# How does a wider gap width affect play?
**URL:** https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/how-does-a-wider-gap-width-affect-play/384930
**Category:** Looking for Help/Recommendation
**Created:** [September 19, 2023, 7:00pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/how-does-a-wider-gap-width-affect-play/384930 "2023-09-19T19:00:45Z")
**Posts on this page:** 8
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@anon20317427](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/anon20317427)
#### Post date: [September 19, 2023, 7:00pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/how-does-a-wider-gap-width-affect-play/384930/1 "2023-09-19T19:00:45Z")
I currently use a grasshopper 2.0 and have some extra thick string on it, the gap width is 4.5mm and I find that it snags quite easily.
I’m considering getting a hinemosu which has a gap width of 4.89mm.
Does this mean it won’t snag as easily?
---
### Author:  [@bheinz63](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/bheinz63)
#### Post date: [September 19, 2023, 7:13pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/how-does-a-wider-gap-width-affect-play/384930/2 "2023-09-19T19:13:02Z")
generally speakng, wider gaps snag less. they also have less tight binds unless using thicker strings, so there is always a little trade off.
with a little more detail, gap width certainly affects play and snagging, but there are other factors. the pads could be sticking out is one major, and easy one. but things like gap width, shape of the yoyo around the response section, the type of silicone used in the pads, whether the pads are recessed or flush, the type of bearing used, string thickness, string material, string tension and more all affect what whether a yoyo will snag.
---
### Author:  [@theendofcake](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/theendofcake)
#### Post date: [September 19, 2023, 7:14pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/how-does-a-wider-gap-width-affect-play/384930/3 "2023-09-19T19:14:46Z")
backing this up, there are so many factors to what causes snag, changing any of them or reducing as many variables as possible (having the same pads/string for every yoyo) can help though
---
### Author:  [@Yooo](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Yooo)
#### Post date: [September 19, 2023, 7:38pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/how-does-a-wider-gap-width-affect-play/384930/4 "2023-09-19T19:38:42Z")
I would try thinner string maybe. That’s what I do at least. Sometimes when I put fresh silicone on certain yoyos I’ll use the iyoyo slackies thin version at first, they work well when something is feeling a little snaggy. Like everyone said there’s a bunch of variables. I think changing the string is the easiest way to fix it.
---
### Author:  [@anon20317427](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/anon20317427)
#### Post date: [September 19, 2023, 8:07pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/how-does-a-wider-gap-width-affect-play/384930/5 "2023-09-19T20:07:43Z")
Do you recommend any pads to reduce snagging?
I didn’t realise pads made a difference
---
### Author:  [@bheinz63](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/bheinz63)
#### Post date: [September 19, 2023, 8:12pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/how-does-a-wider-gap-width-affect-play/384930/6 "2023-09-19T20:12:00Z")
there are a few pads that I could recommend, but harder rubber is generally less responsive, softer rubber is generally more responsive. duncan uses pretty soft pads, which i personally love.
hkmt has some dark colored, and purposefully hard response pads that yye has at the store here. there are two types, and one is in stock currently.
> **[HKMT Equipment Response Pads](https://shop.yoyoexpert.com/products/hkmt-equipment-response-pads?_pos=1&_sid=66cf4b6a8&_ss=r&variant=15391088279626)**
>
> New Grip-C and Grip-I response pads are released by hkmt equipment. Grip-C is produced by Takumi Hakamata for his off-string yo-yo play. It is made of a harder material with great longevity that offers the ultimate balance between smoothness and...
but i’d really recommend looking into permatex ultra-grey for snag free response, theres a whole thread here devoted to its awesomeness.
> [@Permatex 22074 Ultra Grey for very unresponsive return system](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/permatex-22074-ultra-grey-for-very-unresponsive-return-system/374904):
>
> Hello everyone, First of all thanks to @mable to introduce me to this silicone (which also has better pictures), second sorry for my awful pictures and application I did not used silicone from ages. Let’s start from the beginning: I used to use the Motorsil D while living in Italy, it was a quite good silicone and quite unresponsive also easy to apply, moved in London I had to start use pads cause impossible to find that silicone here. From pads I always felt that I had quite an harsh respon…
---
### Author:  [@bigstupidbees](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/bigstupidbees)
#### Post date: [September 19, 2023, 8:32pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/how-does-a-wider-gap-width-affect-play/384930/7 "2023-09-19T20:32:31Z")
Gonna second the ultra grey recommendation, it basically never snags. Maybe not “never” but I put that stuff on everything and it’s very non-snaggy. Great response :+1::+1:
---
### Author:  [@Shwa](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Shwa)
#### Post date: [September 19, 2023, 9:53pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/how-does-a-wider-gap-width-affect-play/384930/8 "2023-09-19T21:53:12Z")
I will second the string change. Something thinner might play a whole lot better for you… and yes, pads are also very important. If you do change them, make sure to clean up the area pretty good. You can use acetone or alcohol.
That said, I think it’s time for me to try this Ultra Grey!