Friday 29 November 2013

Spinworkx First Mount #18 - Houdini Triple Mount


The Houdini Triple Mount is simply a variation of the Triple or Nothing Mount. This Mount slightly modifies the Triple or Nothing, adding the use of your thumb to widen the dimension of trick possibility.

The difficulty of landing the Triple or Nothing carries forward to the Houdini Triple Mount. If you are comfortable and able to hit the Triple or Nothing each and every time, then the Houdini Triple Mount should not be too difficult for you.

Let's go on to describe the Mount.

Before we begin with the lengthy description, note that the Houdini Triple Mount is combining both the Houdini Mount with the Triple or Nothing.

So throw a breakaway and stick out your non-throwing hand thumb, just like the Houdini Mount. Let the string swing around your thumb and continue over to your throwing hand index finger.

Throughout the duration of the whole trick, keep all your fingers, except your thumb/index fingers, tucked in at all times. If any other fingers are sticking out when performing this trick, the string may catch on any other finger and prevent you from performing the Mount.

Now, with the yo-yo moving from your non-throw hand thumb to your throwing hand index, let the yo-yo string rest on the top of your throw-hand index finger and then allow it to continue around to your non-throw hand index finger.

Then,  let the yo-yo go around your non throwing hand index finger and continue over to your throwing hand index finger (again). Now, you should see that on your non throwing hand, there is 1 string segment around your thumb and 1 string segment around your index finger.

Finally, let the yo-yo swing back around to your non-throwing hand index finger and go around the finger and land on the outer-most string like how you land a Double/Triple or Nothing.

Once the yo-yo has landed onto the string, bring your hands closer to each other so that the yo-yo sits comfortably on the string without tilting or falling off.

The Houdini Triple Mount, just like the Triple or Nothing, is not an easy Mount. So once you are able to land it consistently, give yourself a good, deserved pat on the back for a job well done!

A few pointers to take note of when learning the Houdini Triple Mount:
1) Tuck all your fingers in (except your thumb and index fingers) while performing the Mount so that the string does not get caught in other fingers.
2) Before landing the yo-yo on the string to complete the Mount, try to push all the string segments that are already around your fingers to the back, and land the yo-yo nearer to the front of your index finger, making it easier to land.
3) If you are having trouble landing the yo-yo while it is spinning, try swinging a 'dead' yo-yo first to gauge the distance apart that your hands need to be to land into a Houdini Triple Mount.

The Houdini Triple Mount is not commonly seen in tricks. However, with the amount of string segments you get to play around with once you are in the Houdini Triple Mount, you will definitely have many combo ideas that you can innovate from there. Keep trying different things, getting into different holds or mounts and put on from there.

Hope you enjoyed #18 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 Houdini Triple Mount by tagging us on our Instagram Page, with @spinworkxsg #firstmount. 

Till the next installment,
Spin, create & innovate!~

Wednesday 20 November 2013

Yo-Yo Setup of the Month: YoYoFactory Shutter (Jason Lee Edition)

Everyone appreciates good playing yo-yos, and everyone loves affordable yo-yos. But when you get a great playing yo-yo that is also incredibly affordable, you know you have got a winner. When YoYoFactory first showcased pictures of the Shutter, everyone knew it would be a good yo-yo, but when the price was released, Spinners just could not believe it.

Well, neither could we!

And here is our Yo-Yo of the Month for November.


Shutter (Jason Lee Edition)

YoYoFactory has been putting out quality yo-yos for a decade now, and the Shutter is just another shining example of how they have grown in terms of quality products and exceptional price points. They always give players the best yo-yos that they could have ever wanted.

The Shutter is the signature model of YoYoFactory Contest Team member Gentry Stein. However, this version that we are featuring is the special edition Jason Lee Shutter, that has the logos and graphics of a digital camera, just like the one Jason brings with him on his travels around the world.


Any Jason Lee model from YoYoFactory looks incredible. The Shutter is no different. It is in a shiny, cutting-edge black that makes it look more stunning and refined.


Taking a look at the face of the Shutter, you can see that it looks just like how the dials on a digital camera looks like. The various settings and option logos to optimize and capture the precise picture that you envision in your head. A very nice and deliberate touch that YYF did was to include and incorporate their logo amongst all the other logos.


The gap profile of the Shutter is a gentle H-shape, giving the Shutter more rim-weight and this translates into longer spin times and greater stability. Despite having a H-shape, the Shutter feels comfortable in hand and even with a hard throw and bind, it does not hurt the hand. The inner walls of the yo-yo has a steeper slope to allow the yo-yo to hold spin-time well when the Spinner is performing horizontal style tricks.


As the Shutter is a Champions Collection model, it comes with YoYoFactory Champions Collection 3-color string. However, for our setup, we preferred the slightly thicker strings that sOMEThING had to offer. The Yellow sOMEThING strings provided the yo-yo with tighter binds and more solid throws, and that was our choice strings to go with the Shutter.

The Pads that were used in the Shutter is the CBC White Silicone pads. These are the original pads that came with the yo-yo, and we felt that it provided us with the exact response we needed.

The regular bearing that comes with the Shutter is fine, but we wanted optimized performance from this Championship winning yo-yo, and we wanted the best. So we chose to use a gold Centre Trac bearing in the Shutter, and after a throw of 2, we knew it was the perfect choice. The gold Centre Trac bearing is unresponsive and requires practically no maintenance due to the gold coating. Long and smooth spins are a breeze for the gold Centre Trac.


Not only does the gold Centre Trac bearing perform incredibly well, it looks great too. Nice and shiny, and definitely something that will capture your attention. If you are looking for a large bearing to throw into your contest or daily throw, do consider getting the gold Centre Trac.


The gold Centre Trac bearing also compliments the black body of the Shutter very well. It definitely makes the entire yo-yo shine (just like gold).


Taking a closer look at the inner face of the Shutter and we can see the signature of Jason Lee, YoYoFactory Team member and probably one of the longest members in YoYoFactory since the start. Jason has a unique, smooth and distinct style of yo-yo play, making him one of the most respected and looked-up-to players in the world.


The opposite face of the Shutter is just like the shutter of a camera.


The Shutter is stable, long-spinning, smooth on the string, and looks and plays great. Furthermore, this Jason Lee edition just makes it that much sweeter. If there is one version of the Shutter that we had to choose, it will definitely be this one!


The Shutter fits comfortably in the hand, and even with a hard throw and an immediate bind, it hits the palm softly and does not hurt like other H-shaped yo-yos do.

The Shutter is a beast of a yo-yo. It handles any type of string trick with ease, and it just keeps the Spinner pushing the limits of what it can achieve. Furthermore, for the price, it is definitely one that you absolutely cannot miss out on.


We cannot say enough good things about the Shutter. Definitely one of our favorite throws, and one yo-yo that we encourage everyone to try, pick up and purchase with confidence.

Shutter

1) YoYoFactory Shutter
2) CBC White Narrow Silicone Pads
3) 100% Polyester sOMEThING String (Yellow)
4) Large Gold Centre Trac Bearing

That brings us to the end of this segment of our Yo-Yo Setup of the Month. But before we head on out, check out what Gentry can do with his Shutter. Not one, but two videos to showcase what the Shutter is able to pull off.




Let us know YOUR Yo-Yo Setup of the Month. Drop us a comment below, leave us a message on our Facebook Page with the title - My Yo-Yo Setup of the Month, or tag your setup with a picture on our Instagram Page, with @spinworkxsg #yoyoofthemonth. 

Till next time, 
Spin like a champion!
~

Thursday 14 November 2013

Spinworkx First Mount #17 - Triple or Nothing


So Trapeze, no sweat. Double or Nothing, a breeze. What next?

Naturally, the progression will move on to Triple, and that is exactly what our #17 First Mount is. The Triple or Nothing mount. Instead of going 2 rounds like a Double or Nothing, the Triple or Nothing goes one additional round, making it slightly harder to land as your hands start to get closer to each other. Furthermore, the string landing segment gets smaller as well.

Just like the Double or Nothing, the Triple or Nothing got it's name from the number of rounds it goes round the index fingers.

Without further ado, this is how the Triple or Nothing is like.

Throw a straight Breakaway and let the yo-yo swing around and string hit the bottom of your non-throwing index finger. 

Once it hits your non-throwing index finger, let the yo-yo continue to swing, going over your throwing-hand index finger. (Everything should be exactly the same as a Double or Nothing)

Throughout the duration of the whole trick, always keep all your fingers, except your index fingers, tucked in at all times. If any other fingers are sticking out when performing this trick, the string may catch on any other finger and prevent you from performing the Mount.

Now, with the yo-yo in motion and swinging from your non-throw hand to your throwing hand, let the yo-yo string rest on the top of your throw-hand index finger and then allow it to continue around back to your non-throw hand index finger.

When the yo-yo is around and hitting the bottom of your non-throwing hand index finger, let it go one more round around and over to your throwing hand index finger. At this point in time, there should be 2 string segments wrapped around your throwing hand index finger.

Finally, let the yo-yo swing back around to your non-throwing hand index finger and go under and over your finger to land on the outer most string like how you land a Double or Nothing. By this time, your hands should be even closer together as compared to the Double or Nothing.

Once the yo-yo has landed onto the string, bring your hands up and close to each other so that the yo-yo sits comfortably on the string.

When the yo-yo is spinning on the string, stop, breathe and take a moment to celebrate landing your Triple or Nothing successfully!

A few pointers to take note of when learning the Triple or Nothing:
1) Remember to tuck all your fingers in while performing the Mount so that the string does not get caught in any other finger during the Mount.
2) Before landing the yo-yo on the string to complete the Triple or Nothing, try to push all the string segments that are already around your index fingers to the back of your finger and land the yo-yo nearer to the front of your index finger. (This makes it easier to land on the right string)
3) Always try to aim the yo-yo to land on the string you want it to land on. Don't just go through the motion of swinging the yo-yo around and around and 'hope' that it lands on the right string.
4) If you are having trouble landing the yo-yo while it is spinning, try swinging a 'dead' yo-yo first to gauge the distance apart that your hands need to be to land into a Triple or Nothing.

The Triple or Nothing is used in tricks like Black Hops. However, the Triple or Nothing is quite uncommon in tricks, so there is still that ability to create and innovate from the Triple or Nothing Mount.

That is all we have for No. 17 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 Triple or Nothing Mount by tagging us on our Instagram Page, with @spinworkxsg #firstmount. 

Till the next installment,
Spin hard, Spin true!~

Wednesday 6 November 2013

SHOWCASE & Spinworkx Challenge (December 2013)

As the end of the year exams draw to a close, it is time to let loose and have some fun this holiday season. Introducing 2 events that we have lined up close to the end of December.

First up, we are bringing back the Spinworkx Challenge for everyone who thinks they've got what it takes to rise up the ladder, all the way to the top.

What: Spinworkx Challenge
When: 20 December 2013 (Friday)
Time: All day!
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?

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, we have a brand new, yo-yo freestyle throwdown/contest in store for everyone. To put it simply, it is an event for the yo-yo community and for people who just enjoy Spinning for any or no reason at all. Introducing SHOWCASE.



What: SHOWCASE
When: 22 December 2013 (Sunday)
Time: 4pm to 8pm
Where: Recognize Studios at Orchard Central
Who: Absolutely anybody can take part

There will be 3 separate freestyle events for SHOWCASE. There is the usual 1A Division, the combined X Division and the Team Division. 

Read up more info on the webpage here:

Register for SHOWCASE here:

This competition has been heavily requested for by many Spinners in the Singapore community, and we are so excited to have everyone come together and throwdown, without the added pressure of needing a 'seed' or attaining a high rank. At SHOWCASE, Spinners will essentially get to do just that and showcase all their best tricks.

Another difference between SHOWCASE and regular contests is that here, 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, spin hard this holiday season & we will see you guys soon!

Spinworkx Trick Collection #3


Friday 1 November 2013

Spike!: The Kendama Comparison & Showdown


Kendama is a simple and minimalistic toy/hobby that is growing in popularity everyday. Anyone familiar with Japanese culture will notice it instantly as a traditional Japanese toy that consists of a 'cross' wooden piece (Ken) and a ball (Tama).

The goal of playing with the Kendama is either catching the Tama on one of the three cups on the Ken, the big cup, small cup, or base cup. Alternatively, the harder objective is to hit a Spike, which means catching the Tama on the spiked end of the Ken. This would be the hardest catch of the four catches.

Kendama players have many various combinations and tricks, catching the Tama on various cups and balancing the Tama on various places on the Ken before completing their trick off with a Spike. It is as simple as that. It may sound easy, but actually pulling off the tricks may require lots of time and practice to perfect. Even the best Kendama players are not able to hit each and every trick 100% all the time.

Now that you know a bit of what and how a Kendama works, we would like to feature 6 different Kendamas, and make comparisons between them and how they felt when in play. Read on to find out more about the various Kendamas.

TK-16


TK-16 Stats

Height: 18.4cm
Weight (Total): 143grams
Weight (Tama): 72grams
Weight (Ken): 71grams
Diameter (Small Cup): 3.9cm
Diameter (Big Cup): 4.2cm
Diameter (Base Cup): 3.4cm
Diameter (Tama hole): 1.9cm

The TK-16 feels and plays solidly and has a great balance between Ken and Tama. Furthermore, it has a good weight for a Kendama and it just feels easier to control. The Tama has a shiny coat of paint which may make tricks like Lighthouse, Lunars, etc more difficult, but not impossible. The String holes (when you feel the need to change strings) are only on the Cup section of the Ken and not drilled straight through the Ken, like other Kendama models. This means that the string is lodged between the Cup section and the Spike section of the Ken. If you are looking to get an authentic Kendama that is direct from where it originally came from, the TK-16 is definitely a good choice. The TK-16 is endorsed by the Japan Kendama Association and is allowed for official contest use in Japan.

Ozora


Ozora Stats

Height: 18cm
Weight (Total): 132grams
Weight (Tama): 66grams
Weight (Ken): 66grams
Diameter (Small Cup): 3.8cm
Diameter (Big Cup): 4.2cm
Diameter (Base Cup): 3.6cm
Diameter (Tama hole): 1.9cm

The Ozora feels slightly lighter than its TK-16 counterpart. This may be due to the fact that the Ozora we chose to use was a raw one without a painted Tama. Since it was lighter, it played quicker than the other Kendamas we played with. However, despite it being lighter, it still was well-balanced and constructed beautifully. As with all raw Kendamas, these are able to do Lighthouse, Lunars, etc slightly easier as raw wood is less smooth and slippery than those with painted Tamas. Again, like the TK-16, the String holes are only on the Cup section of the Ken and not drilled straight through the entire Ken. This means that the end of the string will be snuggly lodged between the cup section and the spike section of the Ken. The Ozora is endorsed by the Japan Kendama Association and is allowed for official contest use in Japan. However, we hear that these raw versions of the Ozora are no longer allowed for competition use in Japan.

Sweets


Sweets Stats

Height: 18.7cm
Weight (Total): 148grams 
Weight (Tama): 74grams
Weight (Ken): 74grams
Diameter (Small Cup): 3.9cm
Diameter (Big Cup): 4.4cm
Diameter (Base Cup): 3.6cm
Diameter (Tama hole): 2.1cm

The Sweets Kendama plays fast and nimble, and it feels solid. They weigh in at a nice, comfortable weight that is not too heavy and not too light, but when in play, they feel a little on the light side. The cool thing about Sweets Kendamas are the paint coating that is used on the Tamas. They are coated with a hard coat of paint that is durable and does not chip too easily. Furthermore, the finish on the Tama is matte, thus it is more sticky and players are able to do Lighthouse type tricks easier. Even the color tones of the Tama is unique and cool. For the Sweets, the String holes are only on the Cup section of the Ken and not drilled straight through the entire Ken. So when changing strings, players will need to lodge the end of the string between the cup section and the spike section of the Ken.

KendamaUSA Tribute


Tribute Stats

Height: 18.6cm
Weight (Total): 161grams 
Weight (Tama): 89grams
Weight (Ken): 72grams
Diameter (Small Cup): 3.9cm
Diameter (Big Cup): 4.3cm
Diameter (Base Cup): 3.5cm
Diameter (Tama hole): 2cm

The Tribute is solid and heavy. If you prefer your Kendama weightier to be able to feel each catch and spike, then the Tribute is definitely for you. The good thing about having such a weighty Kendama is that you will be able to control, direct each movement and land the Tama with more precision. Having said that, the Tribute has a painted, shiny Tama that will make Lighthouse type tricks slightly harder and much more challenging. The Tribute is a great Kendama for any player. If you are just starting out or have played for years, the Tribute needs to be in your collection for sure. One thing that is good (or not good depending on how you feel about it) is that the string hole is drilled through the entire Ken. This makes changing strings easier, without needing to remove the cup section from the spike section. The Tribute is a must-have for players who want a 'heavy' Kendama.

KendamaUSA Pro Model 2013


Pro Model 2013 Stats

Height: 18.2cm
Weight (Total): 140grams
Weight (Tama): 72grams
Weight (Ken): 68grams
Diameter (Small Cup): 3.7cm
Diameter (Big Cup): 4.2cm
Diameter (Base Cup): 3.6cm
Diameter (Tama hole): 2cm

The Pro Model 2013 Kendama is not just for Pro players. Having said that, it actually would probably benefit players who are new and are trying to learn how to land Lighthouses, Birds, Lunars, etc. The reason for this is that the finish on the Tama is sticky, grippy and makes landing those tricks easier. The Pro Model 2013 plays fast and is very well-balanced. This Kendama makes it so easy to land Lighthouse that some players deem this the 'almost-cheating' Kendama. But there is no shame in being a Pro and using a Pro Model! Again, like the Tribute, the string hole is drilled through the entire Ken and this makes changing strings easy and fast. The finish on the Tama is unlike any other Kendama available, and the matte colors makes the Kendama look great. Though this Kendama is weighed more towards the lighter spectrum of Kendamas, it is probably one of the best we have used.

Duncan Kodomo


Kodomo Stats

Height: 18.5cm
Weight (Total): 150grams 
Weight (Tama): 81grams
Weight (Ken): 69grams
Diameter (Small Cup): 3.8cm
Diameter (Big Cup): 4.2cm
Diameter (Base Cup): 3.6cm
Diameter (Tama hole): 2cm

The Kodomo Kendama is a slightly heavier and solid feeling Kendama. Just like the Tribute, the Tama is weighty and that means that you get to feel the ball when it is in motion more than other Tamas. The Kodomo Tama comes with 2 stripes on it to allow players to see the position of the ball when it is in motion or in the air, and time their catches or spikes accordingly. The shiny, smooth surface of the Tama makes Lighthouses, etc difficult, but again, not impossible. Just like the KendamaUSA Kendamas, the string hole is drilled through the entire Ken, making string changes simple and quick. This Kendama is great for players who prefer a mid to heavy weighted Kendama, and is great for beginners to start learning Kendama tricks on.

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And that wraps up our review and dissection of six commonly found and used Kendamas. Of course, there are other popular Kendama brands and models out there. When we get our hands on those, we will be sure to update and do a review on them as well. But till then, choose your Kendama, keep it minimal and don't forget to Spike!


 
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