Sorry for coming in late:
First: What are you using? Hard to say what to upgrade from if we don’t know what you’re using.
Second: Working on your throw is the best upgrade you can get in order to get better. I found this to be my biggest upgrade was just throwing better. My throws gradually improved from 25 seconds to over 2 minutes, to over 5 minutes. However, on a throw and sleep, it’s not a good utilization of my time. This is more a measure of your throw and equipment. Spin on a throw is different than spin times when you’re actually playing the yoyo.
Third: A clean bearing can be an amazing upgrade. This can be as simple as properly cleaning out your existing bearing. Depending on your skill level here, this can be a major improvement with little to no cost. Sometimes you do need a new bearing. One thing is that I’m not saying stick with flat bearings only, but consider that a bad throw on a great bearing in an amazing yoyo is a bad throw on a great bearing in an amazing yoyo and isn’t going to help you. A centered string on a bad throw doesn’t do much for you.
After that, I find that the V-shapes give a more generous catch zone. More rim weight helps with stability and long spin times, but only if it’s a straight, strong throw. But, there’s also amazing H-shapes, such as the Royale.
Don’t let cost be a factor in determining good or not. The Classic with upgraded response and bearing becomes awesome fast. People are regularly competing with the $35 Protostar and don’t forget 1A for Worlds in 2010 was won with a $35 Northstar. These days there are some amazing low-cost metals, some of which are available at YYE, some you have to go elsewhere for. But if low-cost/affordable metals are what you are after, might I suggest God Tricks and the C3 Capless and DiBase?
Spending a lot on a yoyo won’t make you a better player. Having a good yoyo can certainly help, I won’t deny that. Without the skill to back it up, you’re just playing an expensive yoyo. I love my Anglam, it’s one of my favorites, followed by my Phenom. But, I can still be happy and as “productive” with a Classic with a wider bearing and a siliconed response. I still play my DM2 nearly daily.
Evaluate everything before you run out to spend your money. YYE will take your money and they will sell you a great yoyo. While I’m not a YYE employee, I do know they want you happy. However, until you throw it and find out for yourself if you actually like it or not, there’s no way of knowing. For me, I have preferences but I have stuff all over the place as far as size, weight, width and whatever. I am usually pretty easy to please. I still research before I buy.
With that in mind, I am about to order a Model 10, Al5 and a Baracuda. I’ve played all but the Model 10 so I know 2 out of 2 I’m gonna like. I also feel the Model 10 will be a good fit as well. I am spreading the purchases around. I like the YYE Baracuda colorway so I’m getting that here. The other two I’m going to keep where I’m going to buy those to myself.