/Arvid Andersson
June 22, 1999.

Dyer's straights.

Dyer's straights is a pattern for three bouncing balls, and one of my favorite tricks in all juggling.

Start by juggling a normal bounced cascade. This simple pattern can be transformed into a Dyer's straights in just three simple steps! Well, three steps anyway :)

Before you start juggling, imagine four columns in front of you and name them 1, 2, 3 and 4 from left to right. You don't have to use the columns until step number two, but keep them in mind.

Step number one:

A really easy step, so enjoy it! In the cascade, let each ball bounce twice before you catch it. This gives you a little break, which we will fill with other pieces of juggling shortly.

Step number two:

Instead of throwing the ball from one hand toward the other, reach over and throw the ball straight down so that it bounces in a column just below the other hand. Move the other hand out of the way to the outside. Using the columns, when you are throwing with the right hand let the ball bounce in column 2. When throwing with the left hand, throw in column 3. Remember that the ball should bounce twice. (Sounds very complicated, but it's not. Look at the animation below.)

Step number three:

In the little pause that is created by the double bounce you have time to throw both balls quite hard straight down and catch them again in the same hand, one after the other. (See below.) If it feels like you don't have enough time to throw them one at a time, throw the second one a little earlier, when the first one bounces for example.

Putting it all together.

Here it is: the final Dyer's straights!

If you got through these three steps without problems, then congratulations! You can now juggle Dyer's straights! If you're still having problems it's probably with that third step. You can do step number two and you can do the two quick bounces, but not together. Well, it is possible. Practice those two quick bounces from step three over and over again until you could do them in your sleep. If it's still impossible, throw the double bounce a little higher and let it bounce three times to give you more time.

Back to the bounce juggling page.