Duncan Metal Zero Yo-Yo
The Duncan Metal Zero Yo-Yo is made of brushed aluminum and is available for $40, which may seem like a lot of a yo-yo, but is actually a decent deal for an all-metal model. A previous model was supposedly "anodized," but actually just had some sort of paint that would easily flake off. This latest model looks like it is just aluminum, no paint.
The older model was reviewed by a hardcore yo-er and got generally high marks, except for the whole paint thing.
All in all: this isn’t really a yoyo I would use for my competitions, but this would be a great yoyo for beginning yoyoers (just use Duncan pads) and a great yoyoer for intermediates (just use 2 baz’s or dif’s). For real advanced play, get a mkii or gear or business instead. This yoyo is a great addition to your collection, but it’ won’t be anywhere near my main player.
Duncan Metal Zero Review (pics) [TheYo.com, sort of via Uncrate]
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This is a really great looking yo-yo! I never cared much though for metal yo-yos as they can really be painful to use (even using the pads). And just try using one in cold weather! OUCH! For my money the Duncan Profly gets my vote.
Wow. I was an amateur yo-yo enthusiast as a kid, and I had no idea it could get so serious.
Brake pads, friction stickers (huh?), bearings, counterweights... Goodness gracious. There are yo-yos that cost $450 for heaven's sake!
I really like the look of the aluminum, though. Quite spiffy. I may have to grab one of these and give it a go, for old-time's sake.
WINGO, I have to say to you that if you buy this yo-yo, it's great for "string tricks" ALA' "rock the baby" as the metal axle allows for extra long spins,... but personally, I like aerial yo-yoing, and that requires a certian amount of "grab" where the axle is concerned, which is completely lost with metal-axle and bearing-axeled yo-yos. I think it depends on what kind of tricks you like to do.... I like the PROFLY because of it's plastic composition,...and it's wide flanged and softly rounded ridges that accomodate both aerial and string tricks without the painful return you'll get from a sharp-edged butterfly. Overall, the yo-yo industry is one that provdes it's patrons a both a wide and deeply rich spectrum of options.... the yo-yo business model should in-fact, inspire other businesses to adopt this flexible model...
P.S. The PROFLY and other Duncans, have a wooden axle. It is a little rough for the first 100 throws or so,.... but they become METALICLY SMOOTH after about 150 throws.... and also maintain the "GRAB" or "Catch Return" of non-metal yo-yos; spinners even after hundreds of throws... Also, always remember to use a FRESH and SOFT COTTON yo-yo string...
hey guys. i'm drew.
the yo-yo community is actually pretty cool. there's recently been a trend of small run metal yo-yos put out by amatuer designers within the scene, and it's really nice to see how people support them. the problem, though, is that most of them cost somewhere between seventy and a hundred dollars. doesn't seem that bad for the grown-ups with more expensive hobbies, but kind of rough for kids! (here's a yo-yo blog that keeps up with new releases if you want to see what the new ones have looked like: http://yoyo2.com/ )
so, yeah. the cool thing about the metal zero is that the kids who want to try a metal can pick one up without breaking the bank, and those looking to relive their childhood (and later convert it to a classy brushed steel paperweight) can do the same. and it actually plays as well as the big boys, too!
if you'd like to look a little more into learning tricks, though, i think i'd probably look more into the plastic freehand zero, 'cause it's half the cost and hurts less. http://yoyonation.com/ would be my recommendation for the store. the guy who runs it is really into supporting the scene, and theyo is frankly pretty sheisty. (uncrate is severely nifty, but, you know, kind of outside the scene. so yeah.)
oh, and i'm sponsored by duncan. so you might want to take what i said with a grain of salt... but i tried to be as fair as possible.
some other cool yo-yo links:
a good collection of beginner tricks: http://www.begin2spin.com/index.php
a video i made a year or two ago: http://youtube.com/watch?v=MEP-vpMRHoc
the top three freestyles from the most recent world yo-yo contest: http://www.yoyoevents.org/2007worldchampionship/index.php (check out yuuki spencer's 1A and rei iwakura's artistic performance! they're both great performers.)
this comment ended up being longer than most blogs, but, you know, thought i'd weigh in.
Drew, please elaborate that TheYo is sheisty...
Sheisty means:
suspicious, shady; sneaky
Sheister:
A con-man, someone who wants to cheat you.
I've dealt with TheYo for quite some time and can attest to the fact that it is NONE of those. Mike runs a clean shop.
i've just never seen a contest sponsored by them. just sayin'.
Then yer not lookin very hard. He sponsors a lot of the regional ones, like MWR and the state meets. Even if he didn't that in no way qualifies his operation as sheisty.
i'm sorry if i mislabel anybody. perhaps "shiesty" is a little strong, 'cause i'm just going off things i've heard and personal experience. (remember that ban witchhunt? that was awesome. i'm probably blacklisted now, too.)
buy from wherever you want. i hope this little bit of drama doesn't bother anyone who's interested in yo-yoing; i promise the community is largely cooler than this.