I’m looking to get my first yoyo in a while and have narrowed it down to the Shooting Star or the Speedaholic XX responsive. I am mainly looking to get into 1a and basic tricks. I want to stay with responsive for now. I want something that is stable and sleeps for a decent amount of time as well.
I am trying to stay around the $30 price point. I am not sure if I will get into unresponsive later on but from my understanding I could switch the bearing in the Speedaholic XX to be unresponsive but the Shooting Star comes with both.
I am likely suffering from some analysis paralysis as it seems both are comparable and would be very similar. But I wanted to ask before I made a decision.
I think you’ll find nearly a 50/50 divide on that question. I know there’s a tad difference in the finger spin cups and aside from that I feel like the biggest difference to consider is the weight difference. The Speedaholic is heavier. I have had tha Shooting Star for a couple years and I think it’s great, but I’ve always felt a pull to try that heavier Speedaholic.
From what I have been reading, I am leaning towards the Speedaholic XX. I do like the look of it a bit better. I wish I could find a definitive process to convert it from responsive to unresponsive, or even the other way around. I think the main thing that has me considering the shooting star is that it comes with everything for both and there are clear instructions to do so.
This is an easy answer for you. If it comes “responsive” it will be because it has a “narrow” bearing in it and a shorter axle. This allows the halves to be closer together and thus the pads react with the string and you have response. Replace the axle with the next size up and put a standard C bearing in and you’re now unresponsive. These may be terms and instructions that are unfamiliar at present but if you let it be known what you are unsure of then an answer will come.
This is just to reassure you that it’s an easy process on either yo-yo.
I am familiar with the process. I guess I should have been more specific. I was told that to convert the Speedaholic XX responsive to unresponsive that an axle change was not needed, just a bearing. So not sure if they have a way of the longer axle threading further into one half of the yoyo when setup as responsive? It just seemed strange and left a bit of unknown to the process.
I have a Speedaholic XX unresponsive and really like it. I would say it’s a good choice, but you may want to check out something that is convertible out of the box from responsive to unresponsive like the Recess First Base.
I had a Speedaholic XX too at one point but ended up trading it because I found myself picking up the FB more often when I was in the mood for a plastic yoyo. It comes with both bearings in the box and can be swapped from responsive/unresponsive. Only “downside” is no finger spin cups if that’s something you care about.
Shooting Star and SHXX are very similar so if you’re set on one of those I would go with the SS since it comes with both bearing types.
I’d say the info you have is correct as I don’t have an SH to say for sure. Likely they just cut nice deep threads that allow for the same axle to be used without a need to change.
ultimately it has more to do with the bearing posts in that if the posts are short enough that you can put in a half spec and the posts dont touch when you tighten it down, you’re good. going unresponsive is easier cuz you just need to fit a full bearing in and still have enough threads on the axle to securely screw back together
I’ll give you an example to illustrate. i have a one drop panorama i wanted to play responsive sometimes. it’s a side effect yoyo (if you weren’t aware already). if i put a half spec in, the bearing posts touch before the yoyo tightens enough around the bearing. @Slestak75 cut down a set of side effects for me so that the yoyo halves could be pulled in tighter and seat properly. i can use that same side effect with a full c bearing with no issue
so again making a yoyo accept both size bearings has to strike a balance between the length of the posts and the length of the axle as it relates to the halves squeezing the bearing before the posts touch and prevent further tightening
The only reference I can find that specifically addresses converting a Speedaholic XX states that an 8mm axle is required to accommodate the narrower bearing. (I will DM the link, since it is another retailer.)
I have both, Speedaholic XX and Shooting Star. Haven’t tried the Speedaholic with a responsive setup though. In unresponsive setup both throws have a similar performance level/capabilities imo and both regularly end up in my bag to have something to throw while waiting on a bus, train etc.
I like the Shooting Star a bit more, just a personal preference. Wouldn’t say either can do stuff the other can’t do, both are good plastic yoyos. Just go with whichever speaks to you more/has the cooler color option ^^
I had a feeling that was going to be the case with this.
I ended up ordering the Speedaholic XX Toy Toy Toy edition. I really liked the way it looked the most. I will either end up buying a bearing for it down the road to switch to unresponsive. Or I might just buy another one because I really liked the Clear (Kaoru Nakamura Edition) a lot as well but it is unresponsive and I want to start out responsive.
