Hello people, I want to start training 6 balls. I'm leaning towards mmx balls but I'm not sure which size to go for and can't find any help on this matter elsewhere.
What's your 5 balls like? I'd say you need at least 200 catches to properly start training six.
My six is nowhere near solid, but it's rapidly improving so here's my tips:
Firstly, I don't personally like mmx balls, I have always found them a bit small, heavy and slippery. My recomendation would be either to go for some nice beanbags like Gballz or uglies, or to go for Norwiks. They have been the only ball I use since I started using them about 6 months ago because I love them so much. On my second day of using them I broke more PBs in a day than I had for ages, they're really not that hard to get used to (if you get these make sure to get the 75mm ones).
Hope this helps, if you have any other questions feel free to ask.
Austin
Oscar Lindberg - - Parent #
Im with Austin, not a big fan of MMX. At least the size I got. Maybe bigger would feel better.
Oscar Lindberg - - Parent #
They are called MMX 1. I think they are 62mm. I own 5 so haven't tested them on higher numbers.
The size is perfectly ok, it's just how they feel. They are small and hard + roll away when you drop. Many people seem to like them though, this is just my opinion.
Instead I use Juggle Dream Uglies (very good for numbers) and sometimes a ball called "120g Thud Juggling Balls (The Standard Ball)" from Firetoys.
Some Gballz or similar would be sweet to own.
My 5 is getting more and more solid but I'm probably more around 150 catches. I can flash six to a good standard but I am looking to improving my 5 more before properly training 6, however I am at a position where I have a but of money to spend on some new balls so I want to invest in some good balls to help my future progress.
Thanks for replying, there are so many options! Had a look at the norwicks, I can't tell, if they are beanbag or more like the mmx style ball? Is 75mm a stand size ball for juggling 6?
Oscar Lindberg - - Parent #
Norwiks are "russians". They have a hard shell (like play pit/wiffle balls) and are filled with sand.
75mm is probably a bit bigger than standard. But if you don't have too small hands it shouldn't be a problem. Some crazy people out there juggle 9 norwiks.
Yes, they feel massive (and very light, 67g) when you first use them, but after a while they feel perfect and everything else feels too small. They're really not hard to hold enough of, I work on up to 8 balls with them and have no problems. Plus you can get them wet and muddy and clean them easily, which is very helpful if you juggle outside.
James Hennigan - - Parent #
Do you go to any juggling clubs or festivals? The only reliable way to figure out which juggling ball is best for you is to go out and try them yourself. You might buy Gballz or Norwiks and realise you don't like them.
You should consider making DIY russians. They are very cheap and easy to make. Norwiks are essentially DIY russians.
If you want to learn 6, start working on 3-in-one-hand immediately. It's also a good idea to keep working on your 5 ball cascade and 6 ball flashes. Practice both sync and async.
Hi Jaz. I use MMX balls as you know and I like them a lot. Previously I'd always used underfilled beanbags for everything but now prefer the feel of MMX even if I'm not able to do as much with them. I find that I can throw much more accurately with them instead of constantly struggling to keep the pattern together. I have the smaller 62mm balls. I have to agree with other that they are a bit too small for 7 ball or fewer balls. I mainly got that size so that I could work on 9 with them. The 67mm MMX fit the hand much better. They're slightly heavier but not too heavy for 7 I think.
Stephen Meschke - - Parent #
I use the 67mm 135g MMX balls. Previously I'd always used 63mm 100g salt filled russian style juggling balls. With the exception of the half shower, I'm not able to do as much with the MMX balls. For the relatively short time the balls are in the air, I am doing more juggling and less struggling. My patterns are cleaner and done with less foot movement.
The MMX balls I use are heavier and bigger than the russian balls I previously used. I could run 7b. cascade for much longer using the lighter smaller russian style balls. I prefer short controlled runs with MMX balls. My MMX ball personal record is 140 catches, and my personal record with russian balls is 205. Shorter and more controlled runs with 7 balls are more popular with spectators as well.
Collisions are a problem for me with even numbers. The russian balls were great because I could juggle through collisions. Switching to the silicone MMX balls was tough because collisions are catastrophic. Silicone-on-silicone has a lot more friction than plastic-on-plastic.
Yes, there are several reasons why Russians make things easier, but for me that doesn't make them better. I don't like the way they feel and 9+ is almost impossible to start from the hands. Why did you switch if you liked the Russians more?
True, 9 is tricky but I got 7 gathers in a reasonable pattern yesterday, all from the hands. My favourite part is that they are large but not heavy, so they look much nicer.
Stephen Meschke - - Parent #
I switched from Russians to MMX balls for several reasons:
I am still experimenting with the MMX balls. They are perfect for 5, but I want a smaller and lighter set for 6, 7, and 8. I hardly ever do numbers juggling, my goals are one minute with 7b and 5c.
I like my MMX 1, 62mm, very much because of their squishyness. I agree, that they are a bit slippy (due to somewhat peachy surface(?), i don't know), but slips don't happen so often, so I can take that. I unfilled mine from 110g to 80g (awkward fumbling, took a while), so that now their squishyness comes mainly from squeezing against the air inside (they are ``airproof´´ [do you say so?] ), not from squeezing against the few millet left inside. For indoors, I'd maybe prefer a good beanbag.
That sounds sensible. In my opinion most juggling balls seem far too heavy, even before I changed to russians.
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