I've read in several places that Tally Ho decks with a Linoid finish are preferred for cardistry. But why?
I recently did some research into USPCC produced decks - you can see the results in my article
here. From what I have learned, a Linoid finish is actually identical to a Air Cushion finish, Cambric finish, or linen finish. Technically the word "finish" refers to the texture on the card, which in older decks was created at the end of the production process by applying the card's coating using cloth rollers. Nowadays it is more efficient and cheaper to stamp this embossed texture into the paper itself with metal rollers, to eliminate the cost of replacing cloth rollers. So even though cloth rollers are no longer used, the finish names that originated in the type of cloth rollers used (e.g. linen, cambric, linoid) are still used, because USPCC wants to continue to associate these labels with particular brands ("Air-Cushion finish" - Bicycle decks, "Linoid finish" - Tally Ho decks, "Cambric finish" = Bee decks). But in reality, the texture for all of these is created by pressing a metal roller with bumps into the paper before the printing process even happens, which is identical for all of these decks.
USPCC only offers two embossing options: Smooth or Embossed. So all USPCC produced cards that are produced with an embossed rather than a smooth finish, have an identical embossing.
The only other differences between USPCC produced decks are the following:
1. The finish: Smooth or Embossed. Nearly all USPCC decks are Embossed, including Tally Ho decks.
2. The stock: Bicycle Stock or Bee Casino Stock. The Bee Casino Stock is thicker, stiffer, more durable, and needs some wearing in. Most of USPCC's mass produced decks used Bicycle stock, including (I think) the Tally Ho decks.
3. The coating: Magic Finish or Standard Finish. Orders of less than 15,000 decks all get the Magic Finish coating, which is more slippery and preferred by magicians, instead of the Standard Finish, which is only used for decks that are mass produced. I think that the Tally Ho decks use the Standard Finish, or it perhaps possible that they use the Magic Finish, and this is what makes them different?
4. The cut: Traditional or Modern. USPCC's default cut is the Modern cut, and while this can affect the ability to do faros, I don't think it is this difference that accounts for cardistry fans preference for Tally Ho decks. I suspect they have a Modern cut the same as most of USPCC's decks.
If I'm right, then the differences in handling between different USPCC decks that some people swear by are more imagined than real. Assuming that you have an Embossed rather than Smooth deck, then the only real differences will be whether it is Bicycle stock or Bee Casino stock, and whether it is Magic Finish or Standard Finish. The mass produced decks (e.g. Bicycle Riderbacks, Tally Hos) all are Embossed, use Bicycle Stock, and Standard finish, so should handle the same; whereas custom decks like Ellusionist are Embossed, use Bee Casino stock and Magic finish, and will handle differently.
So as best as I can tell, the Tally Ho decks use the same stock/finish as Bicycle Riderbacks, or there is some other difference I'm not aware of?
If any of the information I have above is incorrect, I'd welcome correction, but what I have posted here is based on quite reliable and informed sources (see
this thread for more information on this).