# Best yoyos to START learning counterwieght with?
**URL:** https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/best-yoyos-to-start-learning-counterwieght-with/50763
**Category:** Looking for Help/Recommendation
**Created:** [March 13, 2013, 7:43pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/best-yoyos-to-start-learning-counterwieght-with/50763 "2013-03-13T19:43:53Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@gart](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/gart)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2013, 7:43pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/best-yoyos-to-start-learning-counterwieght-with/50763/1 "2013-03-13T19:43:53Z")
Im thinking maybe the duncan freehand? But i literally know nothing about counterweight. Price point doesnt really matter because i figure if i want to get good ill probably end up buying a bunch of em for fun anyways haha
EDIT: Probably should add that i already know a good bit of 1a play 😛
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### Author:  [@phil\_the\_lizard](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/phil_the_lizard)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2013, 8:04pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/best-yoyos-to-start-learning-counterwieght-with/50763/2 "2013-03-13T20:04:15Z")
I know almost nothing about cw, but why not consider a yyj pinnacle?
It is really cheap and comes with a counter weight, but can also do 1a unresponsive. Just a thought.
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### Author:  [@Bcmaddog](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Bcmaddog)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2013, 8:21pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/best-yoyos-to-start-learning-counterwieght-with/50763/3 "2013-03-13T20:21:33Z")
For a start: Heavy yoyos are the best for 5a.
I don’t think you will have much luck learning 5a with a FH0 unless you make it unresponsive.
You really do not want a responsive 5a yoyo.
Why not use your own yoyos and but a CW?
Can you list your heaviest yoyos? Plastic is preferred for beginner 5a.
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### Author:  [@CaliBuddha](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/CaliBuddha)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2013, 8:58pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/best-yoyos-to-start-learning-counterwieght-with/50763/4 "2013-03-13T20:58:55Z")
I started with a FH2 and an OG SpinFaktor.
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### Author:  [@xmotoby](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/xmotoby)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2013, 9:46pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/best-yoyos-to-start-learning-counterwieght-with/50763/5 "2013-03-13T21:46:53Z")
I used a Protostar to start with, and I still use it. I would start with a light, plastic yoyo that you don’t really care about dinging up.
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### Author:  [@anonyo](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/anonyo)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2013, 9:51pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/best-yoyos-to-start-learning-counterwieght-with/50763/6 "2013-03-13T21:51:51Z")
> [@gart](#):
>
> Im thinking maybe the duncan freehand? But i literally know nothing about counterweight. Price point doesnt really matter because i figure if i want to get good ill probably end up buying a bunch of em for fun anyways haha
>
> EDIT: Probably should add that i already know a good bit of 1a play 😛
It really depends on what you like and want to use and want to spend.
If you want to go cheap, a FH2 or Freakhand with a cleaned bearing is a nice cheap start. I cleaned out the bearings in mine and the went full unresponsivie. At under $15 usually, these are good way to go. The Metal Drifter, when the bearing is properly cleaned, also goes dead unresponsive, is all metal and around $20-25 or so. Metal isn’t the best way to go when learning 5A though but the Metal Drifter is cheap enough to not have to care about.
The FHZ is another CW-oriented yoyo, but I find that stock it’s not so hot but it includes CW’s.
I found the YYJ Pinnacle to just not be weighted properly for me, but as a 5A package, it’s pretty decent, it just wasn’t a good fit for me. I upgraded to the Destiny and I’ve been super pleased. I think the Destiny weighs less than the Pinnacle, but due to how it’s weighted, it feels heavier and plays a lot better in my experience.
The Classic is a pretty decent model, just use a C bearing and and the CW of your choice and you’re done. Other YYJ models you can just add a CW to and get going I’d say would be the Legacy II and DM2. I think even the Vexed would be good too. The Duncan CW kit works just fine and I like the bouncy ball CW. The Takeshi dice is nice too.
There’s loads of other great stuff to learn 5A with. The stackless Grind Machine is a good one too.
I just recommend PLASTIC for getting started. Mostly due to durability and resistances to dings and nicks, as well as less cost. You’re gonna drop it a lot, so just get used to it.
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### Author:  [@Bcmaddog](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Bcmaddog)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2013, 9:56pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/best-yoyos-to-start-learning-counterwieght-with/50763/7 "2013-03-13T21:56:54Z")
> [@Studio42](#):
>
> > [@gart](#):
> >
> > Im thinking maybe the duncan freehand? But i literally know nothing about counterweight. Price point doesnt really matter because i figure if i want to get good ill probably end up buying a bunch of em for fun anyways haha
> >
> > EDIT: Probably should add that i already know a good bit of 1a play 😛
>
> It really depends on what you like and want to use and want to spend.
>
> If you want to go cheap, a FH2 or Freakhand with a cleaned bearing is a nice cheap start. I cleaned out the bearings in mine and the went full unresponsivie. At under $15 usually, these are good way to go. The Metal Drifter, when the bearing is properly cleaned, also goes dead unresponsive, is all metal and around $20-25 or so. Metal isn’t the best way to go when learning 5A though but the Metal Drifter is cheap enough to not have to care about.
>
> The FHZ is another CW-oriented yoyo, but I find that stock it’s not so hot but it includes CW’s.
>
> I found the YYJ Pinnacle to just not be weighted properly for me, but as a 5A package, it’s pretty decent, it just wasn’t a good fit for me. I upgraded to the Destiny and I’ve been super pleased. I think the Destiny weighs less than the Pinnacle, but due to how it’s weighted, it feels heavier and plays a lot better in my experience.
>
> The Classic is a pretty decent model, just use a C bearing and and the CW of your choice and you’re done. Other YYJ models you can just add a CW to and get going I’d say would be the Legacy II and DM2. I think even the Vexed would be good too. The Duncan CW kit works just fine and I like the bouncy ball CW. The Takeshi dice is nice too.
>
> There’s loads of other great stuff to learn 5A with. The stackless Grind Machine is a good one too.
>
> I just recommend PLASTIC for getting started. Mostly due to durability and resistances to dings and nicks, as well as less cost. You’re gonna drop it a lot, so just get used to it.
I used the PGM to start, but the Classic, and Metal Drifter sound good.
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### Author:  [@DrAwesome](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/DrAwesome)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2013, 10:18pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/best-yoyos-to-start-learning-counterwieght-with/50763/8 "2013-03-13T22:18:10Z")
The counter attack is nice. It’s heavy and has a good shape for 5a or at least I think it does
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### Author:  [@augmentedloyalty](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/augmentedloyalty)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2013, 10:36pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/best-yoyos-to-start-learning-counterwieght-with/50763/9 "2013-03-13T22:36:29Z")
Yyj destiny, yyf genesis, MMYY N9, light up or cyclon Duncan fhz. Just to name a few
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### Author:  [@TTTYo](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/TTTYo)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2013, 11:25pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/best-yoyos-to-start-learning-counterwieght-with/50763/10 "2013-03-13T23:25:12Z")
Something that is very easily replaceable because of the never ending amount of dings that will occur.
A protostar is a nice choice. Also a lot of the Magic Yoyo brand is good to start learning 5A with.
Good luck!
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### Author:  [@yooldman](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/yooldman)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2013, 11:31pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/best-yoyos-to-start-learning-counterwieght-with/50763/11 "2013-03-13T23:31:23Z")
What, no love for the Die-Nasty?
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### Author:  [@supbreh1234](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/supbreh1234)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2013, 11:34pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/best-yoyos-to-start-learning-counterwieght-with/50763/12 "2013-03-13T23:34:15Z")
Any of the stars.
Preferably proto/northstar.
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### Author:  [@gart](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/gart)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2013, 11:38pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/best-yoyos-to-start-learning-counterwieght-with/50763/13 "2013-03-13T23:38:12Z")
I actually already own a classic with a one drop Bearing and flowable in it (very unresponsive). So just throw a counter weight on and that’s a good starting point?
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### Author:  [@supbreh1234](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/supbreh1234)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2013, 11:40pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/best-yoyos-to-start-learning-counterwieght-with/50763/14 "2013-03-13T23:40:50Z")
> [@gart](#):
>
> I actually already own a classic with a one drop Bearing and flowable in it (very unresponsive). So just throw a counter weight on and that’s a good starting point?
YES! Ive seen some people even compete with that setup!
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### Author:  [@Bcmaddog](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Bcmaddog)
#### Post date: [March 14, 2013, 12:06am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/best-yoyos-to-start-learning-counterwieght-with/50763/15 "2013-03-14T00:06:28Z")
> [@gart](#):
>
> I actually already own a classic with a one drop Bearing and flowable in it (very unresponsive). So just throw a counter weight on and that’s a good starting point?
Any yoyo have that you do not want to hurt. And feels comfortable.
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### Author:  [@JamesMay](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/JamesMay)
#### Post date: [March 14, 2013, 5:17am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/best-yoyos-to-start-learning-counterwieght-with/50763/16 "2013-03-14T05:17:19Z")
Start with a plastic for sure! You will destroy your knuckles. Once you are comfortable, any 1a yoyo will work.
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### Author:  [@anonyo](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/anonyo)
#### Post date: [March 14, 2013, 7:58am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/best-yoyos-to-start-learning-counterwieght-with/50763/17 "2013-03-14T07:58:20Z")
> [@gart](#):
>
> I actually already own a classic with a one drop Bearing and flowable in it (very unresponsive). So just throw a counter weight on and that’s a good starting point?
I don’t think I’d hesitate to recommend that combination. I’m planning on doing that myself. I think I may pick up one at a nearby store this weekend if I’m there just for setting it up for 5A for a trip I’m going to take and maybe leave my Destiny at home.
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### Author:  [@Bcmaddog](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Bcmaddog)
#### Post date: [March 15, 2013, 1:38pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/best-yoyos-to-start-learning-counterwieght-with/50763/18 "2013-03-15T13:38:28Z")
> [@Studio42](#):
>
> > [@gart](#):
> >
> > I actually already own a classic with a one drop Bearing and flowable in it (very unresponsive). So just throw a counter weight on and that’s a good starting point?
>
> I don’t think I’d hesitate to recommend that combination.
Of course you wouldn’t, your a classic fan.
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### Author:  [@mgodinez](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/mgodinez)
#### Post date: [March 15, 2013, 5:11pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/best-yoyos-to-start-learning-counterwieght-with/50763/19 "2013-03-15T17:11:06Z")
anythin’ recommended by steve brown 🙂
i don’t 5a all that well - i only do a few tricks. however, i have counterweights on all my yo yos. partly cause it’s nice to have the option to 5a if i want to. and i get tired of the slip knot…i’m lazy that way.
i think it depends on your style and/or interpretation of 5a play, mostly. personally, i like heavier, wide’ish, compact yo yos - w/ a light counterweight. i feel like it helps me whip the cw around, if i have to…instead of havin’ it just die on me.
lastly, whatever you decide to get…expect it to get dinged.
mgodinez
light rain…
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### Author:  [@MYNAMEISZen](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/MYNAMEISZen)
#### Post date: [March 15, 2013, 5:19pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/best-yoyos-to-start-learning-counterwieght-with/50763/20 "2013-03-15T17:19:27Z")
I think yoyos shaped like die nasty 888 DNA Canvas (not specifically this throws) are good for 5a
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