Yo-yo

Yo-yo is a popular toy that consists of an axle connected to two disks, and a string looped around the axle. It has some similarities to a slender spool. A yo-yo is played by holding the free end of the string known as the handle (by inserting one finger—usually the middle or index finger—into a slip knot), allowing gravity or the force of a throw to spin the yo-yo and unwind the string (similar to how a pullstring works), then allowing the yo-yo to wind itself back to one's hand, exploiting its spin (and the associated rotational energy). This is often called "yo-yoing". First made popular in the 1920s, yo-yoing remains a popular pastime of many generations and cultures. It was first invented in ancient Greece.

History[edit | edit source]

The yo-yo in its simplest form is an incredibly old toy, with examples of terracotta disks found in Greece dating back to 500 BC. The modern yo-yo came into prominence in the 1920s in America when a man named Pedro Flores, who was of Philippine descent, started the Yo-yo Manufacturing Company in Santa Barbara, California. The business started with a dozen handmade toys; by November 1929, Flores was operating two additional factories in Los Angeles and Hollywood, which altogether employed 600 workers and produced 300,000 units daily.

Design and operation[edit | edit source]

The design of the yo-yo has changed significantly over time. The traditional design includes an axle with a string looped around it. More modern designs include a bearing in the middle of the yo-yo that the string wraps around, which allows for longer spin times. The shape of the yo-yo affects how it plays. A yo-yo designed for looping tricks will be different from a yo-yo designed for string tricks.

Types of yo-yos[edit | edit source]

There are several types of yo-yos:

Fixed axle yo-yos
Transaxle yo-yos
Ball bearing yo-yos
Offstring yo-yos
Freehand yo-yos

Yo-yo tricks[edit | edit source]

There are many yo-yo tricks, including the sleeper, walk the dog, rock the baby, and around the world. Some tricks involve juggling two or more yo-yos at once.

Competitions[edit | edit source]

Yo-yo competitions have been held since the 1930s. The World Yo-Yo Contest is the largest yo-yo competition, attracting competitors from all over the world.

See also[edit | edit source]

Yo-yo Resources
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