Beginning Heffs

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Heffs are a column-like throw to the same hand that threw the object.

As heffs are thrown to yourself, it makes sense to practice them a lot in solo patterns before or accompanying passing patterns with heffs. Doing both, solo practice and passing practice is key, because solo practice alone is usually not enough to successfully use the throw in passing patterns.

Heffs in passing patterns tend to go forward towards your passing partner instead of straight up. It is good to think of them as a throw going straight up made by a hand motion going straight up. Possible reasons for heffs flying forward are:

• your brain doesn't fully distinguish between heffs and passes
• the throw before the heff is too low and forces you to let go of the heff-club early

Here we begin with the list of solo patterns followed by some ways to throw heffs as a trick in n-count like base patterns.

Solo Patterns

Solo Patterns to begin learning heffs (double selfs thrown as a column):

If there are throws that can be done as a hold or as a flip, first try to the pattern with a hold, then see if you can get the flip working in the pattern. If there is a 0 (empty hand) in the pattern, you should clapp on your knee or somewhere to fill the gap, else you can easily lose the rythm and the pattern becomes harder.

• 423 or the "W" → animation
• 42423 the defect W → animation. This pattern can be juggled without the flips as two throws of two clubs in one hand, then a self to change hands, or you can add the flips in
• two clubs in one hand (for both hands, obviously) → animation
• you can switch hand every 4,6, 10 or whatever number heffs via 423 instead → animation
• two clubs in one hand while you turn 360° around yourself.

There are a couple of patterns with which you can work your way up to "441" and also have some veriety in your training. Basically they are 441 plus some selfs or 441 plus some combinations on "42".

• 4413333 animation
• 44133 animation
• 4414233 animation
• 4413423 animation
• 4413342 animation
• 441 animation
• 44142 animation
• 4414413 animation
• 4440333 animation
• 4440423 animation
• 4440342 animation
• 4440441 animation
• 3 club columns

Goal should be to get at least 100 catches of 423 and of 441, better practice until you at least sometimes get 200 or 300 catches. You can already practice 4 clubs, but should still stick to getting the simpler patterns really solid.

Heffs as a Trick in Base Patterns

• 5-count has 4 selfs
• 4-count has 3 selfs
• 3-count has 2 selfs
• Chocolate Bar (pass, pass, self, self) has 2 selfs

As these patterns have consecutive selfs, you can throw heffs without changing anything on the pass (or on the pattern of the other person).

Possible substitutions on up to four consecutive selfs:

1) on two selfs (for 4 or 5 count, you can add the additional selfs at the beginning or end of the pattern or both)

self,    self, 
heff,    hold, 
heff,    flip

self,    self,    self,
heff,    heff,    zip

Why-Not Family

Next up are the 5-club patterns of the Why-Not Family:

• 5c why-not
• 5c not-why