how to play yoyo
Yoyo Tricks for All Levels
Improve your focus, skill, and precision. Learn how to do yoyo tricks, showcase your creativity, and find the best yoyo tutorials in the SkillAddicts app.
How to Yoyo: Video Tutorial
Both as a popular hobby and competitive sport, modern yoyoing involves freestyle yoyo moves and combos. The trick yoyo spins on a ball bearing and runs on a string. This design keeps the yo-yo spinning longer and allows complex tricks.
Yoyo Tricks: Complete List by Difficulty
Today’s yoyos come in all shapes and sizes. The latest advancement is the so-called unresponsive yoyo – instead of just a simple tug, you need to learn a special technique to return it to your hand.
We recommend learning beginner yoyo tricks first, then trying your hand at unresponsive intermediate and advanced yoyo tricks once you feel confident.
Beginner Yoyo Tricks
Intermediate Yoyo Tricks
Advanced Yoyo Tricks
Yoyo Benefits
Did you know that yoyoing has many benefits such as:
- Enhancing hand-eye coordination
- Stress relief
- Improve focus and patience
Grab a yoyo and feel the difference!
Responsive vs. Unresponsive Yoyoing
There are two main types of yoyo play. The difference depends on how you control the yoyo and how it returns to your hand.
Responsive Yoyo Play
Beginner level. Tricks with a yoyo that spins at the end of the string and returns with a simple tug on the string.
Unresponsive Yoyo Play
Intermediate and advanced level. Tricks with a yoyo that only returns with a trick called the Bind.
Where to Learn Yoyo Tricks
Looking to learn the basic yoyo tricks step by step or level up your already-advanced skills? You’re in the right place. Dive into the app for:
- 2000+ trick tutorials
- Structured trick ladder
- Progress tracking & rewards
- Global community of players
Best Yoyos
Find the best yoyos for your tricks! Introducing our top-sellers, house-brand products, and personal favorites:
Starter Yoyo Set – Best Beginner Yo-Yo Kit with Strings & Unresponsive Upgrade
Original price was: 32,95 €.19,99 €Current price is: 19,99 €.
Yoyo FAQ
What is a yoyo?
A yoyo is a classic toy with two halves connected by an axle and a string, traditionally made of wood or plastic. You hold one end of the string, and the yoyo rolls down and back up.
Modern yoyos include a ball bearing, allowing the yoyo to spin at the end of the string. This long spin lets you to perform yoyo tricks before the yoyo returns to your hand. Modern yoyos are typically made of plastic or aluminum.
There are two main types of modern yoyos:
Responsive yoyo - Returns to your hand with a small tug. Ideal for beginners learning basic tricks.
Unresponsive yoyo - Stays spinning until you perform a bind return. Used for advanced yoyo tricks.
Explore more about yoyo types and yoyo shapes.
What is the easiest yoyo trick?
The easiest modern yoyo trick is Sleeper.
In this trick the yoyo spins at the end of the string without returning. This spin creates the base for most yoyo tricks.
Steps:
- Hold the yoyo with your palm facing up
- Throw the yoyo straight down
- Do not throw under and angle
- Put good amount of power within your throw
- Let the yoyo spin at the bottom
- Tug the string to return before the yoyo stops
- Catch the yoyo with your palm facing down
Why this trick matters:
- Every string trick starts with a strong Sleeper
- Longer spin gives more time to perform tricks
- The stronger you throw the faster and longer yoyo spins
What is the hardest yoyo trick?
It’s impossible to say which yoyo trick is the hardest. Modern yoyoing constantly evolves, and new tricks are created every day.
Some of the most well-known difficult yoyo tricks are:
Professional yoyo players often combine multiple tricks into long combos. The most difficult yoyo combos can include around 20-40 elements.
Most players spend years building skill before reaching a competitive level.
How to do yoyo tricks for beginners?
All yoyo tricks start with mastering the basics. Skipping them will make every future trick harder. Learning order really matters in modern yoyoing. Each trick builds control needed for the next trick.
- Make sure you have the right yoyo for beginners.
- Set up the string and yoyo correctly.
Learn how to wind up the yoyo properly.
Master the first throw - Gravity Pull.
- Learn Sleeper to keep the yoyo spinning at the end of the string.
- Use the SkillAddicts app - the best yoyo coach in your pocket. It guides you step by step from the basics to advanced tricks and combos.
How many yoyo tricks are there?
Thousands of yoyo tricks exist. New tricks appear almost every day because players create new tricks and combine elements in new ways.
There are 5 major categories in modern yoyoing:
- String tricks (1A) - Yoyo interacts with the string.
- Looping tricks (2A) - Two yoyos perform looping patterns.
- Double handed tricks (3A) - Two yoyos doing string tricks.
- Offstring tricks (4A) - String detaches from the yoyo.
- Counterweight tricks (5A) - Weight attached to string instead of finger.
You can learn all 5 styles of yoyoing in the SkillAddicts app.
Competitive freestyle routines combine many tricks into one performance. Watch legendary winning routine of World 3A Yoyo Champion Hajime Miura.
What is the best yoyo for tricks?
The best yoyo for yoyo tricks depends on player's skill level.
- Beginners: Responsive, plastic, durable, easy to control and return.
- Intermediate: Unresponsive, metal or bimetal, long spin, fingerspin hub.
- Advanced: Unresponsive, bimetal, long spin, wide body shape.
- Best yoyo for beginners - SkillAddicts Starter Yoyo
- Best yoyo for intermediate - SkillAddicts Pro Yoyo
- Best yoyo for advanced - SkillAddicts Banger Yoyo
How to do yoyo tricks with an unresponsive yoyo?
Unresponsive yoyos require a bind to return. The unresponsive yoyo will not return with a tug.
How to do bind:
- Throw a strong Sleeper
- Create a string mount
- Wrap string into the gap of the yoyo
- The yoyo grabs the string and returns
- Catch the yoyo
Why unresponsive yoyos are used for advanced tricks:
- Longer spin time
- Smoother string movement
- Greater control over the yoyo
- The yoyo won't suddenly return during tricks
- Significantly improved performance
Tips:
- Learn basic yoyo tricks with responsive yoyo first
- Practise the bind return before attempting advanced tricks
- Use the SkillAddicts app to learn all the yoyo tricks properly and progress faster