Note from the author: I just wanted to say thanks to everyone for supporting my guide. As of writing this, I have had over 1000 views on this topic, which is outstanding to me! Keep an eye out for lots more updates soon!
Contents
Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: Styles of Play
Chapter 3: Yo-Yos
Chapter 4: Strings and Bearings
Chapter 5: Yo-Yo Maintenance
Chapter 6: Yo-Yo Contests
Chapter 7: Yo-Yo Trick List
Chapter 8: YoYoExpert
Chapter 9: External Links
Chapter 10: FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Chapter 11: Conclusion
Chapter 1: Introduction
What is yo-yoing? When you mention a yo-yo, you might start to think of distant childhood memories of throwing (or trying to) a yo-yo, or your father showing you what toys were like when he was a kid. Here at YoYoExpert, we believe that yo-yoing is more than that. To us, it is a sport or a skill which we have developed in order to “Make the Simple Amazing”, as André would say. This guide is here to help you along your yo-yo journey.
Let’s begin!
Chapter 2: Styles of Play
With yo-yoing, there are several styles of play. At contests, there are six (excluding the combined division) main styles of play. However, there are many other styles.
Here is a quick description of them:
Main Styles
1A - String tricks with a single yo-yo. The yo-yo tends to be unresponsive (at advanced levels of play) to allow complicated string tricks to be performed. Single A is what most people think of when you talk about yo-yoing. This style is also almost always the first style yo-yoers learn due to it being the most well known and the easiest to start.
2a - A style based on the use of two looping yo-yos, one in each hand. High-level AA play consists of various series of continuous regenerations, such as loops, hops, moons, punches, stalls, etc. Also performed are hundreds of different forms of around-the-worlds and other circular motions with the yo-yo. While combining loops and continuous circles, wraps can be done. Another growing part of AA (also possible in AAA) is based on the tangler trick, where the strings of the yo-yo cross, spin around the “knot”, and are then uncrossed. Generally the yo-yos used for AA are based on either a modified or a classic shape. Those yo-yos used among popular players consist of the Yomega Raider and Fireball (usually modified), the YoYoJam Sunset Trajectory,the Duncan Speed Beetle,the Team Losi Da Bomb, the Duncan Ballistic and the Relic , as well as many others from various other companies.
3a - String (aka Long Spin) tricks with two yo-yos. Popularized and pioneered by Mark McBride, the first modern Triple A trick appeared in Fiend Magazine and was called Velvet Rolls. The different mounts are referred to as houses (e.g. “Kink House”). Photos from as early as the late 1950’s show early yo-yo demonstrators performing very basic Triple A tricks, such as a Sleeper with one hand, and a Trapeze with the other. While Triple A as a concept has existed for many years, it was not until the release of Velvet Rolls that development began on what is currently considered Triple A.
4a - Offstring yo-yoing is a yo-yo style where the string is tied to the finger but not to the yo-yo. Single A yo-yos are often used, as well as dedicated offstring yo-yos. Offstring yo-yo tend to be butterfly shaped and very wide so landing the yo-yo on the string after the throw is as easy as possible.
5a - Where a weight (typically a casino die or small ball) is attached to the end of the yo-yo string that would otherwise be attached to the finger. The yo-yo itself is attached to the string in the normal manner. Developed in 1999 by Steve Brown, freehand is considered to be the fastest-growing style of yo-yo play, as well as one of the most exciting to watch, due mainly to the wide diversity of styles from one 5A player to the next.
[b]For more yo-yoing styles, please visit: http://yoyowiki.org/wiki/Styles_Of_Play[/b]
Chapter 3: Yo-Yos
Well, before you began, you are going to need a yo-yo. Once you choose what style of play you want to learn, it is time to get a yo-yo!
If you want to learn:
1a, I suggest either a Journey (http://yoyoexpert.com/product/yoyojam/journey/), a Velocity (http://yoyoexpert.com/product/yoyofactory/velocity/), or a Kickside (http://yoyoexpert.com/product/yoyojam/kickside/)
2a, I suggest two Sunset Trajectories (http://yoyoexpert.com/product/yoyojam/sunset-trajectory/) or two Loop 720s (http://yoyoexpert.com/product/yoyofactory/loop720/).
3a, I suggest two SpeedMakers (http://yoyoexpert.com/product/yoyojam/speed-maker/).
4a, I suggest an Aquarius (http://yoyoexpert.com/product/yoyojam/aquarius/) or a Hayabusa (http://yoyoexpert.com/product/duncan/hayabusa/).
5a, I suggest a Lyn Fury (http://yoyoexpert.com/product/yoyojam/lyn-fury/) or a Freehand Zero (http://yoyoexpert.com/product/duncan/freehand-zero/).
Chapter 4: Strings and Bearings
Once you get a yo-yo, you are going to need some string and maybe a different bearing besides the stock bearing that comes with your yo-yo. There are three main types of string. 100% Cotton, 50/50 Polyester/Cotton, and 100% Polyester string. Pure cotton string is not very common, since is tangles quickly and is not very durable/strong. It is best left for the yo-yos that little kids play with. Next is 50/50 string. 50/50 is great for the beginner yo-yoer. It is strong and durable, yet still has half cotton. 50/50 is the preferred string for looping and off-string. Last is pure polyester. Most pros favor this type of string because of its strength while not getting tangled as quickly as the other types. If you are interested in yo-yo string, please visit the following link: http://yoyoexpert.com/product/expert/string/
There are also several types of bearings. The main bearings are stock bearings (bearings that come with your yo-yo) which are great once you break them in and KonKave bearings which are great for making a yo-yo unresponsive. Stock bearings differ from yo-yo brands, so it is hard to talk about them when they differ. YoYoFactory and YoYoJam have excellent stock bearings. KonKave bearings literally are concave bearings, so they look kinda like this: ) ( This causes the string to stay in the middle of the bearing away from the response.
Chapter 5: Yo-Yo Maintenance
There are several important factors that keep your yo-yo spinning, so you will need to keep good care of your yo-yo. Instead of me explaining this all, I’ll let the yo-yo master, André Boulay, do the talking. See below for the videos.
Cleaning a Yo-Yo Bearing: YoYoExpert.com - Maintenance - Cleaning a Bearing
Lubing Yo-Yos: YoYoExpert.com - Maintenance - Yo-Yo Lube
Using Spacers: YoYoExpert.com - Maintenance - Spacers
String: YoYoExpert.com - Maintenance - Yo-Yo String
Over-Tightening: YoYoExpert.com - Maintenance - Tightening a Yo-Yo
Fix Loose Axles: YoYoExpert.com - Maintenance - Fix a Loose Axle
Chapter 6: Yo-Yo Contests
As I mentioned before, there are six main styles of play. 1a, 2a, 3a, 4a, 5a, and AP, or Artistic Performance, where the yo-yoer incorporates dance moves with yo-yoing.
For a list of upcoming yo-yo contests, please visit this link: http://yoyoexpert.com/forums/index.php/topic,720
Chapter 7: Yo-Yo Trick List
A simple yet large list of yo-yo tricks and videos on how to do them. The Growing Trick List Project.
Chapter 8: YoYoExpert
New to YoYoExpert? My good friend, Steven, wrote a topic for the guests and new users of our site.
[i]This is a guide of what we do around here for the guests.
Guest’s: If any guests are reading this, thanks for looking at YoYoExpert. If you really like the site, come and join the fun! This is an awesome site. I’m going to tell you what we do around here!
Thursday: We have a Chat Night once a month on Thursday night. I think it’s 8:00pm to 9:00pm Eastern time. André Boulay, the yo-yo pro, and site creator, asks us questions in the chat room. You can go to the chat room by scrolling up and there is a button in the forum navigation that says “CHAT”. Just click and you’re in! Well, André Boulay asks us questions and we answer. If you get it right, you get a point. The people that scored are in the 2nd round. Some people with 1 or 2 points are in, but the people with no points are out. If you get in the the second round, André will ask more questions. The user with the most correct answers will win a yo-yo that André decides to give them for FREE! Sometimes, André does a raffle. He’s going to pick a random user who will win a free YoYoExpert T-shirt or something else! It’s every Thursday so don’t miss out on it. Even if you get out, it’s a lot of fun watching other people battle!
Shop: Well, as you can see, YoYoExpert does have a shop. They have YoYoJam, YoYoFactory, Duncan, and some accessories. I think André did a good job picking out good companies and good yo-yos to put on the site. Go check them out and buy one!
Forums: I think the Forums are the best thing about this site. It’s fun, entertaining, and just nice to go on when you’re bored! These are some sections we have. General Yo-Yo Forum for just normal yo-yo talk. We have Yo-Yo Trick Help, Yo-Yo Reviews, Yo-Yo Videos, Yo-Yo Contest Information, Unrelated Discussion, and YoYoExpert Site Improvments. There all fun post threads in and just to have fun in.
Learn: If you scroll up all the way to the top you will see Learn. If you click that they have Offstring, Counterweight, string tricks, looping, maintenance, everything. Click on what you want and they have a trick list. When you click, there will be a list of tricks. Here are some examples of some string tricks: Trapeze, Double or Nothing, and Matrix. In the video that you choose, André Boulay will teach you how to perform the trick. Almost all my tricks are from André. He explains really well, and shows different angles of the trick so you can see it.
News: If you have a question on when the next contest is, or what new yo-yos are coming to YoYoExpert just click news up at the top! The “News” section is for upcoming contests, new yo-yos coming, Yo-Yo Articles, Yo-Yo videos, and YoYoExpert News. So, if your wondering about anything similar to all of those topics, click “News” and you can get your answer. One of them isn’t an answer, it’s the Yo-Yo Videos topic. It’s just some videos of pro’s showing their freestyles. If you want to see some freestyles, go to it! The News section is very exciting!
Chat: The Chat isn’t just fun on Thursday. It’s fun on any day! We talk about yo-yos, yo-yo tricks, and lots more! There’s something really cool that’s in there too… Andre made a robot in there so when there’s no one in there he comes in and chats with you! He’s really cool. Come in the Chat whenever you can!
YoYoExpert is the best yo-yo site that I’ve ever been on. There’s so much fun here EVERYDAY! YoYoExpert has almost every yo-yo you need. If you guys want to join the fun, join YoYoExpert! I promise you will have a good time here.
~Steven
[/i]
Chapter 9: External Links
Here are some great places to check out to get started on yo-yoing!
http://www.mastermagic.net
http://www.yoyonation.com
http://www.yoyojam.com
http://www.theyostore.com
Chapter 10: FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
For a growing FAQs list, please check out this link: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Project - General Yo-Yo - YoYoExpert
Chapter 11: Conclusion
Well, I hope this guide has helped you get started with yo-yoing. Yo-yoing is an amazing sport with endless possibilities. I hope you take our amazing sport to heart and master it! We here at YoYoExpert will help you further along with your journey. If you have any questions, feel free to message me or one of my friends here at YoYoExpert. We would love to help you out!
Loved this guide, but need more help? Be sure to check out my great friend, Samad’s, guide here! Comprehensive Yo-Yo Guide - General Yo-Yo - YoYoExpert
:-\
And yes, I know. I’m not sure if Samad knows though.
