Difficulty: 5 - Advanced Trick
Siteswap: 4
Prerequisite Skills: 3-Ball Mills Mess, 4-Ball Reverse Fountain
Watch Video - WMV - 0.6 MB
4-Ball Mills Mess is a highly complex pattern. While it contains the same three throws that the basic Mills Mess contains, they are distributed over 4 throws. So, each ball eventually will have a turn as each of the three types of throws (Throw1: Tennis, Throw2: Open-Arm, Throw3: Under-Arm). If you look closely though, you'll see that the balls do not change hands. That's right, since it's still a 4-Ball Fountain pattern, it remains two balls in each hand.
Instructions:
I've been working on 4-Ball Mills Mess for six months now, and I still don't have it completely solid yet. So, don't expect it to be easy. That said, you must first have a very solid 3-Ball Mills Mess and 4-Ball Reverse Fountain.
With two balls in each hand, start with your right hand crossed over your left. Make the same three throws that you did with the 3-Ball Mess, all thrown from the left side of your body towards the middle. 
You'll need to make these throws a little higher than normal, so that all three of the balls are in the air for a moment. The last ball (in your left hand) will be carried over to your right side as your left hand crosses over your right. This will be the first ball of the next three throws from the right side. Throw that ball from the right side towards the middle.
For now, just get those first four throws and stop. Get used to making that forth throw. It will feel different from the 3-Ball Mess.
Start adding one extra throw at a time, and work on that for a while. Work on 4 throws for a while, then 5 throws, then 6, etc. Notice that your hands are still doing the same motion as the 3-Ball Mess. Take a look at the animations above of the 3-Ball and 4-Ball versions, but only look a the hand motions (not the balls). They look the same, huh?
Once you have a grasp of what your hands need to do and you understand where the balls go, you've got the pattern mentally (the confusing part). Now you need to work on physical execution (the hard part). Make sure to keep all the balls thrown at the same height and location (towards the middle).
If you are having trouble with collisions, try making the under-arm throw (Ball #3) straight up in a column. That way it won't collide with the other balls coming from the other side.
There's no secret short-cut for this pattern. It just takes lots and lots of practice.
