Standard tricks transcribed into 8 notation systems
Table of Contents
Introduction⌗
On this page I list all tricks from Daniel’s 3 ball trick list with their transcriptions in various notation systems. The Harmonic Throws transcriptions were kindly made by Jonathan Lardillier, the originator of Harmonic Throws. For the Beatmap transcriptions I received a lot
of help from Luke Burrage. All the other transcriptions were completed by myself.
The tricks are transcribed into Siteswaps, Body Trick Notation, Mills Mess State Diagrams (MMSTD), Beatmap, Harmonic Throws, Symbolics for Objects and Juggler Planes (SOJUP), and my novel systems Rhythmic Catches and IMBO. I chose these systems because they appeared to me to be the most well defined and relevant systems. Originally I hoped to also transcribe the tricks into Pretzel Hand and SOU, but from the texts available to me I was not able to work out the correct transcriptions for all the tricks.
These transcriptions were made for the purpose of being able to compare notation systems with each other.
Update: You can now find the evaluation of this comparison here.
General notes⌗
Not all of the transcriptions try to notate the complete pattern, for example some only talk about the order of the balls, some only talk about the pathways around the body.
Sometimes I supply alternatives versions of a transcription, because I believed a trick could be written in multiple different ways. In those cases, the top one is the one I would consider more typical or more correct.
Siteswap notes⌗
Both vanilla siteswap and synchronous siteswap have been used to transcribe the tricks.
Body Trick Notation notes⌗
If no body tricks are made, a dash - is used. If a trick contains multiple throws and some are not body tricks, those throws are marked with - too.
Sometimes alternatives are supplied, for example when a ball goes in and out of the same hole. One could argue that going in and out is not a valid pathway, or at the very least a vague one. Also I wrote down a hypothetical notation for the pirouette, but it can be argued that this is stretching beyond the limits of what Body Trick Notation was designed to do.
Mills Mess State Transition Diagram notes⌗
The MMSTD notation has been simplified in characters, using Rr Rl Ur Ul Lr Ll to mark the hand positions as normal but noting inside and outside with i and o. They are only mentioned when MMSTD allows for multiple different types of throws, which is only between Rr & Rl or Ur & Ul or Lr & Ll.
I’ve taken the liberty to use my own inside and outside definitions for the MMSTD notation, as the ones I am aware of can be a bit arbitrary in some cases.
In some cases tricks that are not possible to describe in MMSTD have been ignored, such as the Box, but for some other cases I’ve added the feature of noting a held ball with (hold) such as in the Fake mess.
Beatmap notes⌗
Symmetrical patterns could have been written shorter in Beatmap by using an * to indicate that the pattern continues but with everything mirrored, but at recommendation of Luke Burrage, both the left and right sequence are written out. This is supposedly so they are easier to read.
In the binary state diagrams, such as the positions of the left and right hands, the 0’s have been omitted for clarity, also at recommendation of Luke Burrage.
Harmonic Throws notes⌗
These transcriptions were written by hand on a whiteboard by Jonathan Lardillier, thank you very much Jonathan!
This transcription is not in the style of the original Harmonic Throws version which I had written about before. Instead this is what can be referred to as Harmonic Throws “v2” or the “portée system”. This system is not yet published, I understand how to read and write it thanks to an explanation during a video conversation with Jonathan.
I believe this new system is much better than the Harmonic Throws “v1” or “grid system”, which is why I am very happy to have this included in this list. However, it may be frustrating that at this moment I am unable to link to any external source to explain what this system exactly does. I have been told that such a resource will be available in the near future.
SOJUP notes⌗
It was a challenge to make these transcriptions, I hope I have not made any mistakes. I have forwarded these transcriptions to SOJUP inventor Frederic Roudaut but at the time of writing he has not yet been able to look at them closely.
Rhythmic Catches & IMBO notes⌗
Just because I have designed these systems myself does not mean I am unable to make mistakes in them. I am still new to them too. Should you notice anything odd about any of these transcriptions, feel free to contact me.
All tricks in different notations⌗
Tricks in front of the body⌗
1. Cascade⌗
Siteswap: 3
Body Trick Notation: -
MMSTD: Ul i Ur i
Beatmap:
L, R
2x, 1
1, 2x
Harmonic Throws:
SOJUP:
Rhythmic Catches: 1
IMBO: -
2. Tennis⌗
Siteswap: 3
Body Trick Notation: -
MMSTD: Ul i Ur i Ul o Ur i Ul i Ur o
Beatmap:
I = inside throw
O = outside throw
L, R, I, O
2x, 1, 1
1, 2x, 1
2x, 1, 1
1, 2x, 1
2x, 1, 1
1, 2x, 1
Harmonic Throws:
SOJUP:
SOJUP alternative:
Note: These ball positions are not described in the original system, I have created them myself to show how inside and outside could perhaps be displayed. But it is a stretch…
Rhythmic Catches: 111o
IMBO: -
3. Mill’s mess⌗
Siteswap: 3
Body Trick Notation: OPACACOPACAC ACAL OPALAC
Body Trick Notation alternative: - ACAL OPALAC
MMSTD: Rr Ul Lr i Ll Ur Rl i
Beatmap:
L, R
2x~, 1
1, 2x
2x, 1~
1, 2x~
2x, 1
1~, 2x
Harmonic Throws:
SOJUP:
Rhythmic Catches: 1o11
IMBO: H~/H~H\H, /H\M, M~/H~\
4. Cherry picker⌗
Siteswap: 3
Body Trick Notation: OPACAC OPALAC - OPACAC ALAL OPALAL
Body Trick Notation alternative: - OPALAC - - -
MMSTD: Rr i Rl Ur i Ul o Ur Rl
Beatmap:
HL = High left
HM = High middle
HR = High right
BL = Bottom left
BM = Bottom middle
BR = Bottom right
L, R, HL, HM, HR, BL, BM, BR
2x~, 1, 1 1
1, 2x, 1 1
2x, 1~, 1 1
1, 2x~, 1 1
2x, 1, 1 1
1~, 2x, 1 1
Harmonic Throws:
Note: This pattern was accidentally written with the left hand on top and the right hand on the bottom, it is the mirrored version from the version in the video.
SOJUP:
Rhythmic Catches: 1111o1o1o
IMBO: H~/H~\, M~/\M~, -, /H\H, /M\M, M~/M~\
5. Shower⌗
Siteswap: 51
Siteswap alternative: (4x,2x)
Body Trick Notation: -
MMSTD: Ur o Ul i
Beatmap:
L, R
1x, 1
1, 4x
Harmonic Throws:
SOJUP:
Rhythmic Catches: (0, 1~)
IMBO: -
6. Box⌗
Siteswap: (4,2x)*
Body Trick Notation: -
MMSTD: None. (Synch throws are not covered.)
Beatmap:
L, R
1x, 3
1, 1
3, 1x
1, 1
Harmonic Throws:
SOJUP:
Rhythmic Catches: (0,1s)*
IMBO: -
7. Shuffle⌗
Siteswap: (4x,2x)
Body Trick Notation: -
MMSTD: Ur o Ul o
Beatmap:
L, R
1x, 1
1, 4x
Harmonic Throws:
SOJUP:
Rhythmic Catches: (0o, 1)
IMBO: -
8. Factory⌗
Siteswap: (4,2)(4x,2)(4,2x)
Body Trick Notation: - OPALAL (-,-)
Body Trick Notation alternative: -
MMSTD: None. (Synch throws or twice the same hand in a row are not covered.)
Beatmap:
LO = Left hand outside
LI = Left hand inside
RB = Right hand bottom
RTR = Right hand top right
RTL = Right hand top left
L, R, LO, LI, RB, RTR, RTL
2, 1, 1 1
2x, 1, 1 1
2, 1x, 1 1
Harmonic Throws:
SOJUP:
Rhythmic Catches: 1so*1(0,1s)*
IMBO: -
9. Fake mess⌗
Siteswap: 423
Body Trick Notation: -
Body Trick Notation alternative: - OPALAL -
MMSTD: Ul Lr(hold) Ll Ur Rl(hold) Rr
Beatmap:
L, R
2~, 1
2x, 1
1, 2~
1, 2x
Harmonic Throws:
SOJUP:
Rhythmic Catches: 1(1s,h)
IMBO: H~/H~H\H, -, M~M~
10. Siteswap 441⌗
Siteswap: 441
Body Trick Notation: -
MMSTD: Ul i Ur o Ul i Ur i Ul o Ur i
Beatmap:
L, R
3, 1
1, 3
1x, 1
1, 3
3, 1
1x, 1
Harmonic Throws:
SOJUP:
Rhythmic Catches: 2s(2s,0)-
IMBO: -
11. Siteswap 12345⌗
Siteswap: 45123
Siteswap alternative: 12345
Note: This is just a different rotation.
Body Trick Notation: -
MMSTD: Ur i Ul(hold) Ur i Ul i Ur o Ul i Ur(hold) Ul i Ur i Ul o
Beatmap:
L, R
3, 1
1, 4x
1x, 0
1, 1
2x, 1
1, 3
4x, 1
0, 1x
1, 1
1, 2x
Harmonic Throws:
SOJUP:
Rhythmic Catches: 12s(3,0)-
IMBO: -
12. Siteswap 423 with active 2’s⌗
Siteswap: 423
Body Trick Notation: -
MMSTD: Ur o Ul o Ur i Ul o Ur o Ul i
Beatmap:
L, R
3, 1
1, 1
2x, 1
1, 3
1, 1
1, 2x
Harmonic Throws:
SOJUP:
Rhythmic Catches: 2s0s1
IMBO: -
13. Three in one hand⌗
Siteswap: 60
Siteswap alternative: 3
Body Trick Notation: -
MMSTD:
None. (Twice the same hand in a row is not covered.)
Beatmap: 3
Harmonic Throws:
SOJUP:
Rhythmic Catches: 2s*
IMBO: -
Tricks around the body⌗
14. Overheads⌗
Siteswap: 3
Body Trick Notation: ALOPAL
MMSTD: Ul i Ur i
Beatmap:
L, R
2x, 1
1, 2x
Harmonic Throws:
SOJUP:
Rhythmic Catches: 1
IMBO: Mo/\Mo~
15. Penguin catches⌗
Siteswap: 3
Body Trick Notation: OPACAL
Body Trick Notation alternative: -
MMSTD: Ul i Ur i
Beatmap:
LP = Left hand penguin
LN = Left hand normal
RP = Right hand penguin
RN = Right hand normal
L, R, LP, LN, RP, RN
2x, 1, 1 1
1, 2x, 1 1
Harmonic Throws:
SOJUP:
Rhythmic Catches: 1
IMBO: /H~\Mp~
16. Under the leg throws⌗
Siteswap: 3
Body Trick Notation: ALBOL
MMSTD: Ul i Ur i
Beatmap:
LU = Left hand under leg
LN = Left hand normal
RU = Right hand under leg
RN = Right hand normal
L, R, LU, LN, RU, RN
2x, 1, 1 1
1, 2x, 1 1
Harmonic Throws:
SOJUP:
Rhythmic Catches: 1
IMBO: M/L\
17. Behind the neck throws⌗
Siteswap: 3
Body Trick Notation: ACOPAC
MMSTD: Ul i Ur i
Beatmap:
L, R
2x, 1
1, 2x
Harmonic Throws:
SOJUP:
Rhythmic Catches: 1
IMBO: /HH~\
18. 3 up pirouette⌗
Note: The pattern in the video is specifically a repeating pattern with a recovery throw. More typically a 3 up pirouette is written for example as siteswap 55500, but in this case we add the recovery throw to the pattern too, so it becomes 555003.
Siteswap: 555003
Siteswap alternative: 3
Body Trick Notation: -
Body Trick Notation alternative: OPACOPAC ACOPAC OPACOPAC -
MMSTD: Ul i Ur i
Beatmap:
FF = Face front
FB = Face backwards
L, R, FF, FB
4x, 1, 1
1, 4x, 1
4x, 0, 1
0, 0, 1
0, 1, 1
1, 2x, 1
Harmonic Throws:
SOJUP:
Rhythmic Catches: 444--1
IMBO: -
Tricks in contact with the body⌗
19. Knee kick⌗
Siteswap: 3
Body Trick Notation: -
MMSTD: Ul i Ur i
Beatmap:
KL = Knee left
KR = Knee right
L, R, KL, KR
1KL 1 0 0
1 1 1R 0
1 1KR 0 0
1 1 0 1L
Harmonic Throws:
SOJUP:
Rhythmic Catches: 1sK K:+1
IMBO: -
20. Head roll⌗
Siteswap: 3
Body Trick Notation: -
MMSTD:
Ul i Ur i
Beatmap:
H = Head
L, R, H,
2x, 1, 0
1, 1H, 0
1, 0, 1L
2x, 1, 0
1, 2x, 0
Harmonic Throws:
SOJUP:
Rhythmic Catches: (1,0Hdt)(Hdt:0,1)1
IMBO: -
21. Blind behind the back⌗
Siteswap: 3
Body Trick Notation: ALOPAL
MMSTD: Ul i Ur i
Beatmap:
L, R
2x, 1
1, 2x
Harmonic Throws:
SOJUP:
Rhythmic Catches: (W&B:+0s, 1W&B)
IMBO: M/\M~
22. Monkey juggling⌗
Siteswap: 3
Body Trick Notation: -
MMSTD: Ul i Ur i
Beatmap:
AL = Armpit left
AR = Armpit right
L, R, AL, AR
1AR, 1, 1, 0
0, 1, 1L, 1
1, 1AL, 0, 1
1, 0, 1, L
Harmonic Throws:
SOJUP:
Rhythmic Catches: 0A A:0s
IMBO: -