Introduction: How to Juggle a Three Ball Cascade

Don’t let the title fool you, a “three ball cascade” is just the technical jargon for a basic pattern of juggling three balls!

Materials needed:

  • 3 of any object (see step two for more details)
  • 2 hands
  • Adequate space to practice
  • A lot of patience

Step 1: The Stance

Before you begin any juggling throws, start with your feet flat on the ground, your elbows bent at about 90 degrees, and your hands shoulder width apart.

Step 2: The Materials

Find three similarly weighted and shaped objects.

  • This could be balled up socks, balls, scarfs, whatever you have available! Experiment with different objects to find the best fit for you!
  • NOTE:It is not advised to juggle food, sharp objects, fire, and children, on a ledge or any other more advance situations when beginning. This could result in dangerous and potentially life threatening situations.

Step 3: The One Ball Sequence

  1. Start with only one ball in one hand. Take ball one and throw it in a small arc (approximately a foot above the height of the top of your head) to the opposite hand.
  2. Catch ball one in the opposite hand.
  3. Practice this throw and catch sequence for ball one a few times to become familiar with it before moving on.
    • You shouldn't have to move your second hand a lot to catch the ball. If this is the case, practice your throw so that the ball lands near or on your second hand. This will prove to be more important with the addition of the other two balls.
    • Don’t forget about that other hand! Your weaker hand cannot avoid throwing a ball, before you move on to two balls, make sure you practice starting with ball one in your weaker hand.
    • This may seem like a very easy step, but when you feel like you are ready to move on, DON’T. Practice five more throws. It will make it easier if you are very practiced with this sequence.

Step 4: The Two Ball Sequence

  1. Take one ball in each hand.
  2. Throw ball one in a small arc to the opposite hand as before.
  3. When ball one reaches it's peak height, throw ball two with hand two using the same method as before.
    • In the pictures above: ball one represents the blue ball, ball two represents the orange ball, hand one represents the right hand.
    • As a beginner, it is easy to get impatient and throw ball two before ball one reaches it's peak height. Be patient and wait till it reaches that height, otherwise your throws will look messy and could potentially lead to more drops and ball collisions.
  4. Catch ball one in the opposite hand it was thrown from like before.
  5. Catch ball two in the opposite hand it was thrown from.
    • Again, this shouldn't be a strain to catch. If you are moving your hands a lot from their original position (shoulder width apart), practice this until you can easily catch both balls in both hands without straining.
  6. Practice this sequence until you feel comfortable moving on to three balls.
    • Again, don't forget about that other hand! Start the throw of ball one in the opposite hand a few times to get used to the feel.
    • Ready to move on? DON'T. Practice five more throws, you know what they say, practice makes perfect.

Step 5: The Three Ball Sequence.

  1. Take ball one and ball three in hand one and ball two in hand two.
    • It doesn't matter which hand has ball one and ball three. Pick the hand that feels most comfortable. NOTE: this will be the hand that throws first! In the gif above, hand one is the right hand.
  2. Toss ball one from hand one in a small arc as before.
    • In this case, hand one must be the hand with two balls in it.
    • In the gif above, ball one is the blue ball, orange is ball two, and green is ball three.
  3. When ball one reaches it's peak height, toss ball two in a small arc from hand two like before.
  4. Catch ball one in hand two.
  5. When ball two reaches it's peak height, toss ball three in a small arc from hand one like before.
    • It is very common for the throw of the third ball to be a bit of a mental block. If you are having problems throwing this third ball, force it! Even if it means the third ball flew across the room and hit your friend in the face. Apologize to your friend, but you have made anti-mental blocking progress!
    • You should not pause before throwing ball three. If you find yourself doing this, do not move on until the three throws seem continuous.
  6. Catch ball two in hand one.
  7. Catch ball three in hand two.
    • Again, neither catch in step six and seven above should be a strain. If your hands are straining to catch these balls, practice this step until you can catch all three balls easily.
  8. Repeat this three ball sequence until comfortable.
    • Ready to move on? Five more times!
    • Congratulations! In juggling jargon, you have now "flashed" three balls. This means you have successfully thrown each ball once, and caught each ball once.

Step 6: The Fourth Throw Sequence

  1. Take ball one and ball three in hand one and ball two in hand two like before.
  2. Toss ball one from hand one in a small arc as before.
  3. When ball one reaches it's peak height, toss ball two in a small arc from hand two like before.
  4. Catch ball one in hand two.
  5. When ball two reaches it's peak height, toss ball three in a small arc from hand one like before.
  6. Catch ball two in hand one.
  7. When ball three reaches it's peak height, toss ball one in a small arc from hand two.
    • This "fourth throw" can also add a mental block. If you are having troubles throwing ball one again, force it!
  8. Catch ball three in hand two.
  9. Catch ball one in hand one.
    • Again, practice this until you do not have to strain to catch any of the balls thrown.
  10. Practice this four throw sequence until you feel comfortable moving on.

Step 7: Qualifying

By now you should see a pattern, when a ball reaches it's peak height, throw another ball from the other hand. According to the International Juggling Association and the World Juggling Federation, officially juggling is when you throw each ball twice and catch each ball twice.

  1. To qualify, repeat the three ball juggling sequence until you count six catches.

Step 8: Congratulations!

You have now officially juggled, congratulations and show off to your friends!

Step 9: Extra Tip

Another common issue is finding yourself walking or running forward as you juggle, if you find yourself doing this try juggling in front of a wall or a friend. This will help you correct your throws until you do not throw forward.