Spinworkx First Mount #21 - Senba Hook

Hidemasa Senba is well known within the yo-yo community for creating awesome and insane yo-yo tricks and just leaving Spinners scratching their heads in amazement. The Senba Hook was one of those tricks that when Senba did in his freestyle from back in the day, the crowd would just go nuts.

This trick, and also a first mount, is basically sort of a laceration and a whip combined. It may be tough to pick it up at first, but keep trying and working at it and eventually, you are bound to get it. Definitely a trick that every modern Spinner should know.

Now let us get into the explanation on how it is done.

Throw a straight breakaway and have the yo-yo stay stationary in a vertical position from your throw hand to the floor.

Now hop the yo-yo upwards while your throwing hand moves in sort of a 'whipping' motion, causing the string to be slack and in a wave-like motion.

This slack string should continue to have this wave motion all the way over to the left side to your non-throwing hand. At this point in time, your throwing hand should start to move closer to the yo-yo, but not touching the yo-yo.

Now stick out your non-throwing hand index finger, and let this slack wave string go from under your non-throwing index finger and over your finger into the yo-yo. 

Do note that not one string segment, but TWO string segments should be hitting your non-throwing index finger going under and over.

Now this two string segments that is going over your non-throwing index should be like a 'whip' and hook the yo-yo as the yo-yo is dropping. The yo-yo should go/hit the outer string before landing comfortably into the Hook mount.

Once the yo-yo lands into the Senba Hook, to ensure that you got it right, when you do a somersault to the left (for right handers), instead of getting into a Trapeze, it should be a reverse Trapeze.

If you can't seem to get the Senba Hook at first, keep trying and keep going at it and eventually, you will be bound to hit it correctly. Remember, practice makes perfect!

A few pointers to take note of when learning the Senba Hook:

1) Keep the string moving in sort of a wave motion, making it go over and under your non-throwing hand with lots of slack to catch the yo-yo in a Hook.

2) Practice this trick on an unresponsive yo-yo first!

3) Think of the Senba Hook as a Laceration followed by a whip once the string wraps onto your non-throwing index finger.

4) Remember to have enough slack in the string for the yo-yo to get caught in.

We have come to the end of #21 of the Spinworkx First Mount project.

If you have any questions or feedback, drop us a note here, or shout out to us at our Facebook page.

You can also show off your Senba Hook by tagging us on our Instagram Page, with @spinworkxsg #firstmount. 

Till next time,

Keep Spinning!~

SHOWCASE Vol.2 & Spinworkx Challenge (23 February 2014)

The Spinworkx Challenge & SHOWCASE Vol.2 is coming up again.

What: Spinworkx Challenge

When: 23 February 2014 (Sunday)

Time: 2pm - 3.30pm

Where: Spinworkx Store at Orchard Central

Who: Absolutely anybody can take part

The Spinworkx Challenge was conceived back in 2010/2011 to much notoriety and many Spinners in Singapore absolutely dreaded it. Looking at the list of tricks to perform, it may look easy and a breeze to most. But under pressure, many players tend to crack and get nervous, and start making those little itty-bitty mistakes. Do you think you have got what it takes, and take up our Challenge?

Players who have completed the Spinworkx Challenge up to Intermediate 2 are:

1) Hans Wong-Jensen

2) Peh Li Hao

Think you can do better than them, register and come on down to beat the Challenge!

Details on what you would need to do for the Spinworkx Challenge:

http://www.spinworkx.com/Spinworkx/Spinworkx_Challenge.html

Register for the Spinworkx Challenge here:

http://www.spinworkx.com/Spinworkx/Spinworkx_Challenge_Reg.html

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Next up, the second installment of the yo-yo freestyle throwdown/contest that everyone loves. SHOWCASE Vol.2 is coming up and who is going to take it this time around? Join us, show off what you have got, and prep yourself for the upcoming WCC & AP/SYYC events this year.

What:  SHOWCASE Vol.2

When: 23 February 2014 (Sunday)

Time:  4pm - 6pm

Where: Recognize Studios at Orchard Central

Who: Absolutely anybody can take part

There will be 2 separate freestyle events for SHOWCASE. There is the usual 1A Division and the combined X Division.

Read up more info on the webpage here:

http://www.spinworkx.com/showcasefs/SHOWCASE/Divisions.html

Register for SHOWCASE here:

http://www.spinworkx.com/showcasefs/SHOWCASE/registration.html

We are excited to see everyone come together and throwdown without the added pressure of needing a 'seed' or attaining a high rank. At SHOWCASE, Spinners will be able to show-off their banging tricks, mind-boggling combos and essentially get to do showcase all that they've got.

Once agin, we are requesting for community-based volunteers to judge at the event. This benefits the volunteers as they get to learn how to judge AND they get to learn how to improve on their own freestyles by understanding how freestyles are clicked and scored. (If you wish to volunteer as a judge, fill in the registration form as well). Don't worry, we will also have experienced judges judging alongside.

For all who are taking part at SHOWCASE, do note that all Freestyles at the event are 2 minutes long, instead of the usual 1 minute or 3 minutes.

Sign up for both the Spinworkx Challenge & SHOWCASE today!

FRESH: C3yoyodesign Level 6

Name: Level 6

Bearing Size: Large (Size C)

Response: C3 Silicone Pads

There is no stopping C3yoyodesign. In 2013 alone, they released over 10 new yo-yos, all of which are catered towards their team members, as well as competition throws. Furthermore, their offerings are not just of high quality yo-yos, but many of which are really playing, yet with a comfortable price tag attached. The last affordable metal throw C3 released was the Di Base 2. No doubt it was a great, and stable yo-yo, but players called for more affordable, full-sized throws. C3yoyodesign answered their request with a yo-yo that will just blow you away.

The Level 6 is truly on another level. Coming in a variety of Acid Washed bright colors, the Level 6 aren't just great playing, they look great too! C3yoyodesign decided to feature and fuse together popular elements from yo-yos such as the Berserker, P-wave, Mo-vitation, Electric Flash, etc to create a yo-yo that was geared for performance.

What amazed us most about the Level 6 is not so much the way it looked, or how great it played. The surprising thing was the price that it retailed for. We have not found a yo-yo that played as good as a Level 6 for the price that it was selling for.

The Level 6 features a wide, round Butterfly shape and comes with a large bearing and C3 pads for response. When in play, it glides around fast and purposefully, and we would describe it as feeling rather floaty. The shape of the Level 6 resembles a Berserker in the way it curves at the edges, so we decided to do a small comparison between the Level 6 and the Berserker.

As seen in the picture, the shapes of both yo-yos are similar to each other. However, there is a small step/groove on the rim of the Level 6 that the Berserker does not have. Furthermore, the Berserker is just slightly bigger than the Level 6 in diameter. The Level 6 is slightly rounder than the Berserker, allowing it to be a little more comfortable in the hand and during play.

The gap comparison shows that the Berserker and the Level 6 are almost of the same gap size. Both allow for easy string landings. While the Berserker feels more solid and weighty, the Level 6 feels more floaty and fast.

The Level 6 comes in an assortment of acid wash colorways, with 6 colorways for its first run and more colorways to come in the future.

The Level 6 is a great affordable metal yo-yo, and may possibility be one of the best selling affordable metals for 2014. However, don't just take our word for it. Try one for yourself, and you know that you need it in your collection / arsenal of throws.

The C3yoyodesign Level 6 is available at Spinworkx right now!

Get them today!

FRESH: sOMEThING Addiction

Name: Addiction

Bearing Size: Large (Size C)

Response: sOMEThING Pads

sOMEThING has put out numerous quality 1A yo-yos in recent times, but not a plastic 1A yo-yo. Of course there was The V and the Crazy D, but those are made from Delrin. So it was no surprise when they announced their newest model was a plastic yo-yo with metal rims.

The Addiction is a yo-yo that is right up there with it's fellow Hybrid yo-yos from YoYoJam and Yoyofactory. For a first Hybrid yo-yo offering, the Addiction is amazing! The shape of the Addiction makes it feel comfortable in hand, and due to the metal weight rings, it spins long and is incredibly stable throughout the duration of any combo we could throw on it.

The Addiction does not feature anything out of the ordinary or anything that's fancy or flashy. However, it leaves all of that to the player who is throwing it, and just like it's namesake, once you pick it up, you just want to keep throwing it and not stop.

Hiroyuki Suzuki, owner of sOMEThING by YoYoAddict, and 4-time World Yo-Yo Champion, was very proud when he first let us try the Addiction. He was confident on how well it plays, and rightfully so. The Addiction was made not just for players who compete on stage, but for players who just wanted a quality Hybrid throw for practice. The Addiction may be a plastic yo-yo, but it definitely feels capable of being used in contests around the world. Right now, the Addiction comes in a nice shade of Translucent Dark Blue. However, we believe that in the future, we may be seeing more of these in other color options.

The Addiction was modeled to resemble Hiroyuki's signature yo-yo, the ANGLAM, just in a plastic form. The shape and specifications are similar, but not completely the same.

Comparing both the Addiction and the ANGLAM, we can see that the ANGLAM is slightly smaller (Diameter-wise) than the Addiction. The body shapes are similar, but the ANGLAM features a slight step on the yo-yo halve whereas the Addiction is just a smooth curve before the step on the rim which both models sport. The smooth body of the Addiction is what makes it feel more comfortable in the hand. Even if the yo-yo was spinning fast and hard before immediately returning to the hand, the catch will feel more cushioned and comfortable as compared to other yo-yos with more steps and different shapes.

The ANGLAM is slightly wider than the Addiction. This slight difference is hardly noticeable during play. Both yo-yos still move through the air fast and are incredibly stable.

The Addiction features a concave-shaped bearing (sOMEThING ADC Bearing) and sOMEThING Type 1 Silicone pads for response. 

Looking closely at the metal rings and the hex-nut on the Addiction, you will see custom engraving on them that gives the yo-yo identity while remaining as minimal as possible.

The Addiction is not just another yo-yo that was released in 2014. We believe that there is a high possibility that it could be one of, if not, the top Hybrid yo-yo from 2014. You just have got to try it out for yourself to see how good the Addiction is. 

The sOMEThING Addiction is available at Spinworkx right now!

The first batch of them sold out within a day, and now we have gotten a second batch in.

Get them while they are still in stock!

Spinworkx Best of 2013 Sale!

The Spinworkx Best of 2013 Sale is NOW ON! The sale will feature selected Best of 2013 products that will go on sale at unbelievably discounted prices, so you sure don't wanna miss out.

Where: Spinworkx Store at Orchard Central

When: 13 - 19 January 2014

Time: 12pm - 8.30pm

Each day will feature a group of different products and will only be for that day itself. The next days that follow will feature an entirely different group of products.

We will announce the sale items on each day itself, so you'll need to keep your eyes on our Facebook Page so you don't miss out on these awesome deals.

Monday to Sunday.

Don't miss this.

Most of the products that are going on sale, and more, can be found here:

http://blog.spinworkx.com/2014/01/spinworkx-best-of-2013.html

Spinworkx Facebook Page:

www.facebook.com/spinworkx.sg 

~

Spinworkx Trick Collection #6

Ian is only getting more and more awesome!

Spinworkx First Mount #20 - Twisted White Buddha Mount

The Twisted White Buddha Mount is a slightly tricky one. Up to this point in time, all the First Mounts have been straight forward and landing on strings without a 'mutation' or a twist. However, the Twisted White Buddha Mount, looking at it from the front, may seem like a White Buddha Mount, but in actual fact, it is different.

This mount has been used in tricks like Jason Lee's 'And Whut?' and other combos. Furthermore, from the Twisted White Buddha Mount, the Spinner will be able to transit to other mounts and holds like the bucket mount and more.

Before attempting the Twisted White Buddha Mount, we strongly recommend that you be proficient in the White Buddha Mount. With a miss of the string landing, you may get yourself into a knot, so do watch out for this one, and don't just drop strings off your finger if you miss landing onto the string.

Let's go into the mount proper.

Start with a long spinning, straight breakaway.

Let the yo-yo swing around your non-throwing hand index finger, just like most of the other mounts and let it continue swinging around to your throwing hand index finger.

Up till this point, the trick should look like you are performing a White Buddha Mount or Sidestyle 1.5 Mount.

Once the string lands onto your throwing hand index finger, let it swing to the string segment between your two hands. 

Now, instead of letting the yo-yo go in front of the yo-yo strings and then landing it, maneuver the yo-yo to the back of the yo-yo strings and from the back, pop it up and let it land onto the bottom string. 

Once the yo-yo lands on the bottom string, you should instantly notice a twist in the mount. This twist is formed by the string attached to the yo-yo and the string that the yo-yo is sitting on. 

When the yo-yo lands onto the string, bring your hands slightly closer together to allow the yo-yo to sit comfortably on the string without it dropping off.

You have just successfully performed the Twisted White Buddha Mount.

A few pointers to take note of when learning the Twisted White Buddha Mount:

1) While performing the mount, tuck in all your fingers, except the Index Fingers on both hands.

2) Always remember to make the yo-yo move to where you want it to go, don't let the yo-yo control you!

3) Remember that the motion of the mount is to move the yo-yo from the front (natural course of movement) to the back of both strings, before landing onto the bottom string. Instead of physically moving the yo-yo from front to back, you could also move the strings from the back to the front during the mount.

That wraps up the Spinworkx First Mount Project #20.

If you have any questions or feedback, drop us a note here, or shout out to us at our Facebook page.

You can also show off your Twisted White Buddha Mount by tagging us on our Instagram Page, with @spinworkxsg #firstmount. 

Happy 2014 everyone & Keep Spinning!~

Spinworkx Best of 2013

Once again, we have ushered in a new year and we say farewell to 2013. With that, we take a look back at the most popular throws of 2013. These are the yo-yos and accessories that players just had to add to their collection and the various things Spinners needed for maintenance, competitions and everything to do with Spinning.

Without further ado, here are the items that are the Best of 2013.

Most popular Beginner Plastic Yo-Yo

#1 - YoYoFactory FAST 201

#2 - YoYoFactory One

#3 - YoYoFactory Velocity 2012

Most popular Advanced Plastic Yo-Yo

#1 - C3yoyodesign Speedaholic

#2 - YoYoFactory Grind Machine

#3 - YoYoFactory OneStar

Most popular Hybrid Yo-Yo

#1 - YoYoJam Dark Magic 2

#2 - YoYoFactory Protostar

Most popular Affordable Metal Yo-Yo

#1 - YoYoFactory DV888

#2 - YoYoFactory Shutter

#3 - sOMEThING FIRMY

Most popular High-end Metal Yo-Yo

#1 - One Drop X CLYW Summit

#2 - C3yoyodesign Mo-vitation

#3 - Duncan Barracuda

Most popular 2A Yo-Yo

#1 - YoYoJoker Vortex

#2 - YoYoFactory Loop 1080

Most popular 4A Yo-Yo

#1 - yoyorecreation Aeronaut

#2 - Duncan Hayabusa

Most popular Yo-Yo Strings

#1 - Kitty Strings (Normal)

#2 - 100% Poly Strings (Green)

Most popular Yo-Yo Accessory

#1 - Duncan Gloves

#2 - YoYoJam Thin Lube

#3 - YoYoFactory Multi Tool

Most popular Yo-Yo Bearing

#1 - Konkave Bearing (Large)

#2 - Centre Trac Bearing (Large)

Most popular Yo-Yo Response Pads

#1 - yoyorecreation Silicone Pads

#2 - Central Bearing Co. Silicone Pads

#3 - Duncan SG Stickers

Back in 2012, we knew that there was going to be many new releases in 2013 and from our 'Best of' list, we can clearly see that there are quite a number of 2013 yo-yos that made it to the top of the list. Throws like the Vortex, Summit, Speedaholic, etc are great yo-yos and definitely belong in any true Spinner's collection.

Despite seeing a number of new models featured, there still are some from the 'Best of 2012' list that has not been beaten (and will be really tough to beat). The YoYoFactory FAST 201 is still going strong as the best beginner yo-yo. Furthermore, the Large Konkave bearing is still the #1 choice for Spinners to use, both during competitions and for casual play.

Before signing off, the Spinworkx store at Orchard Central and our webstore still have most of these yo-yos and products available. So if you feel like you are missing out on something, there is still time to pick it/them up!

Till our 'Best of 2014' list, keep Spinning!