well there’s your first mistake. ambidexterity should be everyone’s top priority at age 5. where were you?
2 Likes
i used to use bulk poly and just swap string after a few days of play or if it was feeling frayed and or spent. I found it wears on my fingers hard and had a lot of string burns, cuts, etc. after switching to 100% nylon, I found I can get at least a year out of one string and its smooth and not irritating my fingers. but i only play like 15 minutes or so a day on average.
1 Like
Dang that’s where I went wrong I put all points into charisma and all I can do is chatter and gab
1 Like
Depends on the string. Some zipline strings are practically invincible (such as airtec and executive), whereas bulk poly string lasts around 4 hours for me at most. I just replace it when tensioning starts to behave strangely or when the string becomes frayed and uncomfortable.
3 Likes
Sadly, I was never five years old
When I was four years old, my dad came home one day happy as heck
He told my mom that not only had he been promoted as joint Commander of the quadrants air wing, but they gave him an entire briefcase full of dilithium crystals.
An opening came up in the Orion quadrant. They told my dad if he took that position in a transfer, that they would allow him to put the dilithium crystals in his craft. This would allow him the Necessary propulsion and distance to reach what our people considered a vacation spot, at the time.
My dad‘s actually a pretty good craft operator. But because of the meteor showers and a total solar eclipse in the entire galaxy, my dad‘s craft got sidetracked into a parallel gateway.
As we went in and out of a parallel dimension, we actually lost a year. So when we came out on the other side, I was already six years old. Even though it only seemed like a day travel. I went from four years old to six years old… Just like that.
So that’s exactly where I was at approximately the time I would’ve been five years old.
I wish I had a better explanation, but I’ve always been told that the truth will set you free.
So there you go
2 Likes
Would someone mind explaining how they wash their strings? (Any cleaning agents, etc)
How often should it be done?
And the effect it has on the string itself? (Does it reduce fraying, clear colour, regain whippiness?)
I’ve used a zipline skyline III and it lasted me around a month before it started turning my throws responsive, I threw it out (regretfully) would washing that have helped?
Currently I just used bulk poly and I play for maybe 30 mins to an hour and a half everyday. I replace my string as need when I see fraying and I start having to force hooks really hard. Normally this is after a week or two (I change yoyos really frequently so it evens the weather between them).
as often as you would change it. put it in a pants pocket when you do laundry
it does not reduce fray. it will make it look less dingy and restore a small amount of bounce. it won’t be like brand new. if you like the feel of new string it’s not worth it, but it will get you further down the road if you just wanna get all you can out of it
again, maybe a bit but i don’t wanna sell it to you as a magic reset, it isn’t that. but it’ll def freshen it up, brighten it up, and get you a couple more weeks out of it
also, I’ve found it really doesn’t have much of an effect on poly and poly heavy blends. it’s most effective vs nylon
having said all this, the biggest caveat is i like new string. if you play string way longer you will get more mileage from washing
2 Likes
every session= new string
grab new yoyo to use= new string
If i yoyo for 2 hour and change yoyo 4 times, math say 5 strings. if string dont feel new, new one go on
sometime i am like crack addict and i decide to taste many many yoyos back 2 back from collection, can burn through 20 strings very fast like this
6 Likes
i have too many yoyos to keep strings on all of them, now i have an ‘active string’ that i rotate between all my yoyos
i’d say it gets changed out every 2-4 days depending on play time, but i’d say about 5-10 hours of play, I tend to change my strings when the start to noticeably fray or look icky.
or obviously when you get a knot and decide that it isn’t worth it
7 Likes
I’ve considered doing this as there is a lot of benefits with consistency and management, but I couldn’t bring myself to doing it because I like each yoyo having a matching / complementary coloured string
2 Likes
How many is that? 
I think I have about 100 throws on average. I really wish I could say I keep all them strung regularly and change them often.
I never buy a throw I don’t throw, I collect, but I DO throw them all. my process is pretty.. organic?
I’ll pick up throws periodically. When their strings do that very unappealing unwindy thing (UUT, it’s a technical term), I just toss em. I used to save them. Tried washing them, tried different additives. Someone told me to take old strings, put em in a container that’ll allow water in, and toss it in the washing machine. Wanna know what happens when you empty it through? I’m knot telling. 
2 Likes
To echo some others - so many factors go into this decision: play style, player level/skill/ability, string material(s), cleanliness of hands/habitat/environment when playing, yo-yo setup (gap, response, even bearing and yo-yo material type can come into play), then there’s personal preference (visible: fraying, torsion issues, audible: snap/whip sounds, and even tactile: rough, snaggy, laggy).
Nylon will last longer, but costs more upfront. It can also be more readily ‘revived’ in the wash (pants pocket or a small delicates bag). Quality string costs more, but you usually get what you pay for in life.
It’s funny how much money can be spent on a yo-yo while the string is an after thought at best for most people. Although somewhat biased (given who we are), buying some quality string from different makers can provide an insight into what you like and what you don’t.
4 Likes
How often do I change my string?
Under normal circumstances, I swap it the moment it starts feeling sluggish, fuzzy, or otherwise disrespectful to my precision. Most strings eventually fray, wear out, or simply give up under the relentless abuse of a mechanical skull-faced revenant with glowing eyes and questionable restraint.
But if we’re talking Throw-Yo strings and they practically last forever?
Then I’d never have to change a thing. Why would I? An eternal filament that endures my torque, my wrath, and every ill-advised speed combo? Perfect. I’d keep the same one until the universe collapses…
…or until I get bored and replace it purely for dramatic effect.
1 Like