www.Jugglingworld.biz www.Jugglingworld.biz www.Jugglingworld.biz

SITEMAP

Sign/View Guestbook
 

Tricks - 4 Ball Juggling

4 ball pattern - sent in by Aidan J Burns

If you can juggle two balls in your right hand, and juggle two balls in your left hand, then you are able to do 4 ball juggling, which is just doing both tricks at the same time!

You can see in the animation on the left that the red and black balls stay in the right hand the whole time and do not cross. In 4 ball juggling, the balls do not change hands (until you are ready for some more advanced tricks!) The same rule applies for any even number of objects you care to juggle (eg 6 balls, 8 clubs etc). You can see


So How do I start?

4 ball juggling should start with learning some 2 in one hand tricks. Take time to practice the following tricks, especially using your weaker hand!

2 BALLS - ANTI-CLOCKWISE and CLOCKWISE
There are a number of two in one hand tricks that you should practice. Practice throwing the two balls in an anti-clockwise motion, then practice throwing in a clockwise direction.
4 BALL FOUNTAIN Once you have mastered the above trick, it is time to put it all together! Pick up two balls in each hand. The fountain requires each throw to start in the middle of your body and throw to the outside of your body (in other words, your left hand goes anti-clockwise, and your right hand goes clockwise)! There are two ways to juggle the fountain (synchronous and a-synchronous):


Now you are ready for 4 balls (two in each hand)!

SYNCHRONOUS THROWS
Throw a ball from each hand at the same time with an inward scoop so that the balls circle outwards. As they peak, throw the next two up. Then just keep going!
A-SYNCH THROWS This is harder than synchronous throws, as you have much more to concentrate on. You are still juggling two balls in each hand, but throwing from each hand at a different time. This pattern is much faster, and remember that the balls keep to the same hand (until you are ready for some tricks)!

Visit Ball Juggling Products Page by clicking on this image - thanks!

Tips:

  • It has been said that if you have a problem with the balls from each hand colliding, you could open a door, and place your hands at either side!
  • If possible, try using different coloured balls/beanbags (eg two red balls in one hand and two yellow in the other hand). This will help you visualise the pattern better.


Now What?

You should be able to now throw 4 balls in a synchronous and a-scynchronous motion. What about throwing with one hand doing an inward scoop, and the other hand an outward scoop? This means that both sets of balls are following the same direction. If you can follow this up, by changing the pattern so that your hand is doing the opposite and the balls are flying in the other direction, then you are doing well!

You now have several patterns to bring together. Both sets of balls can be going in the same direction rather than both scooping inwards or outwards for instance. They can be thrown at the same time or separately. Play about with every move you can think of, and you will be well practiced for the next set of tricks.


Tricks

UNDER THE LEG
Yes there is time to throw one under the leg! Practice with just two balls in one hand. Throw one extra high to give you plenty of time, raise your leg and throw the next ball underneath, then keep juggling! Practice with your other hand also. Then you are ready to incorporate it into your 4 ball juggling. Once you have practiced this trick well enough, you shouldn't have to throw the ball much higher than normal to keep this pattern going.
COLUMNS /SPLITS
  • Throw a ball up from each hand, then shift both hands to the left a couple of inches, and throw the next two balls up in the air. Now go back and catch and throw the first two balls, and then move again to catch and throw the second lot of balls…and keep going! It takes a lot of effort to make this one look effortless!
  • You could also start with each hand throwing a ball at the right side of your body, and moving your hands swiftly to throw two balls on your left side, and moving very quickly between the two! Once the balls are going up and down in their own columns, you could try slowly widening the gap!
4 BALL HALF SHOWER
My favourite 4 ball trick! If you are able to 3 Ball Shower (see Ball Juggling Page), then this trick should be simple enough once you are comfortable with 4 ball juggling. You can start off by juggling this pattern synchronously (throwing a ball from each hand at the same time). Choose which direction you want the balls to go in, and at the same time, throw a ball high to one hand, and throw the ball low to the other hand. When both balls peak (which should be roughly the same time - needs a bit of work), then throw the next two balls in exactly the same way (the hand that threw a high ball, throws another high ball etc). Keep going, and remember to practice this trick both ways!
SNAKE
Start with two balls in each hand. Throw one ball from your right hand, then two balls from your left hand in quick succession. Then throw two from your right hand in succession. (i.e. throw the one still in your hand, catch the first left, throw it, catch and hold the second left) Then two lefts, two rights, two lefts, etc. It's confusing at first, but the pattern looks really good!
CONTINUOUS CROSSES
Hold two balls in each hand, and throw one from each hand to the opposite hand at the same time. You need to throw one ball slightly higher than the other ball or else they will collide. Treat the incoming balls as the first throw in a 4 ball fountain and keep juggling throwing in the occasional simultaneous cross. See if you can make every throw, a simultaneous cross!
3 BALL SURPRISE!
Start by holding 4 balls, one of which should be held firmly (I use my pinky and forefinger which clamps the ball against the palm of my hand). You can then do lots of 3 ball tricks (keeping the 4th ball hidden in your hand) and most people will not notice that you have a 4th ball in your hand. At one point, when you have caught another ball in the same hand, throw both balls up into the pattern, then clamp down on the 4th ball again, and go back to 3 ball tricks!

Ball Juggling Products Page - click on image to visit.
What next?

If you have mastered all these tricks and are ready to move on, then please let me know. I will be happy to write more of the tricks that are possible with ring juggling. One good way to reinforce what you have learned, is to teach others. When you explain a trick, it sometimes helps to reinforce it in your own mind (and you will therefore understand the trick better!)

 



PLEASE SIGN MY GUESTBOOK : VIEW SITEMAP : JOIN MAILING LIST


This site was created and is solely owned by Steven William Thomson.
Please e-mail me with any suggestions or comments.