I'm fairly sure I mostly understand the concept and movements in a sonic, so I'm hoping it's just a matter of practice... the one thing I'm not sure of is the 'charge' like movement with 1 and 3.

I've seen videos of the sonic done without the fingertips (1 and 3) touching the pen tip at all, as well as holding it and 'helping' it with what looks like a 'charge' motion. I've also seen someone say that they consider the charge a prerequisite, practically, for learning the sonic.

So, is it a charge movement in the middle of the sonic, or not? Maybe it can be done either way? :blink:

So far, the sonic is the most challenging fundamental trick for me - fingerpass/rev, TA, infinity (and a few variants) have come easily. Even my charge is starting to (finally!) shape up, but that damned sonic... <_<

Charge is not a prerequisite of Sonic. But it does help improve your Sonic.
There is a charge motion in Sonic, when you does it without the 'thumbflap'.

Ok, thanks... but I think I'm a little more confused now. I've been trying the sonic this morning and the pen never makes it past my ring finger. I did actually pull it off once, on accident kinda, but the pen just doesn't do what I want it to do.

Back to the videos, I s'pose... ;)

I think I'm getting closer.


I started trying a TL sonic, and have gotten it a couple times, but I want to make sure I'm doing a true sonic before I bother to start practicing the motion.

I start in a position similar to the charge, straighten 2 and 3 out to get the pen moving, which gets an arc going. If I get 3 far enough out of the way, the pen will do it's rotation behind 2 and end up in T1, just like it's supposed to.

The problem, though, is that when it works, it's almost a 'toss' motion. The pen doesn't even really touch 1 until it's caught @ T1. :blink:

A Sonic 23 should not end in T1. :huh:
Maybe you are doing a NeoSonic.

Take a look at this video for how to do a Sonic 23:
Putfile
Rapidshare

Doh! That should have read "caught @ 12", not "caught @ T1". (Edited to reflect this.)

I've a few sonic vids on hand and I've made it a point to avoid the 'NeoSonic' - but thanks!

:checks vid now that it's loaded:

Nice! One thing I haven't seen in any sonic vid so far is highlighting the 1st joint of the 1st finger acting as a pivot (sort of) to help the pen along. That helps my understanding a lot, sketching - thx. :D

HI!

I really don't get it.. I watched all the videos but i still don't understand how it's working.
When you release the pressure from the thumbflap the pen flips up and you've got to stop it with your index finger or am I wrong? so when you do this the rotation is stopped there and.. ARGH! i don't get it.. and if you learn the charge first it doesn't help you with the COMPLETE rotation, only with the beginning right? pleeease help me im frustrated.. :( : :GLOOMY: :wacko:

Watch this video showing how the Sonic 23 spins and how it interacts with the Index finger.
YouTube: Howto: Sonic

Thank you very much! Now I at least THINK I know how it's done :D

Sonic:
I am trying to learn the Middle/Ring to Index/Middle version (I think 23 to 12). Anyways, what is happening is when I release the pressure the pen just kinda gets locked on my ring finger and I cannot seem to continue it along the path.

Thanks for your help.

Try the pressure building method stated in the UPSB tutorial sonic

EDIT: woops, i had mistaken the pressure building one for this one:
II. Separating ‘Push’ and ‘Spin’ Method

I reccomend you try that one.

he is...

i found that getting charge down easy made it easier to do sonics. maybe once you can get charges continuous, it'll be easier to do the sonic.

With the sonic...no luck with the catch so it just hits my index finger and drops.


Ok I am trying to do that Separating ‘Push’ and ‘Spin’ Method on the Pentrix Tutorial...
I AM DEFORMED!!! I cannot seem to hold the pen between my 1 and 3 finger AT ALL. My middle finger (2) is pointing into my hand and there is too big of a gap between 1 and 3 so I cannot put a pen in there!!!! HELP!!!

Which part of the pen is hitting your index finger? If it is the tip then the tip has to travel behind the index finger. Move your finger inward a little bit.
If the cap is hitting the index finger, then move your middle finger a little more inwards so that the pen has room to move and complete the spin.

Alright another update:
I can do the sonic sometimes. However, there is a little problem that happens often. What happens as the pen is rotating it hits my index finger and then instead of going out and coming into my thumb..it flies out of my hand.

Thanks

Edit - 10 Posts!!! w00t

For your Sonic problem, try to get your index (1) and ring-finger (3) to almost touch each other. It can maybe work better.

Good Luck!

Hi,
I can't seem to get the sonic to end im the thumb flap. When the pen goes to 12 the pen gets stuck and doesn't continue to the thumb flap.

Thanks

relax your hand, espcially around your index. and make she theres a big gap for the pen to land in.

however, when you get good at sonic,s you can shorten the gap to the point where the gap is hardly noticeable.

it should land in the top of the flap, since its not like another sonic is performed after it. dont apply too much pressure, and instead, use your index to guide it to the top of the thumbflap.

Thanks, I've got it to go into the thumb flap now, but it's really slow. What should I do to speed it up?

To speed it up just add more pressure and practice. Just a question though, why do you want the pen in the thumb flap after a sonic, what trick are you trying to link to?

Try it without the pressure building. I find it harder that way to get as nice smooth motion. If you do it the charge style method push your middle finger down and in and push your ring finger up. Almost like you were doing a pass 23-12.

Most tricks are slow when you first learn them, just practice.

So, I'm starting to learn this stuff, and after reverse charge (my only ability), i think i want to learn sonic, right? Just wondering if there are any tips or hidden secrets other than initial instructions that might help my failed attempts.

Yeah, learn the normal charge; it will help with the normal sonic.

So I guess the charge goes with its relative sonic?

Yes.

Are u using the 'thumb 'method?????Don't do that..Later on when u get better u'll find it troublesome to link combos with the 'thumb' method.I say learn charge before sonic.But hey !That's just my opinion. :lol:

are you referrring to where the end of the pen rests in-between the thumb and index?

if so then yeah

if you find that you are flicking it, thats the thumbflap method, or known as the *noob* way

i dont like it when people say, DONT DO THE THUMBFLAP METHOD, IT SUCKS

no it does not suck. after you mastered the thumbflap method, learn sonic 34-23 with thumbflap method too

then just keep doing sonic rise continuously

eeventually you'll find yourself that the thumbflap methoa is useless, and begin to do it without the thumbflap

and at that time, is when you can charge. you wont know you learned it, but once you get sonic rise without thumbflap, im 80% sure you can do charge, if you try

just learn charge and reverse charge in 23 and 34

this will help u do sonic

just use the thumbflap method at the beginning to get the "feel" of it

as u get better at sonic using the thumbflap method practice sonic w/out the

thumbflap method

yeah, the thumb skin is obsolete now...i think

Edit: i dont want to make another topic just for this:

what can be done with a g2? i think its popular for mod-ing, but i cant do anything with mine

Okay...Ive been attempting sonics for over a week now, and Im making NO progress. I have the hold right, but when I release, it just moves back and forth in my fingers like charges.

Please someone, help me!
(What I need help with : I dont know what do with my fingers after the release )

Thanks, PS14

Extend your index finger so the pen hits the back of it. Also be sure to bend your middle finger right after you release it.

Practice a few hours every day and you should pick it up in no more than a week.

eh the way alex pouts it is kinda confusing

move your index down behind your middle as you ''spin''

Also, try loosening your fingers, so that they're more relaxed.

see if this helps

http://www.psconclave.com/wiki/Sonic_Normal

I feel your pain man. Sonics were the last fundamental I learned.

Go here http://www.pentrix.com/upsb2/article.php?t=1350
and do "II. Separating ‘Push’ and ‘Spin’ Method: " The pressue build is totally useless imho.

Also I advise holding the pen with the COP on the outside of your fingers, like far on the outside so you are almost holding the end of the pen.

The problem with me is that when i lower my middle finger my ring finger also lowers , my right hand has like no independency at all -_-. I play guitar with my left hand so seeing how nicely my left hand works id like to try it but its so awkward spinning with the left.

You could try and learn the trick in your left, and then learn it in your right. That is what i'm doing with ringarounds now. If you learn it in one hand, the other can follow easily.

Do hand stretches to increase finger independance. I have made up most of the stretches I do and don't feel like going over them at the moment but try the one at the bottom of this page.

Just quick, another I do is, touch 13 togeather behind 2, then infront, then behind then infront and so on. Then do the same for 34 and then for 14.

http://www.pentrix.com/pentix/faqs/index.html