The Swish Machine: 70 Step Basketball Trickshot (Rube Goldberg Machine)

This outdoor Rube Goldberg Machine goes around my entire yard, and swishes a basketball shot after 70 steps. This video was filmed in one take, meaning there are absolutely no hidden cuts or edits. The machine took a month to build and another month to successfully work, so please share this with anyone who needs some entertainment during these strange times!

🎶 Outro Music: Socially Distant by Jason Moran

Filmed entirely with the GoPro MAX. The GoPro MAX is a 360 camera, and I used it for this video so I did not have to stress about missing anything during the filming process. With the GoPro MAX, you can reframe your video after you film it, so it was impossible to miss any part of the machine when filming. If there are any strange spots in this video you might think looks like a cut or edit, that is just the stitching of the 360 video.

👕 Creezy Merch 👕

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[jackofallspades]

So many factors of this machine clearly demonstrate to me that it was created by someone who truly understands the art of machine building, but I'll mention a few of the biggest things that stood out to me.
The first was the variety of objects, and your ability to introduce whimsy into the machine, even when it's not mechanically necessary. Often, when building in this style at this scale, there are instances where you need to find an object that fulfills only one specific constraint (often weight, height, length, diameter, etc.). By building with only the objects you already have, you end up with the beautiful byproduct of using objects that fulfill their one constraint, but vary wildly in their other properties. Using a frog statue, or the legs of an office chair, or broom handles simply because they were the right shape really helps add a lot of extra charm to the machine.
The variation in the size of the objects used is also managed very well. There are moments where small objects are moving, like the marble, or the Hot Wheels car, or a line of dominoes, but there are other moments with big objects moving, like the target sliding, the swing swinging, or the bike tire rolling. It's clear you put a lot of work into making sure the transition between big and small was always smooth, and that the machine kept a constant rhythm of alternating between large and small objects.
When building a machine using primarily everyday objects (instead of the typical "chain reaction" objects like ping pong balls, Hot Wheels tracks, marbles, Jenga blocks, etc.) there are two extremes that you have to be cognizant to avoid. The first pitfall is just repeating the same motions again and again but with different objects (ball on track, bigger ball on different track, ball on board, ball on the ground, smaller ball in tube, blah blah blah). The other pitfall is almost the complete opposite: adding so much distracting infrastructure and complicated mechanisms that obfuscate the flow of motion in the machine. These kinds of machines are impossible to watch because none of the motions seem to cognitively connect. You're left wondering exactly how it transitioned from a basketball rolling to an arrow launching halfway across the lawn, and guessing that it probably had something to do with the big metal tower of gears and levers and pulleys. Suffice it to say, you successfully navigated the challenge of building a machine outside without falling into either of those two extremes. That's very impressive!
I'm blown away by this machine, it's seriously shocking the amount of work that went into this, between the building, to the filming, to the way you dealt with the challenges of building outside. Definitely my favorite machine so far this year, and it will be tough to beat!

[wrybreadspread]

Have watched dozens of these. But I have never...ever...seen such as this. The scale. The intricacy. The sheer physical expanse. The incorporation of basement/garage/backyard/shed clutter. Hands down the best...*the best*...of these I've ever beheld.

[jgdcole]

I'm not sure what's more impressive: the engineering to pull off that masterpiece, the time it took to set all that up, or the camera operation to not miss one hit... Just wow.

[micheleclaeys]

LOVE that the ramp after the pond is an old poster board about Rube Goldberg machines. LOL Whole thing is brilliant.

[sdwolfcub]

FORGET the entire gargantuan incredibleness of it H A T was probably the best amateur gliding camerawork I have ever seen!!! First I thought it was a drone...but...no propeller sounds. FINALLY at the very end I heard footsteps in the leaves as he flew down the final hillside. AMAZING! You need to apply for work in Hollywood ASAP, dude. Not kidding here. That's flawless camerawork on an advanced level.

[GaryCrofthemiboso]

The most elaborate Rube Goldberg machine I've seen in my 74 years. The filming, which must have been a real challenge, was also brilliant. Well done!

[simondalzell]

Truly magnificent. Thanks and best wishes from North West England.

[canislupus]

This should generate hundreds of job offers from tech startups or even (or especially) established creative vendors like Google or Tesla. This young man's work illustrates the unteachable skills of problem solving, patience, and obsession towards a goal.

Man, if you can build an outdoor Rube Goldberg machine like this, you can build anything. And you should.

[DaksDominoes]

Something like this shouldn’t even be possible to exist. I am absolutely speechless. Also, so many clever uses of objects, like the cinderblocks standing vertically to be used as tracks!

[rubenesparza]

How this hasn’t broken the internet is beyond me..

[craftwarrior]

This was captivating! The footprint covered probably more than an acre!! The sheer scope of this exercise is mind- boggling!! Conceiving each tiny and large interactive event, and finding material to make it happen! And the time it must have taken!! Hours and days and weeks--even months! Through imagination and excitement, frustration, determination, concentration, excavation, possibly injury, probably wind... and weather!! Positioning and repositioning and repositioning until each airborne segment, and each colliding segment, and each rolling and bouncing and tipping and swinging segment connected "just so!" On and on and on and on and on to the end. And most likely, with each test of each segment, recording it and reviewing it and retweaking it so the final "run through" (distance and speed was sometimes swift) was captured perfectly for my sleepy, sedentary eye to be utterly intrigued, entertained, astonished, surprized and amazed!! One casual dunk of a basketball leading to another has NEVER been so much fun to watch! THANK YOU! :o)

[billiefreeland]

I am a K-5 stem teacher. My kindergarteners are so inspired by you and are building their own swoosh machines!😎

[ThatsAmazing]

This is incredible! I can't imagine how long it took to setup after each fail. What part of the machine was the most difficult?

[MicahSommer]

I love this so much. Maybe my favorite touch is when the same object is used twice: for example, at 0:20 the bullseye knocks down the volleyball, and then becomes part of the ramp for the skateboard a moment later. Or at 0:32 the ramps for the billiard balls become dominoes. Ingenious.

[yessipowell]

Love what you created! I just spent 3 months in the hospital from Covid. Lost my brother in law in same hospital. When i see your video give me so much joy to watch. Keep doing what you are doing you are a great problem solver!

[Arcturian]

This will have 20 million views one day. This was Amazing

[TheWhiteDragon]

I think this is the most impressive Rube Goldberg Machine I've seen. For starters, the whole build is outside and subject to the wind and other interfering elements, which is very impressive in and of itself. Another impressive aspect is the inherently simple construction of the individual components. I didn't see a single screw anywhere; it's all just tape and stuff leaned against each other. The last is more about the video: the camera work. The organic wide sweeping shots, and close ups, and fluid means of following the action give us the feeling of a god watching his creation go out and do its thing as well as displaying the grand scale of the whole contraption. Well done!

[Heatr]

That camera work was almost as impressive as the whole setup!

[ChrisSmith-tlqf]

If this doesn't hit a billion, nay 2 billion views it will be a travesty of unparalleled proportions. My God give this man a medal. For not being a lazy SOB like me and so many others this day and age.

[oliviaallen]

148 people are just jealous they didn't pull this incredible feat off. I remember making a much smaller one of these in middle school, so fun! This is beyond epic! Well done!