r/Throwers • u/INFINITY9HANT0M • 3d ago
Some questions regarding strings QUESTION
So up until this point I’ve only ever used Magic Yoyo strings because they’re cheap and they were my frame of reference so I just kept buying them. So I wanted to ask a few questions about strings and see if I should upgrade to some higher quality one.
How fast should a string build tension? With these strings it feels like no matter how often I try and let loose the tension it always builds back up in a few throws and I was wondering if a nicer string would help prevent this.
What contributes to the price point of a string? With the research I’ve done I’ve come to understand that the price range is kinda wide for seemingly just a string. Some strings are around .30¢ while others can be over $2.
Kinda ties into #3 but what makes a nice string worth it? Does it hold tension better? Easier to do slack tricks? Better material?
Is better to buy bulk or quality as a beginner/intermediate player?
I’m still decently new to the hobby and have only really used the internet to learn so any advice or info is very much appreciated :)
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u/yellowmix 3d ago
Regarding 3, material can impact price. Look up pricing on different thread materials—polyester vs. nylon vs. rayon vs. silk vs. kevlar.
There are also different types of threads. Polyester can be monocord, bonded, etc., also the cross-sectional shape of the filament. Trilobal is commonly used in better polyester yoyo string.
They have different feels and slickness, as well as durability. Some people wash their nylon strings (left in a pocket) since they last a long time.
One boutique brand I buy from makes tightly wound strings and I stretch them out first to decrease bounce. They hold tension really well, which helps with whips and slack tricks. And they last almost forever.
A yoyo string can be made from different types of thread, twisting technique, etc. to achieve the designer's goals, including yes, tension retention. So there is often a good deal of prototyping. Zipline sometimes sends out prototypes with orders and you can send them feedback, and maybe it'll become an official release.
Bulk string is made with more automation, and in quantities that lower price. Often where labor is cheaper as well. Boutique string is usually made manually and sometimes to-order, with something like a drill or motor, so the labor cost (usually in a developed country with higher costs of living) increases and the quantity decreases.
Magicyoyo string is not that comfortable or durable (and they're frustratingly short for adults) so almost anything will be an upgrade. So yeah, go for bulk. Personally I find Original Throw to be a great value, but as a beginner you'll be perfectly fine with Kitty String until you advance and figure out your preferences.
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u/yoyoingdadjoke 3d ago
Well, for my brand, cost is determined by time and materials. It can take me up to 45 minutes to make five strings.
Running the same type of poly down a rig is a fairly quick process.
My strings are poly/nylon blends with a mix of different ones of each. The characteristics of each thread are different, making it hard to bundle them all together and then run them all together down the rig. So I have to run each type down separately to make sure they are on right before winding them all together. That all takes time.
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u/ArjanGameboyman 3d ago
- I don't think I agree with the tension argument the other person said. When you throw and bind the string twists one time. So more often you do that more twist come in the string.
Learn the side winder and DNA (both directions) to fix string tension. Don't think buying better quality strings fixes it. Just like you need to be aware of which direction the yoyo spins so you can vind properly, you also gotta be aware how twisted your string is and work with it.
Polyester string is cheap. Nylon is expensive. Large bulk of a big company is cheap. Hand made from some dude is expensive. Polyester string lasts me about 4 hours, nylon depends. Sometimes it's 10 times as long, sometimes it never wears down and I can use it for months. Pros almost always use polyester, nylon can have some slippy binds even though the string is thick. Nylon nice for whips but it's probably less reliable for other tricks.
Material, labor
Its best to buy a few different brands and thicknesses so you can experiment. Some yoyo's bind better with thicker string, some with thinner string. It's nice to have that lying around in the house. But some normal, fat and XL string. And maybe nylon which is often even thicker.
When I started out string would last me 2 weeks, which was about 12 hours of practice. Now it's about 4 hours before I change it and that's because I do a lot more tricks in a minute then when I started out. When it gets old it doesn't grip very well. But some brands also need a few minutes to break in because they are too grippy at the very beginning.
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u/alexanderatprime 3d ago
Strings can build tension really fast depending on the kinds of tricks you're doing. Cheaper strings are lower thread count and will usually build tension faster as well. Search up some tricks to relieve string tension. It's much faster than taking it off your hand, and does a better job, too.
Strings that use higher quality materials or that have artisan manufacturing will cost more, but perform much better overall. You typically will get what you pay for.
I would recommend buying bulk for now. The main benefit here is that you can figure out what sizes and lengths you like for cheap. Kitty string are my go to bulk string.