Yo-Yo FAQ Annex

The Annex is a little different from the other FAQ on my site. Rather than answering a bunch of questions, I will mostly just point you to various places online where you can get your own answers. After all, why reinvent the wheel? As always if you have ideas for additions or corrections your input is always appreciated. A special thanks goes out to Jim Pankey (`5) who compiled many of the resources linked here.

1. I want to learn about collecting yo-yos. Help!

There are several great resources available.

Also the book Lucky's Collectors Guide to 20th Century Yo-Yos by Lucky J. Meisenheimer, M.D. is an invaluable resource for the collector.

2. Where can I find links to (manufacturers, trick descriptions, videos, etc.)?

Try these sites:

3. What's the best yo-yo? What yo-yo should I buy? Can I get a review of ______?

There is no right answer to this question. Every yo-yo and yoer is different. Yo-yos I might love, others might hate. And vice versa. The important thing is to find the right yo-yo for your style, tastes, and level of development. Reviews and opinions posted online by others can be a source of information for anyone considering a purchase, but ultimately it will be up to YOU to decide what yo-yo is right for you. Unfortunately, if you live in an area without access to venues where yo-yos can be tried out, then some chances will have to be taken with purchases. Those experiences however will contribute to your development as an informed yo-yo consumer and prevent purchasing mistakes in the future.

However there are several places online where you can get a review or an opinion of a particular yo-yo.

4. Where can I find out about the history of the yo-yo?

Proyo History Page
The History of the Yo-Yo by Val Krantz.

5. How much does _____ (yo-yo) weigh?

Wild Jimbo was thoughtful enough to compile this information for your use. Thank him nicely now.

6. How can I mod my ______?

There are several good sites online with various modifications. Remember to steer clear of the yo-yo police 8-).

7. Where can I communicate/interact with other Yoers?

Webboards:

Chats

8. What tricks Should I learn next/now?

Trick lists for influential competitions, Company and organization trick lists, and tricks on leading trick video and Illustration sites are good places to look for new tricks to learn.

9. What is ABEC? Is it important?

See this info compiled by Jim Pankey (`5) for your answer.

10. Why do so many people hate Proyo?

Here is a compilation if some of the reasons I have heard. This is by no means an exhaustive list and is a result largely of hearsay and innuendo. Please don't quote as fact.

11. What are Turbo Disks, Brake Pads, and Performance Rings.

An illustration is here.

12. What size bearing does my yo-yo use?

Wild Jimbo to the rescue once again. Answers are here.

13. What is the relationship/difference between Splitting the Atom, Atom Smasher, and Atom Bomb?

Ken Vong of Ken's World on a String seems to sum it up nicely with this annotated explanation taken from his explanation of the trick Split the Atom <http://199.44.235.54/onstring/onstringsplitatom.html>. It says:

A lot of people seem to get the "Atom Smasher" (also known as "Atom Bomb") and "Split the Atom" mixed up so it's my duty to straighten things out by showing you both of them. Some say they're the same trick. Well in fact, they are not. Some older books and videos have these two tricks confused too.

The "Atom Smasher" utilizes the split bottom entry mount and has more underpasses and somersaults. "Split the Atom" is a more simpler trick which involves a front mount, one underpass, a somersault and a dismount.

Here's a quote from an AYYA newsletter where Dale Oliver addresses this issue.

"Past President and current member, Dale Oliver, explained the history of three tricks with similar names - Atomic Bomb/Splitting the Atom/ and Atom Smasher, which have in the past confused many players. He explained that the Atomic Bomb was renamed Atom Smasher for political correctness reasons, but that they are, indeed, the same trick - consisting of a split bottom mount, 2 string splits, a somersault and a dismount. Splitting the Atom, however, is a different trick involving a front mount, a string split, a somersault and a dismount."

More and more books and videos teach this the exact opposite.The Yonomicon and the newest Duncan Video are examples. So perhaps we should be prepared to change our definition. As for now I will stick with this very compelling explanation.

14. What can I do to decorate my Yo-Yos?

See these sites for some ideas:

Scarecrow's Yo-Yo Craft

15. What are the different String types really?

Let Jim's String Comparison Chart and Pictures help you out on this one.

16. What are the different generations of Renegades/TigerSharks?

See Chasm's Renegade Guide at Phalanx for Renegade generations.

Bob Bowden got an email from Dale Oliver, owner of Spintastics, clearing up the TigerShark generations. Here is that information: