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Pre-requisite: Throwing first Zaps

Pre-requisite

• Throwing first Zaps

Remember to stand relatively close together.

Simplified Exercise

The pattern has 4 clubs. We start with 3 clubs to memorize the sequence a bit before having to deal with also catching clubs.

Doing a zip means quickly handing the club from one hand to the other - or doing this as a very short throw from one hand to the other. Whatever is faster. Zips can be made a little bit earlier than all other throws without speeding up the pattern - nearly in parallel to the throw that precedes it.

The sequence is zap,zap,zip - and that keeps repeating, so zap,zap,zip,zap,zap,zip,zap,zap,zip… The first run of the sequence starts from the right hand, the 2nd then begins with the left hand.

You start with two clubs in your right hand and one in your left hand. With three clubs, you can now throw zap(l)-zap(r)-zip(l)-zap(r) - and then you have no clubs left to continue. (r) and (l) denote the hand doing each throw (actually the hand order is always alternating hands: right, left, right…). The last zap that you throw in this exercise already is the first throw of the 2nd run of the sequence.

Each partner just collects the clubs and then throws the same exercise sequence zap(l)-zap(r)-zip(l)-zap(r) back to their partner. If one person does all throws straight and the other person does all throws diagonal, both will have starts of that sequence beginning with the right and with he left hand.

Zap Zap Zip

Siteswap: 552 (click on number for animation and diagrams)

Now do the full pattern continuously. If that is too much all at once, you can agree to stop after a fixed number of throws. A starts with 3 clubs in the right and throws straight zaps hand and B starts a bit later with one club in the left hand does diagonal zaps.

Written as throw(hand) he full sequence until the same motion repeats is :

A: zap(r)            zap(l)             zip(r)               | zap(l)            zap(r)             zip(l)             
B:            zip(r)             zap(l)             zap(r)   |             zip(l)             zap(r)             zap(l)

At the "|" the throw sequence repeats, but starting from the other hand.

Note that no throws happen at the same time. You can do the zips earlier than in a regular pattern to have the hand free earlier for catching , as this won't speed up the pattern as a whole.

If you can just throw the sequence by telling yourself that you have to keep doiing the sequence "zap, zap, zip", this is great. There will be many more sequences to learn and it's a good skill to be able to just do any sequence you want to.

If you have problems getting the sequence right, there are several ways to regard the same pattern differently in your mind, that may make it easier:

• do the zip a bit earlier and group zip and zap together. Instead of thinking zap, zap, zip, think: zap, (zap-zip), zap, (zap-zip). This shortens the sequence from 3 throws to remember and execute to two
• one often does zips kind of subconsciously without even noticing them. If you mentally ignore the zips, the hand sequence of just the zaps becomes R,R,L,L,R,R,L,L,… For B, this is true from the beginning, for A, the pattern starts in between the frist two "R".

Additional Things To Do

• Do the zip behind your back