Most people can't juggle one ball

A cheeky how-to on basic juggling is making the rounds after appearing on LessWrong and sparking conversation on Hacker News. It has been reported that the author carries juggling balls everywhere — train stations, airports, nightclubs — and that when boredom strikes they simply whip them out and start playing. The piece promises a "complete guide to juggling, from zero to siteswap notation," and the tone is equal parts practical coach and busker with a PhD in patience.

The guide: start extremely small

Begin with one ball. Stand with feet and hands shoulder-width apart, elbows at 90 degrees, head tilted up, shoulders relaxed. The goal: throw with consistent arcs that peak just above eye-line so the catches "catch themselves." The post even recommends gear — three 115 g, 68 mm Cascade Thud balls filled with millet (or three bruisable pieces of fruit) — and walks readers through the ergonomic trick of driving throws from the elbow while keeping other joints steady. It’s deceptively simple. Throw right, then left. Repeat. Easy? Not for everyone. But the author says improvement comes quickly with practice.

Two-ball progression and common slip-ups

Move to two balls only when the single-ball arc is reliable. Start with one in each hand, throw the first on the practiced trajectory, then wait — as long as possible — before releasing the second into the inside of the arc. Don't just pass the second straight across; that habit scales poorly as you add balls. Common mistakes? Reaching up to catch (steals time), staring off into the distance (yes, the author allegedly sees this often — apparently even rats do it), tossing the second ball too early, or throwing at different heights. The guidance is specific and actionable: make the incoming ball trigger the next throw, and practice starts with both hands.

The emotional core of the piece is pure human connection. A stranger takes the offered balls, fumbles, laughs, tries again — and suddenly you’ve taught someone a tiny, surprising skill. Why does that matter? Because small, repeatable mechanics scale into patterns and, eventually, notation like siteswap. If you’ve ever wanted to impress a bored crowd in an airport or just stop dropping your snacks, this guide says start with one ball — and stick with it. Ready to try?

Sources: lesswrong.com, Hacker News