try each trick and decide for yourself.