Russian style juggling balls are a type of ball that combine many of the benefits of beanbags and stage balls. They were invented by Ukrainian juggler Mikhail Rudenko in 1971.
Russian balls have a plastic shell partially filled with sand, salt, grain, or other kinds of filling that gives the balls the proper weight, gives them a more stable direction when thrown, and prevents them from rolling when dropped. They have the appearance of a perfectly round stage ball, but are much easier to catch because the filling falls down to the bottom of the ball when you catch it, giving it a more solid feel. The filling sitting on the bottom of the ball makes it more stable to balance, making Russians good for things like foot catches and head balances.