Was looking for help with kickflips and found this thread from 10 years ago, instead of necroing it I wanted to say how helpful it was to watch this video of @Logi hitting 37 kickflips in a row, and I noticed some things.
→ He uses his whole body, knees, and back
→ His throw hand moves/follows the same height of the flipping yoyo.
This second point that I noticed has helped me to become way more consistent. I hadn’t realized that when I flip the yoyo, if my throe hand doesn’t follow it, my throw hand can subtly pull the string and turn the yoyo and loop 90 degrees and make it more difficult to catch.
If you have any additional helpful hints on becoming more consistent with kickflips, post them!
I have literally been practicing kickflip like crazy, trying so hard to not let myself become frustrated, and keep the peace and calm/Zen that also seems to be necessary (for me at least) to land them.
Also, that video is so impressive. A non yoyoer would possibly find DNA to be more impressive, but to a yoyoer, 37 kickflips in a row is like winning the Olympics.
Only tip I can give is stay as cool as a cucumber, because the second I start trying too hard and my blood pressure rises, I fail
Certain setups are definitely easier and I think it is good to point that out, like good to start w easier setups and then move to more difficult. You can kickflip any yoyo tho and I definitely enjoy kickflipping unresponsives (which are usually harder w zero walls). Idk I just mean I don’t think it is best to rely on a specific setup is all.
Some of my tips are
move both hands up and down together and really embrace the way you can move off plane w a dead yoyo like lift up and swing the yoyo forward so the loop falls off on its own almost.
Try to anticipate exactly where you’re going to catch the loop so there is as little poking the loop as possible.
Set the loop on the tip of your finger before the flip.
Loop size is important. Too small and it is just hard to catch. Too big and the loop flys through the air funny and you gotta flip faster w more finesse.
Distance hands are apart also matters a bit like too close and you can’t get a comfy 3d swing. Too far and there is just less control.
Most important thing is to practice them a lot. Def a trick that is possible to get super consistent w though.
Another little thing that took me a long time to realize, make sure you don’t have a trapped loop.
Sometimes when you land in trapeze stall, the string winding around the yoyo will wind over the loop string, if that makes any sense I usually give my yoyo a tiny little roll back and forth to make sure the loop is free and the yoyo can freely roll on the string.
I find they flip way better and are much easier to catch this way. It’s doable with the loop trapped, but harder imo.
Edit: forgot to add, shorter strings give you more wall, which gives you easier stalls and flips.
I agree for normal kickflips but I will say allowing the loop to stay trapped makes double and triples way way way easier. Good thing to think abt for kickflips and all 0a trickaroonis the like sticky loop phenomenon
I wasn’t expecting to see this pop up in my email the other day! I figured I’d hop in and give a few tips on how I think about doing Kickflips, but really those two points you mentioned are the most important things I’d recommend. Here’s a quick video I threw together that will hopefully give a little more insight:
I usually give my yoyo a tiny little roll back and forth to make sure the loop is free and the yoyo can freely roll on the string.