Here is my new top.
I was going for a wider top. This one is a little too light at 80g. I might print a second in red and heavier and half swap.
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Is it a taped 2 piece?
Yes it is.
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Starting to get some almost passable throws with the Alice after a lot of attempts today. (Almost passable in that it’s landing on the tip tilted, but not on its side and not rolling out doorway and down some steps.)
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Try to pay close attention to your release, the point should be facing straight up, and you don’t want to twist your hand or wrist any when you let it go. If the top is still sideways, but it is consistently off in the same direction, you can fix that. Usually a string length issue, but you may have to change your release a bit.
Good progress! Some people really struggle with that, sounds like you wil get it quickly.
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Thanks, I am at that weird place where I can’t really understand what I am doing differently on good throws vs bad, so that helps. This thread and the others have already been very useful for tips and setting expectations.
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Also, a good tip for figuring out the string length that works is, make it shorter a bit at a time by wrapping loops around your finger/fingers when you reach the right length it gives you much less hassle.
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The most common issue I have noticed when yo-yo players try to learn to throw a top is that they want to follow through or assist the top. The key to consistency is to release the top while keeping your throw hand steady.
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I seem to have regressed a bit this week. I wonder if that’s part of the issue.
It’s hard describe. Sometimes it feels like the string is loosely falling off the top which flies like I just tossed it across the room like a
ball instead of the string staying taut as the top rolls out of it. Not sure if it’s a speed or force issue, or follow through.
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That’s a common issue and it takes a while to get the feel for different tops and strings, but in general , the wind and your release are the issues.
With a yo-yo, the harder you throw, the faster it spins. With a top, if you throw hard or tilt your hand, all that energy is pulling back at an angle on the string wrap, so it can just pop off in a cone shaped mess. You have to release smoothly and not throw so hard the top doesn’t have a chance to start spinning as the string unwinds.
Some tops are less prone to having the string wrap slide off, but with this slightly heavy, very smooth top, you have to start the throw a little softer. You can generate faster rpm’s by pulling back after the top has started spinning, then you will be learning how to boomerang.
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Thanks, I really appreciate the advice. Got to take a deep breath and think smooth.
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I know after quite a lot of time and a ton of battle scars to my top, I eventually got it to spin on the floor on a regular basis, and then boomerang. All thanks to Kevin and Dane. I honestly don’t know what exactly made it click, but adjusting the string length until I found that sweet spot sticks out, along with the other tips they are mentioning
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Finally making some progress on the floor spinner! I ended up shortening the string a bit and really relaxing my arm more. Also, based on yoyo, I think there is just an element of repetition to get a feel and muscle memory.
I stumbled upon a string making video (https://youtu.be/DD0pm8qJkOE) and realized that I have a ton of #10 cotton thread from crochet projects.
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Chris has a couple vids up too, I use the 4 ply method because it’s easier. Dazzling Dave has a YouTube vid up about the string he sells, made with that same string twister.
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I love the string. 
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What top is that? Thats beautiful
Strummol8 Alice
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Yes. This was considered when naming.
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