For The Beginners...

It's been a long time since the last time I wrote in this blog. For the past months, we've been busy on the preparetions for the 2012 Southern YoYo Regional Contest. And after that contest, the FlipSpin Cavite was kicked out again in our clubmeet venue. No meeting for two weeks now here in our place and the Cavite players really want to go to clubmeet. We are now fixing this problem and hopefully we can have our clubmeet this sunday in a good and safe place.

Last night, I checked the FS Cavite group page in Facebook and saw a lot of posts from Preslie Saraza. He wrote all of his thoughts about yoyoing out of his boredom. Its kinda annoying because some of his posts are nonsense but some have a point.  Maybe recently many beginners ask him a lot of questions and since we are not having our weekly clubmeet here in Cavite, he posted all of his words for the players.

I'll post here all of the Preslie's posts in FS Cavite group page for you to see also some pointers to remember and I'll write my opinion about it so all the beginners who will read this will know these things they should really think about yoyoing.

#1 What is the best yoyo for you?

A lot of kids these days always ask what yoyo is the best for this and for that. I've already wrote about this one here in my blog before. I gave some tips for choosing the right yoyo for you. Heres the link of my blog entry about my tips for knowing "What is the best yoyo for you?"  - http://jkmandawe.blogspot.com/2011/12/perfect-yoyo-for-you.html.



#2 Nerdy YoYo Science 101 - Settings for Looping YoYos

For me, the best settings for looping yoyo are smaller gap, Starburst response, Yomega-sized ball bearing and a bit shorter than standard lenght string. It is really the best for looping play and preferred by many 2A players.

2A yoyos that I recommend - Raider EX and Loop900. Why? Because some 2A yoyos requires modding first before playing but the Raider EX and Loop900 are ready for looping out of the box after changing its gap size.


#3 Nerdy YoYo Science 101 - Wide Gap

Many of us use yoyos that the gap is wide for easy string tricks. The disadvantage of it is not a big deal to worry about. You just need to get used of it so it will be easy for you no matter what tricks that are you doing.


#4 The Best Bearing...

Any brands of bearings will do. No need to be choosy. For as long the bearing is stainless and spin goods, it's okay. Rusted bearings in looping yoyos are fine. Nothing to worry about it for as long it still spins.



#5 The Irritating Little Vibe and The Annoying Wobble

You don't like to play your yoyo if has a vibe and wobble, do you?

This one is really hard to explain to beginners because it all about the problem of a yoyo if it has a vibe and wobble. Many beginners ask us how to lessen or eliminate the vibe their yoyo. You can  fix it by tuning. For the things about tuning, you can ask us at the clubmeet for clearer explanations.




#6 The YoYo Trick Elements

What are these yoyo trick elements? These are the innovative yoyo tricks that invented and developed by many players through the years.

These tricks you should study first before you do a freestyle. Your knowledge on these tricks will help you to understand how to create your own style. All you need to do is focus on practicing it and learn these tricks. Create your own tricks from the combinations and varitions of these tricks.


#7 Copied Tricks Vs. Original Tricks

I feel bad to the new players who are really good at playing yoyo but lack of original tricks. They can do the other players' very difficult tricks but can't create their own original tricks. Not only tricks that they can be copy but also playing style. I don't get impress by these type of players.

Learning the basics, studying the trick elements and mastering the right execution of playing are things that you should do for creating your own tricks and of course, your style.


#8 Speed Play Vs. Smooth Play

Speed play or Smooth play? Which play style do you prefer?

Any of these two is your style, there's no problem with that.You need to improve it and evolve your playing style. That's simple.


#9 String Lenght Preference

For this one, you should ask yourself what is you preferred string lenght. Think which one is comfortable and easy to use while you are playing.

If you're still confused, you can try different string lenghts until you find one which you really like. That is a very simple solution for that.


#10 How to Win a YoYo Contest???

Experience is also a big contribution in winning a yoyo contest. Don't be too afraid if it is your first time to join. Have fun and enjoy the thrill and excitement of the contest.
Practice your tricks and routine before the contest, perform correctly the things that you have practice and also, be confident on stage.


#11 What is the best yoyo for you? PART 2

Every yoyo has its own characteristics. They have their own advantages and disadvantages. Better to choose the right yoyo that will suit your playing style.

For easy choosing the right yoyo for you, just remember these things:

- Know what you really wants
- Your preference
- Read some yoyo reviews in the internet


#12 And Preslie is really booooored...

I'm posting these things not to show Preslie's typo errors, bad spellings and his weird facts but show these points that the most frequently ask questions by newbies.

Many of you guys always asking us, senior players, many questions in Facebook. Sometimes it's annoying because it's not always in the right time to ask questions. You can ask us in the clubmeets. Don't be too quiet in person while in Facebook you are very active. Talk to us and ask questions politely.

Hope this helps you to know some things about yoyoing. It's only few, you will learn more if you visit and play with us at the clubmeet.

FlipSpin Laguna Clubmeet Visit

While everyone are busy trolling on the April Fool's Day, I visited the FlipSpin Laguna clubmeet at SM Calamba on that day. The reason why came there is to encourage all of them to join the upcoming Southern Regional YoYo Conest on April 28-29, 2012 and also help them prepare for that contest.

The FlipSpin Laguna is one of the sub-groups of FlipSpin YoYo Komunidad. What I can say to their group is they form a group without the help of others. What I mean was they do activities in their group every clubmeet and they even organize a mini contest for themselves before to enhance their skills in yoyoing.

Before I went to FlipSpin Laguna, I asked my friend, Jonnel Sasis, to go with me to Calamba, Laguna. So that I don't feel alone while on the long travel.

From my place in Bacoor, Cavite, we rode a jeep going to Alabang and after that, we ride again to a bus going directly to SM Calamba.

One of the reason why I like to travel in Laguna, to see the beautiful view of Mt. Makiling. But at that time the clouds block the view of the mountain.

We arrived at 2 o'clock P.M. in Calamba City. Charles Miagar is the first person we see on Laguna Boys' clubmeet spot in SM Calamba and after that the guys appear next one by one. Then, Jonnel and I teach them some new tricks.

Charles teaches their new member. The kid looks like one of my friends in String Cola. Guess who? HaHaHa

We did a 1minute freestyle practice for them and Jonnel judges their freestyles.

I recorded their 1min freestyle using Arold Lacdao's videocam so they will have a reference for their practice.

I'm not gonna post the results of their 1min freestyle activity. I'll post it on their group page.

I didn't took many photos that day. My camera runs out of battery because I forgot to turn it off when I'm taking to the guys. After that, I secretly recharged it for a while when I saw an outlet at the mall. And I finally took their group photo.

Jonnel with FlipSpin Laguna minus Noriel Formarejo (present but leaves) and the absents.

When we are going back home, the guys tells us the another route to Cavite. Jonnel and I rode a van from Calamba to Dasmariñas.

To end this blog entry , here's the video of FlipSpin Laguna.

 

Thanks again FS Laguna for the welcome. I'll be expecting you guys on the Southern Regionals. See you guys next time! :)

For more info about FlipSpin, visit their website at www.FLIPSPIN.org.

Also check the FlipSpin Laguna's facebook group page. Click here ---> FS Laguna

FlipSpin Demo for the Southern Regionals

I'm really thankful that our yoyo demo last saturday in SM Dasmariñas (Dasmariñas City, Cavite) was a big succes.

Now, it's 100% sure that we have a free venue for the Southern Regional YoYo Contest 2012.

Thanks to Ms. Marissa, Marketing Manager of SM Dasmariñas, for allowing us, FlipSpin, to have our contest at their mall on April 28-29 2012.

Special thanks to my friend, Manuel Tolentino, for the great hosting and very entertaining 3A freestyle at the SM Dasmariñas' event stage. I really enjoyed our demo together again like we did during the SuperYoYo Demo days.

Thanks to my team mates in String Cola, Meejay Olaybar and Paolo Alto.

Players of FlipSpin Laguna Charles Miagar, Arold Lacdao & Noriel Formarejo, thank you guys for effort in helping us. You guys perform really great! Looking forward to see your freestyles this coming regionals.

Thanks to FlipSpin Cavite, especially to Paul Penuela and Joshua Gawaran, for supporting us on our demo.

Thank you also Preslie Saraza, Kyle Capiral, Jay Nolan, Keats Santiago and Kristine "Sakura" Bare for your time and help for this.

Thank you guys very much for making this possible. I already said this on my text message but I'm very thankful to all of you.

Hope that many players will join the Southern Regionals and it will be a success :)

See you on April 28-29 at SM Dasmariñas.

Check the link about the details of Southern Regional YoYo Contest 2012 http://www.facebook.com/events/109309205865952/

YoYo Mafia Battle 2012 Overview

Another intense yoyo contest happened again last saturday (February 25, 2012), the first YoYoMafia Battle here in the philippines organized by Team YoYoMafia of FlipSpin.


Before the contest starts that day, we gather first at the Gateway Mall in Cubao before going to Antipolo, Rizal where the YoYoMafia Battle was held.

Meejay calling like a boss.

Waiting for the jeep going to Antipolo City, at the terminal.

At the contest venue, me and Manuel set the camera for taking videos of freestyles. Of course, the YoYoNation booth is there for selling yoyos and other stuffs. At the booth, there are YoYoMafia Shirts and YoYoMafia String Cutter for sale also.

Ready to shoot videos for YoYoMafia Battle.

Yoyos for sale.

The players in the venue are practicing their tricks and freestyle. While the organizers are preparing the stuffs they need to start the contest.

 

DJ Allan is in-charge for the music preparation and Kyle Capiral is the host of the event.

YoYoMafia Reymark Zavalla and Team YoYoJam Member Joseph Junsay.

Kerwin the Boy Wonder from Laguna

Manuel preparing his quadruple Sup'stah for his 1a and 3a freestyles.

The stage is set, judges are ready and the players are now going to do their freestyles prepared or not, with or without planned routine and confident or tense, the YoYoMafia Battle 2012 starts now.

Edmund San Antonio, Bryan Jardin and Sean Perez of DUNCAN Crew Philippines together with Kitty String owner, Hiro Koba, are the judges for the contest.

 

Joseph Junsay's opening speech.

Lander of Team String Cola is the first player will be doing a freestyle.

Team CLYW Ernest Kahn's demo during the break time

The contest resumes after the break. Miguel Fernando show his very smooth play in his freestyle.

After all the player's freestyles, the event is not finish yet. The contest proceed to a yoyo battle between the 5A players Cyrel Oregano & Henry Migy Hizon, the two players from Davao James Apolonio & John Elias Ibarra, and the Tropang Potchi Boys Kerwin Coles and Miguel Fernando.

After the crazy and fun yoyo battle, Miguel wins among the players. Thanks to the help of Team String Cola for the very loud and crazy cheers and support for Miguel.

Miguel gets a YoYoMafia Shirt and a yoyo for winning the yoyo battle.

After the yoyo battle and the judges are finished computing the scores of the players' freestyle, time to announce the results and the top players for 1A and X divisions.

X Division:

Patrick Valdez - 3rd place

Henry Migy Hizon - 2nd place

Martin Desamito - 1st place

1A Division:

Preslie Saraza - 5th place

JK Mandawe (me!) - 4th place

Miguel Fernando - 3rd place

Reimarc Pusing - 2nd place

John Elias Ibarra - 1st place

The champion of X division will have some yoyos from DUNCAN Crew Philippines for a year, as his prize. And the winner of 1A division will be sponsored by C3yoyodesign for one year and also get yoyos from them. Congrats to the winners of YoYoMafia Battle 2012.

Most of the players in top 5 in 1A division are members of String Cola. So proud of our team. After announcing the top players in 1A, I couldn't believe that I made into top 5. I think planning my routine early (a month before the contest but I didn't practice that much), really helps me a lot even I messed up in my freestyle. Compare in my past contest before, I didn't plan my routine and I only place below the top 10.

Before the event ends, the Team YoYoMafia annouces the new sponsored player of Crucial, one of the sponsors of the event. Reymark Zavalla is now the new member of Team Crucial.

Reymark's awesome freestyle demo.

 

Joseph's speech closes the event.

The event ends as the back drop fall down by the happy people there. Everyone is tired after the YoYoMafia Battle. The players learn lessons and gain experience after that and preparing for the next yoyo contest.

Here's a short clip of the players' freestyles during the YoYoMafia Battle 2012. See you all next contest!

ADEGLE PSG Review

Last Saturday after the FlipSpin clubmeet in Trinoma, I had a chance to try the most talked about yoyo now, ADEGLE’s first plastic yoyo the”PSG”. This yoyo is known by being the most durable plastic yoyo ever made. I saw in a blog before, talking about the PSG’s durability. They test it by beating it really hard for many times and after a lot of abuse, it finally broke.

 

Yellow PSG own by Hiro Koba

 

 Many of you wonder how this yoyo plays and many are planning to buy one. Even me, want also to buy a PSG but I changed my mind after I tried it. Just read my review to know the reason why I changed my mind. I didn’t do some durability test because it is Hiro’s PSG.  I’m not really interested about its toughness, so I just play with it and examine its playability.

 

 

The PSG has a similarity to DUNCAN FH Zero because of the caps and the reference for its shape is the ADEGLE Sandglass. For a plastic yoyo, the PSG’s design is unique among the other plastic yoyos. 

On play, the yoyo‘s weight is not heavy and not light either, just right. So for me it is easy to move the yoyo while playing. But because of PSG’s unusual shape, the play is not really that good. I’ve tried the ADEGLE Sandglass before; I like it, the spin is very stable and the yoyo is easy to move while playing because it is not that very solid even it is a metal. While playing the PSG, it feels weird. The hourglass shape not suites the plastic material because it has too many curves. Although it has a good catching area and wide for easy string hit. Compare to its metal version, the Sandglass plays really good.

Another thing that I observe on the PSG is how this yoyo response on a bind. When I did a bind, the string grips on the response but the force is very light when the yoyo reaches my palm. I checked it if yoyo is tighten properly. I simply tighten it a little bit then did a bind again and it returns back to my hand properly but the bind is not very tight enough.

A pink baller band together with the PSG’s packaging.

PSG’s specifications written below the packaging.

PSG’s comparison photos with the FreeHand Zero.

Still planning to buy this? Well, the PSG only cost 15-16 US Dollars (650-700 Pesos). Very cheap price for a plastic yoyo that is very durable, not bad. For me, I still prefer to play my YYF Velocity and other plastic yoyos like FH Zero and Lyn Fury because their design and shape is very simple yet the playability is excellent. No wonder these yoyos are still the best and the most recommended throws for beginners. Compare to the PSG, which is the design doesn’t really compliment to the plastic type. The odd shape of the yoyo really makes its performance not that really good.

So my overall rating to the PSG is 5 out of 10. The playability is not that good for me but the price is really cheap compare to others.

-JK