Contact Juggling Made Simple

The art of contact juggling, once you break it down, is in reality the practice of learning a bunch of different moves with one or more balls. This creates a mesmerizing effect and is a very enjoyable activity to perform. Once you break it down into its components, contact juggling truly isn’t as intimidating as it seems. There are a variety of tricks that can be utilized in contact juggling. This lesson will tackle the more simplistic tricks first, and then move onto more complicated ones. Our recommendation is to learn these one at a time, and move on when a technique is relatively mastered. Furthermore, contact juggling for the beginner should focus on the manipulation of only one ball at a time. Here we go!

Contact Juggling Balls

There are two different types of contact balls. The first kind is a stage ball, which is a squishy, light ball. The second kind is an acrylic ball, which are the clear balls that you see more often. Acrylic balls look way cooler, but are a bit heavier. I recommend practicing with a squishy ball for awhile, as they are much bouncier and won’t scuff when dropped. Acrylic balls will scuff if dropped enough times.

Acrylic Balls:

Stage Balls:



If you’re interested in the best options on the market, be sure to check out my list of the best contact juggling balls for all.

Contact Juggling Base Grip – The Cradle

There are two important different “cradle” grips that you will need to learn to begin. This will be your starting position for almost all of the tricks that you attempt. Try them both out, as most people tend to favor one over the other.

1. Open first finger grip – this involves spreading the 1st finger away from the other three fingers. Ball sits between pointer and middle finger.

2. Drop down grip – this involves dropping down the middle finger to sit the ball between the pointer and ring finer, and above the middle finger.

Try these out and see which you prefer! They are interchangeable.

Trick Type #1: Hand Flips

This is the first thing you will need to practice to learn contact juggling. These tricks involve transferring the ball from the back to the palm of your hand and back again, going over the fingertips. This will take some practice but getting it down will be a major breakthrough in learning this craft. Don’t give up! To get started on this, put the ball in beginner position, and simply practice waving your hand around while balancing the ball. Try to push yourself and do this as fast as possible without dropping the ball.

Once you practice this for a bit, work on tossing the ball lightly in the air and catching it again on the back of your hand. Once you have these two techniques down, you are ready to attempt a hand flip. This involves lightly rolling the ball from base position towards your fingertips, and tossing it gently into the air. Then, catch it on the other side of your hand, where your palm meets your fingertips. Repeat this in reverse to complete the cycle.

If you prefer a more visual guide, check out the brief lesson from “The Amazing Kenny”

Trick Type #2: Palm-Cradle Transfer

This trick builds off of the hand flip. Essentially, perform the first section of a hand-flip, transferring the ball from the back of your hand to the front. Then, instead of transferring the ball again to the back of the same hand, move your other hand towards the trick hand, and transfer the ball across your fingers onto the back of that hand. Check out the visual below!

Trick Type #3: Prayer / Double Hand-Flip

This is similar to trick #1, and so shouldn’t be that difficult to master if you have made it this far. To perform, start with the ball in base position. Meet both palms of your hands together, as they would be in a prayer. Then, simply roll the ball from one hand to the other, and balance on the opposing hand. This trick will transfer the ball from the back of one hand to the other, and no front hand contact will be made. Variations of this trick include: Venus Fly Trap, and Inverted Prayer Curl. Check out the visual below!

Trick Type #4: Bridge Rolls

Similar to the butterfly, this trick involves using the outside of your arm to transfer the ball. Start with the ball balanced on the outside of your arm by the elbow. Lower your forearm to get the ball rolling towards your hand and other arm. Once the ball is halfway there, raise your arm quickly, and use the momentum to carry the ball up and over your forehand. Have your other have ready to transfer the ball onto your other arm. Check it out below!

Trick Type #5: Vortex / Flowers

Definitely more complicated, this essentially involves performing the previous techniques while simultaneously moving your hand in a circle (vortex). Begin with the ball on the front of your your hand, facing towards the sky. Then, butterfly the ball into the cradle position, lowering your hand to be more level with you. Next, bring the ball closer to your body, and butterfly to the front of your hand while doing so. Bring your hand up above you keeping the ball on the front of your hand to repeat the process!

To work up to this, we recommend touching up on that initial practice, moving the ball around to gain balance. This time, try to move it in circles and figure eights! If you’ve done everything so far, we bet you’ve really improved on this activity. Here’s the visual:

Trick Type #6: Isolations

One of the more well known trick-types of contact juggling. The most basic form of this, “Enigma” is to grip the ball with both hands. Use the thumb of one hand, and the fingertips of the other. Open both hands, and roll your hands inward towards the ball on the point of contact. Then, reverse the grip of each hand from thumb to fingertips, or fingertips to thumb, and bring back out. Check it out below!

Trick Type #7: Stalls

This trick involves rolling the ball across the length of your arm. Slightly less of an optical illusion than some of the tricks, but still very cool. The idea of a stall is to move the ball in a direction, and then halt it for a moment before returning it in the reverse direction. In this case, balance the ball at the crook of your elbow, roll it out towards your arm and catch it on the front of your hand. Then, lift that area to roll and catch it again at the crook of your elbow. Check it out below!

Trick Type #8: Chest Rolls

Similar to the stall, chest rolls involve rolling the ball across the length of your arm. Start with the ball in cradle position, and raise your hand to start the ball rolling towards your shoulder. Once the ball is close, lean back and direct the ball across your chest and out onto the other arm towards your hand. You can then either transfer the ball from one hand to the other to form a complete circle, or reverse the process and roll it back up towards your shoulder again. Check it out!

Trick Type #9: Matrix

The Matrix is a more intricate version of chest rolls. This time, when the ball rolls across your chest towards the other arm, lean back deeply, and then forward, to send the ball rolling across your back. Next, use your starting hand to reach behind you and using the front of your hand propel the ball across the front of your chest, where you will lean back again to roll the ball across your second arm. Don’t give up! This trick may be difficult but once it clicks, you’ll be able to repeat this awesome move again and again. Definitely check out the visual on this one:

Trick Type #10: The Spiral

To perform this trick, place the ball at the crook of your elbow. Begin by leveling your arm out to undo the crook in your elbow and straighten your arm. Then, draw your arm in towards you which will get the ball rolling towards your hand. Twist your arm inward dramatically to change the location of the ball. Once you have it on the bottom of your forearm, bring your arm up and keep twisting to propel the ball into your hand.

(Available on Amazon)

I hope this helped! Be sure to check out my recommended beginner products on the art of contact juggling, and other flow toys!

Also, check out this page for inspiration from other contact jugglers!

Interested in learning more awesome performance skills? Check out my Beginner’s Guide to Poi Balls, or to learn Diabolo!