Amateur Poker Association & Tour

Poker Forum => General Discussion => Member Blogs => Topic started by: SirPercival on January 09, 2011, 14:19:33 PM

Title: What a lot of balls!
Post by: SirPercival on January 09, 2011, 14:19:33 PM
Disclaimer: this is a non-poker related thread, if you are here for Poker, read the title, agree, then leave - thank you.
Title: Re: What a lot of balls!
Post by: duke3016 on January 09, 2011, 14:21:02 PM
oooh - stocking fridge and in here for the long haul
Title: Re: What a lot of balls!
Post by: samuel_9 on January 09, 2011, 14:29:02 PM
what this post going 2 be about i hope its not 8BALLpool
Title: Re: What a lot of balls!
Post by: SirPercival on January 09, 2011, 14:31:18 PM
OK, I need a challenge.

I have not made any new years resolutions as like most people I don"t keep them so why bother. I could be seen jumping on the blog bandwagon but I actually have one of those on here and gave up on that ages ago (must try harder). So if there is a name for a "non poker related sort of blog thingy about goal setting that isn"t a new year resolution" then please let me know.

The challenge I have set myself is to be able to juggle 5 balls by the end of the year. [please  - no jokes about testicles]

I have read that learning to juggle 3 balls takes 1 day, 4 takes 1 month and 5 takes 1 year. So I feel having learnt 3 in 1 day then 1 year is a realistic goal for 5.

I will post more later about why I want to do this (other than being a bit insane!) but for now I would like some motivation. A prop bet or 2 is a possibility but the amount of time I need to put into this means that money isn"t going to help me that much as I could make more on other things. Suggestions welcome.
Title: Re: What a lot of balls!
Post by: duke3016 on January 09, 2011, 14:39:55 PM
Q1. Have you already mastered 4 then (as per facebook) and how long did it take

Q2. Are you completely mental

I have a couple of suggestions for forfeits and will be refining them for the general public later
Title: Re: What a lot of balls!
Post by: MAIR on January 09, 2011, 14:40:56 PM
Where"s the popcorn can"t wait for more
Title: Re: What a lot of balls!
Post by: Des on January 09, 2011, 14:43:46 PM
Videos to map progress please.  We the "jury" will allocate marks as appropriate.
Title: Re: What a lot of balls!
Post by: duke3016 on January 09, 2011, 14:48:07 PM
"As you probably know, the basic 5 ball pattern is the cascade; i.e. the same as the basic 3 ball pattern. So what makes it so much harder than 3 balls? The obvious answer is that it is faster, but that"s really only half the story. The other half is that your throws have to be much more accurate. Because there can be two balls in the same path in the air at the same time, a low throw followed by a high throw will cause two balls to come down at the same time-- disaster.

The two effects, the speed and accuracy requirements, feed off one another to make the pattern quite difficult, at first, anyway. The speed of the pattern makes it difficult to make accurate throws, and conversely, an inaccurate throw will put even greater demands on your speed. A throw to the wrong height will have one ball coming down too soon after another, while a throw which is off to the right, left, front, or back will require additional hand movement which eats up time.

All of these problems, however, are based on the interplay of the same two elements-- the speed and accuracy requirements of the 5 ball cascade."


So it requires speed, dexterity, accuracy, commitment, patience and perfect delivery .. GGWP
Title: Re: What a lot of balls!
Post by: SirPercival on January 09, 2011, 15:31:26 PM

Q1. Have you already mastered 4 then (as per facebook) and how long did it take

Q2. Are you completely mental

I have a couple of suggestions for forfeits and will be refining them for the general public later


A1. No, haven"t even "mastered" 3. Can do a basic 4 ball "flash" (more on that later) but that"s about all.

A2. Quite possibly.
Title: Re: What a lot of balls!
Post by: SirPercival on January 09, 2011, 15:35:42 PM

Videos to map progress please.  We the "jury" will allocate marks as appropriate.


Des, will you buy me a drink when I complete this challenge?

I think I may have just found my motivation.  ;D
Title: Re: What a lot of balls!
Post by: Des on January 09, 2011, 15:57:54 PM
Of course I will Stuart. 

...just check my diary....

(http://us.123rf.com/400wm/400/400/rgebbiephoto/rgebbiephoto0810/rgebbiephoto081000063/3694174-a-man-scratches-his-head-in-disbelief-as-he-looks-at-the-screen-on-his-pda.jpg)
Title: Re: What a lot of balls!
Post by: Waz1892 on January 09, 2011, 16:21:29 PM


Videos to map progress please.  We the "jury" will allocate marks as appropriate.


Des, will you buy me a drink when I complete this challenge?

I think I may have just found my motivation.  ;D


Prop bet suggestion -

A live performance at 2012 Team event.  At what ever stage you are at.  If you do it, then you get the drink of Des too!
Title: Re: What a lot of balls!
Post by: mal666 on January 09, 2011, 16:27:58 PM

Where"s the popcorn can"t wait for more

(http://i454.photobucket.com/albums/qq267/ppokerfan/deereatingpopcorn.gif)
Title: Re: What a lot of balls!
Post by: duke3016 on January 09, 2011, 16:28:39 PM
Gotta be for longer than 30 seconds though - just to be sure can"t have Des buying drinks for nowt ya know
Title: Re: What a lot of balls!
Post by: SirPercival on January 09, 2011, 16:42:29 PM

Gotta be for longer than 30 seconds though - just to be sure can"t have Des buying drinks for nowt ya know


I think I would need 2 years for that. 30 seconds of 5 ball juggling is a long time.

It would be good to have a clearer definition though. Perhaps by number of catches rather than time?

Anyway, after initial study on youtube I am not encouraged by seeing a 9 year old do it. OK, so he then went on to break several world records but even so, he was 9 FFS!
Title: Re: What a lot of balls!
Post by: duke3016 on January 09, 2011, 16:54:28 PM
(http://didier.arlabosse.free.fr/balles/clip/casc5.gif)

We will not be able to count so I think time is still the benchmark but if you say 2 years for 30 seconds then lets say 10 secs in 2012
Title: Re: What a lot of balls!
Post by: duke3016 on January 09, 2011, 16:55:55 PM
To be honest if you do 10 seconds I"ll buy you 3 drinks (matched by Des of course)
Title: Re: What a lot of balls!
Post by: HaworthBantam on January 09, 2011, 17:31:58 PM

A friend of mine juggles, and he"s rather good.

He"s been teaching a couple of people at work, and he gave two pieces of advice...

1. Practice over a bed - continually bending down to pick up your balls (oooeerrrr missus) off the floor could seriously give you back ache.

And...

2. Start by throwing two balls between your hands to establish a rhythm.

Good luck Stuart, I"m looking forward to a juggling performance with 3 balls in Bolton...
Title: Re: What a lot of balls!
Post by: SirPercival on January 09, 2011, 17:40:26 PM
Thanks Ian.

I can already juggle 3 and do a few "tricks" but I need to seriously work on consistency if I have any hope of doing 5.

I do practice over a bed, much to Amanda"s annoyance if she is still in it.  :o

Are you going to add to the offers made so far by Des (a drink, maybe) and Ger (3 drinks for 10 seconds)?
Title: Re: What a lot of balls!
Post by: jacklevel06 on January 09, 2011, 19:14:06 PM
Instead of juggling Stuart ,you should maybe take up something that more fits in with your age.I suggest kniting.
Title: Re: What a lot of balls!
Post by: nosey-p on January 09, 2011, 19:41:27 PM
You have to show what progress you make at every live APAT event in season 5 on APAT TV
Title: Re: What a lot of balls!
Post by: SirPercival on January 09, 2011, 19:51:05 PM

You have to show what progress you make at every live APAT event in season 5 on APAT TV


There would have to be some serious donations to charity for this to happen!
Title: Re: What a lot of balls!
Post by: nosey-p on January 09, 2011, 19:58:08 PM


You have to show what progress you make at every live APAT event in season 5 on APAT TV


There would have to be some serious donations to charity for this to happen!


I'm sure the APAT community would dig deep
Title: Re: What a lot of balls!
Post by: duke3016 on January 09, 2011, 20:18:39 PM



You have to show what progress you make at every live APAT event in season 5 on APAT TV


There would have to be some serious donations to charity for this to happen!


I'm sure the APAT community would dig deep


Oh yes
Title: Re: What a lot of balls!
Post by: SirPercival on January 10, 2011, 18:19:32 PM
Still requires some fine tweaks but my 25 step plan is as follows:

1. 3-ball cascade [I can do this]
2. 2-balls right hand, columns, outward and inward [I can do this but not very well]
3. 2-balls left hand, columns, outward and inward [I can sort of do this, but not very well]
4. 4-ball flash* [I can sometimes do this, but not very well]
5. 4-ball fountain [I can"t do this, or any that follow]
6. 3-ball flash in 5 ball pattern (right)
7. 3-ball flash in 5 ball pattern (left)
9. 3-ball flash in 5 ball pattern with clap (right)
10. 3-ball flash in 5 ball pattern with clap (left)
11. 3-ball flash from 3-ball cascade (right) (Siteswap 55500)
12. 3-ball flash from 3-ball cascade (left)
13. 4-ball asynchronous crossing flash (right) (Siteswap 55550)
14. 4-ball asynchronous crossing flash (left)
15. 3-ball snake (Siteswap 50505)
16. 4-ball crossing flash during steady 4-ball fountain
17. 5-ball flash (right)
18. 5-ball flash (left)
19. 6 throws, 6 catches
20. 7 throws, 7 catches
21. 8 throws, 8 catches
22. 9 throws, 9 catches
23. 10 throws, 10 catches (this is now officially a "juggle", i.e each ball thrown and caught twice)
24. demonstrate step 23.
25. enjoy drink bought by Des.  ;D



* a flash is throwing and catching each ball once.
Title: Re: What a lot of balls!
Post by: Chipaccrual on January 10, 2011, 18:26:45 PM
You really are serious.   :D


Once we announce Season 5 schedule, we can build in some live demonstrations of how far you have progressed.

Happy to throw a drink or two at it along the way.



(Let"s see you juggle then, with glassware heading in your direction.   ;D )
Title: Re: What a lot of balls!
Post by: SirPercival on January 11, 2011, 19:47:55 PM
First set back potentially on it"s way.

Been told by the GP today I need an operation on my shoulder.  :(

I have a subacromial impingement which has been bothering me for a couple of years now but has gotten gradually worse over the last 6 months.

So far I have had 5 steroid injections, 2 courses of anti inflammatory pills, 12 sessions of physiotherapy and an x-ray.

Back to the specialist next week to get his view but  an operation could set me back 6-weeks - fml.
Title: Re: What a lot of balls!
Post by: Chipaccrual on January 11, 2011, 19:50:37 PM
Sorry to hear that Stuart, didn"t realise Des" powers stretched as far as subacromal impingements.

The things that man will do to not pay for a drink.


Which shoulder ?  I hope it"s not your drinking arm ?
Title: Re: What a lot of balls!
Post by: jacklevel06 on January 11, 2011, 21:07:06 PM

Sorry to hear that Stuart, didn"t realise Des" powers stretched as far as subacromal impingements.

The things that man will do to not pay for a drink.


Which shoulder ?  I hope it"s not your drinking arm ?
He"s a scotsman,equally adept with either arm.
Title: Re: What a lot of balls!
Post by: samuel_9 on January 11, 2011, 21:21:20 PM
i thought you where going to say you got a sore shoulder from playing with your ball its not that big  ;)..... is it .....des by a pint NEVER NEVER NEVER  i hear him say.......anyway back to your balls in hand try it one handed with  your upper arm muscle its easy  but timing is everything ........it WILL   hert but only for a wile youl get used 2 the pain .........................EVENTULLY ............ i can remember trying this one time but the balls kept slipping through my fingers........... on the other hand it was alrite
Title: Re: What a lot of balls!
Post by: duke3016 on January 11, 2011, 21:23:11 PM

* a flash is throwing and catching each ball once.


Not around Ellesmere Port it"s not
Title: Re: What a lot of balls!
Post by: SirPercival on January 11, 2011, 21:33:20 PM
The shoulder doesn"t actually hurt when I juggle but if I get the op then I will be set back somewhat.

To try and measure progress I did some counts today.

3-ball cascade I can do 100+ catches comfortably but still need to work on consistency of throws.
2-ball outward circles in right hand is about 20-30 catches on average, 10-20 in left
4-ball flash I can do about 2 times in 3
Title: Re: What a lot of balls!
Post by: SirPercival on January 13, 2011, 21:12:46 PM
OK, this is bloody hard.

I can see me getting 4 right after a lot of work but the height and speed needed for 5 seems out of my reach.

Need more than a drink from Des and a few from Ger to make this worthwhile.
Title: Re: What a lot of balls!
Post by: Marty719 on January 14, 2011, 15:53:10 PM

OK, this is bloody hard.

I can see me getting 4 right after a lot of work but the height and speed needed for 5 seems out of my reach.

Need more than a drink from Des and a few from Ger to make this worthwhile.



side bets for motivation obv...

gl sir!!
Title: Re: What a lot of balls!
Post by: SirPercival on January 15, 2011, 08:41:22 AM


OK, this is bloody hard.

I can see me getting 4 right after a lot of work but the height and speed needed for 5 seems out of my reach.

Need more than a drink from Des and a few from Ger to make this worthwhile.



side bets for motivation obv...

gl sir!!


What odds will you give me Marty?
Title: Re: What a lot of balls!
Post by: kinboshi on January 18, 2011, 11:42:20 AM
Hopefully you do better with this than Scottish goalkeepers - who traditionally struggle with one ball.

I think you need to be outside (or in a room with a very high ceiling) to move on to 5 balls.  3 is easy, but you will need a lot of height for 5 balls - and a normal ceiling might be too low?

Great idea though.  I"ll donate something to charity if you can do this.  Success should be 10 catches+, verified by three independent judges, and I"ll be Norris McWhirter.

Anyway, in the meantime, you can sponsor me for my marathon.  Thanks ;)
Title: Re: What a lot of balls!
Post by: TheSnapper on January 19, 2011, 23:58:58 PM
Some idle meandering on the riveting topic that is Juggling......

Two truths about juggling

1. Throwing is more important than catching. If you"re good at throwing, the catching takes care of itself. Emergency response is overrated compared to emergency avoidance.

2. Juggling is about dropping. The entire magic of witnessing a juggler has to do with the risk of something being dropped. If there is no risk of dropping, juggling is actually sort of boring. Perfection is overrated, particularly if it keeps you from trying things that are interesting.

Hence the tricky part--you want to ship in a way that (as much as you can) avoids failure, but when failure comes, moving forward is more effective than panic or blame.
Title: Re: What a lot of balls!
Post by: SirPercival on January 20, 2011, 09:03:21 AM
Major breakthrough yesterday. Did a 4-ball asynchronous crossing flash for the first time. This is number 13 on my plan but I haven"t mastered 1-12 yet!

Thinking about doing impersonations of APAT"ers juggling for charity on video here. Need to investigate one of these online donation thingy"s first.
Title: Re: What a lot of balls!
Post by: kinboshi on January 21, 2011, 13:25:16 PM

Major breakthrough yesterday. Did a 4-ball asynchronous crossing flash for the first time. This is number 13 on my plan but I haven"t mastered 1-12 yet!


Must have strong wrists imo.

Quote
Thinking about doing impersonations of APAT"ers juggling for charity on video here. Need to investigate one of these online donation thingy"s first.


You could just stand there in front of the camera, perfectly still, with no balls to juggle.  Just say to the camera "Juggling coming soon" - that would be a good impression of someone...
Title: Re: What a lot of balls!
Post by: PantsMan on January 21, 2011, 14:26:35 PM

The entire magic of witnessing a juggler has to do with the risk of something being dropped. If there is no risk of dropping, juggling is actually sort of boring.


Hmmm. I need more than just "risk of dropping" to make juggling anything other than boring. Unless Stu is on fire, on a greased highwire above the tables at an APAT tournament juggling 4 chainsaws and a live pig ..... i"m out.
Title: Re: What a lot of balls!
Post by: SirPercival on January 27, 2011, 21:54:32 PM
Well that"s me booked in for the operation - yikes!

Consultant says it"s 2-6 weeks to recover and up to 6 months to get back to "normal".

Glad I didn"t take bets on this challenge but I"m hoping to get back to it as soon as it is safe to do so.
Title: Re: What a lot of balls!
Post by: Chipaccrual on January 27, 2011, 21:56:24 PM
Take this out of context (pretend you don"t know what the thread is about)



Title of Thread - What a lot of balls!

Stuart writes -


Well that"s me booked in for the operation - yikes!

Consultant says it"s 2-6 weeks to recover and up to 6 months to get back to "normal".

Glad I didn"t take bets on this challenge but I"m hoping to get back to it as soon as it is safe to do so.


PMSL  :D
Title: Re: What a lot of balls!
Post by: duke3016 on January 27, 2011, 22:00:06 PM
Mind like a sewer - however I was giggling  ::)
Title: Re: What a lot of balls!
Post by: technolog on January 27, 2011, 22:23:03 PM

Take this out of context (pretend you don"t know what the thread is about)



Title of Thread - What a lot of balls!

Stuart writes -


Well that"s me booked in for the operation - yikes!

Consultant says it"s 2-6 weeks to recover and up to 6 months to get back to "normal".

Glad I didn"t take bets on this challenge but I"m hoping to get back to it as soon as it is safe to do so.


PMSL  :D


lol - nh wp!
Title: Re: What a lot of balls!
Post by: kinboshi on January 28, 2011, 09:20:42 AM
Sounds like no bareback riding for Stuart for a little while anyway.

Title: Re: What a lot of balls!
Post by: SirPercival on January 28, 2011, 12:49:22 PM
My op doesn"t seem quite as bad now! Thanks Jack,
Title: Re: What a lot of balls!
Post by: SirPercival on December 05, 2011, 16:19:00 PM
Well the good news is I have fully recovered from the shoulder op.

The bad news is that means I will be updating my juggling blog.  ;D
Title: Re: What a lot of balls!
Post by: Chipaccrual on December 05, 2011, 16:51:30 PM

Well the good news is I have fully recovered from the shoulder op.

The bad news is that means I will be updating my juggling blog.  ;D


wiiiiiiiiiiiiii

The bauble juggling is back on.    Get in there.      ;D
Title: Re: What a lot of balls!
Post by: SirPercival on December 05, 2011, 17:54:51 PM


Well the good news is I have fully recovered from the shoulder op.

The bad news is that means I will be updating my juggling blog.  ;D


wiiiiiiiiiiiiii

The bauble juggling is back on.    Get in there.      ;D


I often get told off my the missus when I juggle with fruit from the fruitbowl and if she finds anything bruised I automatically get the blame.

My daugther screeched earlier when I made a motion to juggle the kitchen knives - lol

Once you get the bug it"s kinda hard to stop.

Title: Re: What a lot of balls!
Post by: SirPercival on December 11, 2011, 10:36:52 AM
I seem to be able to do 8 throws/catches with 4-balls pretty consistently now but can"t get past that.

I guess if I"m looking for advice I"m on the wrong forum.  ???
Title: Re: What a lot of balls!
Post by: duke3016 on December 11, 2011, 10:45:29 AM

I seem to be able to do 8 throws/catches with 4-balls pretty consistently now but can"t get past that.

I guess if I"m looking for advice I"m on the wrong forum.  ???


When you started this wayyyy back I read up on it and somewhere it said it can take years to go to 5 balls - good luck with that.
Title: Re: What a lot of balls!
Post by: SirPercival on December 11, 2011, 10:46:21 AM
OK, back to my 25 point plan

[ x ] 3-ball cascade
[ x ] 2-balls right hand, columns, outward and inward
[ x ] 2-balls left hand, columns, outward and inward
[ x ] 4-ball flash
[ ? ] 4-ball fountain
[   ] 3-ball flash in 5 ball pattern (right)
[   ] 3-ball flash in 5 ball pattern (left)
[   ] 3-ball flash in 5 ball pattern with clap (right)
[   ] 3-ball flash in 5 ball pattern with clap (left)
[   ] 3-ball flash from 3-ball cascade (right) (Siteswap 55500)
[   ] 3-ball flash from 3-ball cascade (left)
[ ? ] 4-ball asynchronous crossing flash (right) (Siteswap 55550)
[   ] 4-ball asynchronous crossing flash (left)
[   ] 3-ball snake (Siteswap 50505)
[   ] 4-ball crossing flash during steady 4-ball fountain
[   ] 5-ball flash (right)
[   ] 5-ball flash (left)
[   ] 6 throws, 6 catches
[   ] 7 throws, 7 catches
[   ] 8 throws, 8 catches
[   ] 9 throws, 9 catches
[   ] 10 throws, 10 catches (this is now officially a "juggle", i.e each ball thrown and caught twice)
[   ] demonstrate step 23.
[as if] enjoy drink bought by Des.   ;D
Title: Re: What a lot of balls!
Post by: SirPercival on December 11, 2011, 10:48:18 AM


I seem to be able to do 8 throws/catches with 4-balls pretty consistently now but can"t get past that.

I guess if I"m looking for advice I"m on the wrong forum.  ???


When you started this wayyyy back I read up on it and somewhere it said it can take years to go to 5 balls - good luck with that.


If I worked on it more I am confident I could get to 10 throws 10 catches within a year.

With my setback (operation) I am almost starting again so setting the target at Christmas 2012.