I'm about to buy my first set of clubs. What sort should I buy?

This is a question that no one but you can answer. Club selection is largely a matter of personal preference and almost every kind of club has its advocates. Your best bet is to visit a juggling club in your area (the other kind, with live people: see question 10 above) and ask if you can try out gear. Most jugglers are more than happy to share both equipment and opinions if approached politely.

However, we understand that the world is a big place and that there may not be a club in your area. Here then are a few things to consider and some general recommendations.

(a) How much are you willing to spend?

Some people recommend getting an inexpensive set of clubs to start. That way if you decide that club juggling isn't your thing you won't have wasted very much money. Also, as you become a better club juggler your taste in clubs will likely change; if your first set didn't cost too much then you won't feel bad when you abandon them for the ones you really want.

That said, the consensus on rec.juggling is that you'll be better off getting a good set of clubs to start with. Good clubs are generally easier to learn with and much more pleasant to juggle, so if you start with a good set you're much more likely stick with it. This means we end up with more people to pass with, which is a Good Thing(tm).

(b) You are going to be passing clubs, aren't you?

As Isaac Orr (http://www.juggler.net/orr/) is fond of saying, passing clubs is "One of the most fun things two people can do without taking their clothes off." If there are any other jugglers in your area that you'll likely be passing with, find out what clubs they use and buy something similar. It's easier to pass when the clubs you're using aren't wildly different from one another or from what you're used to.

(c) Length and weight

Most quality clubs are 210-280 grams (7.5-10 oz) in weight and 50-52 cm (19.5-20.5") in length. Some clubs sold as "beginners" or "children's clubs" are significantly shorter and lighter than this. They should normally be avoided by all but the smallest jugglers.

(d) Multi-piece ("composite") clubs --- recommended

The most popular clubs among rec.juggling posters are the good-quality multi-piece juggling clubs made by Beard, Dube, Henrys, Renegade and Todd Smith. See the answer to question 11 above for links to these manufacturers and many vendors who resell their products.

Multi-piece clubs are built around a hardwood dowel (for rigidity) and usually include a hollow plastic bell or bulb (the big bit of the club), a springy handle (which makes them more comfortable to catch) and foam rubber knobs and end caps (which protect the club when it falls to the floor and reduce the damage when you inadvertently whack yourself in the face).

Multi-piece clubs come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Most common are the relatively narrow "European" style clubs like the Beard Beach, Euro or Circus; Henrys Classic, Delphin, Pirouette or Circus; Dube Euro; Renegade 85mm or 95 mm; and Todd Smith Euro, Satellite or Phantom. If you like a fatter-bodied club you might consider the Dube Phatboyz; Henrys Albatross; Renegade 105 mm or Fathead; and Todd Smith Thumper. For something thinner and more than a bit different, you might look at the Beard Radical Fish.

One way to get a decent set of clubs without spending a fortune is to buy the undecorated or "training" version of one of the brands listed above. These juggle almost exactly the same as the decorated versions but typically cost about US$5 less per club.

(e) One-piece ("unibody") clubs --- not recommended for beginners

One-piece clubs are made of a single piece of hollow, molded plastic and generally fall into two categories, neither of which is recommended for beginners.

The first category are the relatively inexpensive clubs you can findin magic shops and toy stores, and that you might buy your neice for her birthday if you didn't like her very much. Examples are Todd Smith Elans, Dube Airflites, Beard Flares, and Jugglebugs. These tend to be hard on the hands (since the handles are hard plastic) and fairly unpleasant to juggle (since they are not very well balanced). Most rec.jugglers would recommend avoiding them in any circumstances, though many of us will admit to having learned using them.

The other category are the higher-priced "American" or "One-piece Euro" clubs made by Dube and Todd Smith. These are well-balanced and quite pleasant to juggle *once you have learned to throw and catch them well*. While they're not recommended for beginners, they are widely used by professionals who like a large club that is unlikely to break under heavy use or in shipment.