String Theory: The Video

Remember my previous post about the common facts of yo-yo strings? No? Or maybe it was too complicated to understand? Its okay, here's a refresher course that would definitely help you out a lot! :)

I do hope this clears up whatever questions that you may have!

Did you know? String theory 2

4x3
3x2
1x6
4x2
3x3
Seems familiar? No, I'm not testing your mathematical skills, neither will I be talking about maths.

What you see above are just some of the types of strings that are used in modern day yoyo-ing. Yes, there are that many types and, yes, it matters cause they all affect how the yoyo plays.

Strings are basically a bundle of intertwined bundle folded in half and re-twisted. So when a string is a 4x2 type, or "Type 8", it basically means that there are 4 very fine strings twisted together, folded in half and re-twisted again! Same goes for the 3x2 type, or "Type 6" string.

I will not go through all of the types above though, just the ones that are more popular and readily available in the market.

Firstly there's the regular cotton string that everyone is familiar with. These usually come free with any yoyo purchased. There are 2 common types of cotton string, the old 4x3 and 4x2. These strings are thicker than the more modern ones and therefore prove to take slightly longer to hit the string's sweet spot and more responsive to the average yoyo's response system. Hence, it is highly recommended for most looping yoyos where durability and responsiveness is a major factor.

Secondly, there's a more modern string whereby they mix polyester resin with the wool of the string to a proportion of roughly 1:1 to produce what is commonly known as "The Slick". As the name suggests, it is much smoother compared to the old cotton string hence it is now the preferred choice for modern yoyo players. Slicks exists in the common 4x2 and the new 3x2 types. the new Type 6 string was created to reduce the thickness of the string and therefore provide a bigger string gap in-between the yoyo for better string play. Coupled with the properties of the polyester resin, the slick Type 6, or Slick 6, is now the string of choice for players who favour string play.

These days, a new type of string has been created, the Polyester strings, made of 100% polyester resin. These strings have been received with mixed reviews but is known to be extremely durable and, on certain types of yoyos, very smooth. These strings also exist in Type 6 or Type 8 formats.

These are just some of the commonly found strings in the market and yet there's already so many details to talk about. Of course. there is no "best string", naturally, different people will have different string preferences, so its best to try all of them out for yourself and see what suits you and your style best!

If there are any questions just feel free to post it at the mini chatbox on the right of this page and I will try my best to answer them!

Till next time!
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Did You Know? String Theory 1

If you are new and uninitiated in the basics of this sport, you'd think that the performance of the yoyo is purely dependant of the yoyo itself and how you maintain the internal mechanisms right? Wrong.

Not only is the yoyo's performance affected by how well you clean and maintain your yoyo, but the string also plays a big role in it too!

String should always be changed when there are signs of wear and tear as the chances of the string snapping and causing a world of trouble increases significantly. You don't want to be doing the Around The World and have it snap midway in say, a shopping mall, right?

So, how do you know when it is time to change? There are several criteria to look at:

1) 'Springy-ness' - Remember when you first touched a brand new string? Remember how it was soft and 'springy'? A worn out string would have none of that; Meaning it can no longer absorb the impact of the yoyo as it reaches the end of the string. The extra shock absorbed could help squeeze out a good amount of extra spin time, very useful if you want to land very long combos or going for that Long Sleeper Record!

2) Color - If your string has become dirty and black-ish from dirt, please, discard it immediately! With continued play the dirt particles might get lodged into the bearing and clog it up! Early detection and corrective maintenance would fix that easily but prolonged use would permanently damage the bearing!

Although these are just guidelines on knowing when to change string, its definitely a good idea to change as and when you feel your yoyo performance is starting to get worse. During competitions, participants can change strings as frequently as once every 5 mins!

That's about it for String Theory 1! More little known facts on String Theory 2 soon!

Over and out!
Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Handheld