Boston Shuffle

Other Tutorials:

eMretsiM (video)

     The Boston Shuffle—also called Slams—is a trick in which you make alternating slam throws through an otherwise Cascade-like pattern. This trick can also be seen as a Shuffle which is constantly switching directions. As such, the Boston Shuffle can serve as practice for the Shuffle, but can also be learned more quickly if you already know the Shuffle beforehand.

    To start learning the Boston Shuffle, you first need to be able to do slam throws on each side. Hold one ball in each hand, and then make a Cascade throw with your non-dominant hand. Then, raise your dominant hand up over the thrown ball, and make a downward pass with the held ball, catching it in your non-dominant hand, and then claw catch the first ball with your dominant hand.
    Practice this slam throw on both sides until your are very comfortable with it. To add in the third ball, start by juggling a normal Cascade pattern. Then, make a slam throw with your dominant hand, throwing the ball in your non-dominant hand as an overthrow to clear space for the downward pass. After the pass is caught, resume juggling the Cascade.
    Practice this on both sides until you can perform it smoothly and without major hesitation. The final step to learning the Boston Shuffle is to chain one slam together with a slam from the opposite side. Start by juggling a normal Cascade, then make a slam throw and overthrow like in the previous step. However, instead of going back into the Cascade, you are going to immediately make a single Cascade throw using the hand which had just done a slam, and then perform another slam using your other hand. After the last slam, return to the normal Cascade.
    Once you have mastered two slams, try a third, fourth, fifth, and so on until you are running the Boston Shuffle continuously. This pattern is not particularly complicated, but the accuracy required for the slam throws will take some time to acquire. If performed correctly, each ball should travel along a single path (e.g. only one ball should ever be slammed), so it may help to use easily distinguishable balls when practicing.