You've heard it. That calm, almost hypnotic voice. The metallic scraping of a pick. And then, like clockwork: "Click out of one... nothing on two... three is binding."
Click out of one isn't just a phrase. For millions of viewers, it's the official start of a Master Lock’s inevitable demise. It's the verbal cue that the LockPickingLawyer (LPL) has begun his surgical dismantling of a security device that probably cost someone fifty bucks at a hardware store.
But what is actually happening inside that brass cylinder when you hear that sound? Honestly, most people think he’s just "feeling" the lock. It’s way more technical than that. It’s about manufacturing mistakes.
The Science of the Click
Locks are supposed to be perfect. In a perfect world, every hole drilled into a lock plug would be perfectly centered. Every pin would be the exact same width. If that were true, picking a lock would be nearly impossible because every pin would resist turning at the exact same time.
Real life is messier.
Because of tiny manufacturing tolerances—we're talking fractions of a millimeter—one hole is always slightly off to the left. One pin is a hair thicker. When LPL applies tension with his wrench, the plug tries to rotate but hits a single pin first. That’s the "binding" pin.
When he says click out of one, he’s pushed that specific pin up to the "shear line." The "click" is the sound of the driver pin clearing the plug and snapping into the housing.
It’s the sound of a mistake being exploited.
Why One and Not Four?
You might wonder why he usually starts with "one." Is it always the first pin?
Not necessarily.
Lock picking is a game of hunting for the "binding order." He might poke pin four and feel it's springy. That means it's not the one holding back the rotation. He moves to three. Springy. Two. Springy.
Then he hits pin one. It’s rock solid. It’s binding.
He gives it a little nudge. Click. "Click out of one."
Now that pin one is set, the plug rotates just a tiny fraction of a degree. Now, a new pin is the one holding everything up. Maybe it’s pin four this time. The process repeats until the whole thing pops open.
The ASMR Effect
Let’s be real for a second. Half the people watching LPL aren't there to learn how to secure their sheds. They’re there because the videos are weirdly soothing.
The pacing is legendary.
Short sentences.
No filler.
Just the facts.
There’s a reason "click out of one" has become a meme. It represents a level of competence that is rare to see. He doesn't fumble. He doesn't get frustrated. Even when a lock is "high security," he just calmly narrates the failure of its internal components.
It’s the ultimate "I’m not mad, I’m just disappointed" vibe directed at lock manufacturers.
Common Misconceptions
- "The click means the lock is open." Nope. It just means one pin is out of the way. Most locks have five or six.
- "He’s using magic tools." Usually, it’s just a standard hook or a "pick that Bosnian Bill and I made."
- "Any click is a good click." Not always. A "crunchy" click might mean he’s hit a serrated pin, which is a trap designed to make pickers think they’ve set the pin when they haven't.
When the Click is a Lie
Sometimes you'll hear him say "a little click out of two" followed by "and we've fallen into a deep false set."
This is where things get spicy.
Security pins like "spools" are shaped like an hourglass. They’re designed to catch on the shear line and make the plug rotate a lot, making the picker think they’ve won. If you aren't careful, you’ll overset the pin and have to start all over.
When LPL navigates these, his voice doesn't even change. He just notes the counter-rotation and keeps going.
Beyond the Meme
The phrase has leaked into the rest of the internet. You’ll see it in Reddit comments on videos of people getting "roasted" or someone winning a debate. It has become shorthand for "systematic success."
It’s about the "binding order" of life. You find the thing that’s stopping progress, you click it out of the way, and you move to the next.
If you want to try this yourself, don't go picking your front door. If you break a spring, you’re locked out and facing a $200 locksmith bill. Get a clear practice lock or a cheap No. 3 Master Lock.
Apply light tension.
Feel for the pin that doesn't want to move.
Give it a click.
🔗 Read more: Total Drama All Stars: What Most People Get Wrong
Just like that, you’ve started.
Actionable Insights for Beginners
- Tension is everything. Most beginners push the pins too hard and don't use enough (or use too much) tension. It’s a delicate balance.
- Listen with your fingers. You’ll feel the click through the tension wrench before you hear it with your ears.
- Buy a decent kit. Cheap, flimsy picks from mystery websites will bend before they give you a clean click out of one.
Next time you’re watching a 2-minute video of a "high-security" bike lock being opened with a piece of a Red Bull can, listen for that phrase. It’s the sound of a master at work, and now you know exactly what’s happening behind the curtain.