Difficulty: 3 - Intermediate Trick
Siteswap: 531
Prerequisite Skills: Cascade, Shower, 501
Watch Video - WMV - 0.7 MB
531 is the siteswap notation for this unusual pattern. It consists of a high throw (5), followed by a regular throw (3), then a pass straight across to the the other hand (1). 531 is the simplest of the Tower patterns, where each ball is thrown lower than than the one before, until they're all stacked in the air like a tower. (7531, 97531, b97531, db97531)
Instructions:
531 may look like a simple pattern, but it's rather difficult to juggle and especially frustrating to learn. I think that's because it looks so easy, but yet it has a certain complexity due to the different throw heights. For most people, this pattern will be their first introduction into the world of siteswap juggling.
501 - So you think juggling two balls is easy, huh? Try this pattern first, before moving on to 531. Start with both balls in your right hand. Throw one ball up toward your left hand (make this throw a bit higher than your regular cascade throw). While that ball is still in the air, pass over the remaining ball directly across into your left hand. Now you have to quickly get rid of that ball before the high throw comes down. So, throw the ball from your left hand up high to your right hand. Now you can catch that first ball in your left, and quickly pass it straight across to your right hand (before the other ball comes down). Repeat. This pattern will feel very awkward at first. Stick with it.
Watch Video - 0.3 MB
Once you've got 501 mastered, you can practice flashing 531. Start with two balls in your right hand, and one in your left. Throw from the right hand a high throw, followed by a regular throw from the left hand, and finish with a straight pass across from your right to your left hand. All three balls will be in the air at the same time for a brief moment, before coming down. When you catch them all, you will now have two balls in your left and one in your right.
Now, just put together this flash with what you practiced with the 501. You will still be doing two 501 balls the same as before. Just at the other ball in the middle as the 3 siteswap. Practice, practice practice.
Variations:
531 with Clubs - 531 looks really cool when juggling clubs. The trick with clubs is that you need to throw the high throw as a triple spin, the middle throw as a single spin, and the bottom pass as a flat. This is one pattern where using clubs makes the trick look a lot more impressive.
531 Behind-the-Back - Any pattern that has a 1 siteswap (pass straight across from one hand to the other), you can do it using a behind-the-back pass. This is not to be confused with a behind-the-back throw. The behind-the-back pass is a bit harder than the regular pass, and it requires a faster hand speed. You may want to practice just the behind-the-back pass with one ball at first, until you feel comfortable with it.
