Learning to Spin
1 Get Spinning
Find a wide, open space to practice in. Go outdoors! You don't want to break your spin with a busted lamp!
The Chinese yoyo only ever spins in one direction, counter-clockwise if you're a right-handed spinner or clockwise if you spin with your left. The faster it spins, the more stable it is.
These instructions are written for right-handed spinners. Reverse these instructions if you're a lefty.
2. Starting Off
• Place the yoyo on the string, and set it on the ground a little to the left of your left foot.
• Point your left stick down and draw the string across so that most of the string is on the right side of the yoyo.
• Without raising your left hand, roll the yoyo across the ground towards the right .
• Carefully lift both arms until the yoyo is in front of your knees. *3. Spinning Faster
• While the yoyo is spinning, pull your left hand up briskly to make it go faster. Use the full length of the string for maximum speed.
• Slowly drop your left hand, and raise your right to take the slack out of the string. Don't use too much force or the yo-yo will slow down.
• Repeat this process and find out how fast you can spin your yoyo! *Correcting Tilt
Now that you've got your yoyo spinning, you may notice that it often tilts forward or back gradually until it falls off the string. Before you can do any tricks, you have to be able to keep it level.
• The hand you use to spin controls the yoyo. If you're spinning right -handed, use that hand to tilt the yoyo.
• If the yoyo is tilting away from you, pull your right hand towards your body to correct it.
• If it's tilting towards you, extend the right hand away from your body to correct it.
• You don't need to stop the up and down action while doing this. The yoyo's tilt will correct faster if you keep accelerating the spin, while adjusting the tilt.
• Once the yoyo is level, bring your hands back together. *Now that you've mastered your yo-yo's tilt, you're ready for tricks!
4. The Toss
This is an easy, but exciting trick for a new spinner to learn!
• Get the yoyo spinning fast, keeping it level.
• Point the tips of the sticks in towards each other.
• Quickly pull your hands apart, and turn your wrists out. This will toss the yoyo into the air. To begin with keep the tosses lower, around five feet over your head.
• To catch the yoyo, draw the string taut.
• Make the catch above your head, rather than in front of you.
• Raise the right hand a little higher than the left .
• Catch the yoyo close to the right hand stick. It will then roll down the string and pick up spin.Once you've got the hang of tossing and catching the yoyo, you can take this trick to the next level. A high toss isn't much harder to catch than a low one. How high can you go? Or try adding a body-spin while the yoyo's in the air. There's lots of ways you can add your own twist to this classic trick! *
Taking yoyos to new heights.
