Naming my tricks. by Steven Ragatz

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Throw height and rate by Steven Ragatz

First off, I wish to qualify myself, as I do not consider myself to be a "numbers juggler". Nonetheless, as a performing juggler, I have worked on numbers juggling as part of my training process. When in shape, hundred throw runs with seven balls and two-hundred throws with five clubs were my standard finishing trials during a typical practice session. These exercises may be of some use to readers here. The training exercises that I used for numbers were typically the same for each subsequent level (five to six to seven to eight...) and for each prop (balls, clubss). Being a firm believer in doing things stepwise, I would get very comfortable at one level before spending too much time on the next. I always push the limit a bit by giving a few trials to the numbers trick that lie just on the bounds of my abilities, but I never spend much time there. If I were working a seven ball cascade, I might dedicate twenty minutes practice time to that trick. Twenty minutes is the most I would ever spend on a single trick, and that is extreme, as my focus falls off quickly and the body tires of the same repetitive actions. Out of that twenty minutes, I might spend ten minutes "under" the trick with four, five and six ball exercises, then ten minutes drilling short, controlled runs of seven (fourteen or twenty-one throws.) I might give an eight ball flash a half dozen trials at the end if I'm feeling randy. Keep in mind that this is in addition to my usual stretching warm-up and whatever training I am working on with three, four, five, or six balls. Needless to say, I would never try to start a training session with seven. Seven never shows up during the first half hour of an hour and a half training session. Some days are better than others. On bad days, if I am not getting "a piece" of the trick, I skip it after a few trials. Other days, I might enjoy working it a little longer that usual. But since my goal is consistency, "good" days are of little value - "bad" days are the ones that I use as indicators. Once I train a trick to the point that there are no "good" or "bad" days, then I have achieved my goal. My favorite training tip: "Always finish on a good trial" - NOT. I finish working a trick when I am finished. If the last trial was good or bad is of miniscule consequence in the long run. Inevitably, if I work too long on a single trick, my performance begins to degrade, usually due to fatigue, lost technique or boredom. Forcing myself to keep trying until I "get a good one" means lots of sloppy trials filled with mistakes just to get one good one to appease my frail ego. When evaluating a training session in my mind, I think about the overall success of each training session. Additionally, I tend to consider it a good session if I come away with at least one small victory and a controlled attitude. Bonus point if I did not loose my temper! So, lets get to the point: Jerry M. asked, "Is there a similar "over" trick that you'd recommend for those of us attempting seven balls?" The "under" trials that I use for seven include: Four ball chase Five cascade - low and fast - high and slow Six ball fountain Six ball cascade (seven with a hole) Four ball fountain in each hand The "on" trials were always 14 or 21 throw runs with one run of a hundred at the end. The "over" trials that I use for seven include: five in one hand eight ball flash 3 - 4 flash (three balls in the left hand, four balls in the right. Throw L-L-L-R-R-R-R and catch. Repeat in reverse.) In general, try to minimize motion. Keep the elbows under the shoulders. The knees should be slightly bent and mobile with the back as straight as possible without putting strain on the neck. Shoulders down and eat your vegetables... Think beauty!