How to Do The Box in Three Ball Juggling

The Box is an amazing juggling pattern that, when done correctly, looks like the sides and bottom of a box. The difficult moves that comprise this pattern are valuable for all jugglers to master because they are also used in other, more advanced, tricks. This pattern, then, is perfect for those jugglers wanting to improve their abilities and move on to more advanced tricks. Like most juggling tricks, the Box is most easily learned in sections. We will divide the pattern into a bottom, left and right side and then look at how to put these together.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 3 juggling balls

Starting Out

1. Place one ball in your right hand. Your hands should be palm up, at waist level, and your shoulders should be down and relaxed.

2. Throw the ball from your right hand directly (in a fast, straight line) to your left hand and immediately throw the ball back to your right hand (again, in a fast, straight line). Practice this throw many times over until you feel comfortable with it.

3. Place a ball in your left hand so that now you have a ball in each hand. As before, your hands should be palm up, at waist level, and your shoulders should be down and relaxed.

4. Throw the ball in your left hand straight up in the air--a little above head height is fine as long as the throw is in control. It is very important that the flight path of this ball remains as straight and stable as possible.

5. Throw the ball in your right hand straight across to your left hand and back again to the right hand (as in Step 2) as soon as your left hand throws its ball into the air. Repeat this process many times. Also practice this move on the right side as well--throwing the right hand ball straight into the air and the left hand ball across.

Putting it all Together

6. Place two balls in your right hand and one ball in your left hand--this is the same as the starting position for the standard cascade pattern.

7. Throw the first ball in your right hand (the ball furthest from your body) straight up in the air.

8. Throw the second ball in your right hand straight across to your left hand and then immediately throw the left hand ball straight up into the air. As this second ball hits your left hand, your right hand should catch the first ball thrown into the air.

9. Immediately throw the ball in your left hand straight across to your right and throw the ball in your right hand straight up in the air again. When the straight across throw reaches your right hand, you should catch the third ball thrown in your left hand. Continue this pattern and you will be performing The Box.

Tips & Warnings

• Be patient with this pattern as it is difficult when you are first learning it. Focus most of your energy initially on practicing the pattern in stages and making your throws accurate--good throws are much easier to catch, and this pattern is so fast that good throws are essential.