A fun trick where one ball is carried to copy the movement of another ball as it is juggled. The effect is of two balls attached by an invisible string. So it really is nothing like a Yo-Yo, but the trick sometimes goes by the more accurate name of: The String. This is an easy one to learn but it is quite hard to do well.
To do this trick you need to be able to juggle Two in one hand in a columns pattern, that is both balls rising & falling in two separate columns. Practise juggling two in one hand columns as low as you possibly can while remaining in control.
Now focus entirely on the ball that is on the inside (the left hand ball if you are using your right hand or the right hand ball if you are using your left) but don't drop the other one. Watch the way it rises & falls, see how it slows down as it peaks, seems to stop momentarily & then accelerates back down into your hand.
Take one ball in each hand. If you were juggling two in your left hand, hold the ball in your right hand between your thumb, fore & middle fingers using only your fingertips so that as much of the ball is showing as possible. Now hold that ball about three or four inches above the ball in your left hand. You will use your right hand to carry the ball so that it mimics the flight of the one in the left as precisely as possible. Remember to slow as the thrown ball starts to peak, pauses for a moment in mid air & then accelerates back down. Practise throwing the ball in your left hand straight up towards your right hand & move the other ball to match its path.
Only use your wrist to make the carry, it is much easier to control the weight of the ball & your hand than it is to control your whole arm. It may help to focus on the gap between the two balls, just keep the distance between them the same at all times.
Now pick up the third ball, juggle two in one hand & fit the carry on to the top.
Also try:
- Carrying over top the outside ball.
- Using inside & outside two in one hand patterns. In each case you have to carry your hand around & underneath the other ball (the one that you're not following) as it peaks.
- Carrying the ball a few inches below the other ball. This is called the Oy-oy.
- Switching hands without missing a beat. As you catch the ball that is being followed shift it into your finger tips, carry it under the outside ball to the other side. Scoop your carrying hand & throw the ball that you are carrying up on the inside of the ball in the air & continue.
- Juggle two in one hand but synchronise the carry so that it is level with the outside ball. The trick has the same one up two up appearance of Columns except that one of the outside balls is carried. This is called the Dummy Elevator.
- Figure eight
- Double eight