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Step 1
Start out by learning to juggle three balls in one hand. Juggler John Nations writes that, "My advice is to first master three balls in each hand. Other patterns for six like center cross or half shower are decent but nothing is as satisfying as the alternating three in each hand pattern. With this pattern I have juggled six for over a minute." Jack Kalvan agrees: "Just work on 3 in one hand (throwing inside, catching outside). Alternate runs between right and left hands. Don't waste time with 6 until the three is solid (until your arms get tired)." Ben Finnigan and Dorothy Finnigan also recommend starting with the three-in-each-hand technique. When your hands can each juggle three balls, you're ready to move on to more complicated six-ball patterns.
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Step 2
Warm up with some five-ball patterns you know well. End on a clean catch. Put down one ball.
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Step 3
Holding the fourth ball in one hand, juggle a three ball cascade. Every couple of minutes, make a crossing throw with the fourth ball. After a clean pass, go back to holding the fourth ball while juggling the other three. The Tunbridge Wells Juggling Club says that, "This is good practice because one hand has to catch & throw only using three fingers." Next, the Club says, "Work up to making a column multiplex throw every third throw, so that you are juggling a cascade of two single balls & one multiplex." Juggle the balls high up so you have a lot of room and can visualize the two columns that this pattern creates.
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Step 4
Hold three balls in one hand and two in the other. As before, practice a cascade pattern with the balls. Throw balls of this pattern high---you need the extra time to catch the two new balls.
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Step 5
Position the six balls in your hands as follows, according to the Tunbridge Wells Juggling Club and Charley Dancey: Put the first ball in the base of the left hand near the bottom of your thumb with your little finger. Put the second ball on top of the first. Keep it in place with your thumb and the knuckle of your first finger. The third ball goes on top of the first ball and next to the second ball, forming a triangle. Hold it down with your ring finger. The last ball is placed on top of the triangle or balanced on the ends of your fingers. The other two balls go in your other hand as you would normally hold them.
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Step 6
Start your throw with the last two balls you stacked up in the group of four in your left hand. Remember to throw high. When the topmost ball is at its peak, begin column multiplex throw under the lowest ball of the first throw. Practice the column multiplex with the six in this pattern until it is clean, and you can end with a clean catch. As Nations says, "Always finish your practices with some kind of good run and a clean finish, even if that means going back to five balls. During the monotonous beginning phase, put some music on, or practice with some other people around. Don't let it get too boring or you won't stay motivated."
