New to spintops

[Wardfin]

Or I will be soon anyways, after chancing on some videos which linked to this forum and browsing some topics I impulse-bought a spintastics gladiator from the spintastics website, which should arrive soon. I've been pretty into yo-yoing for a while, so hopefully some of that coordination is useful as I learn spintop stuff.

And from what I read of the forum, it seems like a very friendly and helpful place

[Dizzy]

Oh no, a Pynchon fan...

Ha ha, just kidding.  But seriously, welcome!

I don't really Yo, but I'm sure there's lots of overlap and you'll probably be ahead of someone with no skill-toy experience.

As Neff and many others here can attest to, the Gladiator is a really good performing top, and right out of the box it's pretty much perfect.  Some people modify the tip a bit (my tips are stock), but irrespective of that you have made a great choice.  I'm also of the opinion that you should consider getting a bearing top too.  Many tricks are mutually exclusive to bearing tips and fixed tips so I like them both.

Be prepared to be pleasd (and amazed) with the level of involvement and enthusiasm from the members here too.

Again, welcome, and enjoy the spinning.

[ta0]

Welcome to the hobby/sport, Wardfin! This forum is not yet one year old but it is the continuation of previous forums going back 10 years and it has a great tradition of being friendly and very supportive to "newbies." I agree with Dizzy, the gladiator is a very good top for learning to throw. Just take out the weight rings at the beginning. Getting also a bearing is good advice, specially if you happen to be somewhat impatient.  And ask all the questions you want.

[the Earl of Whirl]

Hello Wardfin.  Nice to have you around.  Hope you enjoy yourself in the world of spinning tops. 

Wardfin?  Hmmmm.  My mind is also spinning thinking about the possibilities of that name.
Could your first name be Ward, like the father Ward Cleaver of Leave It to Beaver fame?  Could you be a warden some place?  Could you be one just got an aWard?  Is your fish known for his amazing fin?  Just a couple of ideas.  Maybe you could enlighten us to some of the background of your name?

[Wardfin]

Wow! It's impressive the first one to respond got the Pynchon reference. I'll probably get a bearing top after learning some of the basic tricks on a fixed tip, all of the feedback so far is very encouraging. And as for the name, its a sort of recombination of my first and last names: Griffin Ward. Your guesses where pretty good though!

[Neff]

Welcome, dear top spinner.  Your yo-yo experience will help in a general way, thinking out of the box, letting the object tell you what you're doing wrong, and fascination breeds success.  Otherwise, be careful to not let yo-yo logic control how you approach the practical aspects of spinning tops, from string length to how hard you throw.  In other words, ask away!

[Wardfin]

Thanks for the advice, I'm sure I'll have some questions when I get the top in the mail.

[MatiasStuntMan]

Hi Wardfin, and welcome to the sport/hobbie, I like to call it art (but that is just me). The Gladiator Top is a great and amazing instrument you will have long hours of joy playing and learning with it. And here you will find the best in the game (not me) and the best thing is that they are more than eager to help, and don't hesitate to ask, we all learn with everyone's questions.

[lincolnrick]

Glad you landed here Wardfin, it's the place to be for top spinning.

[SpinQueen]

Hello Wardfin,
Welcome to sexiness that is spin-tops....I like to think of tops as sexy rather than a sport or hobby, but maybe that's just me or maybe it's just the 2 glasses of wine I just drank...think I'll have a third...they were very small glasses after all.
Lol Mike, I just knew that you would say something about Wardfins name, as soon as I was reading through the posts... there it was...your post in all its glory.  Love you man...you're so predictable

[the Earl of Whirl]

That is funny SpinQueen.  I was sure you would say something about sexiness and you did not disappoint.  I must admit, though, I didn't expect you to say anything about the glasses of wine.  And you really caught me off guard when you talked about SMALL glasses.

[Neff]

Oh, snap! 

[SpinQueen]

Yes Mike, they were SMALL glasses...but only b/c wine gives me heartburn    Lucky for me, tequila doesn't 

Neff, be careful of that snapping.....people might start thinking you're gay....not that that would be a bad thing 

Don't worry Wardfin, you're safe for now....I won't start teasing you until you have over 300 posts. Just kidding, I might tease you before that 

[kevinm]

Otherwise, be careful to not let yo-yo logic control how you approach the practical aspects of spinning tops,

indeed.
yo-yo logic like... this string is 39" long and tied to my finger, how bad can i mess anything in this room up if i stand right here in the middle....
yes, welcome aboard, and try to find a padded area or remote field to practice your first boomerangs.

[Wardfin]

Just got home from out of town, and my top was waiting in the mail. I've given it a few throws, but haven't gotten it to completely turn over, though a couple of times it started spinning properly after crashing into something. Anyways, I'm looking forward to the progress