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A multiplex is a throw where two or more objects are thrown from one hand at the same time.

Types of multiplexes[]

In a stacked multiplex, all the objects are thrown to the same hand (either all of them cross to the other hand or none of them cross). In a split multiplex, some objects are thrown to the right hand and some to the left hand. In a sliced multiplex, one of the objects is passed straight into the other hand.

Multiplex throws can be called duplexes, triplexes, etc., depending on the number of objects that are being thrown from one hand. Higher numbers of objects thrown at once are too rare to have commonly agreed-on names, and it may be preferable to just use a numeral (as in "4-plex"), rather than using increasingly cumbersome Latin or Greek prefixes.

The term "uniplex" is sometimes used to mean throwing an object while holding on to another object with the same hand and not throwing it, as opposed to a true multiplex, where two or more objects actually leave the hand at the same time.

A squeeze catch is a reverse multiplex throw - more than one object is caught in one hand at the same time.

How_To_Juggle_Basic_5_Ball_Multiplex_Tricks_Juggling_Tutorial_by_JugglingTricks

How To Juggle Basic 5 Ball Multiplex Tricks Juggling Tutorial by JugglingTricks

Ball multiplex tutorial

IJA_Ring_Juggling_Tutorial_-_Ring_Multiplexes_-_Norbi_Whitney_-_Patreon_Sponsored

IJA Ring Juggling Tutorial - Ring Multiplexes - Norbi Whitney - Patreon Sponsored

Ring multiplex tutorial

World records[]

Every throw in a multiplex record must involve the same number of objects. For example, a duplex record must consist of only duplexes, with no other kinds of throws in between.

For a record to be listed on this page, the number of objects used must be greater than twice the number of objects involved in each throw. So the minimum number of objects allowed is 5 for duplex records, 7 for triplex records, 9 for 4-plex records, 11 for 5-plex records, etc.

Collecting begins when an object lands in a hand that was already holding the number of objects required for each throw in the pattern. Any object that leaves a hand after collecting has begun is considered to be dropped at the moment it's released, so no subsequent catches will be counted. Every catch of every object is counted while no drops have been made.

Stacked multiplexes done with no vertical separation will not be accepted in ring multiplex records.

Duplexes[]

Duplex world records with publicly available video evidence:

Records with insufficient video evidence:

Unverified claims: 

  • 9 ball duplexes: 33 catches by Bruce Sarafian in 2008 (claim)
  • 10 ball duplexes: ~1 minute by Mikhail Rudenko (claim)
  • 12 ball duplexes: 32 catches? by Mikhail Rudenko in 1978 (claim)
  • 8 club duplexes: 16 catches Ben Thompson (claim)

Triplexes[]

Triplex world records with publicly available video evidence: 

  • 7 ball triplexes: 11 minutes and 41 seconds by Aaron Berliner in 2021 (video)
  • 8 ball triplexes: 3 minutes and 19 seconds by Bill Coad in 2017 (video)
  • 9 ball triplexes: 240 catches by Yosuke Matsumoto in 2024 (video)
  • 12 ball triplexes: 24 catches by Bill Coad in 2021 (video) and Rodion Dragun in 2021 (video)

Unverified claims:

  • 9 ball triplexes: ~360 catches by Yosuke Matsumoto (claim)

4-plexes[]

4-plex world records with publicly available video evidence:

5-plexes[]

5-plex world records with publicly available video evidence:

6-plexes[]

6-plex world records with publicly available video evidence:

7-plexes[]

7-plex world records with publicly available video evidence:

8-plexes[]

8-plex world records with publicly available video evidence:

9-plexes[]

9-plex world records with publicly available video evidence:

Bruce_Sarafian_Multiplex_Madness_VOL_II_Juggler_Incl_10_balls

Bruce Sarafian Multiplex Madness VOL II Juggler Incl 10 balls

8 and 10 ball multiplex patterns by Bruce Sarafian

Siteswap notation for multiplexing[]

A multiplex throw is written in siteswap notation as two or more numbers in square brackets. 6 balls juggled in a 3 ball cascade (6 ball duplex stacks) would be written as [33].

If the brackets for a multiplex contain a 2, it means one object stays in the hand instead of being thrown at that time, so it may not be a true multiplex throw. If a multiplex contains a 1, it's a sliced throw. A 0 in multiplex notation can be ignored, so [30] can be simplified to 3.

When working out the average of a multiplex siteswap to determine the number of balls in the pattern, the throws inside the brackets are added together but treated as one throw. So, [43]23 = [4 + 3] + 2 + 3 = 12. 12 / 3 (number of throws) = 4 ball pattern.

A multiplex pattern can be made by combining two non-multiplex siteswaps. The 3 ball siteswap 423 and the 2 ball siteswap 330 combined give the 5 ball siteswap [43][32]3. Since siteswaps can be rotated, 330 can also be read as 033 and 303 and thus, when combined with 423, give the 5 ball siteswaps 4[32][33] and [43]2[33] respectively. Further multiplex siteswap generation examples can be found here.

See also[]

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