Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What is the difference between a chinese yoyo and diabolo?
2. I am a beginner, should I get a chinese yoyo or diabolo?
3. My 8 year old son want's a diabolo, is he ready for one?
4. What are some good beginner tricks?
5. My string is dirty, what kind do I replace it with?
6.Is there a good Forum where they talk just about diabolos?
7.How do you pronounce diabolo?
8.How do I knot string onto my CRYSTAL COLOR HANDSTICKS?
9.What is the best length of string for my sticks?
10. How can I get more spin? Most tricks don't work because I can't get the speed up.
11. I wonder why every time I wrap the string for more speed the diabolo gets rolled up.
12.How much physical abuse can a chinese yoyo / diabolo take?
13.Which names for tricks are right? I learned it as a Stop-over, but you call it a Trapeze.
Q. What is the difference between a chinese yoyo and a diabolo?
A: The diabolo is made of a softer material, that helps avoid minor
injuries while yoying. However, it does not produce any sound. On the
other hand, the chinese yoyo is made of a harder, more rigid material,
and produces a powerful humming sound.
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Q: I am a beginner, should I get a chinese yoyo or diabolo?
A: Most people find it easier to learn the basics on a diabolo than
a chinese yoyo. I highly recommend getting a diabolo before the chinese
yoyo. However, some people are able to learn the chinese yoyo before
the diabolo.
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Q: My 8 year old son want's a diabolo, is he ready
for one?
A: Some kids as young as 6 have the patience and desire to learn the
basics of chinese yo-yoing. They need to show some coordination, patience,
and direction following skills. If this describes your 6 year old and
he has a great desire for the diabolo, he is more than ready. The diabolo
is a quick learn for many kids, but discouraging for others. A few tricks
can be learned quickly, but the rest take a bit of practice. If the
desire is lost, don't loose the diabolo and sticks, for it will most
likely get attention later, say when he's 10 or a teen.
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Q: What are some good beginner tricks?
A: The most basic tricks are the Trapeze or Waterfall and also the Forced
Sun for beginners. Some teach Under The Leg first, which is good too.
A lot has to do with what looks fun for the beginner.
A trick that many want to learn first is the High Toss:
High Toss.
Keep working on more and more spin. Spin is a big 'key' to diaboloing.
Add Spin.
Here are some beginner chinese yo-yoing terms:
Beginning T erms.
The basic
page has good info for beginners
Beginning Basics.
The trapeze is a great trick to learn that has a bunch of variations.
Beginning Trapezes, Right Trapeze, Trapezes.
If you
have trouble with Trapezes. Try the Waterfall
Waterfall.
After learning
the Trapeze look at all these cool variations:
Alternating Trapezes, Chinese Suicide, Trapeze Cradle.
The Sun is another great basic tricks with several variations.
Forced Sun, Beginning Suns, Suns.
If you are having trouble following animations, you can slow them down
and stop them with the Movie Contols on the Flash page.
FLASH Movie Controls
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Q: My string is dirty, what kind do I replace it with?
A: Cotton and nylon string are both good for diaboloing. These can usually
be found at your local hardware store. String will also be available
on this site very soon.
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Q: Is there a good Forum where they talk just about diabolos?
A: Yes, Diabolo.ca is the place to be. Chances are, if you have a question
about diaboloing, it is answered at diabolo.ca. If you can't find it,
you can easily ask about it and the replies will come in from the many
that frequent the site. Diabolo.ca The Diabolo Forum
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Q: How do you pronounce diabolo?
A: Here's the six ways I hear it pronounced.
The capital Lettered syllables are pronounced strongly.
1) dee-Ah-blow
2) dee-ah-Bow-low (or) 3) dee-Ah-bow-low
4) die-Ah-blow
5) die-ah-Bow-low (or) 6) die-Ah-bow-low
I'm in the United States so there may be many other ways.
I say #1 dee-Ah-blow and most people I see say it that way. We kind
of leave off one of the 'o's. Those that say it, "dee-Ah-bow-low"
or, "dee-ah-Bow-low", are probably more correct.
In my opinion, it can be said any way you want. It all kind of adds
to the mystery around the diabolo.
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Q: How do I knot string onto my CRYSTAL COLOR HANDSTICKS?
A: First, run the string threw the metal cap of the handsticks. Next,
make a small knot on the other side of the metal cap. Then, screw the
cap on (If it does not fit, try using a wrench to screw it on, or make
the knot smaller)
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Q: What is the best length of string for my sticks?
A: String length is a personal preference. It has a lot to do with your
height. Stand on one stick and tighten the string straight up. Measure
to where the string ends on your other stick. In my opinion chest high
is a minimum and nose high is a maximum. I use about shoulder high length.
You need to find a length that works best for you. It is not really
a science, you are looking for the length that 'fits' you. I sometimes
use a longer string when working on around the arm/leg/body tricks.
I use a shoulder length string when doing two diabolos, but some people
use different lengths for one or two diaboloing.
I suggest having at least two sets of sticks if possible. Each set should
be a different length. When having problems with a trick, give it a
go with your other set. I have been surprised that a little extra or
less string can mean all the difference.
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Q: How can I get more spin? Most tricks don't work because I can't get
the speed up.
A: This problem is one of everyone's problems when first learning. Some
beginners get around this by putting a full wrap around the axle with
the right stick. If their string is good and a bit slippery this will
work, but beware for this practice will cause the diabolo to quickly
'wrap-up' into an instant tangle. Here follows a few points to follow
that may apply to you.
1) Start with a Rolling Start. I have seen beginners that didn't know
how to do a Rolling Start. The Rolling Start (for right-handers) is
where you lay the diabolo off to the right and roll it in front of you
toward your left side and then lift it.
2) If you are right handed, pull only with your RIGHT when adding speed.
Think of your LEFT as an even'er. It keeps the diabolo from hopping
up and down too much as you add speed. Yes, you have to pull up with
the LEFT, but not as much. Gradually add longer pulls with the RIGHT
and move the LEFT hand in a way so the diabolo just bobs up and down.
If the diabolo is jumping around too much, shorten your pulls with the
RIGHT until you can control the diabolo from doing that. With practice
you will find you can pull longer with the RIGHT and still control with
LEFT.
3) A very important point is that your stick ends need to be fairly
close together as they move up and down. If your sticks are too fair
apart, then the diabolo won't bob up and down, it will jump about.
4) Do a Clockwise Sun (CW Sun). The same movements of your Right and
Left hand can be done with the extra twist of string that the CW Sun
creates. The twist on the axle actually helps control the diabolo from
bobbing about as pull with the right. Other moves for more speed out
of the CW Sun are seen on the Adding Spin Page.
5) Use a 5 inch diabolo. Instead of a smaller diabolo. The extra weight
usually helps the beginner with momentum and the heavier diabolo is
not effected by extra hard pulls as bad.
6) Make sure your string is not dirty. Change it. Also buy extra string
so it is there if you need it. The slicker the string the less drag
it causes. With clean string you can often add a wrap around the axle
without it 'wrapping-up' on you. This also allows you to successfully
do Chinese Whip Thrusts, which may be the best movement for premium
speed.
7) Many diaboloist learn to add spin with the Horizontal Power Whips.
It is a very common way to gain speed, but it takes practice and a learned
rhythm.
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Q: I wonder why every time I wrap the string for more speed the diabolo
gets rolled up.
A: REASONS for 'Roll-up' after a full wrap around the axle.
1) Your string is dirty. After I change my string I can do a wrap for
speed without a roll-up, but after about a half hour of play the diabolo
starts rolling up on me. My string starts to look gray when it gets
dirty.
2) Your string is too fat or fuzzy. With the string wrapped, two diameters
just won't fit in the 'throat' of the axle. The 'throat' is the narrow
area where the diabolo cups approach the axle.
3) Your diabolo's throat is too narrow or has a rough spot in it. There
are many types of diabolos with different angled throats leaving less
or more room for your string to wrap. Also if there is a rough spot
where the string catches, it will cause problems during the wrap. The
diabolo I use the most is the Henry Circus which has a narrow throat.
The Henry Circus and Jazz are very good yet will roll up easier than
the Renegade or the Mister Babache Jumbo, because of their throat size.
SOLUTIONS:
1) Change dirty string.
2) Don't use the wrap for speed. I know this is hard to do because the
wrap works so good for speed, but the resulting roll up IS JUST NOT
WORTH IT! This means learning different methods for gaining speed see
Adding Speed.
3) Only do about two or three pulls then unwrap real quick.
4) The Chinese Whip Thrust is a speed gainer that uses a wrap on the
axle. The trick to the Chinese Whip Thrusts is how one of the sticks
are kept forward so the 'spring' shape of the wrap is more open. (Make
a wrap, stop, look at the wrap, and realize how your pulls need to be
so the string doesn't lay over on itself.) The Chinese Whip is difficult
for me with my Henry diabolo and my Dube' string (which is a bit fat),
but many diaboloist use this trick all the time. I have better luck
with a Renegade or Mister Babache Jumbo.
5) Find some slick string or spray Armor-All (USA auto interior product)
on your string and/or axle. Smaller harder string is usually slicker.
6) Change to a diabolo with the smooth wide throat.
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Q: How much physical abuse can a chinese yoyo / diabolo take?
A: Our products are made from top-notch High Density Polyurethane Plastic (HDPE), and alumninum. They can take years of trick-playing and combos. However, repeatedly throwing the yoyo very high (30+ feet) could result in damages to the yoyo. When practicing high throws, do so on grass. Also, irregularly harsh abuse may result in yoyo damage. Furthermore, playing the yoyo by the Ocean can result in damage from salts, which may corrode the metal axle of the yoyo. When playing near the beach, remember to wash off your yoyo/ diabolo with freshwater, and dry it off.
By any chance, if your yoyo does in fact seperate, you can use a wrench to screw the nut on either cup, to fix the yoyo.
Q: Which names for tricks are right? I learned it
as a Stop-over, but you call it a Trapeze.
A: A tricks name is what you like calling it. Especially so you can
remember it or relate it to other diaboloist you know. Many of the tricks
on diabolo tricks are the names for tricks that I first learned them
as. Some names came from diabolo instructional books. Many names are
from those folks that discovered a move they thought was neat and sent
it in to Diabolo Tricks. I have tried to make trick names on the site
to follow some standard, yet others like the El Fonce make no sense.
I believe that naming and remembering your tricks is a needed bit of
organizational discipline important to knowing a lot of tricks. Audiences
love hearing the names of tricks especially if they are funny names.
Some diabolo performers announce good visual tricks while performing
them like the Coffee Grinder, for example.
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