Beginning Heffs

← Back to Heffs ←

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

Other 5 Club Patterns with Heffs

There is quite a list of period 7 patterns which are probably difficult to memorize, but are not so very difficult to throw because of the number of clubs.

I have not gotten around to trying them all and will update information when I have.

compatible with each other:

• 8246726 animation
• 8426627 animation
• 8622647 animation
• 8822627 animation
• 8278226 animation
• 8627246 animation
• 8626274 animation
• 8672264 animation
• 8274266 animation
• 8827226 animation
• 8642744 animation
• 8842724 animation
• 8824274 animation

compatible with those, but without heff:

• 7446662 animation
• 7266266 animation

compatible with those, but with double passes:

• 9448622 animation
• 9248822 animation
• 9268226 animation
• 9488222 animation
• 9642662 animation
• 9244862 animation
• 9662264 animation
• 9264266 animation
• 9262268 animation
• 9682262 animation
• 9224486 animation
• 9222488 animation
• 9622682 animation
• 9224882 animation

compatible with those, but with zaps:

• 8526626 animation
• 8852264 animation
• 8526824 animation
• 6662564 animation
• 6662645 animation
• 8626256 animation
• 8256266 animation
• 8642564 animation
• 8244566 animation
• 8824256 animation
• 8446625 animation
• 8642645 animation
• 8842625 animation
• 8258246 animation
• 8622584 animation
• 8682245 animation
• 8882225 animation

compatible with each other:

• 8272727animation