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Bind
TIBackBind2
Trick also known as
Type of Trick Basic technique
Invented by
Difficulty RedStarRedStarGreyStarGreyStarGreyStar
Videos

YouTube
Begin2Spin
MasterMagic
Other

While originally yo-yos were usually responsive (they returned to your hand with a light tug on the string), in the last few years a playing style has evolved that requires an unresponsive yo-yo. With these yo-yos, you have to wind string into the gap in order to generate enough friction to make the yo-yo return. This technique is called binding.

A lot of different binding styles have evolved over the years, some of which can be seen in the YouTube video linked from the Infobox. This article introduces the most common binds.

Sidestyle Bind[]

Also known as a Back Bind, this is what you will see in most videos, as it is probably the easiest of the binds. Easy means: "Easy if you can do the Reverse Trapeze."

Into the Reverse Trapeze[]

Step1

Step 1: Coming from above, e.g. from a pinwheel, let the string catch on your free hand finger...

Step2

Step 2: ...moving around it...

Step3

Step 3: ...and up into the string.

Step4

Step 4: Give the string a little slack, so the yo-yo carries it with it.

Step5

Step 5: Don't let it catch on the free hand this time.

Step6

Step 6: Voilà, Reverse Trapeze


The Bind[]

Step1

Step 1: Pull the string up with your throw hand. What happens inside the yo-yo now is very similar to what happens during the winding method described here. This way you can even accelerate the yo-yo during the bind!

Step2

Step 2: When the yo-yo approaches the free hand, drop the string there...

Step3

Step 3: ... let the yo-yo wind it up. By now there is enough friction for the yo-yo ...

Step4

Step 4: ... to come back ...

Step5

Step 5: ... to your throw hand. Catch from below. The yo-yo is now ready to be thrown again.

The drop

Here's what happens, when you release the string. The yo-yo is rotating clockwise, as this is seen from the player's perspective. First the yo-yo throws away the loop from your left hand...

Winding

...eats up the now loose string...

And hop

and finally winds itself up tightly. This shows the big advantage of this bind over the variation shown below: the string is wound evenly into the gap, without any loops sticking out.


Here's how it looks from the side:

Bind1

1: Trapeze

Bind2

2: Pop up

Bind3

3: Around left hand

Bind4

4: Up ...

Bind5

5: ... and into the string

Bind6

6: Around left hand

Bind7

7: Pull up with throw hand

Bind8

8: Let go with free hand

Bind9

9: Catch

Frontstyle Bind/Fake Bind[]

The fronstyle bind is basically the same, except that from the spinning direction, the yo-yo can wind from an Over Mount without the Reverse Trapeze-like string loop.


Step1

Step 1: Start with an Over Mount. Pull the string up with your throw hand. Once again, what happens is basically the same as when winding the yo-yo. You can even accelerate the yo-yo during the bind!

Step2

Step 2: Drop the loop...

Step3

Step 3: ...let the yo-yo eat it and...

Step4

Step 4: ...return.

Step5

Step 5: Catch from above.


Sidestyle variation[]

Step1

This bind usually starts from a trapeze. Let the yo-yo swing down ...

Step 2

... around your non-yo hand, without catching the string on a finger ...

Step 3

... until it looks like a trapeze again, but isn't. RIght now you should notice a significant increase in friction in the yo-yo as well as it's tugging on the string. If not, do another one or two wraps.

Step 4

In order to make the string layout n the yo-yo a little clearer, here is an exaggerated close-up.

Step 5

Once you feel the friction slowing down the yo-yo, drop the string from your non-yo hand. The yo-yo should start to wind up, flinging (yellow arrows) the loop of string from your non-yo hand around. Don't be confused that this loop is not visible on most videos. It is moving too fast for the camera and its blur is usually to faint to see.

Step 6

When the yo-yo has returned the string loop often still sticks out. This is normal for this bind.

A common problem when people first learn this bind is that the yo-yo does not unravel when they throw it after they have done a bind. The key to this is to change the size of the loop of string that is wrapped around the axle: if the loop is too small the yo-yo will not return, if it is too big the string will get tangled and you will not be able to throw the yo-yo without taking it apart and untangling the string. How big a loop is necessary depends on how responsive the yo-yo is. Mastering this is purely a matter of practise, although fresh string does help.


Fancy Binds[]

One Handed[]

Do a Plastic Whip. When you have the yo-yo on one hand after the Plastic Whip, swing the yo-yo out away from you. If it catches, then the yo-yo will return.

The other one handed bind is a laceration bind. Where you throw half of a laceration so that the strings double up, then it will come up (note: this only works on a moderately responsive yoyo)

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