How to Yo-Yo

Yo-yos have been a much-loved toy for generations. Have you ever marveled at how people can make their Yo-yos do amazing tricks? Would you like to do them too? You’ll have to start with the basics first.

1. The Yo-yo is basically made up of two discs, an axle connecting the disks and a string. They are usually made from plastic, aluminum or wood.



2. You have to decide whether you would like your Yo-yo to have a fixed axle or not. A fixed axle Yo-yo is when the axle does not spin independently from the disks it is attached to. Generally, an unfixed axle Yo-yo will make it easier for you to bring the Yo-yo back up, but to do tricks like Walk the Dog; you’ll need the Yo-yo to have a fixed axle.
3. Determine if your Yo-yo has the correct string length. To do this, completely unravel your Yo-yo string and let the Yo-yo rest completely on the floor. Hold up the string straight, Yo-yo still on the floor. The string should be coming right up to your belly button. If the string is too long, you can pull up the string until it reaches the lower part of your chest. Cut it and make a nice, solid loop. However, string length really depends on you, what you’re comfortable with, and the tricks you would like to be able to do with your Yo-yo.
4. Yo-yo strings are usually looped when you purchase them, but you can make them even tighter by making it into a slipknot. To do a slipknot, open the loop and put your finger in the loop, reaching to around five inches down the string, fold the five inches into half and push back through the first loop, pulling it all the way through. You’ve got yourself a slipknot, and you simply put in your middle finger through the two loops and you’ve got yourself a stronger loop. Remember that strings need to be replaced every now and then, especially if they get too dirty and frayed. Accidents tend to happen with faulty strings, so keep them new.
5. To get started with your yo-yo, stand up straight but relaxed. A tense yo-yo player tends to oversnap his or her yo-yo, which won’t lead to very impressive results. Hold out your yo-yo arm bent at the right angle, elbow resting lightly at your side. Make sure that your string is resting in the middle part of your middle finger, so that it won’t slip off accidentally.
6. The first yo-yo trick you need to learn is called the Gravity Pull. This means having gravity to pull the yo-yo down and with you pulling the yo-yo up again. To provide the yo-yo with momentum, flick your hand upwards by the wrist, before releasing the yo-yo, exerting a more forceful flick downward as you release the yo-yo. Try to make the flick upwards and downwards into one smooth movement.
7. Wait until the yo-yo almost reaches the end of the string, and before it does, give your wrist another quick flick upwards. The yo-yo should come up into your palm back into its original position.
8. The second yo-yo trick is called the Throwdown. You resume your default position, and place the yo-yo, string attached, on your palm. The string should be coming from your finger towards the top of the yo-yo, not the bottom. Grasp the yo-yo, not too tightly, and release by opening your palm and throwing the yo-yo outward with a flick of your wrist. As the yo-yo approaches the ground, flip your palm over, and give your wrist a flick upwards before the yo-yo reaches the end of the string. The yo-yo should then come back into your palm.
9. If your yo-yo does not come back up after doing either of these two tricks, there can be two simple explanations: First, is you may not be exerting enough energy for that tug or wrist flick upwards to pull the yo-yo back up. Second, you may not be pulling the yo-yo up because you are not casting the yo-yo in a straight line. Jerky movements, pulling the yo-yo even before it reaches that crucial point are just some things that may cause your yo-yo to not come back up.
10. Practice is key. Once you’ve mastered these two tricks, you are ready to move on to other yo-yo tricks.