How to Juggle the Butterfly Hand Swap

The butterfly swap is a key move in contact juggling. There's not much to learn as far as this move is concerned; it just requires a lot of practice. In order to achieve the fluid movements of passing the ball from one arm to the other, you need to dedicate yourself to contact juggling. But if you've ever watched a juggler effortlessly roll a ball from arm to arm, hand to hand, you know the work is worth it.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Contact juggling ball

1. Master the basics of contact juggling with both hands. You can easily flip the ball from the palm to the back of your hand so it looks like the ball is stationary. Perform this trick with both hands, not just your dominant hand.

2. Fit your hands together, palms up, like a cradle. Practice rolling the ball from hand to hand and get comfortable with the dynamics of this motion.

3. Start the trick over by flipping the ball with one hand and moving into the palm trick. Separate your hands and flip the ball with your other hand. Practice this trick several times until you feel like your movements are smooth and the ball's flow meets your needs. It may take dozens of attempts to be confident.

4. Try the trick with your hands facing palms down. This is more difficult since you can't create a cradle like before. Begin slowly and learn the dynamics of your backhand. Memorize how the ball rolls and how you need to react in order to control the ball.

5. Use both swaps in your routine. Get comfortable switching from one to the other and using it with other tricks. An expert is able to make it look as if the ball is staying stable the entire time.