Difficulty: 5 - Advanced Trick
Siteswap: 5
Prerequisite Skills: 4-Ball Fountain, 552, 5551
Watch Video - WMV - 0.9 MB
5-Ball Cascade is a beautiful pattern that will impress jugglers and non-jugglers alike. It's the milestone that all jugglers strive to achieve, but few make it. For me, juggling five balls was my ultimate goal for a long time, and served as my motivation to practice every day. I still consider it my greatest juggling accomplishment.
The pattern is the same as the basic 3-Ball Cascade, where you alternate hands, throwing each ball to the same height, resulting in a braid-like pattern. Simple, right?
Instructions:
Let me start by saying that it will not be easy. It took a year of practicing (almost every day), before I had a solid 5-Ball Cascade. But, it was well worth the effort. The reason it is so hard is not because the pattern is difficult to understand, but because all the throws have to be almost perfect to keep the pattern going. This is the first pattern I learned that form and technique were really crucial. You have to make consistent throws (same height, same location, equally spaced and timed).
You probably aren't ready for the 5-Ball Cascade until you already have a solid 4-Ball Fountain. Even though the Fountain is a totally different pattern with different throws than the Cascade, it is still a good indication that you can handle the increased hand speed required.
First, I will give you a list of easier tricks that you'll want to work on. Getting these solid will help build a better foundation for your 5-Ball Cascade.
522 - This is just a 3-Ball Cascade pattern using high throws. Concentrate on making all the throws perfect (same height, same location) every time.
3-Ball Flash (with clap) - The clap underneath the 3-Ball Flash will simulate the time required to juggle the full five balls. Make sure each of the three balls go to the same height and come down one at a time.
552 - This 4-Ball pattern is pretty easy, since you only have to throw two 5 siteswaps in a row.
5551 - This one is a bit harder, but it is a very good practice for the full 5-Ball Cascade. You may even want to get to where you can pass the 1 siteswap behind your back.
Here is a little exercise I did when I first started learning. What you're going to do is flash all five balls, but don't catch any of them. Let them just fall to the floor. Start with three balls in your right hand and two in your left. Throw all the balls, one at a time, starting with your right hand (right, left, right, left, right). Make these throws higher than your 3-Ball Cascade throws, and you may have to speed them up also. Don't attempt to catch any of the balls. Let them fall. The final result should be three balls (bean bags actually) in one cluster on the floor on your left side, and two balls together on your right. If the balls are not grouped together like this, then you did not have accurate throw location. Work on that.
Watch Video - WMV - 0.4 MB
Do this exercise again. This time, listen to the balls hitting the floor. You should hear five separate hits, equally spaced, making a 1.. 2.. 3.. 4.. 5 beat. If you hear balls hitting at the same time, then you did not have accurate throw heights. Work on that.
Now you're ready to catch the balls. Start the same way as before, but this time try to catch all five balls. You will end up with three in your left and two in your right. Practice this until you can do it every time.
Now, try adding one more throw before catching. This technique of learning comes from the Jason Garfield school of juggling. He always stresses that you should practice one step at a time, in increments. Practice making six throws of the pattern until you can do it ten times in a row. Then move on to seven throws (ten times in a row). Then eight throws, nine throws, etc.
Eventually you'll be able to juggle short runs of the pattern (10-20 catches). There seems to be a plateau at that point where it becomes difficult to get longer runs. My only advice there is: keep practicing. Again, it will take you months or years before you can run a solid 5-Ball Cascade. - Good luck.
