Tuning Tips

    Taking good care of your yo-yo is very important in ensuring that it works properly, and to it's highest potential. Before you can start playing with the yo-yo, you need to adjust the string according to your height. This helps ensure that you shouldn't hit the floor, when you go to throw the yo-yo down. To do this you need to unwind the yo-yo completely, hold onto the string and set the yo-yo on the ground between your feet. Next hold the string straight up in front of you and cut the string just above your waistline. Tie a loop at the end of the string you just cut, then make a slipknot by pulling part of the string through the loop. Now place the slipknot on your middle finger behind the first joint, and roll up your yo-yo making sure that the string is coming off the top of the yo-yo once in your hand.

    The most common place for there to be a problem with your yo-yo is the string. Replacing the string often will help ensure the safety of it breaking, as well as making it work better.

    When To Change Your String

    1. When your string looks dirty
    2. Shows any signs of wear like fraying
    3. Feels really stiff or hard

    The professional players usually change their strings after every demonstration to help ensure the safety of the people around them. The string tension is also important in performing a trick well.

    Finding the Correct String Tension

    1. Tricks that require a spinner or sleeper need a loose string.To loosen a string, let the yo-yo hang at the bottom of the string and turn the yo-yo counter-clock wise ( left ) several times or until the yo-yo slows or stops spinning.

    2. Tricks that require any form of looping need a tighter string. To tighten the string do the same but turn the yo-yo clock-wise ( right ). As you learn the tricks, you will learn the string tensions needed for each one.

    3. The easiest way to correct the string tension is just to take the string off your finger and let the string hang down and unwind by itself.

    Yo-yo Maintenance

    1. For yo-yos that have wooden axles, try putting a little wax on the last few inches of the axle end of your string. Lightly sand the axle of your yo-yo, using a skinny strip of sandpaper, being sure that you do it evenly all the way around or use your yo-yo string. You use the string by first taking it off the yo-yo and then just pull the string through the yo-yo a few times.

    2. If you have a yo-yo with a bearing in it try to put a couple drops of light oil on it, or even vaseline, but just a little. Putting oil on a bearing yo-yo will cut back on the noise and make it sleep a little better. Also it will make the yo-yo come back better.