/Arvid Andersson
March 21, 1999.

Devil stick.

(I already know the basics. Show me some tricks!)

A devil stick is one of the most useful juggling props you can have. Not only can you devil stick with it, it is also perfect for practicing flourishes and different forms of balance acts. Three props in one! They are more expensive than many other juggling props (about $20 - $30,) but on the other hand, you don't have to buy more than one, or if you're very good, two devil sticks. (Unlike beanbags and clubs where you need to buy more and more just to keep up with yourself!) I haven't thought anything about how you would make a devil stick at home, but it can't be that complicated. The hard part is the shape of it... any suggestions?

There are two different kinds of devil sticks. There is the normal one, which is a wooden stick about 27 inches (= 65cm) long, thick at the ends but slimmer in the middle, covered with tape, and with foam ends so it won't break when you drop it. Then there is another kind, called a flower stick, which is about the same as a devil stick except it has tassels on the ends instead of foam knobs. This gives it a slower spin.

I might as well confess right now, I'm no expert on devil sticks. I just bought mine a year ago. But it's one of my favorite props and I think every juggler should at least give it a try. As I said, a devil stick is one of the most useful props you can have.

The first thing you need to do in order to learn devil sticking is to decide whether you want a devil stick or a flower stick. I can't help you with this, I've never even touched a flower stick! It may be easier to learn to use a flower stick, but on the other hand, if you try to balance a flower stick on your nose, the tassels will tickle and make you sneeze. :)

Anyway, when you have your devil or flower stick, you just need to learn to use it. The basic move, called a tic-toc, is easy to learn, easier than learning the three ball cascade anyway... Infinite illusions have instructions to show you what to do so I'm not going to repeat them (there's a thin line between laziness and intelligence.) I'll just show this animation of a tic-toc. Notice how the handsticks (the dots) don't just hit the devil stick, they catch and follow it a bit, then throw it gently to the other side. Also notice where the handsticks hit the devil stick, about a quarter from the edge of it.

When you can do the tic-toc, you're ready to learn some tricks!

Try making double spins, pushing a little harder so the stick makes two revolutions before catch. Or triple spins and so on...

Or try the propeller: a backward spin. When the stick is approaching one of your hand sticks you usually catch it above the center. If you catch it below the center instead you can follow it around for one revolution and then catch it normally (see below.) When you can do that, try two propellers in a row. When you're really good you can keep going forever...

If you want more (and you'd better!), Check out these pages:

The devil stick page

Seth and his devil sticks

/Arvid Andersson