It's Sunday. During a Pandemic. What else you got planned?!

April 11, 2021 9:42 AM

Learn to Juggle 3 Balls.
posted by storybored (32 comments total)

I've been watching her video on how to juggle 5 balls, which is my current life goal.
posted by perhapses at 9:45 AM on April 11, 2021 [1 favorite]

That's a great video and more or less how I learned. It really only took 1-2 hours of practice, it's easier than you'd think.

The one slight difference in how I was taught is that when you first add the third ball and a third throw, don't even think about where the third throw goes. Just let it fall on the ground. Practice that until you get tired of having to pick that third ball up, then start trying to catch it. The addition of the third ball is the hard part in learning; this method separates that new skill into two pieces so you can learn them individually. Probably not necessary but it helped me.

The other trick which helped me a lot was juggling facing a wall. That cures you of throwing the balls forward right quick.

Pro-tip: once you learn to juggle three beanbags it will be very easy to impress your friends by juggling three eggs. That works fine, but plan ahead on how you're going to stop juggling. Catching the third egg in your hand with an egg in it already can have a rather comical outcome.
posted by Nelson at 9:50 AM on April 11, 2021 [10 favorites]

One tip that was useful for me: be very careful to not try and catch a ball that is falling behind you. It's very easy to fall backwards and do yourself an injury.
posted by YAMWAK at 10:18 AM on April 11, 2021 [3 favorites]

I've taught a lot of people to juggle 3 balls, and it's true that most people can learn in an afternoon of sustained practice, including a lot of people who expect they won't be able to! It's faster with a teacher to give specific feedback, but beginners tend to make amazingly similar mistakes so you can definitely teach yourself from a video like this that tells you what to watch out for.

I started watching Taylor's videos quite recently. I think I first came across her in Luke Burrage's Top 40 jugglers of 2020 video, which has a short clip of her doing some very cool patterns in 2nd place

I've been trying her method to learn 4-ball mills mess, and she's right: it's a hard trick! I can do 3 ball mills or 4-ball fountain indefinitely, without paying much attention. And yet... yikes. I'm finding this one tough.

I'm currently working on that and on 9151 when the weather's good enough to practice outside, and I'm pretty sure the latter is easier.
posted by metaBugs at 10:48 AM on April 11, 2021 [1 favorite]

That's a pretty good tutorial. I learned as a teenager from the classic Klutz book and I think I was doing three balls within an hour.

I juggle about once a year now, only when we do our annual apple picking trip so I can do the "bite the apple" trick. I just ordered some balls though after seeing this tutorial (not the ones she links to, some cheaper ones) so maybe I'll start practicing a bit more.

For those of you thinking "I'm too uncoordinated, I could never learn that" I assure you I am completely inept at most sports but I learned to juggle pretty well. At one point I could do four balls but I don't think I can do that anymore. I have some clubs down in a box somewhere in my basement but it's probably for the best that I don't go looking for them.
posted by bondcliff at 10:49 AM on April 11, 2021 [6 favorites]

So my juggling origin story was many years ago when I had a summer job at a Brookstone (not sure if these exist anymore) at the local mall (not sure if these exist anymore). It was a slow Sunday afternoon shift, so picked up one of the things we had just recently gotten in - a Klutz book (not sure if these exist anymore) on juggling.

My boss believed that the best way to hook customers was to show them the products being used, so she was all for it. The book broke it down incredibly simply, and by the end of my shift I had a pretty basic ability to juggle three balls. I ended up buying the book, and it wasn't too much longer before I had a pretty good handle on it.

Let me tell you, going back to college that fall with my new juggling skills under my belt definitely propelled me to some new heights of popularity. 5 stars, would recommend to anyone.
posted by Zargon X at 10:51 AM on April 11, 2021 [6 favorites]

Zargon X, bondcliff: The Klutz book was what inspired the post! I read it many many years ago and surprised my klutzy self by actually being able to do three balls. I recently pulled the book from my shelf out of nostalgia and then I wondered what the state of juggling tutorials was....
posted by storybored at 11:04 AM on April 11, 2021 [7 favorites]

Awesome but bit on the nose for me. Used her video to learn to juggle 3 balls almost exactly this time last year and... well... here we are again.

Me and partner did manage the three ball but I have a very bad habit of lunging forward. So I can go for a while against a wall, but not so good otherwise. That final 'click' where you realise how to throw the third is very satisfying though!
posted by sedimentary_deer at 11:07 AM on April 11, 2021

Standing over your bed can be good, too; it doesn't stop you from throwing forward, but does stop you from lunging too far forward to catch it so it helps to break the habit. I've met a couple of people who can juggle but only when trotting forward to follow the balls!

The bed also means you don't have to bend too far to retrieve them and, in my case, saves the downstairs neighbor from the constant arythmic thuds of failure.

My recurring problem when juggling 5 balls is similar: after a while, my pattern slowly twists to the right. I can keep juggling, but only if I slowly turn on the spot to follow the pattern...
posted by metaBugs at 11:15 AM on April 11, 2021 [3 favorites]

Also learned from the Klutz book, was good at 3 balls and can still do it without much trouble. It comes back to you, like riding a bicycle. Was able to do four balls eventually, also clubs & rings. But never five. Juggling is relaxing, it's good for your brain. This video, it's good and it's always fun to watch an expert juggler.
posted by chavenet at 12:50 PM on April 11, 2021

I learned to juggle from a calculus teacher at a community college I had escaped to, as a way to get out of high school a bit early. I already knew claculus, and all my other classes were hella easy, so I spent three months doing nothing but juggle. By the end, I had a few four-ball tricks and a pretty good handle on solo clubs.

I've gotten OK at 5 balls by using 5-ball practice as a brain-clearing break while working on my phd, and more recently just at work, before the pandemic times. I still kinda suck at it, though, despite years of off-and-on practice. But it's still a pretty good party trick.

I also still really want to get better at passing clubs. One of my two phd advisors is a very good club juggler, but he was only around intermittently. And overall there usually aren't enough jugglers in my life to make real progress. So I'm kinda cursed to be forever kinda-ok at club passing... Alas.
posted by kaibutsu at 12:55 PM on April 11, 2021 [2 favorites]

I taught myself to juggle three balls as a kid, using croquet balls, which I guess Taylor would not suggest.
Anyway, that's as far as I got. For the last few years, it's been on my todo list to learn 4, but I never got that down, so I'm going to go watch her 4-ball video.
posted by MtDewd at 1:05 PM on April 11, 2021

At some point in fifth or sixth grade there was a demonstration at my school, after which they broke us out into groups so they could teach us (bless their souls). I didn’t master it then, but the following summer when I had time I’d go out into the front yard with a can of tennis balls, and I had it down soon enough.

My wife and I had been dating a few years when I started juggling to entertain a couple toddlers. The toddlers were delighted; my now-wife was very upset at this surprise talent. “How have you kept it secret from me that you could juggle?” “When have I ever had reason to tell you I could?”
posted by fedward at 1:14 PM on April 11, 2021

We have a set of those wool dryer balls used in lieu of fabric softener sheets. Every time I use the dryer I think those would be good to use to learn to juggle. Perhaps this is a sign!
posted by caution live frogs at 1:21 PM on April 11, 2021 [4 favorites]

I too had a copy of the Klutz book+balls but lacked the bottle of y'all. For me, juggling is a spectator sport: the Raspyni Brothers at an early TED talk are good fun.
posted by BobTheScientist at 1:30 PM on April 11, 2021 [1 favorite]

I keep getting hung up on step 1, "Collect three balls."
posted by delfin at 2:12 PM on April 11, 2021 [4 favorites]

"I also still really want to get better at passing clubs."

It's way fun, and Google will almost certainly find you local juggling meetups where you could practice.

They're probably all dormant at the moment, but it seems to me like it could be an OK summer pandemic activity--it works fine outdoors, ideal distance from a partner is probably >6 feet, just wear a mask and wash your hands when you're done....

Good preparation is to make sure that your 3-club pattern is solid and relaxed: make sure you have a good clean start, and you can focus your eyes on other stuff around you while you juggle, practice varying your cadence, height, and width a little, maybe see if you can do some of the easier 3-club tricks (like the occasional double or under-the-leg throw).
posted by bfields at 2:43 PM on April 11, 2021

I self-taught to juggle, it probably took more time than a guided method, but I was a teenager and time wasn't a problem.

My best juggling story is one Christmas eve, I was over at my sister's best friend's house, entertaining their toddlers with juggling woobies. The little girl, somewhere around three years old, reached out asking for the woobies so she could do it. I said, "Okay, honey, but it requires a lot of practice." She took them and threw them into the air, and they all came down. She looked sadly at me and said "I guess I need more practice." My heart melted.
posted by notoriety public at 2:45 PM on April 11, 2021 [5 favorites]

"it's true that most people can learn in an afternoon of sustained practice"

Yeah. It's longer for some people, though (it was for me), and they still go on to do fine. So, no need to give up after an afternoon, if you're still having fun trying.
posted by bfields at 2:47 PM on April 11, 2021 [1 favorite]

Club passing was one of my main social activities up until last year. I'm not that good, but a friend of mine who is much, much better has been making a project of training a couple of us up until we're interesting to pass with. Lots of roundabouts, chopabouts, phonician waltz, and scrambled V when we could find a fourth.

I love juggling largely because it's a great way of getting into a flow state, completely absorbed in what you're doing. Club passing lets you do that with other people, and the feeling of getting into sync and getting a pattern running smoothly between you is unbeatable. I really miss it, and can't wait for the stars to align so I can start meeting friends to pass again.

Edinburgh is pretty great for circus arts, presumably as a side effect of having the Festival here every year, but there's a lot less juggling than aerial and acro. We were already struggling a bit finding places our group could afford, no idea when or whether we'll be able to get going again.
posted by metaBugs at 3:32 PM on April 11, 2021 [2 favorites]

I learned to juggle 3 balls when I was (supposed to be) studying for school exams about 30 years ago, so I think I'm finally ready to commit to 4. Anyone have recommendations for a set of 4 or 5 balls, or do I have to buy two sets of 3 as my cursory google search seems to suggest?
posted by piyushnz at 3:39 PM on April 11, 2021

I have always wanted to juggle, but for some reason the klutz book didn’t work for me. I just got frustrated and gave up. Maybe time to get some balls and try again.
posted by TedW at 6:05 PM on April 11, 2021

Long build process, coworkers who juggle. We were passing balls between us by the end of that project. I do wonder if I could pick that skill back up again, but unfortunately it's actively not Covid friendly...
posted by How much is that froggie in the window at 7:08 PM on April 11, 2021

Did libraries loan the Klutz book with balls? 🤔
posted by roger ackroyd at 8:09 PM on April 11, 2021 [1 favorite]

I learned to juggle in first year university using lacrosse balls, which if you have a hard enough floor meant you didn't have to pick them up (unless things went really wrong). Always a fun trick that oddly impresses people... I did get start learning 4 at one point but didn't stick with it, maybe it's time to hunt down the balls.
posted by cirhosis at 10:17 PM on April 11, 2021

I learned to juggle during middle school, using a book. I can't remember now if it was the Klutz book or not; I think a family friend was trying to learn when we were together for the summer, and they were mildly upset I picked it up faster than they did. Being able to juggle didn't earn me any popularity points in middle school, but it was a fun way to make friends at Knowledge Bowl competitions once I got into high school.

Since then I've mostly used it to impress toddlers and coworkers when I was a preschool teacher.
posted by emmling at 11:16 PM on April 11, 2021

most people can learn in an afternoon of sustained practice

I went with a 5 minutes a day for 30 days learning strategy.

The beauty of learning to juggle, is that like many physical skills (classic example is riding a bike) once you acquire the skill, you have it for life.
posted by fairmettle at 11:22 PM on April 11, 2021 [2 favorites]

I had the Klutz book and recognized it as sound technique, but to this day I have never managed three items for more than about ten seconds. It only takes a slight deviance in throw path for everything to unravel for me.

I have told myself that someday I will lock myself in a room for a weekend and not leave until I can either juggle or yodel or roll my r's consistently. All three at once... madness lies down that path.
posted by delfin at 5:09 AM on April 12, 2021 [1 favorite]

For me, the best bit about spending an hour or so to learn to juggle three balls was the extremely clear, almost palpable sense of something "clicking" in my mind that made it possible. One moment I couldn't juggle three balls without stalling on that final catch-and-rethrow action. The next moment I could. Something had unlocked in my mind, my hands knew what to do, and I've never forgotten since.
posted by dashdotdot dash at 7:31 AM on April 12, 2021 [3 favorites]

→ not leave until I can either juggle or yodel or roll my r's consistently

I can do two out of the three, but not juggle (despite trying to learn, like, a _lot_). Cathy Fink and Todd Whittemore's Learn to Yodel is great, but then, Cathy Fink so of course wonderfully great and silly.
posted by scruss at 11:50 AM on April 12, 2021

I learned to juggle from a handful of weirdo undergrads of the sort who went to juggling conferences and came out every afternoon with duffel bags full of random juggling things to practice in the great outdoors who were perfectly happy to teach a 16 year old at a summer program how to juggle everything over the long summer.

Balls, rings, cups, clubs, torches. The cigar box thing, those devil stick things, trying to look like Bowie from Labyrinth. My favorite was torches, but the handiest trick was throwing a ball up over your head behind you and having it bounce right back over your head and land in your hand... and being able to toss something up from around your back and catch it in the front. Those were the simple party-trick things that could be done without breaking out into full on juggling.

Sadly, after that summer I never ran into another troupe of jugglers so my skills waned rather quickly.

If you want to build some strength while you learn... get some tennis balls. Cut a little slit in them and fill them with lead shot, pennies, pebbles, or the like. Wrap them up in tape. Now they're heavy-ish, and the bonus is that when you drop them they just go THUD and stay where they land like bean bags.

Juggling is fun, try it if you haven't. It's not terribly hard unless you want to get up to the 5+ things....
posted by zengargoyle at 12:19 AM on April 13, 2021

I juggle very rarely any more, usually just if there’s a little kid around and I happen upon appropriate items. I have discovered though that the MOST EXCITED audience for juggling is the dog. Laser pointer is to cat as juggling is to our dog.
posted by zoinks at 8:49 PM on April 13, 2021 [1 favorite]