Just bumping because I don’t want this to get lost AND I have something to contribute:
First, I am learning how critical it is to manage string tension with 2A. Because loops are effectively regens and you’re putting a half twist into the string into each loop, you’d be surprised how fast you screw up your string tension. I just changed a string today because I did a loop THROUGH the string. At the same time, I needed to replace the string anyways.
Second: Fresh string! OMG!! It’s like I got a new yoyo. My only issue was the confusion I had when it would not snap start because the string was still nice and not stretched out, so it was literally in a death grip between the halves in that Unleashed.
Third: Lube. Yeah, use it. Thick lube. 2 drops. On my! It really gets things where I like it. DO your own experimentation, but I found this was my magic solution.
Fourth: Throwing itself. I am finding don’t aim for straight ahead from your arm. Aim for a point in front of your body at a height somewhere between your waist and knee in height. I’m finding much more consistent results this way on my inside loops.
Fifth: It’s all in the wrist, but either way, use some heavy wrist action to THROW/FLING that yoyo back out. You have to maintain that energy, so put some effort into getting the yoyo back out there. Same for other looping tricks. Practice!!
Sixth. Looping doesn’t need the same power as 1A. Even so, don’t be afraid to put a little “power” into that initial throw. You’ve got to learn the difference between too much and too little. Too little and your loops get loose and sloppy and fall apart. Too hard and the yoyo just comes back at you too hard and fast, but you can compensate on this through practice and achieve faster loops. Still, you can throw too hard and it just comes right back at you. It’s not a fine line, there’s a zone of “just right” that varies from person to person. Once you find this, you’re good.
Seventh: The gap. As you know, modified shapes are narrow gapped and responsive by nature. Some are adjustable. You need to find what gap width works for you, as well as lubrication of the bearing for your best results.
Eighth: Don’t quit!
I totally see and get what Andre is saying in his looping tutorial videos, especially where at first where you also get your arm involved. I’m moving out of that and into it being all wrist at this point. I also got lessons from YYJ player Joseph Harris, which I felt was really the element I needed to get me into successful looping. Andre’s videos are good here, I just needed some hands on and “instant feedback” to correct any errors I was doing. Not to promote or push a yoyo professional, but it’s for this reason why people should participate in yoyo clubs and meets when you can. It’s for support and assistance. But you gotta “put this all together” on your own to really start making this happen.
So, keep looping. It’s harder than 1A. It takes longer to get results. This isn’t for the “instant gratification” users, unless this just magically clicks for you, and if it does, that’s OK too.
Always great to find new 2A players. I suggest practicing on one hand [preferably dominant] until you get it clean. The other hand is an untrained mirror of your dominant hand. Keep it up!