New DocPop BOLT! And new counterweights and stands!

[yoyoworkshop_wayne]

Definitely cool! Sent you an IG DM @DocPop

[DocPop]

No need to switch axles. Just put in the narrow C bearing (aka the half-SPEC) and some thick silicone lube.

[YoYoExpertGarrett]

If the caps are loose or falling out an easy fix is to crimp the very edge of the cap with a pair of pliers in one or two spots. I used to do it with YYJ caps all the time. As long as you just do the very edge it’s not noticeable at all and will work better than glueing them.

[Fun_Dad69 (yoyos_bizarre_adventure)]

Thanks for the tip! If the glue fails, I’ll do this instead of more glue

[OlHandyJenkins]

(This user has been censored by forum moderators)

[YoYoExpertGarrett]

I don’t believe the Bolts came with strings or anything extra, but let us know which you like best with it! I thought Sochi Fat fit it perfectly when I was testing it out.

[kretzschmar]

One thing to note, the spacers have a slight concave to them that is easy to miss. If you put them in the wrong way, you will know, it will kill your spin time. The rounded portions need to face the bearing on each side.

You’ll know it’s proper when it spins forever.

[OlHandyJenkins]

(This user has been censored by forum moderators)

[kretzschmar]

Anyone else got some thoughts on how they like it?

For me, it’s exactly what I hoped. Old school yoyojam with an updated feel in a Delrin/pom that is silky smooth.

I’m no pro, but all the combos I can do can be easily done with no snags and nice tight binds.

[Exmime]

@yoyojoe

The new bolt is exactly what I wanted!

This

[Deadboots (Mr. K)]

It didn’t come out perfect, but I had a pretty good time doing this. It’s a nice yoyo, Doc.

[DocPop]

That black and red looks pretty nice! I’m looking forward to seeing what other mods and customization folks do with these things!

[Xymantix (Nick Decker)]

@OlHandyJenkins

Mine didn’t come with a string. Was it supposed to (or anything else)?

I finally got around to opening mine, and I too was a bit surprised not to find a string. It’s not a big deal to me, but heaven knows that I have a few lifetime’s worth of strings to choose from to pair with it. This reminds me of a conversation that I had with my sister-in-law a while back where she seemed dumbfounded that you could pay a lot of money for a yoyo only to find out that it doesn’t even come with a string. But it could be that’s more of the mindset from someone who isn’t deep into the hobby. Her reaction made it sound like you had just bought a car and were surprised to find out on delivery that it didn’t come with tires!

In my mind, strings are a very important part of the yoyo. There are a variety of factors that come into play that determine whether it’s a good match for the yoyo or not, with the color(s) being the most obvious from the aesthetics standpoint and visibility from the functional standpoint (especially coming from someone with horrible eyesight). Then there’s the thickness, material, length - so many variables in the equation that all contribute to the playability. In an odd sense, getting a yoyo without a string makes me feel like this is a “professional grade” yoyo. Since you know what kind of factors help you get the most out of a yoyo and work well with the type of tricks you do, then the manufacturer leaves the string decision up to you. All too often I have found that I prefer a different type of string on a yoyo, and with some of the cheaper yoyos, I never bother to use the one that came with it. If you were pretty new to throwing, you might be right to assume that the makers of the yoyo were picky and provided the string that they thought worked best with their yoyo. I’m sure that’s true for some companies, but it’s also possible that some might try to save some money by including cheap strings, even though they wouldn’t take any shortcuts when it comes to the yoyos themselves.

OK, enough rambling about the string - the Bolt XP is a terrific yoyo! I’ve been throwing metals exclusively for a couple of months, and this was the right yoyo at the right time to remind me how good POM feels. The binds on it are so good and satisfying, and it’s remarkable how well it plays since it looks so “traditional” at first glance. Maybe all the magic is on the inside with the grooves! I haven’t taken off the sidecaps yet, and honestly, I probably won’t unless I get another one to experiment with. The caps are very tastefully done, and I love how it looks like the pattern sits behind a glossy, glass-like cap. I usually experiment when I get a capped yoyo, alternating with/without the caps and trying to figure out which version I like best. It certainly affects the look, but also the play and definitely the sound of the yoyo. But these are here to stay.