Excited to present Seth McNeeley of Turner Return Tops today!! An incredible thrower, and overall great guy!!
Enjoy!!!
What got you into throwing, how did you find the hobby?
A family friend gifted me a Yomega Brain for Christmas in 1998. Up until that point, I thought yoyos just went up and down. I had no idea they could “sleep”. The family friend showed me how the brain could not only sleep, but it came back automatically. I became obsessed. I threw sleeper after sleeper, trying my hardest to make each one longer than the last. Then I scoured the “trick book” that came with the brain and learned every trick in it, except brain twister. That was a trick for the pros. There was no way I would EVER be able to do it, and I was totally cool with that. Completely content with my rock-the-babies and around-the-worlds.
Then, in 7th grade (1999/2000), we had a skill toy demonstration come to our school. They showed us juggling, hacky sack, and of course, yoyo. I was enthralled. The demonstrators were incredible. And they did this amazing trick that I knew I had to master, “the man on the flying trapeze”. By now, I had accumulated a couple more yoyos, so I ran home and dug out my best one, a glow in the dark Fireball with translucent red caps. I spent HOURS trying to get trapeze. I had no concept of a breakaway, so I was attempting it from a forward pass. I finally got it to land on the string once or twice, enough that I was able to show my mom. I was stoked, to say the least.
This was all back before the internet was in everyone’s pocket. You had to learn tricks from the books that came with your yoyos or from friends. Eventually, I lost my yoyos and other hobbies like skateboarding and video games took priority.
20 years later, in March 2020, the very beginning of the pandemic, I’m watching Pewdiepie with my girl, and he pulls out none other than his childhood fireball. I had just received a call that work would be closed for at least 2 weeks (it ended up being like 3 months) due to Covid. Knowing we’d need some entertainment, I asked my girl to order us both a fireball.
The fireballs came. I was beyond stoked to find that I could still perform every single trick from my childhood. What I was even more stoked to discover, was how every problem I had that day seemed nonexistent when I threw the yoyo. I had rediscovered my favorite meditation, although, I didn’t realize it was meditation.
I knew if I wanted to get better, I was going to need a better yoyo. So I got online and ordered a nice “butterfly” shaped yoyo with a slim bearing and a wide bearing, and started watching tutorials. That’s when I knew, for sure, that this was something I wanted to commit some serious time and energy to.
What is your goal in 2025 for yourself? Yo-yo or not
Man, I have so many… To keep posting videos. To get more people interested in the hobby. I’m really hoping to start a local yoyo club, if I can get enough interest.
If you could only have one yo-yo for the rest of your life what would it be?
That’s an impossible question to answer! If I had to pick just one, it would have to be something that plays well in different setups. I really need something that can do unresponsive and responsive/fixie. I think the G2xYYBC Workhorse fits the bill. It is genuinely my favorite responsive throw at the moment, and it plays well with a blank, if you’re feeling fixie, or add a wide bearing and some weight rings and you got yourself a fantastic little slimline unresponsive.
I shudder to imagine being stuck with only one yoyo, but yeah, if I HAD to, Workhorse is the one.
What trick are you working on currently?
I’m not working on any specific trick, but I’m always trying to figure out new ways to incorporate fixie tricks into my unresponsive play. I’ve really been enjoying varials lately and how to do them from different mounts/stalls.
What’s the trick that gives you the hardest time?
Rancid milk. I really need to take the time to learn it all the way through
What’s your favorite trick?
I don’t know if I have a single favorite trick. Picking favorites was never my strong suit, as it changes all the time. I really enjoy towers and triangles though. And stalls and flips. And whips and slacks…
Oh! Wait! Yuuki slack! Yuuki slack is my favorite trick. I can’t do it very well, but it is just the coolest looking trick, imo.
What’s your favorite yo-yo of all time?
My favorite yoyo of all time is The End II, Flying lemon, Cenote, Isthmus, Bathysphere, Operator, Workhorse, Blood Cell, Bolt XP, Duncan Wheel (fixed axle)… the list goes on
What’s the most meaningful throw you have?
Right now, I think I would call my Spinworthy purple heart unresponsive my most meaningful throw.
What’s your worst habit with yo-yos?
Not learning other people’s tricks. I used to watch tutorials and learn other peoples tricks, but once I had enough base knowledge and skill to start discovering tricks on my own, tutorials became tedious and difficult to give my attention to. Hence why I can’t do rancid milk lol.
What’s kind of things are you into outside of yo-yos?
Most of my free time outside of yoyo goes to dadding these days, but I really enjoy playing music (guitar and drums, mostly) and writing songs, bushcraft, skateboarding, wood carving, art in general, mountain biking, bmx, target shooting, throwing knives…. There’s probably more that I can’t think of.
What song best fits your personality?
Favorite restaurant and order?
Hmmmm I can’t remember the name of the restaurant, but it’s a little Italian place in Burlington, Wisconsin. They have the best lasagna I have ever tried in my life. I’d have to say that’s my favorite restaurant and order.
Of course, you can’t go wrong with pizza
Favorite movie and or Book?
Movie: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles- the first one
Book: Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides
What does yo-yo’ing mean to you?
One word: Community
Yoyoing is fun, but the community is what makes it really special to me.
What’s your favorite memory from your time in the hobby ?
Right now? Probably when I got the message from Bruce that they wanted me to join Team TRT.
There are many other great memories and I can’t wait to see the ones I have yet to make!
How has the community changed since you started? Where do you want it to go?
I’ve only been a part of the community for a few years, so I wouldn’t say it’s changed much in that time. It seems like the community is growing though, and obviously, we all want that. I’d like to see more people discover their love for this wonderful little toy.
If you never picked up a yo-yo - what would things look like now?
Bleak-I can’t picture life without yoyo. I’ve found so many amazing friends and learned so much about myself through this hobby. I like to think I would pick up a yoyo in every possible timeline.
Advice/ words of wisdom to new players?
Don’t compare yourself to anyone except yourself. If you’re worried about who is better than you, you’ll drive yourself crazy. If you just try to get better than you were yesterday, progress comes naturally.
Whats you want to tell the world?
You’re perfect. Every “mistake” is just a lesson to be learned. There are no mistakes. Everything you do, every choice you make, leads you to where you’re going. Treat everyone with respect and kindness. We’re all struggling in one way or another, so give each other a break. The world will be a better place when we all realize that.
I love you ALL and I’m here for anyone that needs me. Just reach out. I will always do everything I can to help anyone I can