Thread: I'm Sure You Hate These Yoyo Questions...

... especially from a first-time poster.

I recently got into yo-yo'ing and I purchased a YoYoJam Kickside which I am having a ton of fun with. I'm considering purchasing another, more advanced yo-yo to use long-term and keep progressing with.

As of now, I've learned to bind with my Kickside, although most of the time I do not need to with the hybrid response. I've learned brain twister, trapeze, double or nothing, drop in the bucket, split the atom, and I'm currently working on my atomic bomb.

First off, my budget is ~40$. I have been looking at the new Hitman Professional and the DV888. I've been reading descriptions that the DV888 is "completely unresponsive". I'm sure the new Hitman is like that, too, or similar, because of those silicone pads. I was just wondering if I should take that leap right now with my current skill level, I know I'll need to learn to be comfortable with it, eventually. Again, I am looking for a yo-yo I'll be able to use... well, forever, ideally.

If anyone has any opinions on those yo-yos or any others that I should be considering, I will be extremely thankful.

Both the DV888 and the Hitman Pro can be made to play responsive or unresponsive, so whatever you decide upon, pick up a tube of YYJ thick lube (or any other "thick" yo-yo lube) and you'll be set! Both are fantastic throws and I doubt you'd be disappointed with either.

Don't worry, everyone was new here at one time and asked the exact same questions.

As for your next yoyo, I would consider not getting a metal just yet, because you will be sad when you ding it up, plus you have more chance of hurting yourself or others if you hit something with it. (unless you really have your heart set on a metal; but always remember: a better yoyo DOES NOT make a better player. It takes years of practice to be as good as "the pros".

As for a certain yoyo, I am partial to the grind machine for a beginner: dead unresponsive, but binds are tight and don't slip usually, they are tough as nails, they have hubstacks, which are fun to show off with and a great novelty, and they are 25-30 dollars.

Welcome to TheYo, and don't be afraid to ask more questions! We are here to help!

Spit.Fire

I don't think you need to make the jump just yet. That kickside will hold you in good stead for a while yet if you take care of it, and you can always sand the starbursts for a little less response.

I've got a DV888 recently and it feels a LOT different from the kickside. It feels "solid" whereas the kickside doesn't.

I also have a regular hitman and, if the gap hasn't changed, I'd prefer the DV888 over the hitman pro.

That being said, I still think you should wait. No metal needed right now :)

How is your Kickside (I love Kicksides) set up? If want to get more of an idea of what those other two are like, (both great yo-yos) hold half of your Kickside, and turn the other side open 1 full turn. You'll get an idea what it's like to bind a bigger gap, etc. (much more than 1 full turn and the string will start slipping off the bearing) Both of the yo-yos you're looking at are smaller than the Kickside, but not enought to feel too awfully weird. You can't really go wrong with either one of them.

Have Fun,
Java

Originally Posted by Java

How is your Kickside (I love Kicksides) set up?

It's just straight out of the box. I use it with the gap as small as it goes, but I've been experimenting recently with it larger. I've been trying to learn Mach 5 and it stops spinning very quickly. Even with a larger gap, it still dies easily. I'm sure this is mostly because I am very inexperienced right now, I'm aware a more expensive yo-yo won't miraculously allow me to perform a Mach 5, or any other trick. As spitfire said:

Originally Posted by spitfire

a better yoyo DOES NOT make a better player

Originally Posted by spitfire

As for your next yoyo, I would consider not getting a metal just yet, because you will be sad when you ding it up, plus you have more chance of hurting yourself or others if you hit something with it.

I'm not really worried about that at all, I have a pretty wide open space here and if the string breaks or something, it's carpeted. I don't really practice outside and if I did, I still have my Kickside. As far as myself, I haven't hit myself yet, but I'm sure it's only inevitable. I've had some close-calls, however... I am not too thrilled about being smacked with plastic, either!

Originally Posted by spitfire

unless you really have your heart set on a metal

No, not at all. Thank you for your information on the Grind Machine. I know I'm repeating myself, but I was only just looking for something that I would be happy with for a long time.



Thanks to everyone for the replies, very informative. The main consensus seems to be to hold off on buying another for now. I definitely still love my Kickside. I can try to control myself for a little while, but I still would like to purchase another pretty soon.

Edit: What purpose do the hubstacks have, aside from looking sweet?

Hubstacks open up a lot of trick options that not many people have explored all that much. Here's one exception:



With red shims and a clean bearing the Kickside is on par with most of the unresponsive competition level yoyos out there. You have realistic expectations, so I say that if you have your heart set on something new, then get something new. I don't care too much for the shape of the DV888 - flat rims don't do it for me - but it's a very sold thrown. The Hitman Pro is very nice all around and would be a quite different yoyo from your Kickside - particularly the size difference. You might also take a gander in the Buy/Sell/Trade section of the forum for good deals that fall within your budget.

Just to let you know AnonAlum, we really shouldn't put up links to other stores. This forum is sponsored Theyostoretoo.com not yoyoguy.com. If you would like to share info from other stores with someone share it via pm's.

I would also like to say that I think a PGM is a great next step from the Kickside as well.

Originally Posted by Mr J

I would also like to say that I think a PGM is a great next step from the Kickside as well.

Thank you for your opinion. What does the "P" stand for in that?

Plastic. The yoyo is the Plastic Grind Machine.

Originally Posted by jrodriguez

Plastic. The yoyo is the Plastic Grind Machine

Thank you.

I don't put too much stock into the mini reviews found on certain websites, but I saw multiple people claim that this yoyo tends to tilt and wobble a bit. In my infant stages of yo-yo'ing here, there are occasions when I throw a sleeper 3-4 times to get a solid, clean throw. I am worried this might get a bit frustrating at times.

Originally Posted by AnonAlum

if theyo sold KYO DNS' I would have posted that link of course. ...my bad just trying to help.

You are definitely helping. Although, I am quite aware that my current skill level does not warrant that DNS, the idea of purchasing an 80$ yo-yo at half the price is definitely starting to scratch me right where I itch. I mean, as long as I get used to binding it... I can only go up from there, right? It wouldn't be bad for me.

Welcome to TheYo!

Many players are faced with this very problem, and we tend to give them the same answer: Stick with the kickside.

Basically, playing on the responsive yoyo will help your style, flow, and technical ability later in your yoyoing life. Alot of people just jump straight to a metal, and they lose alot of the teaching that the responsive yoyo provides.

If you're ready for a lousy analogy, read this paragraph. If not, skip it: Let's say a kid is riding a bicycle down a really long street with a turn at the end, but he can't really see the turn. He has training wheels on, because he's kind of new at riding a bike. He decides that it's time to take of the training wheels, because he thinks he can balance pretty well. He does fine on the straight part of the road, but immediately falls off the bike at the turn.

*End of analogy* What I'm basically saying is that you need to hone your "balance" now, so that you'll be able to more gracefully make the "turn" at the end of the "road."

Sincerest apologies if that only made this more confusing. In short: Hold on to the Kickside for a little while longer. You'll thank yourself later. If and when you decide to move to that unresponsive yoyo, you'll be more ready for it.

Originally Posted by Gishy

Thank you.

I don't put too much stock into the mini reviews found on certain websites, but I saw multiple people claim that this yoyo tends to tilt and wobble a bit. In my infant stages of yo-yo'ing here, there are occasions when I throw a sleeper 3-4 times to get a solid, clean throw. I am worried this might get a bit frustrating at times.

I don't think a PGM is any more prone to that than a lot of other models. I find it to be fairly stable. I have one w/o hub stacks, which may be a factor. The extra mass of the hub stacks will contribute to that IMO.

Originally Posted by AnonAlum

if theyo sold KYO DNS' I would have posted that link of course. ...my bad just trying to help.

The thing is theyostore did sale DNS. It is in the rules so don't do it; TheYo Forum Rules -- You must read and follow these to use this forum (updated 10-19-2010)

I've never noticed any odd instability in my PGM, with or without stacks. I'd disregard that comment. PGMs are as stable as anything else.

Originally Posted by bennett

I've never noticed any odd instability in my PGM, with or without stacks. I'd disregard that comment. PGMs are as stable as anything else.

That's been my experience as well.

As for whether getting a metal yoyo with a bad gap would be "bad" for you - it really depends on what you want out of yoyoing. Xdohls's points are valid, but more so if you envision becoming a competition player or plan to make videos and such. If you're in this purely for the enjoyment it gives you, and getting a metal yoyo with a wide gap will add to that, then I don't see why you shouldn't get one. At the same time, I honestly feel that the sky is the limit with a Kickside. There's no trick I know that I can't do on one that's setup with silicone in place of the o-ring.