# Getting started in 5A

**URL:** <https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/getting-started-in-5a/301899>\
**Category:** Looking for Help/Recommendation\
**Created:** [May 3, 2019, 12:41am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/getting-started-in-5a/301899 "2019-05-03T00:41:30Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![shatterFX](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/shatterfx/32/66476_2.png) [@shatterFX](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/shatterFX)\
**Post date:** [May 3, 2019, 12:41am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/getting-started-in-5a/301899/1 "2019-05-03T00:41:30Z")

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So it’s 5A May, and now that I’ve been throwing almost a year I want to give it a try, but I have a couple questions:

1. Should I buy an actual counterweight? Or does a die with a hole drilled through work just fine?
2. Should I use a heavier or lighter yoyo?
3. Should I shorten my string from what I typically use for 1A?

Thank you!

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**Author:** ![andy569](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/andy569/32/1256_2.png) [@andy569](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/andy569)\
**Post date:** [May 3, 2019, 12:45am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/getting-started-in-5a/301899/2 "2019-05-03T00:45:48Z")

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1. A standard counterweight is basically a die with a hole drilled through it anyway.

2. Depends on the weight of your counterweight. If your counterweight is heavy you want a heavier yoyo, if it’s lighter, you want a lighter yoyo. As for the style itself, I definitely prefer something on the moderate-heavy side. For a standard dice counterweight, I think a 66-67g yoyo is best. It’s not that big of a deal though.

3. I would say shorter than 1a for sure. Especially since many people use string that is too long for 1a nowadays. You also won’t be doing very technical tricks that require a longer string for a while anyways. Somewhere from waist to belly button length should be good.

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**Author:** ![shatterFX](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/shatterfx/32/66476_2.png) [@shatterFX](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/shatterFX)\
**Post date:** [May 3, 2019, 12:48am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/getting-started-in-5a/301899/3 "2019-05-03T00:48:24Z")

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That was fast - thanks @andy569!