STRING THEORY. ONE SIZE FITS SOME.

Strings. Decidedly an important part of anyone's yo-yo experience. Some players have their go-to favorite and others will usually buy whatever they find on sale. Even more alarming is how many players are still using the string that came on their yo-yo. These poor strings have given their all and are reduced to fuzzy, limp noodles while your yo-yo begs for a freshie.

The following really applies to bulk strings that come in boxes or bags of 50-100. Bulk strings provide great value which break cost down to around $.10-.30 per string. Buying in bulk allows players to always have extra strings on hand.  

There is however, a false expectation that players have when they receive their 100 counts of string. "I just got a pile of new strings. I'm set!" Sadly, this is not the case. There are many benefits to buying your strings in bulk. Compatibility is not one of them.

FROM THICKNESS

Back in the Old School (when it was just called School) finding a replacement string for your Duncan Imperial or Butterfly was next to impossible. It was easier to simply buy a new yo-yo than find a new string. Today, it's never been easier to pick up new strings. Additionally, they are available in endless thicknesses such as thin, regular, fat or XL. There are also a handful of companies that produce several lengths like short or extra long.

TO MATERIALS 

Originally all yo-yo strings were cotton. The primary advantage of cotton is it's soft.  Softer strings have a wider appeal to beginners because it doesn't hurt and allows the most friction when playing a traditional responsive yo-yo like a Butterfly, which allows that satisfying "snap" back to your hand. Cotton strings continue to exist to this day however they are not usually used for modern unresponsive playing. We have cotton and polyester blends, all polyester, all nylon, and even polyester/nylon blend that all have a different feel as well as play characteristics. 

BACK TO BULK

For the sake of example let's say you receive a 100 count of 100% poly Kitty Fat. Even if you only have a few yo-yos you might be surprised when you realize that some of your throws play great with your new strings but your other throws don't. You definitely expected that all of your yo-yos would improve so what's the problem?

MIND THE GAP

Players will tune in to certain measurements more than others when buying a new throw. Diameter, width and weight are typically their main concerns. The one measurement that tends to slip under their radar is gap width. Unfortunately, gap width is extremely important with regards to strings. The more narrow the gap with, the less forgiving it is with a thicker string. The larger gap widths are less forgiving with more narrow strings. It totally makes sense on paper but gap width is rarely taken into account. Gap width is the number one reason a yo-yo will respond well or poorly to a particular thickness/thinness of string.

WEIGHT AND BALANCE

As a general rule, yo-yos that are bulky and heavy will benefit more from a thicker string. Light and nimble yo-yos will work better with a thin string. This also takes into account the all important gap width. If you have a light yo-yo with an enormous gap width, chances are a thicker string would achieve better results, especially where axis balance and bind returns are concerned.  

SLICK OR WOOLY, SOFT OR ROUGH

Strings: slick, wooly, soft, and rough.

This has to do with all of the above factors of the yo-yo like weight, gap width, etc., but is further complicated by the response of the yo-yo and the way a certain string material interact. This starts to boil down to "feel" which is a matter of personal preference. Everyone experiences the sense of feeling differently from one another. 

Some players love soft strings in terms of feeling which makes sense...softer strings are more comfortable since they don't burn your fingers quite as badly. However, a softer poly string in a "Fat" thickness might not be the best choice if you have new or otherwise "sticky/tacky/grippy" response pads. Soft poly strings can wear into almost a yarn-like texture quickly whereas slicker, rougher strings tend to wear into a waxier material. If you have a grippy response, that thicker and yarny string is going to catch and return very easily compared to a slicker string which, produces less friction. This notoriously occurs in any tricks that require hops. Even a tiny hop can catch the response with a soft and thick string and boom: your yo-yo binds out of nowhere smacking you square in your dome. It happens. ​

In the above example, the same player would have more luck with a slicker (rougher) and thinner string for that particular yo-yo's response. This way, the grippier material of the pads won't catch the string as often resulting in far less accidental binds and returns.

​UNCOMFORTABLY NUMB

When new players ask us to recommend a string, our answer rarely wins popularity contests. Even experienced players seem to favor softer strings which are great if the softer strings they play match the exact yo-yo they are throwing. Most times, it does not.

Lotus always recommends the way the string "feels" to a specific yo-yo rather than how it actually feels on your finger. Might there be string burn? Absolutely. String burn still occurs using a softer string too. The main point is over time, with practice, your hands will develop callus mass. Eventually these calluses will reform and harden over and over. After awhile, it shouldn't matter if you are using a softer or rougher string because your calluses will protect you no matter which type you are using!

SAD BUT TRUE

To give you an idea, we have provided a list of the various types of strings "in play" all at once in the Lotus collection. Each yo-yo is always matched to a specific string type. Without mentioning any brands by name here you go!

• Normal/Regular thickness, 100% poly, EXTRA slick
• Normal/Regular thickness, 100% poly, EXTRA slick, EXTRA long
• Fat thickness, 100% poly, EXTRA slick
• Normal/Regular thickness, 100% poly, EXTRA soft, EXTRA long
• Fat thickness, 100% poly, EXTRA soft
• Fat thickness, 100% poly, EXTRA soft, EXTRA long
• XL thickness, 100% poly, EXTRA soft
• XXL thickness, 100% poly, EXTA soft
• Normal/Regular thickness, 100% poly, medium slick
• Fat/XL thickness, 100% poly, slick
• Normal/Regular thickness, 100% nylon, EXTRA slick 
• Fat thickness, 100% nylon, EXTRA slick
• 1.5 thickness, 50% poly/50% nylon, slick

Whew! Thirteen primary strings. All strings listed above are all bulk 100 packs. The above list does not include any boutique strings since they commonly come in less than 10 packs, which means there are even more strings in play than listed!    

TRICKY SITUATIONS

As if all of this wasn't enough, there is the added issue of a string's playability. Strings all handle various tricks differently. Some players prefer heavier and thicker strings for slacks and whips while others prefer thinner and stiffer strings. An example would be a 100% poly XL VS a 100% nylon 1.5. This is another matter of personal preference, which not only considers a particular yo-yo's specs but also incorporates a trick set. Yet another reason that works against players only using one type of string. Below is a general chart that lists the common benefits of materials and thickness.  

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THINNER STRINGS

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• Unintentionally snag or catch the response far less than thicker strings. This allows for riskier hop tricks or any tricks that rely on bouncy movement.
• Allow more consecutive wraps around the bearing/axle without jamming the gap with string. Multiple string wraps can drastically reduce RPMs and increase unwanted returns. 
• Lighter weight prevents opened loops of slack from quickly collapsing.  

THICKER STRINGS

• Easier to bind and return for beginners and provide advanced players a consistent return at low RPMs.
• Improves stability and balance with large gap or notoriously off-axis yo-yos. Thicker strings physically consume more gap width and make tilt-correction easier.  
• Increase in weight can allow for easier whips and slack tricks.
• Offset the issues associated with throws over 66-67g.  

POLY STRINGS

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• Typically softer than 100% nylon.
• Wooly or yarny poly increases friction against the response making binds and returns easier.
• Comfortable for extended practice sessions.
• 100% poly strings can handle a large range and variety of tricks.  

NYLON STRINGS

• Typically nylon is slicker than 100% poly.
• The more slick the string, the less friction created against the response. This minimizes unwanted returns.
• Since nylon is usually stiffer, opened slack loops stay opened longer and hold form better.

TIME FOR A CHANGE

The most important part of any string discussion. Play fresh. No matter the thickness, length, material etc. you choose, replace your worn strings often. Considering that bulk strings often cost between $.10-.30 per string and you just bought a 100 count, there isn't a good excuse to not keep a freshie on your throws. Since strings are a consumable good, they are being consumed rapidly as you play. The average lifespan of a modern poly string is around 30 minutes of continuous play. Nylon strings last even shorter! A lot of wear has to do with the specific tricks you are throwing as well as how many returns and regens/re-throws are performed. Some responses quite literally chew through strings. The grippier the response pads or flowable silicone, the more friction is created against the string. The more friction is applied to the string, the faster that string will wear out. Thank you, physics.   

DOUBLE DOWN

Strings are commonly available in smaller packs of 10 or even sample packs that include a few different types and styles of strings. Try everything. Buy a few strings that you think you won't like. They might surprise you when you use them on one of your throws and they end up playing flawlessly! After you mix and match your yo-yos with a variety of strings you'll begin to notice what works best with each one. Take note! There are some generalizations like "most H shaped yo-yos work best with "X" string." However, you can really get as specific as you want once you've tested out different combinations of thickness, materials, torsion, length, etc. The more you personalize each yo-yo, the easier it will be to learn new tricks or even develop your own!

Try to adhere to our "golden rule" when ordering bulk strings. Whenever it's time to purchase a bulk 50/100 count of one type, place an additional bulk order for a different type of strings simultaneously. They could even be from the same brand/manufacturer as long as there is a difference such as length or thickness. This way you will start to accumulate a stockpile of strings that will match each yo-yo you play. Buying 100-200 strings might seem like a lot at first but trust us; they'll go faster than you think. After you try a few more sample packs, repeat the same process with other bulk types. There is nothing worse than waiting until you are out of one of your favorite strings, going to order more, then finding out they are completely out of stock everywhere. When you buy double bulk, you are hedging against this happening to you.       

FINAL THOUGHTS

Hopefully our guide shed some light on the many differences of strings that exist today. What say you? Have a favorite type or a different experience? Make sure to share your thoughts in the comments below.

Stay classy: please remember to keep comments clean and civil. ​

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