Fingercross
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Fingercross (FC) describes a position where 2 or more fingers are crossed or overlapping. While a subcategory of FC involving the thumb is often referred to as Thumbcross, the article will use the term “Fingercross” to serve as the umbrella term for all the variations.
In pen spinning, crossing one's fingers allows for more possibilities by creating new slots and positions to be used. Basic tricks done in these will result in unusual mechanical variations, interactions and visual effects. However, FC remains unpopular due to the flexibility requirement for its tricks, making the advanced variations unviable for a large portion of the community.
History
The early development of fingercross can be traced back to 2007-2008, when a small group of spinners began experimenting with the concept. The first documented fingercross was performed by Bajamba and later showcased by Freeman, who also pioneered the first uncross trick—a backtap[1]. However, the style truly entered the mainstream thanks to Fratleym, who popularized the thumbcross concept early 2008[2] before performing them in the Pen Spinning World Tournament 2009. Other early adopters include Fire@fox who also used the thumbcross concept in his combos[3]
Due to its high flexibility requirements, fingercross development stagnated for several years afterward, remaining a niche technique used by only a handful of spinners to add complexity to their combos. Such examples include Fel2fram's Pen Spinning World Tournament 2013, RPD's Pen Spinning World Cup 2014, as well as various collaboration submissions made by Freeman. However, progress was limited to basic moves like Cross pushes, stalls, and fingerswitches. Other notable mechanics introduced during this period are Thumbcross passes. Furthermore, Fire@fox also showcased the potential of using fingercross as a way to showcase unique visual displays[4]
A major resurgence occurred at Pen Spinning World Tournament 2015, where spinners Xound and Menowa* performed highly technical combos consisting entirely of fingercross tricks. This momentum was accelerated the following year by Zarne, who expanded the category's vocabulary with inventive moves like the FC Square Pass, FC Triangle Pass, and PD Thumbcross Charge.
Zarne's innovations were then showcased on a world stage during Pen Spinning World Tournament 2017 by Sirapob, who not only mastered them but also introduced his own new tricks and the groundbreaking two-handed fingerstuck concept in his Round 6 performance. Other spinners also started adapting FC into their combos during this period, namely a large portion of PSH spinners. However, they mainly focused on execution over innovation which resulted in merely integrating ineffective fingercross or simple cross push and pass mechanics within their combos. I.suk also started using FC on his non-dominant hand, showcasing high level FC transfers within his tournament run.
The next significant leap in development occurred between 2020 and 2022, when Saltient revolutionized the category. He deeply explored existing subcategories like Uncross and O-cross and pioneered entirely new ones, such as Threading. Leveraging his exceptional flexibility, Saltient created fundamentally new mechanics and movements with the specific intention of generating distinct, organic visual effects. This focus on artistic impression, not just physical execution, not only pushed fingercross into uncharted territory but also demonstrated the potential of utilizing different visual effects for any combos.
Main Variations
Fingercrossings forming an ‘X’
One finger is above another. As these are the most common, the broad term "fingercross" usually refers to these types.
Notation:
The usual way to notate crossed fingers is with a square bracket after the fingerslots. The crossed fingers are written inside the bracket where the fingers above are written first followed by those below. For example, crossing the index over the middle finger is written as [fc 21].
There are 3 subcategories under this type:-
Crossing based mechanics
Tricks or mechanics that has the fingers start from a neutral/uncrossed state and then followed by a motion that crosses those fingers. These are the mechanics discovered as of writing: -
Cross push
Pen is pushed around the finger as the fingers overlap each other. This is one of the more basic mechanics which is mainly used in a good portion of FC tricks. Due to the simplicity of the mechanic, it is a lot more approachable to most people and widely used.
The mechanics are used in the following fingercross tricks listed below.
Cross Stalls/Holds
Pen is being stalled while or after the fingers overlapped each other. There are various ways to hold the pen as seen in the notation section previously.
Cross Charges
The pen is being held in the slot of a fingercross position and then followed by a conical charge while still maintaining that cross. This can be also be hybridised with uncross as well.
Cross Aerials
The pen is launched into an aerial at the same time as the fingers are being crossed. This is usually done with a normal cross push but can also be done from other means as well such as releases. Examples will be FC around aerials, FC square pass aerials, FC Fxxk/Palm-up shadow, etc
Cross Seasick
A seasick motion is performed in a crossed position. Can be applied with various holds and slots.
Cross tipped charge
A tipped charge motion is performed in a crossed position. The motion can also be done while transitioning from an neutral/uncrossed position to a crossed one.
Cross fingerswitches
A fingerswitch performed in a crossed position. The motion can also be done while transitioning from a neutral/uncrossed position to a crossed one.
Cross wipers
A wiper done in a crossed position. There are a lot of interpretations that can be made with this mechanic.
Cross Rolls
A pen is first held in a neutral/uncrossed position, followed by a rolling motion that crosses the fingers involved.
Uncrossing based mechanics
Tricks and mechanics that has the fingers start in a crossed state followed by a motion that uncrosses those fingers. This motion is inevitable if the linkage goes from crossed state to a neutral/uncrossed state . A person can choose to uncross the fingers normally or to fully capitalize on the motion by adding a mechanic on top of the uncross. These are the discovered mechanics as of writing: -
Uncross push
The pen is pushed around the finger as the fingers uncross each other. The motion is a complete reverse of a normal cross push.
Uncross pinch
The pen is first gripped in the palm sections of the 2 crossed fingers. The finger that is being wrapped around is then pushed inwards until the fingers fully uncrosses. In the case of FC 12, the wrapped finger refers to the index finger. This mechanic is similar to a pinching motion. The pinching motion is usually followed by a spin as a result of that push but the motion can also be adjusted in a way that makes the pen merely launch off the fingers without any spin.
Uncross aerials
Similar to an uncross push, however the hand moves upwards slightly so the pen is launched into the air.
Uncross flick
Similar to an uncross aerial, however the pen is held very tightly before releasing the pressure causing it to launch into the air. An example would be in a FC T1 position where the pen is held between thumb and index. The index pushes down the thumb, creating pressure before moving the thumb slightly outwards to release the pen, causing it to launch upwards.
Uncross fingerswitches
A pen is held in a crossed position which is then followed by a fingerswitch while simultaneously uncrossing those fingers.
Uncross rolls
A pen is held in a crossed position which is then followed by a roll motion that uncrosses the fingers. Usually the motion is done at the center or the barrel of the pen but it is also possible for the motion to be done at the end of the pen.
Uncross Taps
A pen is held in a crossed position followed by a tap where the push is done by uncrossing the pen.
The third trick performed by Freeman in his "Crossing fingers in tricks" video
Ineffective/Passive Fingercross
Tricks and mechanics that are done with already crossed fingers that aren’t uncross mechanics.
The most basic application of fingercross in this category include the fingers already being crossed but the tricks that's performed doesn't touch or utilize that cross directly. An example being FL TA Palmspin (FC 12).
Around tricks that do use those crossed fingers but the motion wasn't caused by a fingercross motion itself can also be considered to be in this category. An example being a RingMiddle Around (FC 23) or a Hai Tua (FC 43).
Since these tricks and mechanics doesn’t add much in terms of difficulty nor in depth, they usually serve as a way to show alternative/different visuals of the tricks instead.
Fingercrossings forming an ‘O’
One finger is outside another. O-fingercrosses have a peculiar shape to them, which can also be used to create displays and show off interesting structures.
Notation:
As one finger is outside another, a new symbol ("outside off") is used, and the locators for the back (b) and palm (p) sides of the finger also have to be specified to distinguish all types.
For example, an O-type FC involving T and 1 in which the thumb is outside the index finger is [fc Tp>1b]
We can also mix both X-fingercross and O-fingercross together to create more weird positions
As of writing, O-fingercrosses only has 3 main mechanics: -
Mechanics involving a static O-fingercross position
Tricks under this subcategory utilize the O-fingercross shape without making any changes to the O shape itself. Motions derived from a static O-fingercross are pretty straightforward and have the least amount of depth to them.
O-fingercross charges
The pen is placed inside the circle, before moving the hand in a circular motion that causes the pen to rotate inside that circle. These can also be referred to as Blaze Ring [5], popularized by Freeman, Neoknux_009, Ponkotu, and Lindor. A wiper version of the charge was also popularized recently by Fukrou in WC20
O-fingercross stalls/holds
Stalls involve having the pen being placed inside or outside the circle. On the other hand, holds often require the gripping of the pen using the fingers that are forming the circle.
O-fingercross seasick
A seasick motion is performed while the pen is inside the circle.
O-fingercross aerials
The pen is held inside the circle which is then followed by an aerial motion (usually done by jerking the hand up) that releases the pen outside of the circle.
Mechanics involving the movement of the O-fingercross
Collapse of the O-fingercross
The fingers are first made into an O shape, followed by closing or collapsing the circle. Examples of tricks under this category are taps which utilizes the push resulting from the O-fingercross collapse to rotate the pen
Formation of the O-fingercross
The fingers starts from a straight/neutral position before pushing inwards to make a circle. Examples of tricks under this category are a reverse version of taps mentioned in the Collapse tricks previously.
Partial Collapse/Formation of the O-fingercross
The fingers can be closed halfway either near the base of the finger or near the tip of the finger which is made possible using the different joints in the fingers. However, such positions and mechanics utilizing them require the person to be double jointed. Similar to both formation and collapse variations, taps can be performed using the half-close push of the O-cross.
Merging O-fingercross
The fingers start in a double O-fingercross position. The 2 circles are then merged or combined so that it becomes or atleast be close enough to 1 circle.
Threads
Threading is the application of the I-O concept with fingercross. The concept originated in another hobby called fingertutting[6]. It was then adapted and popularised by Saltient where development of it began in 2018 and finally made public during his Pen Spinning World Tournament 2021 and Pen Spinning World Cup 2022 run. However, thread like motions itself were already done by Fire@fox in his flexibility collection[7], though it wasn't named as such and was merely showed as a way to demonstrate his flexibility.
In fingertutting, threading has 2 distinct versions performed by Ctut and Pnut. These were adapted to penspinning as O-cross threads and Uncross threads respectively. While 2 variations exists, the pen spinning community mostly tends to refer the former when discussing about threads.
0:00-0:39 O-Cross Threads (Ctut Ver)
0:40-1:06 Uncross Threads (Pnut Ver)
O-Cross Threads
This is the main variation that involves "threading" or making an I-O motion within an O-cross. This is easily done with the adjacent O-crosses such as FC 3p>1p, 1p>3p, 2p>4p, 1p>4p and 4p>1p where the finger or fingers between the O cross can be threaded in or out. In simpler terms, base variations of O-cross threads are side sonics with adjacent fingers being O-crossed.
The main component of an O-cross thread is an O-cross and the threaded finger (or I-O finger). Further modifications can be made within the parameters of these 2 components to create more variations.
Since the finger doesn't have to be between the fingers making the O-cross, non-adjacent variations are possible. For example, a ring finger can be threaded in and out of an FC 2p>1p.
Additional crossings can also be made where either the O-cross fingers or the threading fingers can be X-crossed. Moreover, the threading fingers can also be O-crossed which can result in variations where an O-cross is being threaded inside an O-cross.
On the mechanics side, the element of threading within an O-cross opens up a lot more interesting interactions. The following are the discovered ones as of writing.
Thread Wipers
There are two main intepretations to thread wipers where the pen can either be held by the O-cross or the threaded fingers.
These mechanics can be further modified with multiple threading. This is where the more than 1 threading motion can be made within a single rotation such as either I-O-I or O-I-O.
Uncross Threads
These are a variation of threads involving an Uncross motion and a Threading motion simultaneously. Due to the uncross mechanic, tricks under this category mainly use X-cross as its base. Additionally, uncross threads are mostly done using an Overcross (Extreme/deep fingercross) which allows easier threading motion to be done.
Normal variations are performed using 3 fingers. Similar to the O-cross threads, 2 fingers form the circle to be made while the other finger is used for the threading and uncross motion.
To best visualise, imagine an fcx 21 (See the Additional Modification section). In this case, the middle finger serves as the threaded finger. To complete the circle needed for the uncross thread, a third finger (usually the thumb) is used to be conjoined together with the index finger (the remaining x-cross finger). This allows for the middle finger to mimic a threading motion similar to an O-cross Thread.
2 Finger Uncross Thread variations are also possible since Uncross Threads aren't limited to 3 fingers only. The important part of an Uncross Thread are the 2 fingers forming the initial X-Cross. As such, the palm can be used as substitute for the third finger in order to form the circle needed for the threading motion.
While the base mechanics are similar to the O-cross threads where there's a circle and an I-O motion, the tricks that can be derived can differ. The following are the discovered mechanics as of writing:
Similar to its O-cross counterpart, wipers can also be done by using the fingers forming the 'circle'
Additional Modifications
Degree of Crossings
Beyond simple modifiers to the X-cross and O-cross (normal, reverse, mirrored etc), it is worth noting that fingercross has their own degree of crossings where fingers can not only be fully crossed as elaborated in the previous section, but it can also be half crossed and over crossed.
Half FC are the most common even outside of the fc subcategory. They are the fundamental components of Wiper tricks where a large portion are done by overlapping but not fully crossing the fingers. While it can be notated as HFC (Half FC), it is not considered as part of the fingercross category as a whole.
On the other hand, Over cross describes a position where the fingers are crossed further than normal. This results in new position and mechanics that aren't possible by a normal full cross. These crossings are applicable to X-cross and O-cross where they both involve pushing the finger deeper within the cross.
To differentiate between full cross and overcross, additional notation can be used to describe the latter where letters can represent different segments of the finger.
- Fcz = Crossing happens at distal phalanx (tip segment)
- Fcy = Crossing happens at middle phalanx
- Fcx = Crossing happens at proximal phalanx (close to base segment)
An overcrossed X-cross is the main component for uncross threads as showed in the previous section. However, overcrossing an X-cross also allows more degree of movement by the crossed fingers by enabling the wrapped around finger (The middle finger in the case of FC 12) to bend. This opens up doors to a new unexplored subcategory called Knuckle Uncross. As no spinner has pushed the development of the FC category after Saltient's Pen Spinning World Cup 2022 run, no mechanics have been discovered for Knuckle Uncross as of writing. The same can be said for overcrossed O-cross as well.
Multiple Crossings
As mentioned in previous sections, multiple crosses can exist in a single position. Numerous variations of positions can be made so this section will not be covering all of them. This will only elaborate on the notation adjustments that can be made to account for the additional fingers in play.
For X-crosses, the fingers can simply be notated as per normal where fingers above are written first.
fc 132 refers to 13 and 32 respectively (middle crosses over ring which crosses over index).
Additionally, we can use xyz to add more details if needed where it follows same order when notated normally.
fcyx 132 first fc = y(13) second fc = x(32)
X-Cross Holes
While X-cross fingers are normally almost parallel, the crossed fingers can be further bent to allow a space or hole to be made between the slots below the normal cross slots. This serves as the foundation of the 2h Fingerstuck concept. 1H variations also exist with thumb typically being used to insert inside the X-cross hole. However, this application overlaps with the multiple crossings elaborated previously and thus will not be discussed extensively.
The idea of X-cross holes also suggests that there are 2 main ways of holding a pen in a fingercross position, either at the tips of the crossed fingers or at the base of the fingers where the hole is formed. A simple 1h application of the latter is a seasick in that slot or a fingerswitch (from the tips to the base/hole). Since such a slot is equivalent to the Fingerstuck position (the finger in this case is instead replaced by the pen), multipen variations and mechanics can also be explored and utilized.
Applications of Fingercross in other areas
2 handed spinning
As 2h allows for more fingers to be used, more interesting interactions can be made. There are multiple interpretations and approach when integrating fingercross together with 2h spinning. It is worth clarifying that while 2h Twirls are technically 2h version of FC, those tricks will not be covered under the FC category as they form the main component to 2H spinning as a whole.
The most basic and straightforward version of 2h FC is simply performing fingercross tricks with the non-dominant hand or using transfers that utilizes those tricks.
Another approach is called the 2H Fingercross Fingerstuck, popularised by Sirapob in WT17 R6[8]. This concept involves sticking 1 or more fingers inside the 'hole' made by the cross.
If taken to another step further, 2 or more O-crosses can be joined together forming a 'link'. This can also be combined with threads to add more complexity as shown in Saltient's WT21 R5
Isolations
Application of isolation with fingercross can also be interpreted in multiple ways. One common application is using a fingercross trick together with hand motion to isolate one end of the pen. However, isolating the entire pen is also possible by either moving the entire wrist or by using Uncross Rolls.
References
- ↑ Early Fingercross tricks uploaded on Freeman's alternate account
- ↑ Thumbcross showcased by Fratleym
- ↑ Thumbcross performed by Fire@Fox in his submission for EVE Festival 2nd
- ↑ Fire@Fox's Minovate 3rd Submission
- ↑ Blaze Ring Presentation by Freeman
- ↑ Threads as performed in "Realm of Threads" by Ctut and Pnut
- ↑ Flexibility Collection by Fire@Fox
- ↑ Fingerstuck Performed by Sirapob in WT17 R6