One of the most common questions you’ll be asked about joggling is “Do you ever drop?” The glib answer is one that every juggler has at the ready, “Only 
when I want to.”
But the truth is in joggling, drops happen. Here are the top ten most common reasons for experiencing a drop. Do you have any to add?
Dropping the Bean Bag
1. Doing a trick – A frequent reason for dropping is tricks. If you’re like me, you’ll get bored with the standard cascade pattern and will try tricks to increase the excitement. For me this involves throwing a bean bag extra high over a No Parking sign, lamppost or finish line. Often the trick won’t go exactly as planned and a prop ends up on the ground.
Solution: Either stop doing tricks or do them more often so you get better
2. Distracted by people. People are fascinated by joggling and they’ll often clap or shout to show their appreciation. Of course, some may make noise to get you to drop. When you look their direction to smile and thank them, don’t be surprised if you bean bags collide and you have a drop. Most embarrassing.
Solution: Practice looking left and right while joggling or keep your eyes focused on the bean bags.
3. Unknown noises. Joggling requires focus and drops frequently occur when the focus is broken. Unexpected noises like barking dogs, rustling bushes, and fire truck sirens have all caused me to drop.
Solution: Joggle in an urban environment so noises are more frequent & less distracting.
4. Pedestrians & other people. Urban joggling is great for entertaining people, but those same people lead to drops. These happen when you unexpectedly run in to them, are bumped during races or you have to change your course to avoid them.
Solution: Joggle where there are no people – of course, this is much less fun
5. Your reflection. Perhaps I’m narcissistic but I frequently wonder what I look like while joggling. So, when I pass a reflective window or mirror, I turn my head and look at myself joggle by. Often, I’ll see two bean bags collide and watch the reflection of them falling to the ground.
Solution: Stop looking at yourself!
6. Avoiding a collision. In the city, potential collisions are always just around the corner. When you avoid these collisions (as you should) you’re more apt to drop. But that’s not bad. Better to drop and be safe than to try and keep the pattern going while getting hit by a car.
Solution: Joggle in areas where collisions are less probable.
7. Rapidly changing speed. Running fast is fun but also a drop causing curse. Often, you forget to change your throwing pattern when you rapidly speed up or slow down and this will result in a drop. I’ve embarrassed myself many times at the end of races by having a drop as I try sprint joggling to the finish.
Solution: Practice changing speeds while joggling
8. Tough terrain. Some surfaces are easier to joggle on than others. Climbing or descending hills is particularly challenging and drops are more likely. Icy sidewalks can also lead to drops, especially if you fall.
Solution: Joggle on flat, known courses.
9. Wind. The nemesis of every joggler. This unexpected force of nature will cause you to change from your typical joggling pattern and this can be drop making. When I joggled the 50 mile ultra marathon, 3 of my 4 drops were caused by gusts of wind.
Solution: On windy days, focus more on making accurate throws
10. Being tired. It’s not surprising that most drops in a marathon happen in the second half. Many a drop-free marathon is lost in the last 2 or 3 miles. When you get tired you are much more likely to make an inaccurate throw that leads to a ball collision and a drop.
Solution: Throw the bags a little higher. This will make you focus more and also give you more time to make adjustments
In joggling, as in juggling, drops happen. If you recognize when they are most likely, you can better prepare yourself so you avoid them. But if you do drop, don’t worry too much. It happens to everyone.
What are some of the things that have caused you to drop while joggling? Leave a comment below and add to this list.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Nice post, Perry. Enjoyed reading the different reasons. I have to say that I do #5 sometimes, especially when glow ball juggling at night, but usually don’t drop. How about “bib malfunctions” during races? I only dropped during the marathon twice because I caught my bib with my finger. That’s even when I lowered it all the way to the bottom of my tshirt.
Pick yourself up. Dust yourself off. Start all over again.
@Joe – I’ve had the wardrobe malfunction drop too! Only once did the bib get in the way however. Now I put it on my shorts leg. Never a problem.
My headphone wires have also caused drops.
Yeah, next marathon I’m going to put my bib on my back or shorts.