Ok so I made the mistake of letting my son try my Top Deck and it was love at first throw lol. Needless to stay he’d love one but they are too expensive and hard to find( I’ll probably get him one someday because I’m a sucker and he’s a great kid😂). So I’m looking for a throw that is as similar as possible that’s easier to get and less expensive…I know I know aren’t we all. But you guys never fail to have the best recommendations so here I am once again. Thanks
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One Drop Gauntlet is similar. Powerful organic/H shape like the Top Deck. Cheaper and a bit easier to find.
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Oh interesting, I didn’t know it was considered an alternative to the Top Deck. Do you find it has similar stability to the TD?
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I find the Gauntlet to be very stable, especially for the shape. Similarly powerful like the Top Deck. I really enjoy mine.
Another option that’s readily available would be something like the iyoyo Hydra. Also very powerful, but doesn’t have the same magic as Too Deck or Gauntlet imo. Firrox is good to if you wanna go bi.
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Thanks for the recommendation. I’m definitely going to check out the Gauntlet, never would have considered it as an alternative.
Profile shot of Top Deck and Gauntlet
Gauntlet just a bit more organic. Very similar response bump, diameter, and width.
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Definitely can see the similarities, that looks promising.
The Top Deck is unique. The Gauntlet doesn’t really come close; it is not an “alternative” to the Top Deck, IMO. It doesn’t play anything like it at all. The problem here is that the Top Deck is extremely rim weighted, to a degree unlike almost any other One Drop. I’d say that the MC is much closer in shape and performance to a Top Deck than a Gauntlet, but unfortunately it isn’t cheap or easy to find either. In all honesty, I can’t think of a yoyo that is (relatively) inexpensive, reasonably available, and has similar enough shape and performance characteristics to be legitimately called an alternative to the Top Deck.
Edit: now that I think about it, the Rev. 1 is a pretty decent alternative, IMO. But again, in all honesty, there really is no substitute for a Top Deck.
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The Duncan Counter Punch is pretty close in both spec and shape to the Top Deck. Different weight distribution so it’s not going to feel the same, but it’s close enough and cheap enough if you’re just looking for a yoyo to give your kid.
https://shop.yoyoexpert.com/collections/duncan/products/counter-punch-yoyo-by-duncan
TopYo Colossus V and YYF Essence get a mention too. Not quite as close, but not too far off in specs.
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I don’t own a Top Deck, but I second the Rev1, I really like mine.
I would recommend looking at the Guitarist from RCS. I also don’t own one, but to me, it screams “Top Deck” and anyone that follows ThrowsandBrews knows he loves the Top Deck.
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