A visual-pun by Jorg Willich: Big things are coming. Affected by the upcoming events, the performer gets carried away and - altering well-known jargon - promises his audience that the following trick will "hammer their socks off." To visually enhance this odd expression, he reaches into the air with his empty right hand and produces a genuine hammer.

Preparation: Get a hammer. It should be as big as possible, but the head must not be bigger than the width of your hand and the handle should not be longer than your forearm, Insert the handle under your belt, pushing it upward until the head of the hammer is above your right rear trousers pocket.

It’s probably necessary to tighten your belt a notch or two in order to prevent the hammer from slipping out. You also have to wear a jacket, but make sure the hammer doesn’t stick out from beneath it

Performance: It’s best to perform this short item at a point in your act where you’re coming to a real strong effect, but there’s still enough time so this interlude does not distract too much. Explain to the audience in your most enthusiastic manner that the following effect will "hammer their socks off. You know what I mean, don’t you? If something is absolutely terrific, you say this will hammer your socks off." In synch with that patter, steal and produce the hammer:

Let your arms drop and turn slightly to the left. The right hand grasps the head of the hammer and frees it from the belt by pulling downward. With a small movement of your right wrist, rotate the handle until it’s horizontal:

Turn your wrist, bringing the handle out from beneath the jacket and immediately swing it up against your forearm:

This wrist-movement should be minimal and last a second or two. Keep the handle as close as possible at your jacket and forearm.

Simultaneously raise both hands to shoulder level. The right fingers are curled inward holding the hammer, giving the hand a relaxed look. Your left hand reaches into the air at about eye-level. While you look at your left hand, move your right hand upward, to the left until the distance between your hands is equivalent to the length of the hammer.

At that point your right hand freezes and you immediately swing the handle of the hammer outward so it swings into your waiting left hand,

Grip the handle firmly with your left hand and immediately smack your right palm with the head to conclude the production.

Comments: The whole procedure, starting with the steal of the hammer and ending with the production takes about five seconds. Try to create the impression that you’ve reached into the air with your left hand and plucked the hammer from it, hitting your right hand in a confirming gesture afterward.