Materials

• 3 soft juggling balls or beanbags

Safety

• Use soft practice balls or beanbags to avoid injury or damage.
• Practice in a clear, open area away from people, pets, and breakable objects.
• Keep throws around eye to forehead height; do not throw too high.
• Stop and rest if your shoulders, wrists, or neck feel strained.
• Practice in short sessions to avoid frustration and sloppy form.

Steps

1. Step 1: Set up your stance and hand position

   • Stand upright with feet about shoulder-width apart.
   • Hold one ball in each hand position near waist level, palms slightly facing upward.
   • Keep elbows close to your sides and relax your shoulders.
   • Imagine each throw traveling in an arc from one hand to the other, peaking around eye level.

   Check: You feel balanced and relaxed. · Your hands start near waist level, not high in front of your chest. · You can picture a crossing arc rather than throwing straight up.

2. Step 2: Practice one-ball throws

   • Start with one ball in your dominant hand.
   • Throw it in a smooth arc to the opposite hand.
   • Catch it at about waist level.
   • Repeat back and forth, using the same height each time.
   • Focus on throwing from the hand, not reaching forward with your whole arm.

   Check: The ball peaks around eye to forehead height. · The ball lands in the opposite hand without you stepping or lunging. · Your throw height looks similar each time.

3. Step 3: Practice the two-ball exchange

   • Hold one ball in each hand.
   • Throw the first ball from your dominant hand toward the opposite side.
   • When the first ball reaches its peak, throw the second ball under it to the other hand.
   • Catch the first ball, then catch the second.
   • Pause, reset, and repeat until the timing feels natural.

   Check: You throw the second ball when the first reaches its peak, not immediately after the first throw. · The balls cross in the center and do not collide. · You can do several throw-throw-catch-catch repetitions with control.

4. Step 4: Build a continuous two-ball rhythm

   • Repeat the two-ball exchange multiple times without rushing.
   • Keep both throws the same height and shape.
   • Use a steady rhythm: throw, throw, catch, catch.
   • Practice starting from either hand so both sides feel comfortable.

   Check: You can consistently make clean crossing throws. · Your timing feels even on both sides. · You are no longer chasing the balls around the room after most attempts.

5. Step 5: Add the third ball

   • Hold two balls in your dominant hand and one ball in your other hand.
   • Throw the first ball from the hand holding two balls.
   • When it reaches its peak, throw the second ball from the other hand.
   • When that second ball reaches its peak, throw the third ball from the first hand.
   • Then make the catches in order.
   • At first, aim for just three throws and three catches before stopping and resetting.

   Check: You start with the hand holding two balls. · Each new throw happens as the previous ball reaches its peak. · You can complete a few clean three-throw sequences, even if you do not continue long.

6. Step 6: Work toward a full cascade

   • Continue the same crossing pattern, alternating hands each throw.
   • Think of juggling as a sequence of accurate throws rather than fast catches.
   • Keep your hands low and let the balls come to you.
   • Practice short runs, reset, and repeat.
   • Gradually increase how many catches you can make in a row.

   Check: The pattern looks like alternating crossing arcs. · Your hands stay near waist level rather than rising to meet every ball. · Your longest run is slowly increasing over time.