How to Juggle With More Than Balls

You have learned how to juggle three balls and can comfortably perform the standard cascade pattern as well as a few basic tricks. So what do you learn next? Clubs, of course! The only problem is that juggling clubs are expensive--especially if you are unsure about whether or not you will enjoy juggling objects that rotate around an axis (clubs, torches, knives). An easy, safe, and inexpensive solution to this dilemma lies in an unexpected object: the bathroom plunger. A set of three slightly modified bathroom plungers is an excellent way to transition into juggling something other than balls. I did this exact thing after learning how to juggle balls, and now I can juggle clubs, knives, and torches. So let's look at how to modify the plungers and then how to juggle them!

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 3 Plungers (wooden handles; cheapest ones are fine)
• Tennis racket replacement grip
• Electrical tape or staple gun

Preparing the Plungers

1. Grab one of the plungers and make sure that its surface is clean--free of dust and stickers.

2. Take your replacement grip and line it up at the top of the plunger handle.

3. Staple the replacement grip to the handle or use tape to secure it to the handle before wrapping it.

4. Wrap the grip down the handle. Carefully wrap it so that the edges of the replacement grip slightly overlap with each trip around the handle (think of a tennis racket or golf club grip). You can choose to wrap the entire length of the handle or only half of it.

5. When you are finished wrapping take the replacement grip's finishing tape and use it to secure the grip to the handle. If your replacement grip does not have finishing tape at the end of it you can use staples and tape to secure it.

6. Repeat steps 1-5 on the two remaining plungers.

How to Juggle the Plungers

7. Juggle the regular cascade pattern with three balls to warm up. This is the same pattern that you will use with the plungers; the main difference is that with the plungers (and all other club objects) is that you normally try to catch the handles and so you have to time the rotations of the objects.

8. Turn your palms up towards the ceiling. Your elbows should be in towards your side, shoulders relaxed, and your hands at around waist level. The posture that you use for ball juggling is fine.

9. Place a plunger in your right hand so that the handle goes across your palm at an angle in between your thumb and first finger.

10. Gently curl your pinky and ring finger around the handle.

11. Place a second plunger in your right hand on top of and at an angle to the handle already in your palm. This second plunger should form an "X" with the first. The handle should be resting against the fleshy part of your palm/thumb base and you should grip it by squeezing it with your thumb--pressing it against your slightly curled index finger. The grip should feel secure but comfortable; you don't need a death grip on the handles.

12. Pick up the remaining plunger with your left hand and grip it with your fingers wrapped around it and your thumb and index finger gripping it as in step 5.

13. To juggle, throw the top plunger in your right hand first; the plunger in your left hand second; and the remaining plunger in your right hand third. The throws will be in the same pattern as with balls and the timing will be really similar as well; throw the next club when the one in the air has reached the peak of its arc.

Tips & Warnings

• Section 2; Step 7: The most important thing initially is the grip because it determines how good your throws will be as they leave your hand. So concentrate on getting your grip and releasing the handles smoothly at first and the pattern will come much more easily.