hello everyone

[unclephreak]

i am new to top spinning, and well, any links to some basic tutorals would be helpful. this site isnt set up like some of the forums ive seen, so it looks a little confusing. i havent gotten a chance to search the site too much either, and im sure i will find all the answers i need when i do.  it's actually something ive wanted to get into since ive seen little snippets here and there at yoyo comps, but ive never been directed to a forum like this until now. anyway, i see some familiar names on here, and for those who dont know me my name is frank, and ive been yoyoing for quite a bit of time. me and my girlfriend Laura run a string company called chaos yoyos.

anyway it was a suggestion from one of my customers to check this out, and all i have to say is VERY VERY COOL! anyway i think i might stick around for a bit and learn something new for a bit. i hope everyone here is as great as the people on other forums i am familiar with. but any help you guys could give a newb regarding where to learn tricks, links and info regarding this seemingly awesome sport would be greatly appreciated! i am also doing a little research on making different types of top string. i saw your vid chris, very cool! but like i said ive always been interested in spin tops, but didnt have any idea where to start, but this looks like a great place to start   (thanks yocephus!)

[Neff]

Welcome Frank!  (Frank makes great yo-yo string y'all), I'm excited to see what you can come up with for top string.  We've all been looking for a good base material, something with tooth that won't slip out during a boomerang, and has the right grip on the tip for regenerations.  Plain cotton seems best IMO, but it's hard to find descent un-mercerized cotton thread.  I've seen some smooth hemp that might work...

Anyway, for introductory tricks, Spintastics has videos on their site:  http://www.spintastics.com/SSTvideos.htm

This board's parent website has a an excellent advanced trick video section:  http://ta0.com/tricks/tricks.html
The vids on the compulsory trick section are not working at the moment, but the remaining vids pick up where Spintastics leaves off.

Nice recruit, yocephus

[kevinm]

sweet!

Plain cotton seems best IMO, but it's hard to find descent un-mercerized cotton thread.  I've seen some smooth hemp that might work...

smooth hemp, it's not just for string anymore.

[ta0]

Welcome unclephreak to the board and the sport!

When I first saw your nickname I thought that Steve Brown was behind it.

Feel free to ask any beginner question, people on this board love to help.

i hope everyone here is as great as the people on other forums i am familiar with

I hope we are even better . . .

[agentsac]

hello.

[mtntop]

Hey Frank welcome!!

  You are in the right place, there  is an outsanding and enthusiastic group of spinners on this board. Ask and you will receive tips, tricks, troubleshooting, whatever. And here you get a look at top spinning from around the world I just love all of the international input. I have tried your yo yo strings they a very nice I even use one that my friend Dave gave me at our weekly yo yo (and spintop) club for a duncan imperial that I throw, it was pretty long and a good thickness for such a light top. Keep spinning have fun comeback soon

[the Earl of Whirl]

Hey ho and hello to unclephreak.  You are in the right place and with the right people if you want to know anything about top spinning.  These people are the best.  Ask away.....

[unclephreak]

thanks for the warm welcome everyone! i did notice the international presence on this board, and that's awesome to see (although makes it even more apparent that my spanish sucks!) and cant wait to get spinning. ive been looking at all the tutorals and videos and it looks just awesome. i just hope that my spin tops dont get into fights with my yoyos for attention! lol seems to me that yoyos are more popular, and im sure theres more frustration involved with learning to spin tops, but anything worth while takes work and dedication. if it came easy im sure everyone would be doing it.

and i looked at your top string making tut neff, and found a way to work that into my string rig. ive also been looking around, and it doesnt look like there are many string makers out there doing top string so i wont have anything to base my string off of if we do end up making some top string. that just means i'll have to find people to test them out for me anyway this is all so new and interesting to me, and thanks in advance for the help! (I'm sure I'll be needing it!)

[physboy2357]

Welcome to the board!!!  Glad to have ya.

[MatiasStuntMan]

Hi Frank and welcome!!!. For reference check the Spintastics string, I think it is great, they have two sizes, one for the Trompo Grande and one for the others Blizzard, Sidewinder, etc. The Duncan string is very good as well.

[Watts' Tops]

Welcojme, Frank.  You have found the right blog for learning tops.  Anything from beginner to way over my head.