It's a family of tricks based on the idea that balls can switch places with one another, compared to where they were "supposed to go," by throwing one or more higher than the normal pattern, delaying them, and then advancing others by throwing them lower than the normal pattern. Each throw gets a number which is how many throws later that ball will be dealt with again, although it is common to denote two- digit numbers with letters, 10=a, 11=b, etc. (But, the throws are *numbers*.)
What's nice about them is that you can both describe and invent tricks if you know the scheme. There is a doubly infinite number of them - an infinite number for any given number of props, and an infinite number of those. But if you limit the number of props, and you limit the max allowed throw height, the number becomes finite. But it grows rapidly with increases in prop number and with max allowed throw height.
The basic patterns for each number are trivial siteswaps, for example, the 5-ball cascade is siteswap "5". The three-shower is denoted 51 - the right hand throws a 5, then the left hand a 1. (And then repeat.)
Extensions of the basic idea include dealing with synch patterns, multiplex tricks, and more than one juggler.
Basically, if a trick involves throwing to different heights, it's a siteswap trick, but the scheme is only involved with throw heights - backcrosses and Mills Mess and so forth require their own notation.
On 2009-11-09, Allison0z <Alz...@hotmail.com.nospam.com> wrote:
> I read about it on Wikki but I still don't know what it is? Could some > please explain.
What wiki?
If you haven't understood the article at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siteswap (or any of the other hundreds of explanation you find through a simple Google search) we probably can't.
-- Jon Solberg (remove "nospam." from email address).
> I read about it on Wikki but I still don't know what it is? Could some > please explain.
Siteswap is a notation to describe the relative height and direction of the object being throw. The easiest way to understand siteswap I think is to download "Jongl", run it and enter siteswap and see how the juggler juggling entered siteswap.
Example of simple siteswap notation:
- 3 - 4440 - 555504444
Btw, you'll still need to read some explanation available on the internet though.
> I read about it on Wikki but I still don't know what it is? Could some > please explain.
This Is very basic siteswap.
Imagine someone is juggling a basic 3 ball cascade. Notice how every throw is going to the same height, and is crossing (being thrown to the opposite hand). These throws are called 3.
Now imagine someone is juggling a basic 4 ball fountain. Notice how all balls are going to the same hand and the throws are a bit higher. these throws are called 4
Now imagine someone is juggling a basic 5 ball cascade. these throws are called 5.
So if I tell you about the 4 ball siteswap 534 You now know I will throw a ball at 5 ball height crossing to the other hand. Than one at 3 ball height crossing to the other hand. Then one at 4 ball height this time not crossing.
The way I learnt siteswap is by mucking about on juggling lab
The way you tell how many balls a siteswap uses is by taking the average of the numbers. Eg 97531 add these numbers together, then divide by 5. and you will see 97531 is a 5 ball pattern.
Another thing that is confusing to many. is that 8 means juggling 8 balls 9 means juggling 9 balls after that we start using letters of the alphabet so 10 is a and 11 is b
Hope this is not to confusing.
Have fun Jacob:Sacher
This was all very basic, we can talk about the more complicated patterns like (6x,4)(4,6x) another time.
> I read about it on Wikki but I still don't know what it is? Could some > please explain.
If you want a really good resource for siteswaps that will help you understand them and give you some inspiration for juggling, then you might consider buying the siteswaps DVD. It's $75, but it has a lot of interesting footage on it.
I watched DVD one with someone who is a novice juggler, and they found it clear and helpfull in learning about how juggling patterns work. I am a 5 club/7 ball juggler and I also found it very interesting and learned a great deal from it.
If you are genuinely intersted in Siteswaps, this resource is the clearest and most complete one out there.
Ewano - who bought his copy from Howie at juggling.tv...
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