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[Aerobie]

I mentioned in my first post that I've made conical tops that don't flip.

They are very easy to launch.

I'll post a few photos next week but imagine a cone only -- no ball above it like standard tops.  So the Cg is inside the string wrap.  Thus there is no precession and no flip when thrown.  The low Cg would result in slower precession when hanging on a string, diavalo-style.

Have any of you played with tops like this?

Best,
Alan

[ta0]

Do you mean throw tops that don't flip in the air? We are aware that having a wrap that ends closer to the center of mass, either because the string is longer or thicker, will stop the top from flipping. I have tested this on all kinds of tops (even some not meant to be thrown). My working theory has been that the initial torque produces most of the flipping (because the top is not yet spinning fast) and with the string pulling close to the center of mass there is little initial torque.

Is your cone solid or hollow? We do play with hollow close-to-conical throw tops (but with string short enough to make them flip). I don't recall a solid conical throw top with absolutely no crown. There is a vintage conical hollow finger top (Rascal) that lends itself to fun games.

[Neff]

When I read you description I keep seeing a Koma.

[Aerobie]

The tops I made are 2.5" dia x 1.7" tall.  There is a 1.75" dia x .38" deep open cavity in the top, and the remainder is solid.  The Cg is about the middle of the conical winding surface.  I throw point-down because they do not flip.

I made one of Delrin (70g) and another of aluminum (140g).

It looks something like your photo but my cone angle = 45 deg and my bottom shaft is only 0.15 long.

Alan

[Neff]

I am curious, are you throwing yours with a backhand throw and the top spins clockwise? Kind of like the Megatop? Koma are thrown point down and do not flip, but are gripped in such a way to throw forehand and the top spins counterclockwise, as with a western top (throwing right handed). I am suddenly curious how difficult it would be for me to control a clockwise spinning top for me after doing the opposite for all these years.

[Aerobie]

I mostly throw backhand, but I can throw forehand.  For that I put my thumb in the  top cavity and the point between my forefinger and middle finger.

Both cw and ccw throws are with the axis perfectly vertical.

If I sweep my arm close to the floor (or tabletop) it lands very quietly.

Alan

[studio42]

I'd like to see video of this. It just sounds like it would be very interesting to watch.

[Daveid]

I don't recall a solid conical throw top with absolutely no crown.

Are beigoma hollow?

[ta0]

I don't recall a solid conical throw top with absolutely no crown.

Are beigoma hollow?

Nope.
I was thinking of cones at least as tall as they are wide.

[Aerobie]

Crummy camera, crummy photo editor

[Aerobie]

This pic shows the top cavity, which is there to lower the  Cg

[Jack]

This pic shows the top cavity, which is there to lower the  Cg

very interesting