# What makes a wooden kendama different from other wooden ones w/oaeschetics? **URL:** \ **Category:** Skill Toys\ **Created:** [March 14, 2013, 1:25pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/what-makes-a-wooden-kendama-different-from-other-wooden-ones-w-oaeschetics/50792 "2013-03-14T13:25:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Y0Y0SR2PR0](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/y0y0sr2pr0/32/1137_2.png) [@Y0Y0SR2PR0](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Y0Y0SR2PR0)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2013, 1:25pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/what-makes-a-wooden-kendama-different-from-other-wooden-ones-w-oaeschetics/50792/1 "2013-03-14T13:25:02Z")
idk anything about them and broke so want to spend less then 20 (probably impossible) what makes name brand different from cheap ones on eb\*y other than look would they get the job done? ---
**Author:** ![JamesMay](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/jamesmay/32/1201_2.png) [@JamesMay](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/JamesMay)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2013, 7:52pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/what-makes-a-wooden-kendama-different-from-other-wooden-ones-w-oaeschetics/50792/2 "2013-03-14T19:52:48Z")
Quality of wood used. Quality of paint used. Precision in the manufacturing. Shape of the ken (handle). Durability. Weight balance. $20-$30 will get you a fantastic kendama. ---
**Author:** ![Schnayke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f14d63/32.png) [@Schnayke](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Schnayke)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2013, 8:32pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/what-makes-a-wooden-kendama-different-from-other-wooden-ones-w-oaeschetics/50792/3 "2013-03-14T20:32:15Z")
21 bucks plus shipping gets what you want. ---
**Author:** ![GregP](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/gregp/32/1192_2.png) [@GregP](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/GregP)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2013, 8:43pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/what-makes-a-wooden-kendama-different-from-other-wooden-ones-w-oaeschetics/50792/4 "2013-03-14T20:43:26Z")
I don’t have a kendama yet, but I want to weigh in with a thought: Let’s say you’re not sure if even $21 is worth it to you for a Kendama. So you buy one for $6 off eBay. You throw it for a day and are like “dang, I suck, that was boring, that was sucky.” and give it up. Who’s to say you wouldn’t have had more success and fun with a standard-weight higher-quality kendama? Maybe it would’ve been a pretty cool day and you would have discovered a new skill toy to learn? It’s worth the $21 to me to know that if I really didn’t like it, it’s because of me and not the equipment. Besides, just like name-brand yoyos, you can probably get rid of a name-brand kendama on a BST for about 2/3 of your spend, meaning you’d only be out $7 to have learned that you don’t like it much. ---
**Author:** ![Asmith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/94ad74/32.png) [@Asmith](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Asmith)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2013, 4:40pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/what-makes-a-wooden-kendama-different-from-other-wooden-ones-w-oaeschetics/50792/5 "2013-03-16T16:40:01Z")
(I’ve been playing kendama ~3-4 years, just getting into yoyo now) DO NOT go for one of the cheap ebay kendamas. They will not be balanced correctly, or play well. Even the relatively cheap toysmith/yomega brand kendamas are crap. If you want to try it out, spend the $20 on the solid kendama, it will be worth it. For about $20-22 (+shipping), you can get one of the best kendamas made (I recommend starting with a red TK16 - its a classic). Check out [www.kendamausa.com](http://www.kendamausa.com), they have an amazing selection, and great customer service! (disclaimer: I play on their team, but I still stand behind what I said. There is a reason they’re America’s longest running kendama supplier!) ---
**Author:** ![Jdrabik](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/jdrabik/32/1110_2.png) [@Jdrabik](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Jdrabik)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2013, 8:46pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/what-makes-a-wooden-kendama-different-from-other-wooden-ones-w-oaeschetics/50792/6 "2013-03-22T20:46:28Z")
> [@Asmith](#): > > (I’ve been playing kendama ~3-4 years, just getting into yoyo now) > > DO NOT go for one of the cheap ebay kendamas. They will not be balanced correctly, or play well. Even the relatively cheap toysmith/yomega brand kendamas are crap. If you want to try it out, spend the $20 on the solid kendama, it will be worth it. For about $20-22 (+shipping), you can get one of the best kendamas made (I recommend starting with a red TK16 - its a classic). Check out [www.kendamausa.com](http://www.kendamausa.com), they have an amazing selection, and great customer service! > (disclaimer: I play on their team, but I still stand behind what I said. There is a reason they’re America’s longest running kendama supplier!) I’ve been thinking about getting into Kendama, and have been thinking about getting a Tribute. Is this a good choice? If you could reply that would be great.