Hobbies And Interests
Kickstart
Start with the yo-yo completely unwound. The kickstart only involves using your foot to start the yo-yo moving up on its own. Place the yo-yo on the ground vertically, as you do not want the side of the yo-yo facing you for this trick, and hold the string in the hand you use to yo-yo. Put a small amount of pressure on the side of the yo-yo that is facing you with your foot, while simultaneously applying some tension to the string. Do not place your foot completely on the yo-yo. Ensure that if you pressed down with your foot, your foot only covers it enough so that the yo-yo would go rolling. While applying tension to the string, quickly press your foot down on the yo-yo. This will send the yo-yo spinning, but instead of just rolling, it will spin upwards because of the pressure you applied to the string. Practice will make this trick perfect, as it is possible to fully wind the yo-yo with this method.
The Mount
Hold the yo-yo in your throw hand. Wrap the string around your other hand, going under and then over your non-throw hand. Carefully place the yo-yo on top of the string in the space where the two discs meet, very close to your throwing hand. Assuming your right hand is your throwing hand (reverse instructions if you throw with your left hand), raise your left hand up so that your yo-yo is hanging on the string. Slowly begin bringing up your right hand while simultaneously lowering your left hand. The yo-yo should start to rotate counter-clockwise. If it isn't rotating, pinch the string in your left hand and it should start. If this in turn puts too much slack in the string, lessen the pressure of your pinch. As you move your hands to wind the yo-yo, slowly increase the speed of both hands until the yo-yo finally reaches your left hand. Quickly let go of the yo-yo with your left hand, which will send it down with enough force to bring it back up to your right hand, completely wound.
Automatic Hand Wind
The automatic hand wind is another cool way to wind your yo-yo without having to twist the string several times. It is much like the kickstart method, but does not involve possibly scratching the yo-yo on the floor. Ensure the string is secured to your throw hand. Hold the yo-yo in your other hand down towards your side. Hold the yo-yo vertically and place your thumb on top. Your thumb will need to be between you and the string for this to work. Raise your throw hand up over your head to apply tension to the string. With tension applied, push your thumb down with a quick snap while pulling up with your throw hand. The yo-yo should catch on the string and begin to wind up. Once again, it is possible to wind the yo-yo all the way using this method, but difficult. If just starting with this trick, one can let the yo-yo come up the string as far as physics allows, then let it fall back down so you can use the momentum to bring it back up.
The Quick Flip (Advanced Mount)
This way to wind your yo-yo is slightly like the mount, but is more impressive and takes more time to learn. Place the unwound yo-yo on the string by pinching the middle of the string tightly with your thumb and pointer finger on your non-throw hand and cradling the yo-yo on the string close to your throw hand. Hold your non-throw hand with the pinched string above your throw hand so that the yo-yo is as close to your throw hand as possible. Quickly bring your throw hand up while lowering your non-throw hand, never releasing the pinch in your string. Once your throw hand is nearly to your non-throw hand, release your pinch quickly and pull your throw hand up. The momentum from the quick motion should catch the string onto the yo-yo and pull it upwards. With this cool way of winding the yo-yo, you do not even have to let the yo-yo go back down for momentum. Once this trick is done right, you will only need to do the one smooth motion and then catch the yo-yo.