There has been a debate raging for years in the contact juggling community over the benefits of stage balls over acrylics. There is no right answer as to which is better, I prefer acrylics for most things, but I’ll share my opinions as to the pros and cons of each.

STAGE BALLS

Stage balls are fantastic for beginners and experts for several reasons. As a beginner you are going to drop a lot when learning to contact juggle. Your TVs, glass tables, cats, dogs, and small children are not acrylic proof. If an acylic drops onto one of these objects then they will probably be damaged or injured. Stage balls allow you to practice without fear.

For the more experienced Contact Juggler the stage ball is a wonderful tool. When learning body rolls, especially behind the neck rolls, you are going to want to have a stage ball. After the 1st couple times you hit yourself in the head with an acrylic you will understand why a stage ball is a good idea, or you won’t remember what you are supposed to be doing with a strange ball in your hand. Also, a stage ball is light and easy to carry, you don’t have to worry about it getting scratched up in a backpack or starting a fire because you left it exposed to sunlight. A stage ball is usually lighter than an acrylic so if you are trying to pack light, grab the stage ball. The light weight is also good for anyone who has shoulder, or wrist issues. Always remember to stretch! You dont want to hurt yourself. The final, really nice thing about stage balls is their color and visibility. It’s hard not to notice a brightly colored ball rolling around a person’s hands, body, and arms.

ACRYLICS

When most people think of contact juggling they think of acrylics. Sure there are many out there who will speak of nothing but stage balls and how awesome they are, but when performing for others nothing can beat the look of an acrylic. Acrylics are beautiful, their seamless surface and clarity make it difficult for the eye to follow, so when a performer is using an acrylic it almost seems as if the ball is floating around the hands and body. Isolations are truly mesmerizing with acrylics. The heavier weight of an acrylic is more desirable to some, myself included. I like the solid feel of the acrylic. Acrylics come in many colors and sizes. I use 3″ or 76mm for multi-ball and anywhere from 76mm-120mm for single ball work.

A problem with the acrylic’s weight is that it is likely to break whatever it hits. I myself ruined a laptop’s hard-drive a year ago with an acrylic.  I know another person who broke a toe a few years back because of a dropped acrylic. The other danger of the weight is the strain it can put on the body. If you are not careful you can develop tendinitis, carpel tunnel, or repetitive stress injury. Always remember to stretch and warm up when using the heavier acrylics, especially the larger sizes.  The other danger of acrylics is their ability to start fires. The sphere creates a focal point from the sun and it has burned holes in 1 of my backpacks and almost set my backyard on fire. Please store acrylics away from direct sunlight; I like to keep mine in socks.

Another huge reason why acrylics are awesome is multi-ball contact. I love multi-ball contact and highly recommend checking out Drew Batchelor’s book Multi-Ball Contact if you are interested in learning. It is nearly impossible to learn multi-ball with stage balls. The smooth surfaces of the acrylics allow them to slide along each other with fluidity and grace. Isolations with multi-ball work look especially awesome with acrylics. Some out there have done multi-ball with stage balls but it is much MUCH harder. One problem with multi-ball in general is the cost, to outfit yourself with 4 acrylics can be a bit pricey but it pays off over time.

To sum it up quickly: Stage Balls are good for beginners and for practicing things that might send your ball flying at something valuable. They are light and colorful. Acrylics are beautiful and mesmerizing and the best option for Multi-ball. Both are effective tools and I recommend having at least one of each.

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