# How to make a successful prelims routine **URL:** \ **Category:** Yo-Yo Contests, Clubs, and Events\ **Created:** [July 2, 2025, 5:29pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/how-to-make-a-successful-prelims-routine/428553 "2025-07-02T17:29:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DEF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/edb3f5/32.png) [@DEF](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/DEF)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2025, 5:29pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/how-to-make-a-successful-prelims-routine/428553/1 "2025-07-02T17:29:24Z")
I am trying to make a prelims routine to make the finals at small but very competative contests what should I focuss on ---
**Author:** ![fradiger](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/fradiger/32/66850_2.png) [@fradiger](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/fradiger)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2025, 11:58pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/how-to-make-a-successful-prelims-routine/428553/2 "2025-07-02T23:58:08Z")
From watching a decent amount of prelims by now I think the most important thing overall is going clean. When your freestyle is shorter every element you miss counts against you more since it’s a larger percentage of your freestyle. Personally I would optimize in the direction of having less risky elements and instead focus on a prelim that you can consistently hit cleanly. I think the other thing I would say is to not forget to shoot for good evals. Here’s the 1a prelims from the national yoyo contest last weekend: ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/yoyoexpert1/original/4X/0/b/d/0bd20778bb67326f5f24a41057a0637545a6054a.png) Specifically, note how Tey Chang at 19th had a TE score of 42.2, which is higher than the next six people above them placement wise due to a relatively low total eval score of 11.3. So because of a low eval score they miss out on advancing.