Not to be confused with a yo-yo of the same name produced by Russell.
The Professional was originally introduced in 1971 by Duncan as a tournament-shaped plastic yo-yo with a chrome finish. It sports the Flambeau logo on each side of the caps, along with the words "Duncan Professional" circled around it. It was marketed as a yo-yo that was "perfectly balanced for finest performance", and was one of the top Duncan yo-yo models of the time alongside the Duncan Satellite light-up yo-yo.
In 1974 it was redesigned into the more distinctive Slimline shape that is usually associated with this name. Since then, it had been used as their primary advertising yo-yo up until the early 2000s. When Duncan acquired Playmaxx, it started using the ProYo for the bulk of its yo-yo advertising, and all but discontinuing the Professional Slimline.
During the 1980s, Japanese toy manufacturer Tsukuda Original made and distributed their own iteration of the Professional in Japan as the "Duncan Sports Yo-Yo" (featuring the artwork of the Duncan Yo-Yolympics) and the "Master" (featuring a design similar to the red bird design of the Duncan Professional from the 1980s).
The Professional was also licensed to Bandai in 1997 for the Hyper Yo-Yo line as the Hyper Pro (Japanese: ハイパープロ). There was also a slightly redesigned heavier version called the Hyper Millennium (Japanese: ハイパーミレニアム), and a lighter version of the Hyper Millennium was used in promotional variants, including one for the anime series Detective Conan (also known overseas as Case Closed).
Notable Cosmetic Variants[]
The two sides of the Slimline Professional has clear caps, and underneath each clear cap is a circular sheet that can be printed with various designs. Because of this, many variants of the Slimline Professional had been released, including the Magic Motion line, most of their advertising and even for the 1979 Duncan Yo-Yolympics. Hear are some notable versions:
- 1979 Duncan Yo-Yolympics - Same as Professional only with the 1979 Duncan Yo-Yolympics promotion on each side. This was the basis for the Super model of the International Duncan Sports Yo-Yo line sold in Japan by Tsukuda Original during early 1980's.
- Advertisement yo-yo - Same as Professional only with printed advertisements on each side. They even made Coca-Cola yo-yos in the 1990's using the Professional model, which is different from their Coca-Cola yo-yos in the 1950's.
- Alien - A glow-in-the-dark variant of the Professional with a green alien face printed on each side.
- Galaxy - Same as Professional only the printed sheets are holographic.
- Magic Motion - Same as Professional only the circular sheets are lenticular and have prints of various comic book superheroes.
Official Description[]
Original Version[]
Duncan Yo-yo Print Ad (1973)[]
The Duncan professional is moulded in special plastic then metal plated with the same process used in automobile manufacturing. This yo-yo is perfectly balanced for finest performance.
Slimline Version[]
Duncan Yo-yo Leaflet (1981)[]
The Duncan Professional is designed for the experienced player who wants a top-quality, high-performance yo-yo.
Duncan Hyper Pro (1997)[]
Type C - Looping Play Type
A yo-yo designed for looping play (such as the circular throwing technique "Around the World"). The thin shape allows for precise yo-yo control. Diameter about 58mm. Weight about 42 grams.
Infinite Illusions 1999 Spring/Summer Catalog[]
Ultra thin plastic yo-yo with a steel axle. Duncan demonstrators since the 1960's have preferred this model for two-handed play.
Coca-cola Yo-yo[]
Infinite Illusions 1999 Spring/Summer Catalog[]
Duncan has put a line of 18 Coca-Cola yo-yos into its Duncan Professional. All of these yo-yos come with a Coca-Cola logo on the back and one of the logos below on the other side.
Alien[]
Infinite Illusions 1999 Spring/Summer Catalog[]
Just like the Professional model, only with an Alien logo on the side and it glows in the dark!
Galaxy[]
Infinite Illusions 1999 Spring/Summer Catalog[]
Just like the Professional model, only with holographic sides that shine when the yo-yo is spinning.
Magic Motion[]
Duncan Yo-yo Leaflet (1981)[]
Magic Motion animation adds to the sales impact of the ever-popular Super Heroes. Move the yo-yo back and forth and the Heroes seem to come alive! Kids collect them!
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- The Slimline version of the Professional came out in the same year that the original ProYo was patented.