ball questions (CJ)

I decided to start CJ because it looks so damn cool.. I went ahead and got me a 3" acrylic ball.. but I ahve a few questions..

ball scratches- I know dropping it on cement will scratch it pretty bad.. but what about other things? how easy/hard are these to scuff and scrath? and what's the best way to buff them out (since I know I'm bound to get them eventually?

I've been practicing in front of my loveseat so that I don't have to worry about it falling straight on the floor... they few times I've dropped it on my linoleum I just winced..

Category: 
Juggling

Comments

JUL
6
2005
coleman

carpet, rugs, cushions - they are all friends of your acrylic Sphism/gigglesmiley

as for ball repair, this stuff is what you want.

can't recommend a stage ball enough - gives you the opportunity to practice in far more places and is a better option for learning many of the moves: stage balls

and i'm sure you're aware of it already but http://www.contactjuggling.org/ has just about all the reference material a beginner could ask for.

enjoy man - along with dance, cj is the hardest thing i've ever tried to learn.

cole. x

JUL
6
2005
Rev

yeah.. that's the site I've been using..

I've heard a lot of people tell me that cj is hard... then again I've heard a lot fo people tell me russian was hard too.. LOL.. :shrug: I cant dance.. poi has helped with that a lot.. I need something to make me more fluid though..

But as far as being hard.. I havent really played enough to tell.. I'm trying to hold off so that I actually spin poi a bit before I make my vid.. its like a ball of crack..

oh.. why do people want bigger juggling balls? I find my 3" ball to be quite large.. I know its probably not as good for viewing, but its a better fit to my body size.. if I get much bigger, it'll be like trying to roll a bowling ball around.. and I noticed the stage balls earlier.. what makes them beter to practice with? I read that they grip better, but one of the problems I have with my acrylic ball is that it grips to much at times, so I can't slide against it like I should... is it mainly to have a ball that I'm not afraid to scratch?

JUL
8
2005
coleman

its a good idea to get a stage ball simply because they aid learning - body rolls, stalls, butterflies are all probably easier to learn with a stage ball.

its not 100% required but it makes sense - its lighter, makes less noise/damage when dropped, easier to carry around, safe to use outside in strong sunlight.]

i use 3" acrylics (although i wish i had gone for 85mm balls now) but only for multiball.

i use a white stage ball pretty much all of the time right now.

balls are addictive - i got one of these to learn head bouncing with but ended up using it to learn chest rolls and such instead Sphism/smilesmiley

and your ball should not be sliding at all - it should roll... :51

cole. x

JUL
8
2005
Rev

It does roll.. its just some moves require a squeeze like motion to move the ball... and It doesnt glide along as nice as it should.. isnt it a bit of trickery too.. I mean.. the ball is only rolling because I'm sliding past it..

I dont really practice anywhere but home at the moment but it is a bit annoying worrying about my ball when I do practice.. but then again.. that fact is the only thing that's got me still spinning poi at the moment..

I'll get a stage ball.. I'll just wait until after I get a cam and film some poi stuff first.. Sphism/gigglesmiley thx

JUL
8
2005
coleman

[quote="Rev"]I'll get a stage ball.. I'll just wait until after I get a cam and film some poi stuff first.. Sphism/gigglesmiley thx

JUL
9
2005
Rev

I can probably assure you that its already on the to-do list.. I'll send you a pm of the stuff I'm going to focus on first.. just let me know if there's anything you want to add..

JUL
9
2005
matt

Cool man, the rev's getting into contact.

I like it Sphism/smilesmiley

I got an acrylic a few years back but never really got into it.

I think those big, slightly bouncy, quite grippy balls are the best to play with. Then once you get some stuff down start using the acrylic. The other ones are a lot easier to practice with, you don't worry about dropping it so you tend to push the limits a bit more, they roll slower, grip better, don't hurt when you launch it at your ankle bones etc. Generally they rock Sphism/smilesmiley

My only advice with cj is when you do stuff like rolling up your arm, try to concentrate on pushing your arm underneith the ball rather than rolling the ball down your arm. ie isolate the ball.

Oh yeah, and when you're trying to isolate the ball and move your hand around it ~ it helps to concentrate on keeping the highlight on the ball in the same place.

And that i'm afraid is the extent of my knowledge Sphism/smilesmiley

Good luck with it,

m

JUL
10
2005
Rev

thx man..

I gt an acrylic ball because I don't knwo whenI'll be able to start forking money over, and I wanted something that looked cool.. I didnt think that far ahead because I don't have carpet anywehere in the house.. sooo... I spend most of my time practicing by the couch..

but you know me.. I like doing things the hard way.. and mostly (if not always) my way... hopefully it will keep working out for me... foud another beginner contact person in new orleans.. she want to learn poi too.. so I might have to make trips down there soon..

MAY
21
2007
felixwah

yes man i know its a bit late but ive been doin cj for about 6 months and my first ball was a 3" acrylic and i lernt all the basics with it they do get scratched but its bound to happen most ppl i know have a practice acrylic and a performance one. but about 2months in i bought a 4in stage ball and its a winner its not as visually effective but good for takin in clubs n that, but the bigger the ball the slower it rolls so it gives you more time to think about what your doin. have you got any vids of yourself??

-josh

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