360-Degree Flips

For a very impressive trick, flip a balance club not just half way around but all the way around to land on the same end it started on. The technique for this is exactly like that for the half flip, except that you put a little more spin on the club and perhaps flip it a little higher here. It's more difficult because of the greater spin. You may find that you need to use more shock­absorbing action with the catching club by dropping it down further as you catch the full flip. Once you've mastered the previous moves, you may li~e to try the following more difficult maneuvers.

 

Repeating Half Flips

Start by doing a half flip from a club balance, but instead of catching the falling club, give it an additional push on the end to keep it up and spinning for a second half

flip. Then catch it in a balance. The addi­tional push that you give is almost a catch and then an immediate flip. Of course, you can do more than two consecutive flips without stopping. It's important to keep the club under control all the while, spin­ning at a normal slow rate. Keep your eye on the end that you have to catch next.

 

The Dramatic Pose (On Knee)

Once again, start with one club bal­anced on another (Fig. 2). Flip the bal­anced club up for a 180 but then step forward on the right foot as you kneel on the left knee and catch the club on the handle of the club in your hand, as shown in Fig. 7. You need to flip the club forward so that as you kneel down it will land on the other club as shown.

 

Top to Top

Here's another impressive catch. With one club balanced knob down on another (Fig. 2), flip the balanced club as if you were doing a 180 but flip it a bit higher, tilt the club in your hand up, and catch the spinning club on the end of your club, as shown in Fig. 8. You should practice bal­ancing in this position before you attempt the flip.

The Two-Club Flip

Here is a real challenge. From the usual starting club balance (Fig. 2), flip the balanced club up for a 360 but as you do so release the club in your hand so that it too begins to spin-it will spin the opposite way from the other club (Fig. 9). Both clubs should spin all the way around and land in the position you started in. Catch the club in your hand as early as possible to give you time to catch the other club in a balance. The trick here is that you have to control the spin of two clubs with one motion. Don't flip the top club and then the bottom one. It happens all at once. You have to be very goodat360-degreeflips beforeyoucanmaster this two-club flip.

 

In Conclusion...

Don't let those last few tricks scare you away from balancing clubs. The set-balance, 180-degree flips and even 360-degree flips are very attainable goals and could be part of your repertoire in a reasonably short period of time.

 

Send any comments or suggestions for Juggler's Workshop, to Juggler's Workhop; 3065 Louis Rd; Palo Alto, CA 94303; or call: Martin Frost at 415/856-1456 or Michael Stillwell at 904/371-2057. *