Juggling and Balancing Balls

[orestas1123]

Im starting to learn to juggle and can juggle 3 confidently and do a couple of mediocre tricks, Im using lacrosse balls and bad bean bags(dont laugh). Any suggestions as to what balls I should buy for juggling.


Also, I've tried to balance a ball on my nose and forehead like a zillion times, I was wondering if any type of ball is good for balancing. Thanks.

[Frisbee]

Your balls!

The ball does not matter as much as the type of glue you use. try DAP weldwood contact cement...original formula.

The larger and heavier the ball the more impressive it will look.

Try starting with throwing a bowling ball up in the air and catching it on your forehead.

[orestas1123]

Thank you oh so much, ill use a spiked bowling ball. But seriously is there even a difference between balls, and as I asked before which work better for balancing and begginner juggling.

[Steven Ragatz]

http://www.toddsmith.com, http://www.dube.com, and http://www.renegadejuggling.com. They've lots of balls. Otherwise, just explore and find those that you like.

Steve

[orestas1123]

But really, do the balls the performers use help them balance them on for example, their nose. Its seems impossible, specifically when they throw a ball on to their nose. Any info on this would be apreciated.

P.S does anyone know what balls viktor kee uses in his act.

and PPS Steven, is there any way I can see any of your acts

[Steven Ragatz]

Viktor's balls are hollow and half filled with oatmeal. It gives them a counter weight to enable some of the tricks that he does. I think that they look good in his spandex costume.

Steve (http://www.stevenragatz.com)

FYI: The ones that he juggles are also half filled with oatmeal...

[orestas1123]

How would I get an oatmeal filled ball or what is a good substitute.

BTW amazing act steven Ive only watched the red ball one but Im gunna watch another in a few.

[Steven Ragatz]

How would I get an oatmeal filled ball

Um, well, I guess first I would try dinner with maybe some flowers. I don't know what kind he likes, but roses are always a safe bet. Don't be too pushy at first, and keep us posted.

or what is a good substitute?

Um, well, I really don't feel comfortable discussing this online - my wife - and my seventeen year old daughter - are reading over my shoulder...

Steve

PS. Learn to balance a stick first. A broomstick is fine to start with. Balancing a ball just takes practice but you can't do it until you learn basic balance technique with something easier. Begin with easy stuff and work your way up.

[orestas1123]

I will get a balnce staff and try a broomstick but I would apreciate it greatly if you told me where to find or how to get those balls, if not thats alright.



what music is playing during the red ball act. I really love it.

[Steven Ragatz]

Just make your own. Viktor's coach made his so they are well over twenty years old. Street hockey balls work well. Drill a hole, fill it to your liking, then seal the hole with a dab of silicone adhesive.

I think you expect there to be some magical answer - there isn't. Much of any trick is attributed to the prop, but mostly it is simply a matter of practice.

The music in the act is from Nick Wood's Sound Virus.

Steve

[orestas1123]

I know theres not a magic answer but I might feel better using something that people I admire use. Im up to an inconsistant 14 throws with 4 balls, and im practicing maybe 3 hours a day. It seems like practicing balance isnt yielding that many results though.

Thanks for all your help so far.

[ben woodling]

If you start with a broomstick (long piece of dowel) you can balance it then chop an inch or two off then practice balancing it at that length and just work your way down. when balancing you shouldn't be running around trying to stay under it, try and stay still and move just that fraction to keep it balanced.
I use hollow stage balls for the forehead to temple balances.

O yeah, and dont do it outside say.....in a tornado...

[orestas1123]

Yeah I just ordered stage balls but im not sure if their hollow or filled or what that imples for juggling, but I don know thier not gonna help me a ton with my mills mess. But the broom stick might help me with my contact juggling

[Spike McGuire]

Everyone is going to tell you something different, a lot of the three ball heroes (Bill Berry, Sean McKinney) use beanbags made by a guy named Fergie. They enable some of those insane catches you've seen those guys do. Here is the link http://www.fergieprops.com/

Stage balls are great because they look great on stage. I used 3 inch Dube stage balls for years. They have a great feel to them except for when the hard plastic hits the tip of your finger directly. Which I assure you will happen more times than you'll want it too. They also make numbers a little harder.

Filled balls are great. I don't know much about them, but I juggled Sean Gandini's and I liked them. If I had to tell you how to make them I would tell you to listen to Steven Ragatz, because he knows what's up. I also think you can buy them here www.vladik.com

Your final option world be these things called DX balls. They are a filled ball. Don't get to excited though, they all kinds of different then the ones Victor uses. But they are still great, a real best of both worlds kind of thing. Get them here http://www.renegadejuggling.com. I mean you can get them other places, but why bother? In my experience (and I don't think I'm alone here), Renegade sells quality products and stands behind them.

Once you pick your weapon of choice, stick with it. Your practice will suffer if you keep switching what you use. It's very impotant to be comfortable with what you are juggling.

On the balancing thing you can get a book by Dick Franco called Three Ball Digest. I personally have never read it, but I know it is supposed to be a good source of information on head rolls, so the balance should be in there too. Everyone is right though, get your balancing skills SOLID before you even attempt this.

If three hours of practice isn't bringing in the desired results, maybe it's too much. A lot of times you can burn yourself out and start re-enforcing bad behavior. Quality not Quantity my friend, find what does you best.

If you want inspiration get a video called 3b Different Ways. You won’t be able to pick up what they're doing for a while, but it sure is fun to watch. Also, go to a juggling festival, I don't know where you live, so I don't know which ones you’re near, but it is something you have to do.

Happy balls,

-----Spike

[orestas1123]

Im looking into those products but i have a few comments. First, it seems like I should be able to juggle many things,not just one. But you know better than me there. Second, It seems like less practicing wont get me to my goal, especially when I hear about people who practice 8 hours a day. And third, how much to videos help, Ive been trying to learn mills mess, and I dont even understand the sequence of throws, because all the online videos dont show people start the pattern so I dont even know what to practice.

PS I live a half an hour north of boston if you know of anything there.

and my Dube stage balls just got in, and Im already hurting my hands.


And one final thing, does anyone have any idea of a good weight for those russian juggling balls at Vladiks?

Thanks