So I started yoyoing back in the 90s in the era of the responsive ball bearing pieces. My favorite pieces were a SuperYo Renegade, a Custom Reactor, and my YYJ Super Spinfaktor. I stopped in around 2001 and have recently gotten back into it. I’ve put a lot of finger time into a Czech Point and love it unless I have to put it in my pocket to carry anywhere.
Anyway, I was cleaning my garage and came across all my old yoyos, and I was shocked to see just how fat the Czech Point is compared to these other yoyos. I had always been annoyed at the thickness of the Czech Point when trying to carry it around in my pocket, and finding my old stash really drove the point home. Even my SuperYo Renegade (which I remember as being GARGANTUAN at the time) is much thinner than the CP.
I then began my search. I wanted an unresponsive throw that was around 55mm in diameter, 30mm thick, and with a modern 4.5mm string gap and bearing. I couldn’t find anything. Not a single example of a yoyo that even came close aside from some old pieces that are hard to come by (flying V, trvth, a few dif-e-yo models). I ended up buying a used Dif-e-Yo Sportster and a Werrd Poo (waiting on delivery), but even those are still thicker than I’d like. So why are modern yoyos all so fat? I’m guessing that the width brings a benefit, but what is it?
I made a picture to showcase the difference. When I first picked up the Czech Point, I felt that it only took me a couple of days before I had gotten back to where I was almost 15 years ago. It wasn’t until I found my old yoyos that I realized that it wasn’t because I was as good as I used to be; it was more that the modern yoyo made things so much easier. Haha. It’s like KiLbUcK said, it’s just so easy to hit those strings.
Maybe I’m ok then. I cut my teeth on really narrow yoyos when I first started, and I’ve thus never had a problem with tilt or hitting strings. I’m looking forward to trying out the sportster! It should be a lot more pocket-able.
It’s because people can’t hit their dang trapeze on a Proyo, they alter the yoyo instead of practicing ;D
Joking aside, I believe it is to make them easier to play more or less. But since it’s easier, tricks just get more and more difficult and complex.
In the end it’s still difficult to master, but more accessible for beginners.
Quick update: not sure I’m too happy with the Dif-e-Yo Sportster. The size is perfect, but the yoyo suffers from low spin time and tends to ‘rotate’ easily. It’s not tilting like we talked about earlier in this thread, but more like if you throw it and look directly down at it, it will rotate clockwise slightly when doing tricks. I don’t think it’s my technique since I don’t have this problem at all on any other throw, including my Custom Reactor, which is even smaller/thinner. The yoyo itself is balanced when throwing a sleeper and is in perfect physical condition, so I don’t think it’s damage or anything of the sort.
???
Thoughts? I still like the Sportster though, and will probably keep it as my pocket throw at least until my Werrd Poo comes in. I’m just really glad I bought one used for less than half price since I was just about to pay $80 for a new one. No way that yoyo is worth anywhere near $80.
I think the tricks on the new fat yoyos are much harder than the old (and much more impressive, too). Back in my day (always wanted to say that, lol), we didn’t have all the fancy slack tricks, crazy whips, grinds, etc. It was more technical and less artsy with less flair. I much prefer the tricks of today. I never used to watch yoyo videos with my mouth agape back then, but I definitely do so now. I can’t even count the number of videos I’ve seen recently where I just sit there thinking, “holy crap, holy crap, what? WHAT WHAT? Noooooo WAYYYYYYY!!!”
I believe the rotation you are talking about is “precession”. It happens. Nothing to worry too much about. Low spins on the other hand, take a bit of fighting.
No problem there for me.
Nothing to worry too much about. Low spins on the other hand, take a bit of fighting.