Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Get comfortable
• Tips
• Warnings
• Necessities

Juggling is an ancient form of entertainment. The first mention of the art is from Egyptian hieroglyphs thousands of years ago. Many people think that juggling is easy, but if you've never done it, it's pretty hard to master. Still, you should be able to learn it just fine with some instructions and a dose of practice. Read our step-by-step plan and in no time you'll be juggling three balls (and learning some fun tricks!).

To step

Method 1 of 3: Get comfortable

1. Buy good balls. The ideal balls for juggling are balls that are neither too light nor too big. If you've never juggled before, it's best to use small sand-filled balls. Make sure to buy balls that fit well in your palm.
   • Balls with pips are also useful for learning to juggle. Because they don't bounce or roll away when you drop them, you can concentrate on practicing and you don't have to constantly chase the ball.
   • You can also make your own practice balls from tennis balls or balloons.
2. Find a good place to exercise. If you are just starting to juggle, you will often drop the balls. So do not stand close to glass statues or other fragile objects and make sure you have the space to move. A good place to practice is in the garden, for example.
   • Stand comfortably with your feet about 12 inches apart. It is useful to stand near a table in the beginning. This way you don't have to bend over to pick up balls that you drop.
3. Now move on to three balls. Hold two balls in your right hand and the third ball in your left. If you are left-handed, the opposite applies to you. Only proceed to this step if you have mastered juggling two balls.
   • Remember how you threw the second ball while the first was flying through the air? The only difference between the youngsters with two and three balls is that you are now throwing the third ball while the second is flying through the air. So it actually comes down to the same thing. Ready? Go!
4. Toss in a triangle. In this trick one ball becomes constant thrown horizontally from one hand to the other. The second ball remains constant in your right hand and the third ball constant in your left. When all three balls are in the air, it looks like they are forming a triangle.
   • Hold two balls in your right hand. Throw a ball in the air with your left hand and as soon as you do this, throw the second ball from your right to your left. Once you catch that ball, throw the second ball in your right hand and the ball up in your left hand and catch the horizontal ball when your right hand is free.

Tips

• If you find yourself having to step forward to catch a ball, try practicing in front of a wall. Because of this you cannot step forward and you automatically learn to throw differently in order to catch the ball.
• Make sure your balls are all about the same height.
• The true secret to juggling is knowing when to stop - if you find that catching is getting harder, finish the trick and smile at the audience.
• Counting can help you juggle:
  • Practice throwing in an arc by counting the steps rhythmically. Throw a ball from left to right. Stop. Throw ball one, then ball two and stop again. One, two, catch, catch, stop. One, two, stop. One, two, stop.
  • Repeat this exercise again, but now start with your left hand instead of your right. Keep practicing until you get the hang of this. If it gets too easy, add a third ball. Then replace the word "stop" with the number "three". One, two, three, One, two, three.
• Be patient and practice a lot. If you already find this difficult, check out a video of Enrico Rastelli juggling 10 balls at a time! (He exercised no less than 12 hours a day!)

Warnings

• Do not throw two balls at the same time, but make sure that the throwing alternates.
• Make sure you throw with a bow and that the ball flies through the air in front of your body (and not above your head or a meter away).
• Juggling may seem difficult at first. However, hold on; most people only keep the balls in the air for about 30 seconds.

Necessities

• Three suitable juggling balls.
• The space to practice.