it’s coming along nicely. I still need more practice, but my runs of 5 balls are getting longer and smoother. 3 years ago

My goal is to be able to juggle 5 for about 30 seconds each time I try. Right now I can usually get about 15 throws each time, and sometimes up to 30-40, but this is rare. 4 years ago

I restarted my daily juggling practice about two weeks ago after a bit of a break, and I seem to have made another quantum jump. I’m going to be counting catches from now on, instead of timing the run, because for some reason I find I juggle better if I’m counting, but worse if I try to time myself (which involves glancing at the clock just before and after the run).

Had a great session this evening with a best run of 60 catches (although unfortunately I dropped on throw 61). Disregarding the drop, this puts me half way towards my target of 120 catches, or roughly a 30 second run. 5 years ago

But 5’s the target, and 4 is hard, whatever I’ll get it. 5 years ago

It just needs lots of practice 5 years ago

Got to 12 throws occasionally but slow progress. I’m going back to practising 4 and trying to get 5551. 5 years ago

I tried learning this yesterday. So far I can get about 15 tosses in before I lose it all. Hopefully I can get this in the next couple of days. 5 years ago

Been making slow but steady progress with this one. I’m now managing several 5 second runs during a session, which is roughly 20 catches. I’ve done longer runs than that, but usually not finishing with a clean catch. I feel like I’ve pretty much ‘got it’ now, meaning that I’m entering the unconscious competence phase, and it’s just a question of tightening up my technique so that I can keep the pattern going for longer. My target is still 30 seconds (or 120 catches) before I mark this goal complete, which is probably going to be a few more months work. 5 years ago

I’ve been able to do a 3 ball cascade for a while now… its moving past that which is becoming difficult… 5 years ago

I dug out my bag of props the other day. It’s been sitting, alone and unused, in a corner for almost a year. I grabbed my three favorite juggling balls, headed for the back yard, and started to refresh my 3-ball skills.

On the positive side, I can still do a 3-ball cascade pretty well, as well as a couple of other tricks. 6 years ago

...to work with five balls.

I’ve got some three ball tricks going, and I’m getting solid with clubs.

Five balls is one of my main juggling goals, but I would work on it even if it weren’t.

You see, I’m addicted to the sensation that comes when you finally start to get a grasp of a harder level, and then go back down to the easier level.

I love the feeling of going from four balls (which I can go for about 20 catches) to three. I love the feeling of going from reverse fountain back to fountain, or from clubs back to balls.

I feel that when I push for the higher level, everything on the lower levels actually slows down. All of a sudden, I can see the pattern, and I seem to have all the time in the world!!

You see, I’m addicted!

- CB 6 years ago

I had been getting a bit frustrated with my slow progress over the past few weeks, but today for some reason, I seem have made a sudden leap forward. I can now make 6 throws to a clean catch pretty consistently, and I’ve also done a few 8’s to a clean catch. Once I get up to 10 and beyond, I’m in the realm of real 5 ball juggling (at least 2 throws for each prop).

I’ve noticed that I’m now managing to make more space in the middle of the pattern, which means I can keep it going longer before collisions bring the run to an end. I’ve also noticed that I’ve gotten better at correcting when the balls go off course. But most of all, it just feels different today. I feel much more in control all of a sudden. Funny how things often go like that. 6 years ago

I can do a pretty clean 5 ball flash now, and just in the last few days I’ve started getting 6 throws to a clean catch. Once or twice I even managed seven!

I’d estimate, based on my progress so far, that it takes at least 20 times as much work to master 5 ball juggling than it does to master 3. It’s amazing how much more difficult it is!

Hoping to get this one nailed by the end of the year. 6 years ago

Man, it seems like so long ago that I started five! I’ve forgotten how cool it was to me then, and then people say to me, “WWWWOOOOAAAAHHHHH!!!!! IS THATFIVE??!!!!!?” Hehehe ¦) Good times!
Now I’m working on over the tops and under the arms. Five ball Mill’s Mess, here I come!!

Juggle on!!

(Definitely learn five!) 6 years ago

Do’nt try 6 years ago

in both directions. Perhaps it’s time I started working with 5 balls? After all, I’m never going to learn the 5 ball cascade if I only ever juggle with 3 balls! 6 years ago

I got a new set of suede thuds today, as my old ones were getting a bit baggy. I’ve been working pretty hard on my 3 ball shower patterns recently, as my juggling book says it’s very helpful to perfect these before moving on to 5 ball cascade. But I still haven’t actually started working with 5 balls yet.

Now the weather’s improving I can practice in my garden. It’s great the sense of freedom you get when you’re not restricted by a low ceiling. 7 years ago

It occurred to me this morning that juggling 5 balls isn’t necessarily as difficult as i thought it was.

Somehow i’d got it into my head that all 5 need to be out of your hands at the same time! But then i realised you only need to throw 3, and as the first one comes down you throw the fourth to replace it. So i had a little go, and i think i might just get it with a lot of practise!

The best thing is, after attempting 5 balls, suddenly 4 seems a lot easier! heheh! 7 years ago

This is one goal that is hard to reach and even harder to stay on top of. 7 years ago

I read on funnyjuggler.com that it’s pretty easy to bounce juggle 5 balls. If you bounce 3 balls on the ground by throwing them up a bit and letting them fall, then 3 balls happens really slowly. You can fit an extra two balls in much easier than the speed needed for 5 ball cascading.

Worth a try, i think. Now if i can just find 5 tennis balls …! 7 years ago

i can juggle with 3 balls excellently and with rings and clubs and i can almost ride unicycle so i need to step it up a notch with 5 balls. i learnt the 3 ball cascade in six days when i was 8 and i am 14 now so i dont think it wikll take me long to learn. but i havent tried it yet.:-7 7 years ago

Been working on my 3 ball tricks for ages. Getting pretty cool! Can do a bit of 4 balls, but it’s a bit of a cheat really. Better with an odd number. Everyone says 5 balls is a step function from 3. I reckon I could lick it no probs. But I want to carry on with 3 for now. I’ll start working on my 5 ball cascade next year. I reckon I can get it down in 3 months.

Only problem is, my ceiling is too low. I need to be outside really. Perhaps I’ll have to wait till the spring/summer. Or move house. 7 years ago

Years ago right after I learned 3, I went for five. I bet if I gave it some serious work I could do it. I have experience on my side. But now I am older. Don’t know what would happen. 7 years ago

I’ve been having so much fun with club passing that I haven’t been working on this very much. I just want to really solidly qualify five balls, but I’m pretty sure juggling is supposed to be fun, so it’s not a top priority right now. It would also help if I could arrive at the juggling club meetings with more then five hours of sleep under my belt. Ah, the trials and tribulations of nrrd life. Soooo clooose! 7 years ago

Argh! I am so close. I have been so close for years! This is the summer I finally get it down. I’ve been working on my five ball multiplex splits for a couple of weeks now, and that’s getting a lot better. If I had a good solid two or three hour session, I’m sure I could get it down good. I don’t think that really counts, though. I want to do the five ball cascade, at least ten catches, and hopefully thirty or forty, so I can think about doing some other patterns. 7 years ago

I can juggle flaming torches which is probably cooler but my mext step is keeping 5 balls in the air. 8 years ago

Three balls, everybody can do it.
Five balls, the Mill’s Mess juggling pattern. My dream. Unattainable in this life, probably.

Why do dreams have to serve a purpose ? 8 years ago