Hi all! Im New to yoyo-ing, but I dug out my old Pulse yoyo and watched a few videos to try to get started. However, when I resized the string to fit my height (per the YoTricks video) the string seems to be twisting and spinning more than it was before (which I had just chalked up to bad throws). Did I mess up the string by doing this? Can I buy any yoyo string and have it work in this specific yoyo? Or should I learn on a beginner yoyo like the Fizz or Sage first (they seem to be lighter weight?), and then go back to the Pulse? I’m not looking to do competition, just messing around. I’m also wondering if I need to replace the pads, even though I haven’t used it much. I don’t have the instructions or any extra parts cause this yoyo was a gift. I can upload pictures of the yoyo and the string if needed. Thanks in advance!
Heyyyy! Welcome to the forums!
Lots to cover here but I’ll start by saying that you can totally start learning with any kind of yo-yo - especially when you are just trying to get your throw down. That said, it does always help to have a yo-yo that you really enjoy playing (aesthetics and feel can factor in too) because it will make you want to practice and enjoy doing it.
The pulse is technically a looping yo-yo, which means that it will be more challenging to catch on the string for string tricks.
… one sec, brb.
Hook up the Sage!! Rip it either responsive (half spec, slim) or unresponsive (C bearing). I did “the first 50” with sage. Good yoyo.
While never having owned one, I concur with the above post. The one who sells the Sage starter pack is known for making quality throws for those just starting out. Not to mention that the pack also includes everything needed to actually maintain it! Their tutorials are fabulous, and I have made many purchases from their site
Okay I’m back.
The Fizz and Sage seemed to be fine beginner yo-yos. I think the Fizz is long-time retired - any video featuring it is quite old now. I would recommend caution about the Sage - We have all learned much of the basics from the YYT videos over the years — but I have heard that they seem in be in a decline recently and people have complained about not receiving orders and poor communication.
YoyoExpert carries lots of great beginner stuff. The First Base and SnapBack are great choices. I would also recommend throwing in the Whip in your order. It’s an oldie but goodie. It is a super durable design with lots of versatility but is also inexpensive. Plus if you get some standard 19mm response pads and standard centering C bearing you can easily convert it into an excellent unresponsive - no need to change the axle, it’s plenty long.
You can pretty much start with whatever you want though. After less than a week with the Velocity back in 2017, I then picked up a Shutter at a specialty toy store and then proceeded to learn how to throw and bind simultaneously while having a blast. I played unresponsive almost exclusively for about 4 years before switching to my current preference of fixed-axle/responsive.
The pads in your Pulse are likely fine. If it is not responding well, it is more likely that you need to add some grease or thick lube to the bearing. This is part of maintaining a responsive yo-yo.
Regarding the string - length and thickness (plus material) is a preference thing. If a string is wearing out, you may find it has more issues with holding neutral torsion (people call this tension, but it’s actually torsion). More importantly though, as you play the yo-yo, the string will naturally get twisted (tighter if right handed, looser if left handed). You will need to learn how to manage your string torsion. There are various tricks that allow to modify this. But as you are learning, it is good to unwind the yo-yo and take the string off your finger and let it hang loose to neutralize the torsion.
edit: on and yes, you can pretty much use any string with any yo-yo, BUT you will find that the yo-yo will play differently with different materials, thickness and length. This is why there are so many kinds of yo-yo string! You can even make your own if you’re crafty - I used to, but it is time consuming, a true labour of love. A lot of yo-yoing is tinkering with your setup…
Having lots of spare string is a good idea. Most bulk string will wear out after 3-10 hours of dedicated play. It might take you some time to figure out what kind of string you like. I recommend starting with a bulk polyester. Some recommendations are: Zipline Alphalines, Original Throw Normal, Kitty String Fat.
Thank you all so much!! I’ll look at getting some more string and greasing up the bearing!
Edit: oh one more thing: I’m left handed but I’ve been putting the yoyo on my right hand cause it feels more natural. Is that alright?
Whatever works for you!
Alright thank you!!
Well that’s a shame, I haven’t heard this…
Nor have I. But I do know that their rewards program has been retired. They have done restocks of Fizz and Civility though, so I’m not sure they are in a full decline so much as, IDK, plateaued.
Alright, I tried to practice a basic throw to try to see if the string behaved better, but it didnt. Sometimes I would get good straight movement, other times it would spin wildly or the string would somehow get caught? I’m going to order new string but is this a sign of a string being messed up? Ive attached pics of the yoyo separated, and a close up of the string where it looks like it has weird ridges, near the loop that goes on the yoyo.
I had a ton of points from their reward program so I just ordered an Origen (basically for free) 
YYT is the reason I got interested in more advanced play so I’d be sad to see them go
Hmmm, your string looks okay. Are the pads silicone (rubber) or some type of fabric? Does the bearing spin okay?
It’s a bit hard to know what you are describing, but inconsistency in how cleanly the yo-yo spins is most likely due to needing to practice your forward throw and just get it more consistent. I remember that it took me a while to learn a consistent throw and I would have tons of wobbly ones. Now that I have the muscle memory, I can’t get a wobbly throw, even if I try! I still have some cleaner throws and some messier ones though. I think everyone does.
Is the yo-yo spinning okay? The major issue you will have with string wearing out is that the yo-yo will come back when you don’t want it to, or it won’t sleep. (Or the opposite and it won’t respond at all.)— That said, looping yo-yos are often set up to be VERY responsive and some people prefer that they don’t really sleep at all. That gives them a really snappy return on the loop de loop.
I could be totally wrong and I hope that I am. I’m just going off of some comments I’ve seen online over the last year - no personal experience.
@VenomWolf if you are going to get some string, you may as well grab another beginner yo-yo just to give yourself some variety and experience how a different design plays. There’s a reason that most of us end up with substantial collections. Every yo-yo feels different in play. It is both a wonderful and financially detrimental journey.
The bearing is fine, the pads feel like some sort of rubber or silicon. Sometimes the yoyo seems to lean to one side but it could be the throw like you said.
Well I guess I could add the Whip cause that one is really cheap, plus maybe two different kinds of string
Cool cool, I have a ton of bearings and pads. Maybe I’ll reach out later and see about sending you some parts for the Whip, that way you can change the setup later if you want. 
This sounds like a torsion issue, which is often referred to as “tension”. The YYT site has a video titled “String Tension Introduction” that covers how this works and what to do about it.
A string with a lot of torsion/tension in a narrow-gapped yo-yo intended for looping tricks would be very prone to string snags and other hassles.
Torsion has to be constantly managed in any yo-yo, but for learning non-looping tricks, I would recommend a non-looping yo-yo.