The Hug Catch
Mood:  sharp

If you haven’t bought and downloaded Wes and Jay’s latest video, please do so.  20 minutes of brand new 3b material can only do you good.  You can buy it from wespeden.com

 

Anyway, the entire video is great but there are three ideas in particular which I really like.  Today I’m going to talk about the first of three – the hug catch.

 

Since I am a veteran of the ‘old’ internet, I will explain the move using text.  Give it a try!

 

Basically, a “hug” catch (as I’m calling it) is a crossed arm reverse backcross.  What???  Yeah.

 

If that doesn’t do it for you, let’s take it step by step.  Put a ball in your right hand.  Throw it over your left shoulder so that it lands behind your right hip.  Cross your left arm around your waist and catch the ball blind.

 

Here are the time stamps of the 3b video in which Wes and Jay can be seen doing hug catches.

 

Wes: 8:27, 9:28, 12:01, 15:26-15:36

 

The best montage of hug tricks is with Jay and Wes, and it falls between 14:34 – 15:00. 

 

I really like this idea of taking body throws and finding the crossed arm equivalent of it.

 

Hug catches can be accomplished somewhat easier if you roll the ball across the back, but it’s even more impressive if you don’t. 

 

Since it is a crossing throw, it is possible in theory to do a cascade of hug catches.  This trick isn’t featured on the video.  Wes and Jay – if you’re reading this, I’d love to see one of you try it.  It would essentially be the reverse of what Jay flashes between 14:21 – 14:31.  Good luck!

 

UPDATE:  I actually spoke to Wesley at the EJC and he informed me that the trick I describe in the paragraph above was one of the few tricks that he and Jay tried and tried and yet never were able to flash.  Look for it in the future.