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A List of Yo-Yo Tricks

Give your yo-yo some variety. Learn new tricks like "walk the dog," "loop the loop," "the sleeper" or "rock the baby." Use a plain yo-yo that weighs at least 1 ounce, and do not disassemble the yo-yo unless it is specially made to take apart. Read all the directions for a trick before trying it. Do each trick one step at a time. Always be careful when using a yo-yo, even if you are alone. If your are doing tricks in front of others, make them stand back a safe distance.

Basic Instructions
- Unwind the string and stand the yo-yo on the floor in front of you. Cut the string even with your chest. Tie a slipknot and place it over your middle finger, past the first knuckle. Let the yo-yo touch the ground; the hand with the yo-yo is belly button high. If the string hurts or feels like it's cutting off circulation, take a break. You can also wrap a bandage around your finger and put the loop over it. Get extra string when buying a yo-yo to prepare for string breaks, wear and tear, or knots that have to be cut out. Knots and yo-yos go hand-in-hand. Never use a knife to undo knots. If possible, open a paper clip and use it to untie the knot. Hold the yo-yo in your hand palm up with the string wrapped to come off the middle finger and go over the top of the yo-yo. Let the yo-yo unwind at the end of the string when it becomes too tight.
Sleeper
- Curl your hand; bend your elbow and make a muscle. Give your hand, fingers, wrist and arm a downward whipping motion like shaking water off the hand. Throw the yo-yo out and in front. While throwing the yo-yo, lift the hand 3 or 4 inches, turning it so the palm faces the ground. This makes the yo-yo spin or sleep at the bottom of the string. Catch the yo-yo after giving the string a quick upward tug.
Forward Pass
- Stand with one foot slightly out in front. Pretend to throw a bowling ball. Extend the yo-yo hand, palm up, as far back as possible. Keep the wrist curled. Swing the arm forward, uncurling the wrist. Release the yo-yo when the hand is even with the forward toe. Once the yo-yo is completely out of the hand, turn the hand so the palm again faces the ceiling. The yo-yo will spin to the end of the string, reverse itself and return to the hand, where you can catch it.
Breakaway
- Make a muscle with the yo-yo by your ear. Do a hard, fast outward throw or spinner directly out to one side. Swing the yo-yo down by the ankles out to the opposite side. When the yo-yo reaches chest height, pop it back in.
Loop-the-Loop
- Stand and throw the yo-yo the same way as for the Forward Pass. When the yo-yo comes back, do not catch it. Direct the yo-yo between your arm and body, making a circle with your wrist. The yo-yo will pass very close to your stomach, then go back out away from you, making a loop.

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