I want to learn how to juggle. What are the best tutorials for a beginner?

Absolutely. Start with the 3-ball cascade—it’s the standard beginner pattern and the foundation for almost everything else.The Royal Tunbridge Wells Juggling Club+1

My top beginner tutorials

1. Niels Duinker — “Tutorial: Learn How to Juggle 3 Balls”

Best overall video for a complete beginner. It walks through the cascade step-by-step and is very approachable.YouTube

1. Skillwell — “3 Ball Juggling for Absolute Beginners” This is particularly good if you want a follow-along lesson rather than just watching someone demonstrate. It breaks things into one ball → two balls → three balls and addresses common problems along the way.Skillwell
2. WIRED — Jack Kalvan’s “How to Juggle” A polished lesson from a professional juggler with 30+ years of experience. It starts with one ball and progresses through the cascade, then introduces additional tricks.WIRED
3. TWJC / Juggling Edge — detailed written tutorial twjc.jugglingedge.com Great as a reference when you get stuck. It gives unusually specific advice about throw height, hand motion, timing, and catching.The Royal Tunbridge Wells Juggling Club

The learning sequence I'd recommend

Don't immediately try to juggle three balls continuously. Spend a few minutes on each stage:

• 1 ball: Throw it in an arc from your right hand to your left, then left → right. Aim for roughly eye level.
• 2 balls: Hold one in each hand. Throw the first, then throw the second underneath it before catching the first.
• 3 balls: Hold two in your dominant hand and one in the other. Throw → throw → throw, then stop and reset. Gradually increase the number of throws.
• Continuous cascade: Eventually, stop resetting and keep the rhythm going.

The crucial idea is “throw, don't pass.” Each ball should travel in an arc across your body rather than being handed to the other hand.HobbyStack

One practical tip: practice over a bed or carpet at first. You'll drop a lot, and that's completely normal. Also, if your throws keep drifting forward, practicing close to a wall can help force the pattern to stay in front of you.Airgap.life

If you want the simplest route, watch the Niels Duinker tutorial first, then practice for 10–15 minutes a day. You don't need special equipment initially—tennis balls or even rolled-up socks work, although non-bouncy juggling balls are easier once you get serious.udemy.com+1

If you’re starting from zero, I’d learn the basic 3-ball cascade first. You don’t need special equipment—three tennis balls, beanbags, or even rolled-up socks work fine.

My top beginner tutorials

1. Taylor Tries — 3-ball tutorial This would be my #1 recommendation. Taylor’s tutorials are frequently recommended by jugglers specifically because they break the skill into manageable exercises rather than simply showing you the finished pattern. Reddit Reddit Reddit Search YouTube for “Taylor Tries how to juggle 3 balls.”
2. Ian Borukhovich — 3 Ball Juggling for Absolute Beginners Excellent if you like a slow, follow-along approach. It covers one-ball throws, two-ball exchanges, common mistakes, where to look, and then gradually introduces all three balls.Skillwell+1
3. Lucas Gardezani Abduch — “How to juggle 3 balls” A very concise tutorial. It teaches the progression 1 ball → 2 balls → 3-ball flash → continuous juggling, so it's great once you want a quick demonstration of the basic mechanics.YouTube
4. WIRED — Jack Kalvan’s “How to Juggle” A particularly nice option if you prefer polished instruction. Professional juggler Jack Kalvan starts with the fundamentals and progresses through one, two, three, and eventually four balls.WIRED+1
5. The Jim Show — classic step-by-step series This is an older but very structured tutorial: introduction → one ball → two balls → three balls → troubleshooting. It specifically addresses problems like walking forward or not having enough time between throws.The Jim Show+1

The progression I'd use

Don't immediately try to keep three balls going. Practice:

• 1 ball: Throw it from one hand to the other in a smooth arc.
• 2 balls: Hold one in each hand and throw them across each other in an X.
• 3 balls: Add the third ball and initially worry about throwing, not catching.
• Once you can consistently make three throws, gradually add catches.
• Eventually build from 3 catches → 5 → 10 → 20 → continuous juggling.

A useful beginner tip is to practice over a bed or couch, so drops aren't annoying and you don't have to constantly bend down. Jugglers also commonly recommend focusing on making accurate throws rather than desperately chasing the balls.Reddit+1

If you only watch one: I'd pick Taylor Tries. If you want something you can literally follow along with from minute one, pick Ian Borukhovich.

If you're starting from scratch, the biggest factor is finding a tutorial that teaches the right progression: one ball → two balls → three balls. The tutorials below consistently get recommended by experienced jugglers because they emphasize technique instead of trying to rush you into juggling three balls immediately.Reddit+2

Here are my top picks:

1. Taylor Tries – "Learn to Juggle 3 Balls – Beginner Tutorial" - Best overall for complete beginners.

• Covers: - Choosing juggling balls
• One-ball drills
• Two-ball timing
• Common mistakes
• Building up to a smooth three-ball cascade
• Excellent explanations and troubleshooting.

1. The Jim Show – Step-by-step juggling lessons

• A classic written/video course.
• Divides learning into simple lessons: - Step 1: One ball
• Step 2: Two balls
• Step 3: Three balls
• Troubleshooting section
• Great if you prefer reviewing individual steps instead of watching one long video.The Jim Show

2. WIRED – Good Form: How to Juggle

• Taught by a professional juggler.
• Focuses on good mechanics: - Throw height
• Hand position
• Rhythm
• Eye focus
• Also introduces a few tricks after you've mastered the cascade.WIRED

3. TWJC (Three Ball Juggling Tutorials)

• Once you can juggle the basic cascade, this is an excellent free reference.
• It teaches beginner tricks like: - Tennis
• Reverse cascade
• Half shower
• Under-the-arm throws
• Each trick builds naturally on the previous one.Tunjug Club

A beginner practice plan

Spend about 10–20 minutes a day:

• 5 minutes: One-ball throws

• Throw from one hand to the other.

• Aim for eye level.

• Catch softly.

• 5 minutes: Two-ball drill

• Throw → throw → catch → catch.

• This teaches the rhythm that matters most.

• 5–10 minutes: Three-ball attempts

• Start with only three throws, then stop.

• Don't try to keep going immediately.

• Build from 3 throws to 6, then 10, then continuous juggling.

A few tips that make learning much easier

• Use beanbags rather than bouncy balls—they don't roll away when dropped.
• Keep your elbows near your sides.
• Throw to about eye level, not higher.
• Watch the peak of each throw, not your hands.
• Expect to drop the balls often. Even experienced jugglers spend plenty of practice time picking them up; consistent repetitions are how the timing develops.HobbyStack+1

Most people who practice 10–20 minutes per day can learn a basic three-ball cascade within a week or two, though the exact timeline varies. The key is short, regular sessions rather than occasional long ones.HobbyStack+1