so it seems that understanding a yoyo can lead to a deeper appreciation for it. when i first started out last year i approached the gear aspect of buying a yoyo as a linear progression. i also compared all yoyos to all other yoyos and very quickly began to decide i didnt like certain aspects and as a result certain throws. going into this year i began to understand the nuances better and learned about why certain design choices were made or what goal was attempted with a certain design. as a result, i gained a deeper understanding of and appreciation for several throws that i had written off because they “weren’t this or didn’t have that". once i understood their strengths, weaknesses, and intent i was able to find spots in the rotation for them
anyway, i know ppl look at changing/experimenting with diff string and pads but if you have something you haven’t clicked with, it may be worth asking yourself if you truly get it and understand it’s purpose. never know what may start getting much more love than before
Love this perspective on yoyos! There’s nothing wrong with having yoyo preferences, but trying to understand and appreciate the uniqueness of each yoyo makes the hobby very enjoyable imo! Great post!
Playing fixed axle/modern responsive helped me come to a similar mindset. Like you said, realizing each throw has its nuances, getting to know their specific strengths/weaknesses, and playing them and appreciating them each for what they are is eye opening. It makes me appreciate all of my responsive throws now.
I actually have more fun at times with the ones I used to think sucked, because I enjoy the challenge they provide. It’s like they are trainer yoyos that make me better, and when I grab one with less nuances I feel like superman. It’s almost too easy so I go back to the sucky ones (for lack of a better word), for the challenge.
I haven’t really played unresponsives in the last 8 months much at all, so I’ll need to use your wise mindset when I do, as I tended to be a bit prejudice with my unresponsive yoyo choices
This is a really cool attitude towards yo-yos and I wholeheartedly agree with you. Good example I think for me is the cascade. I had been curious about it due to its reputation already but then someone posted a deep dive and went into very specific details about it and this made me want one really badly. Luckily a friend of mine recently traded one to me and I know for a fact that I’m enjoying it far more because of the research that homie did giving me a much more in depth understanding of it.
I started with this mindset the first time I picked up the hobby and I’m restarting with the same mentality. For almost an entire year all I did was practice with responsive throws. I owned two OD that I occasionally would play with to practice binds but it was mostly just to do something different for an hour. I purchased a bunch of Yoyos to give away at church. I don’t have my original 6 Yoyos but I had 2 loopers 2 butterflies and two unresponsive. Tweaking your setup for how you are feeling is so much better to learn before blaming the Yoyo. Sometimes you just need to put one down and give it a break.
I’m restarting pretty much the exact same way as I did last time. I picked a shooting star and a cheat code. I found a skyva 2 I already owned. I have I think 7 different string types to start the journey to find the perfect one for each throw. I’m sure the strings will grow once there are more options available. The only thing I might change this go around is pick up every Yoyo under 23$ so I can find the shapes and weights I liked the most. My two favorites didn’t pass coolness of today’s market.
I think marketing also helps drive the ease of which we blame the device and not ourselves. Between the flashy YouTube videos and even the reviews we leave here in the forums, we just can’t help but be drawn to the next new toy. It’s a hobby and enjoying collecting and playing is part of it. We all want to play every Yoyo. I’ve got 9 sitting in the cart and I just received two. At 43 years old the marketing worked on me. They may be my new favorites ever but it’s not where I would told someone else to start. I didn’t even realize the marketing was getting me to branch out. Same aspect as when I see someone that has been in it for 4 months and wants a 100$ throw. Get 4 cheaper ones in different shapes! I have to do that. That may be because I don’t any stores or clubs to help me bridge that gap. I will buy premium products but it’s hard to say when it’s sight unseen.
