How to Tell if You Have a Good Yo-Yo

Feel the weight of the yo-yo. A good yo-yo needs to be have enough weight to pull the cord taut as it falls rather than wobble around. If it's solid, this is best. If it's hollow, it should be made of a heavier material, like thick plastic or metal, or be large enough that the weight is still significant. If the yo-yo is smaller, make sure it has a corresponding thin cord so that the yo-yo will have enough weight to draw it taut.

Gently tug at the yo-yo to see if it wobbles or if the two pieces are in danger of breaking apart. If the yo-yo's axle is made from one solid, carved piece -- rather than yo-yos in two pieces that snap together at this point -- this is generally a sign of good quality. If the pieces are snapped together at this point and have any rough plastic ridges in the center of the axle, the string may get stuck on these or become frayed by the plastic edge.

Observe how the yo-yo is secured to the axle when it's unwound. Some yo-yo strings are tied tightly to the axle, while others have a loop around the axle that's meant to be loose. Neither design is incorrect, but only the looped yo-yo will allow you to do tricks with spin at the end of the cord, such as "walk the dog." If the thread is meant to have a loop, but the yo-yo won't spin, this may not be a good toy.

Try out the yo-yo; this is the best test of its quality. Even if you're still learning to master the use of a yo-yo, a good yo-yo will make this easy. The cord should not twist or bunch up, and you shouldn't have to tug the yo-yo very hard to get it to spin back up the string.