How to Do Yo‐Yo Tricks

Trying Basic Tricks

Make a loop with the string for your finger. Even though yo-yos come with loops, they often won't fit your finger tightly. Feed the string that's right under the main loop through the already tied main loop. Put your middle finger through the new loop, with the double strings towards your ring finger. The loop will tighten around your finger. The part of the loop with two strings should go towards your ring finger.

Work on the basic throw. Hold the yo-yo in your dominant hand with your palm up. The string should be on top of the yo-yo. Form your arm into a muscle, bent at the elbow with your forearm perpendicular to your upper arm, which should be straight out from your body. Flip your arm down into a throw, letting the yo-yo roll out of your hand as you do. Your arm should be straight out in front of you by the end. Work on throwing the yo-yo as straight as possible from your hand, as that makes doing tricks much easier.

Pull the yo-yo back up. When your yo-yo hits the bottom of the throw, immediately tug it to make it come back up. As it comes back up, have your palm facing down so you can catch the yo-yo. If you can't get your yo-yo to come back up, work on throwing a little harder. This trick will only work on a responsive yo-yo, one meant to come back up. If you have an unresponsive yo-yo, you'll have to use the bind from the basic string tricks.

Try the sleeper. Throw the yo-yo to the front as you learned in the front throw. As you bring your arm down, snap your hand out and then stop the snap quickly. If done properly, the yo-yo should stay at the bottom of the string while still spinning, which is the sleeper.

Move on to walk the dog. Throw a front roll into a sleeper. Swing the yo-yo slightly behind you, and then bring it forward. Touch it to the ground, and as you do, walk forward with your yo-yo, so it looks like you're walking your yo-yo. Keep tension in the string. If you allow slack, the yo-yo returns to your hand.

Learning the Basics of String Tricks (1A)

Perfect the front mount. Once you throw your yo-yo, let it spin below in sleeper to work it into a front mount. Use your other hand to push the side of your index finger into the string from behind, lifting the string up as you go. The hand holding the end of the string goes under the yo-yo from the back, threading the string around the yo-yo as you bring it to the front. Bring your dominant hand up to the height of your other hand. You should have three even lengths of string in front of you now.

Teach yourself the breakaway. A breakaway is a throw you do across the front of your body, which is important in string tricks. Make sure the string is on the top of the yo-yo. The yo-yo should be in your dominant hand with your palm face up. Lift your elbow out to the side to get a bit more power, and then roll the yo-yo off the edge of your hand facing outward, towards your thumb. As it rolls, let it flip in front of you towards your other arm.

Figure out the side mount. A side mount is when you start with a breakaway, but then you mount the yo-yo on the string with your other hand. As you come across your body, flip the yo-yo underneath your other hand, and let the string go around your index finger. The yo-yo will flip over your finger. Have it land on top of the string that's going in front of your body.

Work on a side bind with a non-responsive yo-yo. A bind is when you pull your yo-yo back to your hand on a non-responsive yo-yo (the kind that won't automatically come back to your hand). Start by throwing a breakaway. As it comes towards your other hand, place a finger from that hand underneath the string. With your dominant hand holding the string, pull the string around the yo-yo and up the other side. As you come around with the string, let go of the loop of string you've created over your non-dominant hand, and then pull up with your throwing hand to return the yo-yo to your hand.

Use a split bottom mount. Throw the yo-yo out in front. With your non-dominant hand, press into the string from the back so the yo-yo swings backwards. Use your index finger from your throwing hand, and let the yo-yo wrap around your finger, landing on top of that part of the string.

Dismount your yo-yo. To dismount your yo-yo, you go in the opposite direction of the mount you did. So for a front dismount, start in the front mount. Unwrap the string from the yo-yo, and return the yo-yo to your hand.

Turning 1A Basics into Tricks

Perform the brain scramble (brain twister). Start by getting into a front mount from a front throw. Have your yo-yo hand (the one holding the end of the string) slightly below your other hand, but they should be right near each other. Swing the yo-yo forward slightly. As it comes back, use the momentum to flip it over your hands by pushing into the double strings with your front finger. Keep it going by using your other finger to twist the yo-yo around your other finger, making it flip over and over. The string will loop around your yo-yo hand, but you can just let the loops slide off as you finish the trick.

Try man on the trapeze. Start with a side mount. Once the yo-yo is mounted on the string, you should have three even lengths of string in front of you, as it wraps back and forth. Place your hands fairly close together, then swing the yo-yo back and forth for the trapeze. If you're having trouble, try throwing your breakaway into the side mount with more strength. Also, make sure you're landing the side mount as close to your non-dominant finger as possible, as it's easier to aim.

Perform double or nothing. Start with a side mount, except keep your hands closer together. They should be less than a foot apart at the same height. As the string flips around your non-dominant hand, you should still have quite a bit of string left. Use your index finger on your throwing hand to flip the yo-yo around again. When it comes back to your non-dominant hand, flip it around and land it on the outermost string.

Try an Eli hop. Start by getting into a side mount. After you do, bring both hands slightly up in the air, throwing the yo-yo up into the air. Bring your hands together, and then pull your non-throw hand back out to land the yo-yo back on the string. When you're done, dismount your side mount.