The DNA is one of the most famous tricks in modern yo-yoing, but here’s something many people don’t realize:

Not every yo-yo is designed to do the DNA trick well.

As a 2x World Yo-Yo Champion who has spent nearly 20 years yo-yoing and teaching people how to yo-yo all around the world, I’ve seen how tricks evolve over time. But the DNA quickly became something different, spreading across social media and inspiring millions of new players almost overnight.

New players often wonder what the best yo-yo for the DNA trick is, while more advanced players look for yo-yos that allow them to perform longer spins, experiment with advanced DNA variations, and push the trick to its limits.

The design of the yo-yo can make a huge difference in how easy or difficult it is to learn and master the DNA trick. In this guide, we’ll break down:

• what makes a yo-yo good for the DNA trick
• the best beginner yo-yos for learning it
• the best intermediate and advanced yo-yos for mastering the trick
• and which strings work the best when doing the DNA trick

If you want the full deep dive into how to actually perform the trick, check out our Ultimate Guide to the DNA Yo-Yo Trick here.

What Is the DNA Yo-Yo Trick?

The DNA is a modern yo-yo trick where the yo-yo balances and spins on your fingertip while the string wraps around it. This creates a spiral pattern that resembles the double helix structure of a DNA strand.

The DNA has become more than just a yo-yo trick. It’s a symbol of modern yo-yoing and the result of decades of experimentation by players pushing the limits of what a yo-yo can do.

History of the DNA Trick 

Its roots can be traced back to the 1950s with the Sidewinder, one of the first helix-style tricks where the string wrapped around a spinning yo-yo. In 2004, legendary player André Boulay pushed the idea further by combining Sidewinder mechanics with a finger grind, helping pave the way for modern finger spin tricks. 

Over the following years, players continued experimenting with fingerspin tricks. Then on August 1, 2020, I posted this version of the trick on TikTok, and it quickly went viral.

Since then, the DNA has exploded across social media, with videos of the trick surpassing a billion views worldwide and inspiring a new generation of yo-yo players.

What Makes a Yo-Yo Good for the DNA Trick?

The DNA trick might look complicated, but with the right yo-yo it’s actually very easy to learn. However, how quickly you can master the DNA and how far you can go with the advanced DNA variations, often depends on the design of the yo-yo itself. 

So to help you understand what separates an average yo-yo from one that can perform DNA tricks the best, below are six of the most important features to look for:

1. Finger Spin Hub & Self-Centering Technology

The most important feature for the DNA trick is a finger spin hub. This is the small dimple or hub in the center of the yo-yo where your finger lands during the trick. It helps guide the yo-yo toward the center of your finger and keeps it stable while it spins.

Some modern yo-yos take this even further with self-centering fingerspin technology, which helps to guide the yo-yo toward the center of the hub during the spin. Designs like the DNA King, use this technology to make fingerspin tricks like the DNA much easier to learn. 

2. The Material

The material of the yo-yo also plays a big role in how well it performs during the DNA trick. Many beginner DNA yo-yos are made from plastic or polycarbonate, which keeps them lightweight, durable, and affordable while still allowing players to learn the trick. 

More advanced DNA yo-yos are typically made from aluminum, which improves spin time, stability, and overall power. Some modern designs also combine multiple materials to improve performance. 

For example, models like the original DNA yo-yo and the DNA King use an aluminum body paired with a polycarbonate fingerspin hub, which helps guide the yo-yo toward the center of your finger during the trick.

You can see how one of the most advanced fingerspin yo-yos for the DNA trick was designed in the video here. 

3. Stability

The DNA trick relies on the yo-yo spinning smoothly while the string wraps around it. If the yo-yo wobbles or tilts during the finger spin, the string will not catch easily and your DNA attempt will fail. 

The Yo-yos designed with better balance and rim weight distribution will stay stable during the spin and produce cleaner DNA spirals.

4. Diameter and Shape

The overall size and shape of the yo-yo can also affect how the DNA trick looks. A  slightly smaller diameter can create a tighter helix as the string wraps around the spinning yo-yo, which often results in a cleaner and longer-lasting DNA spiral.

Yo-yos designed for finger spin tricks also tend to have shapes that naturally guide the yo-yo toward the center of the finger during the catch.

5. Spin Time & Power

The DNA trick requires both power and a long spin time. If the yo-yo slows down too quickly, the string won’t have enough time to wrap around to create the spiral. Longer spin times give the string more time to build the DNA helix and make the trick look cleaner. 

6. Weight Distribution

Yo-yos designed with more weight toward the outer rims tend to store more rotational energy meaning they will have longer spin times. This is commonly known as rim weighting, and it is one of the key design principles used in modern performance yo-yos.

Having the right weight distribution throughout the yo-yo also helps it to stay stable during finger spins, which allows the string to wrap evenly and form a cleaner DNA spiral.

Responsive vs Unresponsive Yo-Yos for the DNA Trick (What's the Difference?) 

One thing many new players wonder is whether the DNA trick should be done on a responsive or unresponsive yo-yo. The answer is that both can work, but they’re usually used at different stages of learning.

A responsive yo-yo returns to your hand when you tug the string. These yo-yos are often easier for beginners because they help players learn control and timing while practicing their finger spins.

Check out this short tutorial on how to do the responsive DNA here.

An unresponsive yo-yo does not return with a tug and instead requires a bind to bring it back. Because unresponsive yo-yos spin longer and faster, they allow players to perform longer DNAs and experiment with more advanced variations of the trick.

For many players, learning the DNA trick follows the same progression as learning yo-yoing itself. Beginners often start with responsive yo-yos to build control and consistency, then eventually transition to unresponsive yo-yos for longer spins and more advanced tricks.

In other words, as your tricks progress, the yo-yos you use often progress with them as well. That’s why the best yo-yo for the DNA trick can depend on where you are in your own yo-yo journey.

Below you’ll find some of the best yo-yos for the DNA trick, whether you're just learning your first finger spins or looking for a high-performance yo-yo capable of long, stable DNA spirals.

Best Beginner Yo-Yo to Learn the DNA Trick

If you're just starting out, beginner-friendly yo-yo designed with a finger spin hub, stable shape, and durable construction can dramatically shorten the learning curve.

A good beginner yo-yo will help you guide the yo-yo toward the center of your finger and maintain a smooth spin while the string begins wrapping into the DNA spiral.

Vyral Yo-Yo

As a 2× World Yo-yo champion, I’ve spent nearly 20 years playing, competing, and traveling the world teaching people how to yo-yo. For years I recommended the Arrow to beginners learning tricks like the DNA. However, after all that experience, I wanted to take everything I had learned and create my own beginner yo-yo for the YoYoChampion lineup, the Vyral, built specifically to make modern tricks like fingerspins and the DNA easier to learn.

Like many beginner-friendly yo-yos, the Vyral starts as a responsive yo-yo, which helps players learn the basics and build control. As players improve, you can also install an unresponsive bearing, allowing you to start learning the unresponsive DNA and other more advanced fingerspin tricks.

Why the Vyral Works Well for Learning the DNA

• Finger spin hub that helps guide the yo-yo toward the center of your finger
• Stable shape that reduces wobble during spins
• Durable polycarbonate body that handles beginner mistakes and impacts
• Beginner-friendly responsive setup

Because the Vyral was designed around modern finger spin tricks, it becomes a natural starting point for players who want to build the skills needed to eventually land the full DNA trick.

Right now the Vyral is available inside the YoYoChampion Master Pack, which walks players step-by-step from their first beginner tricks to modern unresponsive play. It starts with the EZ Trick, a beginner yo-yo designed to help you learn the basics, then moves to the Vyral for modern tricks like the DNA, and finally the Replay Pro, your first unresponsive yo-yo and the same model I used to win the 2015 U.S. National Yo-Yo Contest.

Best Intermediate Yo-Yo for the DNA Trick

Once players become comfortable with finger spins and beginner tricks, many look for the next step. This is usually when players transition from responsive yo-yos to their first unresponsive yo-yo so they can continue leveling up their DNA tricks. 

The DNA Yo-Yo

After the trick exploded online, many players were trying to perform the DNA on yo-yos that weren’t designed for finger spins. The DNA Yo-Yo was one of the first models specifically designed to help players learn and master the DNA trick.

Because of its balance between performance, durability, and affordability, the DNA quickly became one of the most popular yo-yos for players looking to improve their DNA trick without jumping straight to a high-end competition yo-yo.

Why the DNA Yo-Yo Works So Well

• Finger spin hub designed to guide the yo-yo toward your finger center
• Stable weight distribution for smoother finger spins
• Long spin times for cleaner DNA spirals
• Durable materials 
• Unique colorways 
• Affordable price range (around $40) 

As time went on and players all around the world continued pushing the limits of the DNA trick, a new question began to emerge... What would the ultimate DNA yo-yo look like?

The DNA King

The DNA King was created to answer that question.

Instead of simply making a yo-yo capable of performing the DNA trick, the DNA King was engineered specifically to optimize finger spin performance and DNA control, while still maintaining the ability to perform the highest level competition tricks.

While the DNA King was engineered to master the DNA trick, it’s far more than just a finger spin yo-yo. Its competition ready design makes it capable of handling everything from high speed tech combos to creative and complex freestyle tricks. 

In other words, the DNA King wasn’t just built to land the DNA, it was built to dominate it.

What Makes the DNA King The Best DNA Yo-Yo?

It's no secret that the DNA King has quickly become a favorite around the world among the top players and viral yo-yo creators who want a yo-yo capable of pushing modern tricks to their limits. Here are a few of the features that make the DNA King one of the best yo-yos for the DNA trick.

• Self-centering fingerspin hub that helps guide the yo-yo toward the center of your finger, making it easier to lock into long, stable and smooth DNA tricks. 
• Polycarbonate fingerspin hub that provides a smooth, angled surface, allowing the yo-yo to settle naturally into finger spins.
• Metal thumb grind lip that allows you to perform additional grind tricks and creative DNA variations.
• Optimized diameter for DNA tricks that is slightly undersized to help create tighter, faster, and longer DNA spirals.
• Competition-level design capable of going “Godspeed” and handling even the most difficult tricks.

What String Is Best for the DNA Trick?

You can technically perform the DNA trick with almost any standard yo-yo string. 

However, when doing the DNA, the string wraps around the yo-yo while it spins on your finger, which naturally creates extra twists and a lot of tension. Because of this, players often have to reset their string tension using tricks like the Sidewinder.

There is a simple hack, though, that many top players and viral yo-yo creators use to avoid this problem completely.

DNA String uses a small swivel system that allows the string to untwist while you perform the trick. This prevents tension from building up, allowing you to perform longer and smoother DNA spins without constantly stopping to reset your string.

Common DNA Trick Problems ( and How to Fix Them) 

If you're struggling to land the DNA trick, you're not alone. While the trick can look easy when experienced players do it, there are a few common mistakes that almost everyone makes when learning it for the first time.

Weak Throw

One of the biggest issues beginners run into is not throwing the yo-yo with enough power. The DNA trick relies on the yo-yo spinning smoothly on your fingertip while the string wraps around it to form the spiral. If the yo-yo doesn’t have enough spin, it will slow down and stop before the DNA helix can fully form.

Focus on throwing a strong sleeper with good form and angle to give the yo-yo enough spin and stability for the spiral to build.

Incorrect Throw Angle

The angle of your throw can make a big difference when learning the DNA trick. If you are using a responsive yo-yo, it helps to throw the yo-yo at a slight angle so it easily lands on your finger. If the yo-yo is thrown too flat or at the wrong angle, it can make it much harder to do the trick.

If you want to see the correct throw angle and watch a step-by-step guide you can find my beginner DNA tutorial and below you'll find more resources for tutorials, guides and DNA tips! 

Poor Finger Placement

When catching the yo-yo on your finger, keep your finger straight and steady.

If your finger is angled or moving around too much, the yo-yo may slide off before you can even attempt the trick. Fingerspin hubs help guide the yo-yo toward the center of your finger, making the trick more stable, but you still need proper finger placement and control.

String Tension 

As we mentioned earlier, string tension is one of the biggest problems when doing the DNA trick. To reset string tension, you can do tricks like the Sidewinder, which helps to bring the string back to a neutral state.

Another option is to avoid the problem altogether by using DNA String, which features swivel technology that allows the string to untwist while you do the trick, helping prevent tension from building up during long DNA spins.

Using the Wrong Yo-Yo

Not every yo-yo is designed for fingerspin tricks. Yo-yos built specifically for tricks like the DNA include features such as fingerspin hubs, stable weight distribution, and strong spin power. Using a yo-yo designed for doing the DNA will make learning the trick so much easier. 

If you're just starting out, a beginner-friendly responsive yo-yo like the Vyral can help you learn the basics of finger spins and control. As your skills improve, many players transition to unresponsive yo-yos like the DNA Yo-Yo or the DNA King, which offer longer spin times and greater stability for advanced DNA tricks.

Where to Learn the DNA Yo-Yo Trick ( Step-by-Step Tutorials ) 

The best way to learn the DNA trick is to see it demonstrated step-by-step. As a 2x World Yo-Yo Champion who has taught thousands of people how to yo-yo, I’ve created tutorials that break the trick down so anyone can learn it.

If you're a beginner, start with these five foundational tricks to help you build the control and timing needed to land your first responsive DNA. But if you’re already using an unresponsive yo-yo, check out my step-by-step tutorial  that takes you through 10 DNA tricks from easy to hard. 

If you want to learn more yo-yo tricks or work your way up to advanced combos like Godspeed, you can also explore my YouTube channel where I share tutorials, challenges, and yo-yo videos from around the world.

Where to Buy the Best DNA Yo-Yos

If you’re looking for yo-yos specifically designed for the DNA trick, models like the Vyral, DNA Yo-Yo, and DNA King were created to make fingerspin tricks easier and more consistent.

You can explore the full YoYoChampion collection here, which includes beginner, intermediate, and advanced yo-yos designed to help players progress from their first finger spins to advanced DNA variations.

Choosing the Right Yo-Yo for the DNA Trick

Everyone starts the same on their yo-yo journey. 

Some players are just landing their first sleepers, while others are experimenting with longer and more advanced DNA variations. Choosing the right yo-yo for the DNA trick is often about finding a model that aligns with where you are now while still giving you room to grow as your skills improve.

Modern yo-yos designed for fingerspin tricks have completely changed what’s possible with the DNA. With the right yo-yo and a little patience, you might be landing your first DNA soon or experimenting with longer spins, advanced variations, and new ways to push this trick even further.

Quick Buyers Guide: How to Choose the Right DNA Yo-Yo for you

Best Responsive Yo-Yo for Learning the DNA
→ Vyral Yo-Yo ( Available in the Yo-Yo Champion Masterpack ) 

Best Intermediate Unresponsive Yo-Yo for DNA Tricks
→ DNA Yo-Yo

Best Advanced DNA Yo-Yo
→ DNA King

Best Beginner Yo-Yo for Finger Spins
→ Vyral Yo-Yo  ( Available in the Yo-Yo Champion Masterpack ) 

You can see the entire YoYoChampion Collection designed to take you from beginner to world champion here. 

Fingerspin Yo-Yo Specs Comparison: Vyral vs DNA vs DNA King

Here you can compare the specifications of each of the YoYoChampion fingerspin yo-yos designed for the DNA trick.

FAQ Section

Can you do the DNA with any yo-yo?

Most modern yo-yos are technically capable of doing the DNA trick. However, if a yo-yo wasn’t designed for fingerspin tricks, it can make the DNA much more difficult than it needs to be.

Yo-yos built specifically for tricks like the DNA include features such as a fingerspin hub, stable weight distribution, and designs that help the yo-yo stay centered during the spin. These design elements make it much easier to learn the trick and progress to more advanced DNA variations.

What yo-yo is best for the DNA trick?

The best DNA yo-yo for you often depends on where you are in your yo-yo learning journey. However, the best DNA yo-yos tend to share several key features, such as a fingerspin hub, balanced weight distribution, and a design that helps the yo-yo stay stable during the trick.

Beginner players often start with responsive yo-yos like the Vyral, while more advanced players typically prefer unresponsive models like the DNA Yo-Yo or DNA King, which offer longer spin times and greater control for advanced DNA tricks.

Can beginners learn the DNA trick?

Yes. Beginners can learn how to do the DNA, especially if you start with a responsive yo-yo that was designed for fingerspin tricks like the Vyral. You'll be amazed how quickly you can hit the DNA with the right yo-yo, a little patience and a lot of practice! 

Is the DNA trick easier with a responsive or unresponsive yo-yo?

The DNA trick can be done with both responsive and unresponsive yo-yos, but they are usually used at different stages of learning. The responsive DNA is easier for beginners because it requires fewer steps and the yo-yo returns to your hand with a tug.

As a player's skills improve, many move on to metal unresponsive yo-yos, which are more difficult to learn but allow for more advanced DNA variations. 

Why can't I land the DNA yo-yo trick?

Most players struggle with the DNA trick because of a few common mistakes, such as not throwing hard enough, using the wrong throw angle, string tension issues, or not keeping their finger steady during the catch. A lot of small things need to come together for the trick to work.

My best advice is to watch tutorials, film yourself practicing, and make small adjustments until the trick starts to click. If you need help getting started, you can also watch me teaching my girlfriend (now my fiancée) the first five tricks you should master before landing your first DNA.

Why does my string get twisted doing the DNA? 

When you perform the DNA trick, the string wraps around the yo-yo multiple times while it spins on your finger. This naturally creates extra twists and tension in the string.

When this happens, you have two options:

1. Learn the Sidewinder, a trick that helps reset your string tension back to neutral.
2. Use DNA String, which features a swivel system designed to reduce twisting and help maintain longer, cleaner DNA spins without constantly resetting the tension.

Who invented the DNA yo-yo trick?

The trick known today as 'The DNA' came from decades of evolution in the yo-yo community. If you want to check out the full history you can read more about it in The Ultimate Guide to the DNA. 

What Yo-Yos Do Professional Players Use for the DNA Trick?

Professional players typically use high-performance metal yo-yos with long spin times, strong stability, and designs that support fingerspin tricks. These features help the yo-yo stay balanced while the string wraps around it to form the DNA spiral.

For players who want to push the trick as far as possible, many turn to yo-yos built specifically for DNA tricks.

One of the most advanced examples is the DNA King, a yo-yo engineered specifically to maximize fingerspin performance and stability during long DNA spins.

As a 2× World Yo-Yo Champion, I designed the DNA King with one goal in mind: to create the ultimate yo-yo for the DNA trick, capable of producing longer, cleaner DNA spirals while still performing at the highest level of modern competition play.