# Freehand fanatics
**URL:** https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/freehand-fanatics/416955
**Category:** General Yo-Yo
**Created:** [January 11, 2025, 3:34pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/freehand-fanatics/416955 "2025-01-11T15:34:59Z")
**Posts on this page:** 17
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Splizacular](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Splizacular)
#### Post date: [January 11, 2025, 3:34pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/freehand-fanatics/416955/1 "2025-01-11T15:34:59Z")
gonna start my 5a journey in earnest this weekend. dont have an “official” cw but i drilled a d6 and d20 so between the two that should total that 10g-11g range and I’ve got them on a rebirth
any of you 5a junkies have any initial thoughts or tips?
also i know yotricks has a 5a tut playlist, but id like to hear any other suggestions anyone has for learning resources. tia!
---
### Author:  [@SlowThrow](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/SlowThrow)
#### Post date: [January 11, 2025, 3:49pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/freehand-fanatics/416955/2 "2025-01-11T15:49:59Z")
Use plastic yo-yos 😭:joy:
Coming from an ABSOLUTE amature lol
---
### Author:  [@Snoopy](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Snoopy)
#### Post date: [January 11, 2025, 3:51pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/freehand-fanatics/416955/3 "2025-01-11T15:51:22Z")
I’ve got my Yeti 2.0 rigged for 5A, I’ve been beating the heck out of it.
---
### Author:  [@Zephyre](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Zephyre)
#### Post date: [January 11, 2025, 3:53pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/freehand-fanatics/416955/4 "2025-01-11T15:53:12Z")
You should definitely check out this channel if you haven’t already. Also yes use plastic yo-yos lol
> **[Freehand Yo-Yo Tutorials](https://www.youtube.com/@freehandyoyotutorials?si=U63nG5WpDtRHM6dp)**
>
> Freehand yo-yoing is similar to traditional yo-yoing in all but one way. Instead of tying the string to your finger in the usual fashion, you attach the string to a weighted die or other object, called a counterweight, and then hold this in your...
---
### Author:  [@Splizacular](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Splizacular)
#### Post date: [January 11, 2025, 3:53pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/freehand-fanatics/416955/5 "2025-01-11T15:53:53Z")
i would but I’ve only ever owned one plastic unresponsive, a 1up, but i lent it to a buddy of mine to try to get him bitten by the bug
---
### Author:  [@SlowThrow](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/SlowThrow)
#### Post date: [January 11, 2025, 3:55pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/freehand-fanatics/416955/6 "2025-01-11T15:55:01Z")
I’m telling ya, metal throws will DESTROY your knuckles lol, I would seriously consider finding a plastic to start this
There is probably technique to avoid this, but I just go at it, I haven’t watched any 5a tuts
---
### Author:  [@Splizacular](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Splizacular)
#### Post date: [January 11, 2025, 3:59pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/freehand-fanatics/416955/7 "2025-01-11T15:59:43Z")
> [@SlowThrow](#):
>
> metal throws will DESTROY your knuckles
we’ll call that strong motivation to git gud 🤣 nah but i do actually wanna get a fh1, but im also a man with absolutely zero patience. instant gratification ftw! so when i set my mind on something, it’s just gonna happen. so until i get a plastic ill stubbornly work through the pain 😬
---
### Author:  [@SlowThrow](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/SlowThrow)
#### Post date: [January 11, 2025, 4:00pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/freehand-fanatics/416955/8 "2025-01-11T16:00:10Z")
That’s the spirit!!
You have passed your first test.
---
### Author:  [@SlowThrow](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/SlowThrow)
#### Post date: [January 11, 2025, 4:29pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/freehand-fanatics/416955/9 "2025-01-11T16:29:44Z")
Just caught my first 360, thanks!
Question for actual 5a players: do you tend to use a longer string with a counter weight, or do you stick with the “up to your belly button” adage?
---
### Author:  [@Nic\_from\_Adelaide](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Nic_from_Adelaide)
#### Post date: [January 11, 2025, 10:36pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/freehand-fanatics/416955/10 "2025-01-11T22:36:28Z")
Even shorter than that will give you better control.
I love throwing 5A with string long enough for Meteor Hammer moves but it does get in the way most of the time.
---
### Author:  [@spin-clicker](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/spin-clicker)
#### Post date: [January 11, 2025, 11:03pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/freehand-fanatics/416955/11 "2025-01-11T23:03:34Z")
Here are some more tutorials 🙂
[Miguel Correa’s 5A tutorial series](https://m.youtube.com/@themiggymigs/playlists) is really good and is what I watched when I first started playing 5A.
Here’s “Level 1” out of 5
https://www.youtube.com/embed/videoseries?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque&list=PL72BF8D6B467E2CF7
Josh Yee’s 5A Essentials playlist is also very helpful.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/videoseries?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque&list=PLDAgWD0oZsfooJnJeZo76cWDf-He2c4Eo
Also, for counterweights, one hack is to cut an eraser in half (or to the weight you want) and use a drill or pen to make a hole through it. It doesn’t hurt that much when it hits your hands. 🙂
---
### Author:  [@EOS44](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/EOS44)
#### Post date: [January 12, 2025, 12:20am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/freehand-fanatics/416955/12 "2025-01-12T00:20:45Z")
the list is a lil outdated but this will help you!
> [@Every 5A tutorial source on the internet](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/every-5a-tutorial-source-on-the-internet/319313):
>
> X-Divisions are usually eclipsed by the popularity and accesibility of 1A, so any player who decides to take any X-Division seriously is a good thing. In the spirit of 5A May and the ending of the counterweight patent, let’s compile every source of 5A information there is in this thread for everyone who decides to learn the style. 5A is interesting as a style. It is (of course) not as popular as 1A, hence the lack of material about it compared to 1A stuff. But it is definitely more vast than 3…
---
### Author:  [@SlowThrow](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/SlowThrow)
#### Post date: [January 12, 2025, 1:49am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/freehand-fanatics/416955/13 "2025-01-12T01:49:22Z")
Oh man, I have the PERFECT eraser, off to craft and 5a some more!!
My log has been awesome for getting me into it tho, fwiw
---
### Author:  [@SlowThrow](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/SlowThrow)
#### Post date: [January 12, 2025, 1:50am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/freehand-fanatics/416955/14 "2025-01-12T01:50:44Z")
I have been liking it long so I can wrap it around my hand for the throw, but it is kinda fiddly, when I use a standard length now if feels more composed
---
### Author:  [@SlowThrow](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/SlowThrow)
#### Post date: [January 12, 2025, 3:38am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/freehand-fanatics/416955/15 "2025-01-12T03:38:54Z")
Oh man these feel great, thank you for the tip!
I used a sharp knife to cut them down to roughly 10g, I already forget the exact weight, but the vita gum I got to 9.99 lol, I was shooting for 10 on the nose. I made another to match the weight of my log, 9.23g, and another just over 11g
I cut notches in them so I can take them on and off with just using a slip knot
---
### Author:  [@numo](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/numo)
#### Post date: [January 12, 2025, 4:27am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/freehand-fanatics/416955/16 "2025-01-12T04:27:43Z")
For 5a string length I typically go to around belt buckle height (with some wiggle room, depending on how the counterweight is going to be attached). I used to use longer, but finally took the advice of some other freehand throws and shortened my string. Much more consistent and better control.
---
### Author:  [@Kalic00](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Kalic00)
#### Post date: [January 12, 2025, 4:29pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/freehand-fanatics/416955/17 "2025-01-12T16:29:59Z")
1a ill use whatever, but for 5a ive gotta have 95cm from tip of string to bottom of cw. It makes it so much easier to stay consistent when you have a consistent string length, and 95cm is my personal sweet spot. Its significantly shorter than my usual 1a string.
Also a note about erasers and other soft cws. They wont hurt if they hit you, but when they hit the yoyo they have a tendency to catch and kill your spin and get tangled. Its fine for most things, but if you get into more techy 5a it can be a pain 😭
Still love my gummy weights to death tho