PoryKon is a machined bearing counterweight developed by six-time Hong Kong national 3A champion Ng Wang Kit and eight-time 5A champion Denny Ko!
It all started in June 2018 when Denny (Ko Kwan Ho) was practicing for the Asia Pacific contest. He was finding issues with the standard counterweights getting caught on the string during technical tricks. Lowhand (Ng Wang Kit) suggested designing a new counterweight to solve his problem.
Very nice! Looking at this, I see I could definitely turn my own bearing counterweights. I have a ton of flat bearings that need to be used for something. Lol
Can anyone outline the benefits of the three different Porykon setups shown in the video on the Porykon product page? Why would you use bead and bearing?
I get that - itâs like the Ultraweight which I have. What Iâm talking about is that the Porykon comes with both the âBearing Systemâ and also with beads. And if you watch the Porykon video it shows three ways of setting it up - one just with the âbearing systemâ (which is basically the bearing and the little piece that fits snug in the bearing with the hole to pass through), then one with a bead and the bearing without using the little piece that fits snug into the bearing, and then one with a bead and the full âbearing systemâ installed together.
Iâm trying to find out what the advantages are to each method. Why would you use a bead instead of the piece meant to fit inside the bearing? Or why would you add a bead to the end if you are using the bearing system?
Iâm just using mine with the bearing system - no bead. Just wondering why the three setups. Also why are two beads included is that just in case you lose one or are there differences between the two beads?
Editing to add I freaking love this thing - both the Porykon and Porykon V are superior counterweights in every way. So glad I picked them up!
Maybe itâs a contact point to keep pressure on the bearing so it wants to unwind ( keep in mind Iâm only speculating- I hadnât got my hands on one)
Josh Rodriguez over on FB had a tip on how to remove a stuck bead and so I asked him why the reason for all those setups. Per Josh:
âSo the Bead settings are to allow for your Porykon to be a Sliding Die - if you like to incorporate âastroâ or âdouble diceâ tricks, you can with the bead setting!
If you do not need a sliding die, I highly suggest the âoriginalâ setting on the bearing Porykon and the V is strictly meant for a bead, but nothing says you have to slide the die.â
He also provided a video example of how this might be used:
Just like with yoyos, hand feel has its place in the discussion and in this aspect the Porykon is significantly superior. Itâs just way more comfortable coming back to the hand, especially if youâre just learning like me and ding yourself a bunch. Itâs also a more natural shape to hold in your closed fist.
Outside of that, the two are really identical. And I saw on the Porykon fb page that they recently began to produce a dice-shaped counterweight. So it (as with many things yo) will come down to personal preference, but for me it gets a clear win.
I can see myself feeling exactly the same way as you do about counterweight shape. As a beginner Iâve been using spheres rather than dice because they are much more comfortable in my hand.
And that makes me wonder why so many people use dice, especially considering that you can use just about anything as a counterweight (including rubber ducks and micro-sized yoyos). You donât have to use cube-shaped objects.
I can see that the Porykon and Porykon V are shaped slightly differently. Perhaps someone with both could let us know which you prefer, and why? Thanks!