Always Three
How to Stop Your Always Three Routine from Getting Boring
What Most People Get Wrong
Most magicians repeat the "ball to pocket" move too many times without a plan. If you just keep putting a ball away and making it come back, your friends will eventually stop being amazed and start looking for the extra ball in your hand.
Why It Matters
When you fix the structure of the routine, the magic feels impossible instead of like a repetitive puzzle. Instead of looking for a secret ball, your audience gets caught up in the rhythm. By the time they think they've figured it out, the balls are gone. You go from being "the guy with a trick" to someone who can actually control the objects in their hands.
What You'll Learn
In this lesson, Xulio Merino breaks down his personal version of the Always Three routine. He calls it "Julian Simplicity" because it cuts out all the clutter. You'll learn how to use five balls instead of the usual four, which actually makes the trick easier and cleaner to perform.
Xulio shows you how to start with empty hands so people don't suspect anything from the start. You'll learn the 3-for-2 add-on, which is the core move that makes the magic happen. He also explains the "theory of information"—the secret to making sure every phase of the trick tells a new story so the audience never gets bored. You'll be able to put a ball in your pocket, show your hand clearly empty, and still have three balls in your other hand.
About Xulio Merino
Xulio is the magician who famously fooled Penn & Teller using nothing but sponge balls. He's known for taking simple props and reinventing the way they're used. He spent years refining this specific routine to make it work in the real world for real people.
What's Included
- The full "Always Three" routine structure
- How to use a fifth ball to stay two steps ahead
- The 3-for-2 add-on technique
- Natural finger palm positions that don't look cramped
- How to show your hands empty while dirty
- A clean vanish ending to leave them with nothing to find
- The "Vernon" approach to multi-phase routines
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I've been doing Always Three the old way for years?
That's fine. Xulio shows you how to take the moves you already know and put them into a better structure. You won't have to "unlearn" everything, just tweak how you use it.
Is this the only correct way to do it?
It’s the way Xulio uses in his professional sets. He explains why this specific version is more "perfect" in the spectator's mind than the versions found in old magic books.
How do I know when I'm doing it right?
The biggest sign is the audience's reaction. If they're still surprised on the third repeat instead of trying to grab your hand, you're doing it right. Xulio covers the exact timing to make this happen.
Do I need special sponge balls?
Any standard sponge balls will work. You just need five of them to follow Xulio's specific method.