If you're new to yoyoing there is a HUGE range out there to choose from. It can be quite a challenge to choose the right one for you. Maybe you're a parent or relative that has no clue about yoyos and wanting to buy for the kids; this is the page for you.

Note from Jono: Whenever someone asks me to recommend them a beginner yoyo, I start by asking their age and if they've had any prior yoyo experience. Based on my past conversations with customers and observing beginner players, I have broken down the guide by age and skill level.

If you're wanting to learn DNA or godspeed yoyo trick, or anything else you've seen on Tik Tok, there are some tips at the bottom of the page !!!

 

Best yoyo for age/skill level:

Yoyos are typically recommended for ages 8+ due to the development of fine motor skills required. Children develop at different rates so may be ready for a more advanced one. Here is a summary of type of yoyo for ages/skill level that are shown on this page.

Age/Skill level	Type of yoyo
Age below 8	Auto return yoyo
No yoyo experience / Age 8-10	Tight response yoyo
Some yoyo experience / Age 10+	Semi responsive/butterfly yoyo
Unsure about unresponsive / Age 10 to 12+	Upgradeable yoyo
Can throw long sleeper and basic tricks / Age 12+	Unresponsive yoyo
Interested in other styles	2A Looping, 4A offstring, 5A counterweight
Want to learn godspeed and DNA	Depends

If not all the yoyo terms mentioned above make sense to you, don't worry; I go into more depth below!

 

Ages below 8 years old:

It is more about fun! The learning curve can be steep so a yoyo too advanced may be discouraging for them. The Auto Return Yoyo is a spring-retractable string toy which mimics the motion of the yoyo. It is built to be durable and won't break so easily when hitting the ground. Perfect for younger siblings that want a yoyo but are not ready for one yet.

Recommendation: Auldey Auto Return Yoyo

If your child has developed their motor skills then they may be able to start with a yoyo in the next age group

 

No experience in yoyo / younger age group 8-10:

A tighter response yoyo is recommended to learn the basics with ease; this means that on the tug, the yoyo will come up more easily. To identify yoyos with tighter response: look for the narrow gap (classic ball shape yoyo) and starburst response.

There are also clutch system yoyos that will sleep when the yoyo is thrown hard enough, and then auto return once it slows down. This is the Duncan Reflex. Perfect for the kids which are not quite ready for a full sleeping yoyo yet and want to train their throw power.

Duncan Reflex - Clutch system yoyo (sleeps when thrown hard enough)

Any "2A looping yoyo" will be fine for tight response, however my top picks are D1 and Loop 720. 

MagicYoYo D1 is great if you're on a tight budget or for young children. If it gets broken it won't be as painful emotionally, and gives great performance for it's price. It is slightly smaller diameter which helps for small hands.

Get the YoYoFactory Loop 720 if you want quality. World champion Shu Takada setup for looping style. This will be a great introduction yoyo to looping style.

Summary for absolute beginner / age 8-10:

Auto return/training => Duncan Reflex
Budget => MagicYoYo D1
Quality => YoYoFactory Loop 720
Others 2A yoyos => https://yoyoshopsg.com/collections/2a-style-looping

Some experience / age 10+:

Want to throw long sleepers?

One of the phases of yoyoing is throwing the longest sleeper possible. This requires a lot of practice to throw straight and also throw hard. While it depends a lot on practice, the yoyo makes a huge difference too. A wider butterfly shape yoyo is recommended. This is where the tradeoff between response (how easily the yoyo tugs back up) and sleep time come into play. A deeper understanding of the physics behind the yoyo (intuitive once you've played a while) is required, which is why semi-responsive yoyos may be difficult for completely new players.

 

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WORK IN PROGRESS - more sections coming soon!

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DNA, godspeed - viral yoyo tricks?

If you have no yoyo experience yet, it is still recommended to work your way up with the basics first by following our guide... Or there is a simple method: Whether it's angel2up (Angelo), Gentry Stein, Brandon Vu, or even Brandon's dad, find your favourite player/influencer's yoyo and if they can do certain tricks, then you can too :)

Happy throwing! hope this guide helps