Summer of Clubs

For a couple of years now, I've tried to learn to throw clubs. I pick them up off and on, but it never seems to take off.  This summer, my interest renewed.  I studied the moves over and over, and I got a solid two club switch going.  But I wasn't getting anywhere with three.

Then Clayton and Sidney came by the juggling circle last week. Clayton is show-quality with clubs, and he was in form that day, throwing under handed switches and two-revolution high throws. When I asked him to coach me, he watched me for a few moments.  Then he advised that I juggle two balls and one club.  He said it would help me focus on the club throw.

I thought that sounded like a crazy idea.  But after he left, I tried it. And sure enough, I started to get my club throws dialed in. I worked that mix for a few days until i was getting 10 or 12 good throws.  Then I picked up three clubs. And a couple of tries in, I got a solid sequence of five throws.  Then I lost it for awhile and I started to struggle.

When I got a good sequence again, I heard the handles slapping into my hands. And it occurred to me that the cadence of the throws was much slower than I expected.  It shouldn't have been a surprise, really.  Clubs are bigger than balls, and they have to turn over in flight.  That's a lot to do before they come down again.

So I counted in my head, with the cadence of the handles slapping into my hands.  One, two, three, four.  Then I threw the clubs up in the air, to that count. And sure enough, it worked.  I was juggling clubs, to a slow cadence, at a pace that seemed surprisingly lazy.  "I" stood back and I could have sworn someone else was doing it. It's a feeling that comes over you, I think, when you master something new; suddenly, even if in a small way, there's more of you than there was a moment ago.

Many thanks to you Clayton, for my summer of clubs!