There are so many types of juggling balls and it can be hard to keep them all straight, especially if you’re newer to juggling. So I’m going to break down what each ball type is, subtypes within those types, and my personal pros and cons of each of them.
In the video above, I show examples of everything I'm talking about. I also go in depth on each pro and con. I highly recommend watching it so you can better understand the differences in all the ball types! But for those of you who prefer a clean list, here are my bullet points of pros and cons for each type of ball.
Beanbags
The most common juggling ball type. A beanbag is made up of some sort of fabric sewn together in a ball-like shape and is filled with some sort of material. Typically beanbags are filled with millet (a seed) or plastic pellets.
Pros:
Squish
Affordable
Availability
Variety
Heavy
Custom weights
Visual lines
Waterproof (some beanbags)
Cons:
Imperfect look
Heavy
Fabric durability
Too full
Shape changes
Not waterproof (some beanbags)
Travel limits (millet beanbags)
Allergies (millet beanbags)
Russians
Sometimes called 'Ukranians' or 'Kyevs' , but most commonly referred to as 'Russians'
A russian ball has a solid plastic shell and is typically filled around 1/3 to 1/2 with a fine material such as salt or sand.
There are two main types of russian balls:
HARD SHELL - the plastic shell is hard and rigid with little or no give.
SOFT SHELL - the plastic shell is soft and can be easily squeezed.
Pros:
'Russian effect'
Light / less fatigue
Large size
Softer catch
Clean look
Keeps shape
Waterproof (some russians)
Durable
Easy DIY
Consistent
Affordable
Squish (some russians)
Noise
Cons:
Can wiggle (with improper form)
Harder to hold
Seam durability (some russians)
Pressure dents (some russians)
Rolls
More storage space
Discoloration (soft russians)
Noise
Name
MMX
Made by Play Juggling, an MMX ball is made with a soft plastic shell and is filled completely with millet. The result is a solid and heavy plastic ball with a little bit of give.
Pros:
Clean look
Heavy
Waterproof
Lasts forever
Contact rolls
Cons:
Heavy
Hard
Rolls
Discoloration
Sticky feel
Sil-X
Made by Play Juggling, a Sil-X is very similar to a soft russian ball except it is partially filled with silicone.
It comes in two versions:
SIL-X - thicker plastic shell that has give but requires more effort to squeeze.
SIL-X LIGHT - thinner plastic shell that has significant give and can easily be squeezed.
Pros:
Squish
2 options (light and regular)
Light
Clean look
Not much 'russian effect'
Contact rolls
Less wiggle
Cons:
Not much 'russian effect'
Silicon can dry (unconfirmed)
Discoloration
Sticky feel
Flight limitations (liquid)
Stage Ball
Often called ''stage contact balls' or simply ''contact balls
A hollow ball with a thick plastic shell.
Pros:
Clean look
Variety
Contact rolls
Responsive
No squish
Durable
Waterproof
Cons:
Very light
Bounces
Discoloration
Sticky feel
Rolls
Bounces
Which should you buy?
There is no right answer to that question. Everyone is different, and everyone requires different things in a juggling ball. Review the pros and cons of each ball, and reflect on what your personal needs are and which ball might fit best for those needs.
I also encourage you to attend juggling clubs and festivals, and try out different types of balls you may encounter. Now you'll know what they are and can try them with that knowledge in mind.