Three-ball tricks range from the basic cascade to advanced body throws and crossing-arm patterns. Many tricks share siteswap 3 but differ in arm choreography — how you move between throws.
Cascade
3 balls · foundation
Every throw crosses to the other hand in a continuous figure-eight. The universal starting point.
beginner · diff 1
Reverse Cascade
3 balls · over-the-top
Each throw arcs over the top (outside) instead of under. Balls travel in the opposite direction from a normal cascade.
intermediate · diff 4
Half-Shower (531)
3 balls · asymmetric
One hand throws high (5), the other low (3), with a zip (1). Lopsided and energetic.
beginner · diff 2
Shower
3 balls · one-sided
All balls go high one direction, zip back the other. Fast and asymmetric.
intermediate · diff 4
Juggler's Tennis
3 · one ball over-the-top
A cascade where one ball always goes over the top (outside throw), back and forth like a tennis rally.
beginner · diff 2
The W (423)
3 balls · zigzag columns
The 4-throws go straight up in outside columns while the 3 crosses inside, tracing a W-shape.
beginner · diff 2
The M (423)
3 balls · all over-the-top
423 with every throw going over the top — the inverse of The W.
intermediate · diff 3
Half-Box (441)
3 balls · pause & zip
Two high throws then a horizontal zip. Gateway to the full Box pattern.
intermediate · diff 4
Box
(4,2x)* · columns style
Two balls go up and down in columns while one zips horizontally. Clean geometric pattern.
intermediate · diff 5
Fake Columns
522 · illusion
Looks like columns but uses crossing throws. One ball goes high, the other two are held briefly.
beginner · diff 2
Yo-Yo
(4,2) · up-down carry
One hand does 2-in-1 columns. The other holds a ball and carries it up and down in sync with the outside column ball — like a yo-yo on a string.
beginner · diff 2
Columns (45141)
3 balls · vertical lanes
Three balls travel in parallel vertical lanes. Clean and geometric — a visual showpiece.
intermediate · diff 3
Mills Mess
3 balls · arm-crossing
Arms weave over and under each other in a 6-beat cycle. The most iconic intermediate trick.
intermediate · diff 5
🚧 Burke's Barrage
423 · carry orbit · WIP
One ball is carried over the top of the pattern while the other two are juggled underneath.
intermediate · diff 4
Takeouts (423)
3 balls · orbit carry
During each hold beat, the hand orbits the ball up and over the crossing 3-ball — snatching it through the center of the pattern.
intermediate · diff 4
Chops
3 · downward carry
After catching, the hand carries the ball downward with a chopping motion before the next throw. Dramatic arm movement.
intermediate · diff 4
Windmill
3 · circular carry
Like chops but with a circular, windmill-like arm motion. One arm carries over while the other throws under.
intermediate · diff 5
531
3 balls · three heights
Three distinct throw heights in rotation: high (5), medium (3), zip (1). Compact and rhythmic.
intermediate · diff 5
Boston Shuffle
52512 · cascade variant
A flowing sequence of mixed heights with a brief hold. Named after the Boston juggling scene.
intermediate · diff 5
🚧 Rubenstein's Revenge
52233 · arm-crossing · WIP
Complex arm-crossing pattern with carries and weaves. Like Mills Mess but with holds and different timing.
advanced · diff 7
🚧 3-Up 360
55500 · flash · WIP
Throw all three balls high, spin your body 360°, then catch them. The classic flash trick.
intermediate · diff 4
🚧 Backcrosses
3 balls · behind the back · WIP
Every throw from behind the back, over the shoulder, caught in front. Siteswap 3 with body throws.
advanced · diff 7
🚧 Albert Throws
3 balls · between the legs · WIP
Throw between the legs front-to-back, over the shoulder. Feet stay planted. Named after Albert Lucas.
expert · diff 8
🚧 Under the Leg
3 balls · body throw · WIP
Lift one leg and throw under it. Can alternate legs or keep one raised continuously.
intermediate · diff 5
🚧 Crossed-Arm Cascade
3 balls · arms crossed · WIP
Juggle a normal cascade with your arms permanently crossed. Requires reaching to the opposite side for every throw.
intermediate · diff 4
🚧 Factory
3 balls · circular carry
One ball is carried in a circular path around the outside of the pattern while the others cascade underneath.
intermediate · diff 3
🚧 Georgian Shuffle
3 balls · over-the-top carry · WIP
An orbiting carry pattern from the Georgian juggling tradition. One ball circles over the others continuously.
intermediate · diff 4
🚧 Snake (50505)
3 balls · columns variant · WIP
One ball goes high while two are held, creating a snaking visual effect with staggered timing.
intermediate · diff 4
🚧 Olas
3 balls · wave motion · WIP
Arms sweep in wave-like motions, creating a flowing oceanic visual. Each throw rides the wave.
advanced · diff 6
612
3 balls · high-hold-zip
One very high throw, a hold, and a zip. Excited state pattern — requires a transition throw to enter.
intermediate · diff 5
711
3 balls · extreme height
One massive throw (7 height) then two rapid zips. The high throw gives time for quick hand-to-hand passes.
advanced · diff 6
414
3 balls · alternating holds
Alternating column throws with holds. Creates a stuttering visual rhythm between hands.
intermediate · diff 4
Reverse 441
441 · outside throws
Half-Box with over-the-top throws instead of inside scoops. A mirror-image of the normal 441 feel.
intermediate · diff 4
🚧 441 Mills Mess
441 · arm-crossing · WIP
The 441 pattern performed with Mills Mess arm-crossing choreography. Holds become dramatic crossed-arm pauses.
advanced · diff 6
🚧 531 Mills Mess
531 · arm-crossing · WIP
Three-height siteswap with Mills Mess arm weave. The zip (1) becomes a dramatic hand-off under the crossing arm.
advanced · diff 6
Reverse Chops
3 · upward carry
Like Chops but the carry goes upward instead of downward — arms sweep up before throwing under.
intermediate · diff 4
🚧 High-Low Cascade
3 balls · varied heights · WIP
Standard cascade but one hand throws consistently higher than the other. Siteswap 3 with visual asymmetry.
intermediate · diff 4
🚧 4440 (Pirouette)
3 balls · flash setup · WIP
Three quick self-throws followed by an empty beat — just enough time for a spin or flourish.
intermediate · diff 4
🚧 42
3 balls · hold pattern · WIP
One hand throws fountain-height (4) while the other holds. Teaches hand independence with minimal props.
beginner · diff 2
Inverted Shower
51 · reverse direction
Shower pattern but with the high throws going over-the-top (outside). Balls orbit in the opposite direction.
intermediate · diff 5
🚧 Frantic Cascade
3 balls · speed drill · WIP
A regular cascade thrown as low and fast as possible. Barely any air time — pure hand speed.
intermediate · diff 4
🚧 Boston Mess
3 balls · arms sweep · WIP
Like Mills Mess but the arms don't cross — they sweep side to side. Same siteswap, different choreography.
advanced · diff 7
🚧 Mike's Mess
3 balls · arm-crossing variant · WIP
Similar to Mills Mess but with a different arm-crossing sequence. Less symmetric, more chaotic feel.
intermediate · diff 4
🚧 Weave
3 balls · figure-eight arms · WIP
Arms weave side to side in figure-eight paths, carrying balls through the crossing points.
intermediate · diff 4
🚧 Frostbite
3 balls · complex carry · WIP
A visually striking pattern combining elements of Rubenstein's Revenge with unique carry paths.
advanced · diff 6
🚧 Relf's Revenge
3 balls · carry pattern · WIP
Complex arm choreography with circular carries and under-arm throws. Related to Rubenstein's Revenge.
advanced · diff 7
🚧 Charley
3 balls · mills variant · WIP
A Mills Mess variant where one arm stays on top throughout. Half of the mess, but continuous.
intermediate · diff 5
🚧 Kraken
3 balls · tentacle arms · WIP
Advanced arm pattern with sweeping tentacle-like motions. One of the most visually complex 3-ball tricks.
expert · diff 8
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