# Centertrac, flat, ceramic, gold: what's up with those bearings?

**URL:** <https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/centertrac-flat-ceramic-gold-whats-up-with-those-bearings/293197>\
**Category:** Yo-Yo Mods and Maintenance\
**Created:** [September 19, 2018, 6:01pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/centertrac-flat-ceramic-gold-whats-up-with-those-bearings/293197 "2018-09-19T18:01:13Z")\
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**Author:** ![codinghorror](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/codinghorror/32/8052_2.png) [@codinghorror](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/codinghorror)\
**Post date:** [September 19, 2018, 11:53pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/centertrac-flat-ceramic-gold-whats-up-with-those-bearings/293197/6 "2018-09-19T23:53:25Z")

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There is a related topic on different types of concave bearings

> [@History of / differences between different concave bearings?](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/history-of-differences-between-different-concave-bearings/290973):
>
> OK so there are a variety of concave bearing shapes: obviously, pure smooth concave, the “O” of bearing shapes if you will concave but with a center channel indent for the string angled down to the middle, the “V” of bearing shapes if you will the most common type: flat in the center, but the sides angle up, the “H” of bearing shapes if you will. I’d say 80% of the “concave” bearings I encounter are this type the least common type, a combination of V and H, angled steps …

My strong pref is for a fairly strong concave bearing, because I suck, and my throws on a flat bearing may end up on the far right or left sides dragging against the response pads. :wink: The counter argument to that is when you do lots of string layering tricks, a flat bearing gives more room for the string to naturally spread out more.

I agree with @ferrocile that the “groove” or “V” type is a little too extreme, as the string is basically forced into the exact center at all times, so perhaps the best compromise is the “pixel” or “double-straight” type with multiple steps?

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/yoyoexpert1/original/4X/2/d/2/2d28ae377d079e1bd8c85aa7b908df545438edd9.jpeg)

That or pure concave would be my pick.

I do not feel ceramic bearings are worth it at all, because they’re noisier, more fragile, and don’t really offer that much practical improvement over a quality stainless bearing… and they are all flat too. Well I guess the ceramic ball type could have concave stainless outer ring, I suppose, but the full ceramic ones that I’ve seen / used are always flat.

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