Shower (juggling)
Encyclopedia
A shower is a juggling
pattern for 2 or more objects, most commonly balls or bean bag
s, where objects are thrown in a circular motion. Balls are thrown high from one hand to the other while the other hand passes the ball back horizontally. The animation depicts a 3 ball version. Siteswap
notation for shower patterns is (2n-1)1, where n is the number of objects juggled. (i.e. 31 for 2 balls, 51 for 3 balls, 71 for 4 balls, etc...)
The circular motion of the balls is commonly represented in cartoons as the archetypical juggling pattern, somewhat at odds with reality, where the cascade
is more common. By constantly reversing the direction, the box
pattern can be formed.
There are two different types of shower : synchronous shower, where both hands throw their ball at the same time and asynchronous shower.
pattern for odd numbers of props, which must be juggled as a fountain
if another prop is added.
The easiest shower is the two-ball shower, although some jugglers may consider that it is not juggling at all. If given two balls and told to juggle, the average person is likely to throw one in the air, pass across the other, and catch the first in the other hand. Performed continuously, this is a two-ball shower.
A three-ball shower is significantly more difficult for a beginner than a three-ball cascade, due to the height, speed, and asymmetry of the two throws. However, once mastered it is easy to perform for long periods, or to combine with other tricks.
Four- and five-ball showers are possible and frequently mastered by jugglers at an intermediate or advanced level. Showers with more props are rarely achieved by anyone other than professionals or seriously committed individuals.
According to the Juggling Records Database of unofficial juggling records, the record with 6 balls is 280 catches by Benjamin Thomas, and with 7 and 8 the records are 80 and 32 catches respectively, both held by Bruce Sarafian
. In order to make completing the shower seem easier in difficulty it is best to learn the three ball cascade first.
Juggling
Juggling is a skill involving moving objects for entertainment or sport. The most recognizable form of juggling is toss juggling, in which the juggler throws objects up to catch and toss up again. This may be one object or many objects, at the same time with one or many hands. Jugglers often refer...
pattern for 2 or more objects, most commonly balls or bean bag
Bean bag
A bean bag is a sealed bag containing dried beans, PVC pellets or expanded polystyrene, with various applications.-Games:...
s, where objects are thrown in a circular motion. Balls are thrown high from one hand to the other while the other hand passes the ball back horizontally. The animation depicts a 3 ball version. Siteswap
Siteswap
Siteswap is a notation used to describe juggling patterns. It encodes the number of beats of each throw, which is related to their height, and the hand to which the throw is to be made...
notation for shower patterns is (2n-1)1, where n is the number of objects juggled. (i.e. 31 for 2 balls, 51 for 3 balls, 71 for 4 balls, etc...)
The circular motion of the balls is commonly represented in cartoons as the archetypical juggling pattern, somewhat at odds with reality, where the cascade
Cascade (juggling)
In juggling, a cascade is the simplest pattern achievable with an odd number of props. The simplest cascade is the three-ball cascade. This is therefore the first pattern that most jugglers learn.-Three-ball cascade:...
is more common. By constantly reversing the direction, the box
Box (juggling)
The Box is a juggling pattern for 3 objects, most commonly balls or bean bags. Two balls are dedicated to a specific hand with vertical throws, and the third ball is thrown horizontally between the two hands...
pattern can be formed.
There are two different types of shower : synchronous shower, where both hands throw their ball at the same time and asynchronous shower.
Difficulty
One attraction of the shower pattern is that it does not change with increasing numbers of props. The four-ball pattern is exactly the same as the three-ball pattern, except that the balls are thrown higher or faster. This is unlike a cascadeCascade (juggling)
In juggling, a cascade is the simplest pattern achievable with an odd number of props. The simplest cascade is the three-ball cascade. This is therefore the first pattern that most jugglers learn.-Three-ball cascade:...
pattern for odd numbers of props, which must be juggled as a fountain
Fountain (juggling)
The fountain is a juggling pattern that is often used for juggling an even number of objects. In a fountain, each hand juggles separately, and the objects are not thrown between the hands. For example, in a four-ball fountain, each hand juggles two balls independently.A fountain can be synchronous...
if another prop is added.
The easiest shower is the two-ball shower, although some jugglers may consider that it is not juggling at all. If given two balls and told to juggle, the average person is likely to throw one in the air, pass across the other, and catch the first in the other hand. Performed continuously, this is a two-ball shower.
A three-ball shower is significantly more difficult for a beginner than a three-ball cascade, due to the height, speed, and asymmetry of the two throws. However, once mastered it is easy to perform for long periods, or to combine with other tricks.
Four- and five-ball showers are possible and frequently mastered by jugglers at an intermediate or advanced level. Showers with more props are rarely achieved by anyone other than professionals or seriously committed individuals.
According to the Juggling Records Database of unofficial juggling records, the record with 6 balls is 280 catches by Benjamin Thomas, and with 7 and 8 the records are 80 and 32 catches respectively, both held by Bruce Sarafian
Bruce Sarafian
Bruce Sarafian is an American juggler and unicyclist from Florida. He performs in venues such as theme parks, festivals, fairs and also for corporate clients...
. In order to make completing the shower seem easier in difficulty it is best to learn the three ball cascade first.
External links
- JuggleWiki "Terminology" page on Shower pattern.