The trick to the soft touch is keeping the striking surface loose. The Takraw ("ball") is very reactive, but less than say, an inflated soccerball or basketball- it's very lightweight.

Most of the improvising they're doing is just that- and it's really not so difficult when you're allowed to fall down- moreso when five of your buddies are there to bail you out. The impressive aspect is their flexibility- but instead of stretching, here we are hunched in front of terminals, reading M&C. All the same, I gotta give props to the girl on the 1' platform though, and later on the tightrope. That takes some serious lack of respect for gravity.

Also of note, check out Sepak Takraw- it uses the same ball, but that sport is more like a cross between badmitton, gymnastics and soccer. Flips, helicopter kicks, roll spikes. You should see how fast that ball goes when you really hit it. And oh, yes- it *will* tattoo you.

http://takraw.webark.org/

Lastly, while "traditional" hacky sack players are too stoned to notice the bag rolling down a sewer drain, check out what the reigning champion of freestyle footbag put together for the World Championships in Prague last year:

http://v.footbag.org/media/806/1st_shred_VasekKlouda.wmv

well yeah, it's a lot easier when it's in slow motion

I find it amazing how much power they use to move their bodies, but are still able to gently hit the ball.

I must disagree with the statement that they make trad. hacky sack players look stupid, besides the backflip and their ball's ability to bouncy by itself because of being filled with air, I can do all of those tricks myself.

These guys make traditional hacky sack players look stupid

Since hacky sack players look pretty stupid in the first place, I'd say that's not much of an accomplishment.

Both cane ball and hacky sack games look like a gaggle of spazmatic retards doing the chicken dance.

Sure, it might be great exercise, but it's up along with speedwalking on the list of sports that make you look like a complete dork.