What sets juggling clubs apart from other props is the two different ends.  One side is the handle and the other side is the bulb.  To juggle clubs, you flip them so that you can catch them on the handle.  This is much more difficult than ball juggling because the orientation of a ball doesn’t matter, you just catch it anywhere. Often referred to as pins (because of their resemblance to bowling pins), juggling clubs actually come from Indian clubs. 

Indian clubs were used in India as a form of exercise.  They would be held by the knob and swung around in various patterns.  The clubs that were used for exercise were much heavier than the clubs that are juggled today.  In fact, club swinging used to be an Olympic event.  And before organized sports, club swinging was a popular form of exercise in the US.  Jugglers eventually saw the potential for juggling Indian clubs, and they became quite popular among jugglers.

The different shape of juggling clubs makes them more interesting to see. Many clubs have shiny decorations to accentuate this.  The faster they spin, the flashier they look. 

There are two basic kinds of juggling clubs, European and American.  European clubs have a much smaller bulb than American clubs.  They’re designed more for the juggler than the audience.  They’re easier to juggle and do tricks with.  American clubs are designed more for the audience than the juggler.  They’re more difficult to juggle and do tricks with, but the larger bulb makes them look good to the audience.  Today, European clubs are the most popular choice. 

While the shape of clubs makes them difficult to juggle, it can also make them more fun.  Many tricks can be done with clubs that can’t be done with balls.  For every dull throw of a ball, a club can be thrown to spin several times, or backwards.  They add a completely different dimension of motion to juggling. Clubs are the favored prop for passing (when two jugglers juggle together in one pattern).  At juggling festival, you can see clubs flying all over the place constantly. 

Torches and knives fall in the same category as clubs.  However, it’s much more important to catch a torch or knife by the handle than it is a club.  They’re better left to the professionals, or at least highly experienced jugglers.

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