Angry_Gumball Posted March 13, 2011 Share Posted March 13, 2011 (edited) This thread is about everything skill toys, whether if it was yo-yoing, juggling/diabolo-ing, astrojax, glowsticking, poi (balls you swing around), spin tops...you get the idea, just talk about this fun hobby. As for me, I've done yo-yo since 1996, stopped after the huge Yomega boom in 1999/2000 (When you could get a Firestorm at McDonalds), and picked up on it in 2009/2010. I'd have to say my favorite yo-yos in my collection of who knows how many are my Duncan Metal Drifter, Freehand 2, Throw Monkey, Yomega Maverick, and YoYoFactory Popstar.I just started Diabolo a few days ago and can now toss and almost catch...my catch rate is about 50% (<-- TPR chat inside joke last night), can stick grind, trapeze, and elevator. Which of these skill toys are you involved in doing? I know we have a general hobby thread but figured this thread could possibly stand alone as a broad topic. Here's one of my yo-yos, or "throws," the YoYoFactory Popstar...it's so small, it's one of those things I can just stuff in the pocket and take anywhere. And a small handful of my throws: Edited March 13, 2011 by Angry_Gumball Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MayTheGForceBeWithYou Posted March 13, 2011 Share Posted March 13, 2011 Isn't poi a paste? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angry_Gumball Posted March 13, 2011 Author Share Posted March 13, 2011 Poi is actually those balls you swing around. My sister used to do Poi back in the day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MayTheGForceBeWithYou Posted March 13, 2011 Share Posted March 13, 2011 Oh, thanks for clearing that up. Responding to the thread, if power stilts count as a toy, I can do back flips on them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onewheeled999 Posted March 13, 2011 Share Posted March 13, 2011 I've been juggling for close to eight years now, I'd say that I'm at least decent. I don't know many, if any, really advanced tricks, I've just mastered some really basic ones, such as throwing behind your back, or some variations of Columns (throwing one up, then two at once, with one on either side of the single ball, as the ball is at its apex, creating a neat 2-1-2-1 throwing pattern). What I'm really into these days, just like you, is the diabolo. I've gotten about three years of experience with it, though I've been slacking for the last year, and I feel I'm in the same situation as juggling. I know pretty much everything you do, and not terribly much else, I'm working on learning some new stuff with it. And, if it counts, I've been unicycling for about five years off-and-on, hence my username. ALSO: For diabolo tricks, http://www.diabolotricks.com/ is really good, it has little flash animations of every trick, and provides a really good explanation for each and every one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angry_Gumball Posted March 13, 2011 Author Share Posted March 13, 2011 I've gone to that site, a bit dated-looking but it does the job. I've also watched stuff on Youtube, that's how I learned a lot of my more modern tricks (like Suicides, Zipper, Mach 5). If you're looking to learn yo-yo, check out Andre Boulay, great yo-yo instructor. Speaking of yo-yos, I just finally got down the "Zipper" which is a trick that looks like the classic Chance Zipper ride. The cool thing about the diabolo is that my brother also got one so we are both kind of learning this together, which obviously makes it more fun. We've tossed 1 diabolo back and forth to each other, but as we get better, I think stepping it up to swapping diabolos in mid air will be due. Random question, I always wondered...is "Diabolo" supposed to be pronounced as "Diablo" or "Dia-ball-oh"? I've always said it as "Diablo." Also I forgot to add on the main post, spin tops are also included (Not Beyblades, the tops you wind the string around and throw.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tiger01 Posted March 13, 2011 Share Posted March 13, 2011 I can play the Diablo. I have a special set from a shop from oddballs in Camden Market (London) and I have another two diablos. I haven't played for almost a year now but this summer I will get back out there and see what skills I've still got. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Astrojack Posted March 14, 2011 Share Posted March 14, 2011 Cool thread I've been yo-yoing off and on ever since I had to stand on a chair to throw a sleeper (string was to long for for a kid). Before the yo-yo boom I was able to do the trapeze, double or nothing, and a few other tricks. I didn't start doing advanced tricks until I bought a green henry viper. I quit for a few years when I got in skateboarding and didn't start yo-yoing again until college. I then picked up Astrojax and contact juggling. For my birthday two years ago, my bf bought me a blue henry viper (reminds me of Millenium Force) since he knew I let someone use my green one sevearl years ago and they did walk the dog in the sand Screwed up the bearings. I wish I had youtube growing up since I learned a few new tricks on my bday. Kwijibo is a really cool looking trick I learned that night. Anyone have any experience with yo-yos you need to bind in order for them to return? I need to get into yo-yoing again, but hard to do since my apartment is a bit to cramped. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saldek Posted March 14, 2011 Share Posted March 14, 2011 I use to play the diabolo but its been a while since I picked one up. I had a glow-in-the-dark spool that was fun to play with outside at night. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angry_Gumball Posted March 14, 2011 Author Share Posted March 14, 2011 (edited) Anyone have any experience with yo-yos you need to bind in order for them to return? I need to get into yo-yoing again, but hard to do since my apartment is a bit to cramped. Most of my yo-yos, my main ones anyway, are bind-only. I either broke in the bearing from constant hard sleepers, or cleaned it in acetone and lightly lubed it. Need the unresponsiveness so I can do Plastic Whips without having a sudden snap-back from the yo-yo. Imagine a hunk of metal suddenly flinging back up at you or your face...ouch! I need to practice some of the advanced tricks like Skin the Gerbil, Kwijibo, and Boing Boing. Edited March 15, 2011 by Angry_Gumball Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kcsteve Posted March 14, 2011 Share Posted March 14, 2011 I can pat my head and rub my belly at the same time... I can juggle a bit, standard three ball fare, and one-handed with two balls. KC "I can't wait to see where that statement goes" Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kcsteve Posted March 14, 2011 Share Posted March 14, 2011 ACK! Double post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davisal771 Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 I've always wanted to try diabolo, I think I'll go on ebay and pick up a cheap Chinese set for 5 bucks and try it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angry_Gumball Posted March 15, 2011 Author Share Posted March 15, 2011 ^Honestly, I'd probably spend a little more than that. Why? Because you'll start off with one that will either break, or you will find you're limited and then want to upgrade to a better one. This happened when I started yo-yoing in the 90s. Started off with a cheap $1 yo-yo that broke, bought a Duncan Imperial, got some basics down, then was ready/wanting the transaxle/bearing stuff. There are (from what I've read) some good diabolos for cheap over at yoyosam.com. Actually, get some with rubber cups on them...they will take the massive beating a new diaboloist will do (like me...I've missed so many launches and had it slam on the street after flying 20-30 feet in the air. I went and spent $25 on mine as I knew it was going to last...and I can switch it from being a 1-way bearing to a traditional fixed axle...so it's kind of 2 in 1. Speaking of Diabolos, I finally got down Cat's Cradle, such a fun bouncy trick! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davisal771 Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 ^ Well I figured I'd give it a try first to see if I'm really into it before spending that much on it. I managed to snag one for 5.00 on eBay, should be here soon. And if it breaks but I end up enjoying doing it, I'll get a better one. I'm one of those people that will be super excitable about 1 thing, do it, then get burnt out in a week or so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saldek Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 ^Did you get a rubber diabolo or a rubber/plastic hybrid? Just wondering because the rubber ones tend to lose its shape a lot easier than a hybrid. If it gets deformed it will be harder to manipulate the spool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
no_brain_er Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 I had a yo-yo for the majority of my childhood, but dropped the hobby when I got into high school. This past Christmas, I decided to pick it back up, and I got myself a new Yomega Brain (only because my old X-Brain was nowhere to be found). All I can do right now are the basics, like walking the dog and rocking the cradle. I would like to get better, though! It's still as fun as I can remember it being! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angry_Gumball Posted March 16, 2011 Author Share Posted March 16, 2011 ^Cool. I actually paused (never want to use the word 'quit') when I got into high school as Magic cards and Pokemon took over, as well as skateboarding. This was around 2000. I kind of picked up on it for a short bit in 2004 when my brother had a yo-yo performer come to his school and after all the kids there bought yo-yos. So that gave me the urge to dig up my Yomega Raider. Shortly after, I stopped. In 2009 my parents bought me a Duncan Imperial as a gag birthday gift. I then went to Wal-mart and bought a Mosquito for $5 to get back into it somewhat...then paused. In 2010, my niece had the same performance at her school and she bought one of the basic yo-yos. At that time I had just found my Saberwing Fireball that I stuffed a bearing into. I showed her some tricks and bam! I got back into it. Shortly after, I made a trip to Toys R Us to get a Freehand yo-yo. And we all know where it went from that point And honestly, I feel that these (most skill toys) are the kind of toys that even us adults will never outgrow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowboard246 Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 I am particularly proud that I can successfully solve a Rubik's Cube at 18 when people from the days of the cube can't. I can also make a checkered pattern on it as well as make the center piece a different color from the outer square. Working on the 4x4 cube now which is a lot tougher than I thought. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Astrojack Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 I have a 5x5 Rubik's Cube and can only solve one side. It kept me entertained on my flight over to Singapore. And haven't touched it since. I started yo-yoing again after posting on this thread and my string broke about 15 min into it. Glad I found some extra string Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angry_Gumball Posted March 17, 2011 Author Share Posted March 17, 2011 Fortunately, I make my own string, have a ginormous spool of 100% polyester string. I have yet to even snap this stuff, but after a long while of use it becomes dirty, becomes frayed-looking and feels like a wet noodle (now waits for some nasty response ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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