If you're looking to start yo-yoing or level up your skills with a new yo-yo, you're in the right place.

I'm Gentry Stein, 2× World Yo-Yo Champion and 4× U.S. National Champion. Throughout my career, I've competed with many of my own signature yo-yos and designed everything from beginner-friendly models to world championship-level competition yo-yos.

My mission with Yoyochampion is simple: help players level up no matter where they are in their yo-yo journey. 

In this guide, I'll walk you through my top recommendations for every type of player, whether you're buying your first beginner yo-yo, learning the DNA trick, looking for your first unresponsive yo-yo, or searching for the highest-performing competition yo-yo available.

Let's jump in.

Quick Answer: What Is the Best Yo-Yo?

There isn't one "best" yo-yo for everyone. The best yo-yo depends on your skill level, the types of tricks you want to learn, and whether you're looking for a responsive or unresponsive yo-yo.

Here are my top yo-yo recommendations:

• Best Beginner Yo-Yo Set: Master Pack
• Best Beginner Fingerspin Yo-Yo: Vyral
• Best First Plastic Unresponsive Yo-Yo: Replay Pro
• Best First Metal Unresponsive Yo-Yo: G SPEED
• Best Classic Competition Yo-Yos: Shutter and Shutter Wide Angle
• Best Yo-Yo for Learning the DNA Trick: DNA
• Best Yo-Yo for Mastering the DNA Trick: DNA King
• Best Yo-Yo for Godspeed Tricks: G SPEED
• Best Full Metal Performance Yo-Yo: Super G
• Best Premium Competition Yo-Yo: G Force
• Best Free-Spinning Outer Shell Yo-Yos: Nine Dragons and 99 Dragons
• Most Unique Yo-Yo Experience: AIRA
• Best Mini Yo-Yo: Shutter Mini

Want a more in-depth breakdown of every recommendation? Watch the full buyer's guide video below, or keep scrolling for the complete written guide.

Not sure which category fits you? Don't worry. In the next section, I'll help you choose the right yo-yo based on your experience level and goals.

How to Choose the Best Yo-Yo

Before choosing a specific yo-yo, the first thing you need to determine is your skill level.

The best yo-yo for a complete beginner is very different from the best yo-yo for an experienced player learning advanced tricks. That's why most players progress through three stages: learning the basics, transitioning to unresponsive play, and eventually discovering the types of yo-yos and tricks they enjoy most.

Let's take a look at each stage so you can determine which yo-yo is right for you.

Level 1: Learning the Basics

If you're learning how to yo-yo for the first time, you'll generally want to start with a responsive yo-yo.

Responsive yo-yos return to your hand with a simple tug on the string, making them easier to control while learning the fundamentals. This allows you to focus on using proper technique and building a strong foundation before moving on to more advanced tricks.

At this stage, your focus should be on developing consistency and control. Skills like throwing the yo-yo straight, catching the yo-yo cleanly, and maintaining a long spin will make every trick you learn later significantly easier.

Level 2: Ready for Unresponsive Play

Once you've learned the basics on a responsive yo-yo and can consistently perform the foundational tricks, you may be ready to move on to an unresponsive yo-yo.

Unlike responsive yo-yos, unresponsive yo-yos do not return with a tug. Instead, they require a trick called a bind to bring them back to your hand.

Learning to play with an unresponsive yo-yo is one of the biggest milestones in yo-yoing because it unlocks the longer spin times needed for most modern tricks. While many beginner tricks can be performed on responsive yo-yos, unresponsive play opens the door to an entirely new world of possibilities and allows players to explore the full potential of modern yo-yoing.

Level 3: Choosing a Yo-Yo for Your Play Style

Once you're comfortable with unresponsive play, choosing the best yo-yo becomes less about skill level and more about personal preference.

At this stage, different yo-yos excel at different things. Some are designed for speed, others focus on power and stability, while some specialize in fingerspins, competition play, or entirely unique trick experiences.

There is no single "best" advanced yo-yo for every player. The best choice comes down to the types of tricks you enjoy, how you want your yo-yo to feel and perform during play, and what inspires you to keep pushing your skills further.

That's why many experienced players eventually build a collection of yo-yos rather than relying on just one. Different designs offer different experiences, and part of the fun is discovering what works best for your style.

Now that we've covered the three stages of progression, let's look at the specific yo-yos I recommend for each one.

Recommendations for Level 1: Best Beginner Yo-Yos

One mistake many beginners make is buying a single yo-yo, only to quickly outgrow it and start searching for the next upgrade. The reality is that most players progress through several stages as they learn new tricks and develop new skills.

That's why I created the YoYoChampion Master Pack.

Master pack 

Rather than focusing on a single stage of learning, the Master Pack is designed as a complete progression system. It gives you the exact yo-yos you need to go from your first throw and classic beginner tricks to viral tricks like the DNA before eventually transitioning into modern unresponsive play.

Instead of wondering what yo-yo to buy next, you'll already have the right one waiting for you as your skills continue to improve.

Let's take a closer look at each of the 3 yo-yos included in the Master Pack.

1. The EZ Trick 

The EZ Trick is designed to make learning as easy as possible.

As your first yo-yo, its job is simple: help you build confidence, learn proper technique, and master the fundamentals without frustration.

Many beginner yo-yos are designed primarily for basic up-and-down play. The EZ Trick was designed with progression in mind, giving new players a responsive yo-yo that can support real trick learning from day one.

This is the yo-yo you'll use to learn foundational tricks like the Sleeper, Walk the Dog, Around the World, and other classic beginner tricks.

Think of the EZ Trick as the foundation of your yo-yo journey. Once you've built confidence and consistency here, you'll be ready for the next stage.

2. Vyral

Once you've mastered the basics, it's time to start exploring the tricks that inspired many players to pick up a yo-yo in the first place.

That's where the Vyral comes in.

The Vyral was designed to help players continue progressing beyond classic beginner tricks while also opening the door to some of the most popular and recognizable tricks in modern yo-yoing, including viral tricks like the DNA.

Compared to the EZ Trick, the Vyral features a ball bearing design that provides longer spin times, giving players more time to learn increasingly difficult tricks and combinations.

Unlike most beginner responsive yo-yos, the Vyral also features a dedicated fingerspin hub. This specialized design helps guide the yo-yo onto your finger, making fingerspin tricks easier to learn and more consistent to perform.

While the Vyral can still perform all of the responsive tricks you'd expect from a traditional beginner yo-yo, the fingerspin hub opens the door to an entirely new category of tricks and possibilities that most beginner yo-yos simply aren't designed for.

This makes the Vyral the perfect bridge between classic beginner tricks and modern yo-yoing before eventually transitioning to unresponsive play.

The Vyral is the second yo-yo included in the Master Pack, but it is also available separately here. 

3. Replay Pro

The final step in the Master Pack is the Replay Pro.

This is where you'll make the transition into unresponsive yo-yoing, the style used by most modern players, competitors, and content creators.

Unlike the EZ Trick and Vyral, the Replay Pro doesn't return to your hand with a simple tug. Instead, it requires a trick called a bind to bring it back.

The Replay Pro was designed to make that transition as smooth as possible. Its forgiving design, long spin times, and impressive stability make it one of the most popular first unresponsive yo-yos ever created.

I even used the Replay Pro to win the 2015 U.S. National Yo-Yo Contest, proving that a great plastic yo-yo is capable of far more than most people realize.

For many players, the Replay Pro isn't just their first unresponsive yo-yo. It's the yo-yo that introduces them to modern yo-yoing and shows them what's truly possible.

By the time you've worked through all three yo-yos in the Master Pack, you'll have built the skills and confidence needed to continue progressing through modern yo-yoing.

The Replay Pro is the final yo-yo included in the Master Pack, but it is also available separately here.

Recommendations for Level 2: First Metal Unresponsive Yo-Yos

If you've worked through the Master Pack, you've already had an introduction to unresponsive play with the Replay Pro.

However, many players reach this stage using a different beginner yo-yo and are looking for their first unresponsive yo-yo. No matter how you got here, this is the stage where players begin exploring modern unresponsive yo-yoing and the more advanced tricks that come with it.

The recommendations below are some of my favorite choices for players who are ready to move from beginner yo-yos to higher-performance metal yo-yos and explore modern unresponsive play.

Best First Metal Unresponsive Yo-Yo: G SPEED

If you're ready for your first metal unresponsive yo-yo, the G SPEED is where I would start.

Its compact 52mm diameter gives it a fast and nimble feel on the string, while the wide 50mm catch zone makes advanced tricks easier to land consistently. This combination of speed, control, and forgiveness makes it an excellent first metal yo-yo for players entering modern unresponsive play.

The G SPEED was also inspired by my pursuit of the Godspeed trick and designed to maintain exceptional stability and control during fast-paced play. However, it's far more than just a speed yo-yo. Its balanced design makes it equally capable of handling everyday trick practice, longer combos, and advanced competitive play.

Despite its compact size, the G SPEED still provides the width and stability needed to learn advanced tricks with confidence, making it a yo-yo that can continue growing with you long after your first metal upgrade.

Classic Competition Yo-Yos: Shutter & Shutter Wide Angle

If you're looking for a competition yo-yo with a proven track record at the highest levels of the sport, it's hard to beat the Shutter and Shutter Wide Angle.

These are the yo-yos I used to win both of my World Championship titles: the original Shutter in 2014 and the Shutter Wide Angle in 2019.

While some modern yo-yos push width and performance to the extreme, the Shutter line remains popular because it maintains a balance. 

They're not too narrow, not too wide, not too light, and not too heavy. That balance is what makes them such versatile competition yo-yos.

Shutter

The Shutter is one of the most popular metal unresponsive yo-yos ever created and the model that helped define modern performance yo-yoing.

With a balanced combination of power, stability, and control, it became the yo-yo I used to win my first World Championship title, along with multiple U.S. National Championship titles.

The Shutter isn't the widest yo-yo, the most powerful yo-yo, or the most specialized yo-yo. What makes it special is that it does everything exceptionally well.

If you want a proven all-around competition yo-yo with one of the strongest track records in the history of the sport, the Shutter is still one of the best choices you can make.

Shutter Wide Angle

The Shutter Wide Angle was created as the next evolution of the original Shutter, adding more width, power, and stability while maintaining the balanced feel that made the original so successful.

When it was released, the wider profile helped push modern competition design forward by making difficult catches, horizontal tricks, and riskier elements easier to control.

The Shutter Wide Angle became the yo-yo I used to win my second World Championship title in 2019 and remains one of the most popular competition-focused monometal yo-yos ever released.

The Shutter Wide Angle keeps everything players love about the original Shutter while feeling a little bigger, more powerful, and more forgiving during demanding tricks and competition routines.

Best Yo-Yo for Learning the DNA Trick: DNA

If your primary goal is learning the DNA trick, my recommendation is simple: the DNA yo-yo.

While the G SPEED is my recommendation for a first metal unresponsive yo-yo, the DNA was designed specifically for players whose main goal is learning the trick that inspired its name.

Its unique design combines a 6061 aluminum body with specialized polycarbonate fingerspin caps that help guide the yo-yo onto your finger and create an easier fingerspin experience. The result is longer fingerspins, smooth centering, and greater control while learning the DNA. 

While the DNA yo-yo is fully capable of performing modern unresponsive tricks beyond the DNA itself, its greatest strength is helping players develop the fingerspin control and consistency needed to successfully land the trick.

If you've watched the DNA trick online and want the most direct path to learning it yourself, this is where I would start.

Best Yo-Yo String for Learning the DNA Trick

Learning the DNA isn't just about choosing the right yo-yo. The right string can make learning the trick much easier. 

One of the biggest frustrations players experience while learning the DNA is string tension. Every time you practice the trick, the string naturally twists. Over time, that can make the yo-yo feel inconsistent, cause tangles, and make fingerspins more difficult to control.

You can manually remove string tension by performing a Sidewinder or by letting the yo-yo hang freely and running your fingers down the string to untwist it. However, you'll need to keep repeating this throughout your practice session as the tension gradually builds up again.

DNA String uses patented Swivel Technology to help reduce string tension buildup, keeping the string closer to neutral for longer so you spend less time untwisting and more time practicing.

Although DNA String was created specifically to help players learn and master the DNA trick, maintaining near-neutral string tension benefits virtually every style of modern yo-yo play. 

By reducing string tension buildup, it helps your yo-yo perform more consistently while giving you more time to focus on practicing instead of untwisting your string.

If you're serious about learning the DNA, I recommend pairing the DNA Yo-Yo with DNA String for the best overall learning experience.

Recommendations for Level 3: Choosing a Yo-Yo for Your Play Style

By this stage, you've already put in the time and effort to learn the fundamentals of yo-yoing.

Now comes the fun part.

Rather than focusing only on increasing your skill level, this stage is all about discovering the types of tricks and styles of play you enjoy most.

Some players become obsessed with technical string tricks. Others enjoy big, performative tricks that command attention on stage. Some love learning viral tricks like the DNA or pushing their speed with tricks like Godspeed, while others simply enjoy experimenting with unique yo-yo designs and experiences.

Here are the yo-yos I recommend based on the types of tricks and experiences you're looking for.

Best Monometal Yo-Yo: Super G

The Super G wasn't just the first YoYoChampion yo-yo. It was an opportunity to revisit one of the most important designs of my career.

To create the first YoYoChampion yo-yo, I went back to where everything began: my very first signature yo-yo, the Super G.

But this wasn't about recreating the past. It was about reimagining it.

Modern yo-yoing has evolved dramatically over the years. Tricks are faster, more technical, and more demanding than ever before. So I asked a simple question: 

what would the Super G look like if it were designed for the hardest tricks in the world today?

The result is this bold 56mm wide monometal yo-yo built to maximize spin time, power, and stability.

The 56mm width wasn't chosen by accident. I wanted to push the limits of width to make difficult tricks easier, but not so far that the yo-yo would start feeling sluggish or awkward during play. 

After extensive testing, 56mm proved to be the perfect balance, creating a yo-yo that feels incredibly stable and long-spinning while still remaining agile enough for modern tricks.

Whether you're looking to take your unresponsive tricks to the next level, learn long technical combos, or master advanced tricks like horizontal, the all new Super G was designed to handle virtually any style of modern yo-yoing.

At the highest levels of play, that performance becomes even more apparent. I used the Super G to land some of the hardest tricks I've ever learned, including combining two of the most difficult horizontal tricks from my world championship-winning routine, the behind-the-back horizontal and the 360 horizontal seasick, into a single trick, as well as setting the world record for the longest finger grind.

The result is one of the highest-performing monometal yo-yos, built for players who want to throw harder, go bigger, and continue pushing their limits.

Best Yo-Yo for Mastering the DNA Trick: DNA King

If you want the ultimate DNA experience, there's nothing better than the DNA King.

After the original DNA was created to make one of the world's most popular yo-yo tricks easier to learn, I started asking a different question: what would the best DNA yo-yo in the world look like?

The answer became the DNA King.

Drawing on years of experience exploring DNA tricks and fingerspin innovation, the DNA King was designed to create the most refined DNA experience possible.

What truly sets the DNA King apart are three defining features:

• Self-centering fingerspin technology that helps guide and stabilize fingerspins automatically.
• A metal fingerspin zone that creates a precise, low-friction surface for smoother, more locked-in DNAs.
• A metal thumb grind area that opens the door to unique DNA variations and advanced fingerspin tricks.

And unlike many fingerspin yo-yo designs, the DNA King was built to excel far beyond DNA tricks. Drawing inspiration from my world championship-winning signature yo-yos, it's equally capable of handling Godspeed, horizontal play, technical string tricks, and high-level competition routines.

If the DNA was designed to help players learn the trick, the DNA King was designed to help push DNA tricks forward.

Best Overall Premium Yo-Yo: G Force

As yo-yos continued to evolve, they became wider, more powerful, and more performance-driven than ever before. But that also created a limitation.

As width increases, more weight naturally sits in the center of the yo-yo, making it harder to push performance further without the yo-yo starting to feel heavy or sluggish.

So I started thinking differently. What if you could remove as much weight as possible from the body and push it even further into the rims?

That idea became the G Force.

Instead of a traditional metal body, the G Force combines a lightweight polycarbonate body with oversized stainless steel rims. 

This hybrid approach allowed me to push significantly more weight to the rims while keeping the yo-yo fast, agile, and responsive on the string.

The result is something completely different:

• Extreme stability
• Incredible spin time
• Powerful performance without the usual feeling of weight
• A fast, floaty, powerful and gravity-defying feel that defines the G Force play experience

Most high-performance yo-yos force you to choose between power and agility. The G Force was designed to deliver both.

It has the stability, spin time, and power players expect from a flagship competition yo-yo, while still feeling surprisingly fast, light, and maneuverable on the string.

As soon as you throw it, you'll feel the difference.

And unlike many hybrid yo-yos, the G Force was designed for the highest levels of modern play. Whether you're performing technical string tricks, Godspeed, horizontal tricks, long competition combos, or simply want the most advanced yo-yo in the YoYoChampion lineup, the G Force was built to deliver.

This wasn't just about improving what already existed. It was about creating something new. The G Force represents a different way of thinking about yo-yo design and helped pioneer a new direction in high-performance play.

Most Innovative Yo-Yos: Nine Dragons & 99 Dragons

The Nine Dragons and 99 Dragons weren't created to make existing tricks easier. They were created to make entirely new tricks possible.

Both use the same wild idea: a yo-yo with free-spinning outer shells that lets you touch it, grab it, catch it, and interact with it while it keeps spinning. Movements that would normally end a trick can now become part of the trick itself.

If you're looking for one of the most innovative and unique experiences in yo-yoing, these are my top two recommendations.

Nine Dragons

The Nine Dragons introduced the world's first free-spinning outer shell design and completely rewrote the rules of what a yo-yo could do.

What makes the Nine Dragons special isn't just the technology, it's what that technology allows you to do. The free-spinning shells open the door to entirely new tricks, movements, and interactions that simply aren't possible on a traditional yo-yo. Combined with the iconic Dragon's Roar sound and unique play style, it creates an experience unlike anything else in yo-yoing.

If you want the original free-spinning shell experience, the model that started the entire category, and one of the most revolutionary yo-yos ever created, the Nine Dragons is the place to start.

99 Dragons

The 99 Dragons takes everything that made the Nine Dragons special and pushes it even further.

While maintaining the same free-spinning triple-bearing shell system, the 99 Dragons upgrades the design with stainless steel rims to create a premium bimetal evolution focused on power, stability, and performance.

Compared to the original Nine Dragons, the 99 Dragons delivers:

• More power
• Longer spin times
• Greater stability
• Smoother play
• Quieter play 

The result is a more refined, controlled, and performance-oriented version of the original concept, capable of handling longer combos, greater momentum, and more demanding modern tricks.

The Nine Dragons introduced the idea and the 99 Dragons pushed it further than ever before. If you want the ultimate free-spinning shell experience with maximum power, control, and performance, the 99 Dragons is the one to get.

Still not sure which one is right for you? Check out my video and comparison guide 9 vs 99 dragons where I break down the key differences between them.

Best Yo-Yo for Improving Accuracy & Consistency: Shutter Mini Bimetal

The idea behind the Shutter Mini Bimetal actually came from one of the biggest turning points in my competitive career.

After placing 3rd at the World Yo-Yo Contest in 2017, I completely redesigned my routine and dramatically increased my trick difficulty for the following competition season, creating some of the hardest tricks I've ever performed on stage.

The problem was simple: I couldn't hit those tricks consistently. So to solve that, I started experimenting with something different: a mini yo-yo training strategy that completely changed the way I practiced.

A smaller yo-yo forces you to be more precise. The catch zone is smaller, your movements have to be more accurate, and mistakes become much harder to get away with. Over time, that extra challenge sharpens your control and improves your accuracy.

Then, when you switch back to a full-size yo-yo, everything feels bigger, easier, and more controllable.

At the time, I had never heard of anyone using a mini yo-yo as a training tool, but the results were impossible to ignore.

So I tried this approach and practiced with a mini yo-yo all throughout 2019, including on the day of the World Yo-Yo Contest and even minutes before stepping on stage.

The result? I won both the U.S. National Championship and World Championship that year.

The training concept worked, but most mini yo-yos at the time were  novelty designs built for fun rather than serious performance. That's what led to the creation of the Shutter Mini Bimetal.

By concentrating most of the weight into stainless steel rims, the Shutter Mini Bimetal delivers impressive power, stability, and spin time despite its compact size. It's not just a mini yo-yo, it's a legitimate high-performance yo-yo. 

Despite its powerful competition-level performance, it's still just as fun to throw as any other mini yo-yo.

Landing tricks on a mini yo-yo is a unique challenge that gives even experienced players a fresh perspective on tricks they've done thousands of times before.

If you're looking for a fun way to challenge yourself while improving your accuracy, consistency, and overall control, the Shutter Mini Bimetal may be the most effective training tool you'll ever own.

Best Yo-Yo for Developing Control & Style: AIRA

Instead of asking how I could make the next yo-yo perform better, I started asking a different question: how could a yo-yo help the player perform better?

Over the last decade, yo-yos have become wider, more powerful, and more forgiving than ever before.

That has made it possible to land some of the hardest tricks in history, but it has also shifted much of the focus toward pure performance. I wanted to create something that broke all the rules of modern yo-yo design.

 

AIRA isn't about choosing between style, innovation, and difficulty. It's about developing all three.

At just 50 grams, AIRA is significantly lighter than most modern yo-yos. That difference completely transforms how it feels on the string.

Every movement matters more. Every mistake shows up. Nothing is hidden. The feedback is immediate, and the more you play it, the more it teaches you to move smoother, cleaner, and more intentionally.

To make that possible without sacrificing too much stability, AIRA uses a unique metal cap design that places weight in an uncommon area of the yo-yo. Instead of following the heavily rim-weighted approach used by most modern performance yo-yos, it creates a light, slightly hollow feeling that is unlike anything else in my collection.

And that's exactly what makes it special.

When a yo-yo feels different, it changes how you play. It pushes you out of your habits, encourages experimentation, and often leads to new ideas, new tricks, and new ways of expressing yourself.

AIRA isn't designed to replace your favorite competition yo-yo. It's a tool designed to help you become a more controlled, creative, and expressive player.

And when you go back to your regular yo-yos, you'll notice the difference immediately. Your movements become cleaner, your tricks become more intentional, and your overall control improves.

AIRA isn't about chasing bigger tricks. It's about developing the skills that make every trick look better.

If you're looking for one of the most unique yo-yos I've ever designed and a tool that can help you become a more creative and expressive player, AIRA may be unlike anything you've ever thrown.

Continue Your Yo-Yo Journey 

One of the biggest lessons I've learned throughout my yo-yo journey is that even though some yo-yos are capable of handling almost any trick, I still find myself reaching for different ones depending on what I want to do that day.

Whether I'm preparing for competition, filming a DNA or Godspeed video, learning something new, experimenting with a different style of play, or simply throwing with friends and family, each yo-yo offers a different experience.

That's part of what makes this hobby so much fun, and it's a big part of the story behind the evolution of my yo-yos. 

Every yo-yo featured in this guide is available here at YoYoChampion. If you're still not sure which one is right for you, feel free to reach out to my team. We'd be happy to help you find the perfect yo-yo for your skill level and goals.

Welcome to the YoYoChampion community. Our motto is simple: 

Show up. Never give up. Lift others up.

And as always... Keep playing like a champion.

Frequently Asked Questions About Choosing the Best Yo-Yo

Whether you're buying your first yo-yo or upgrading to a more advanced model, these are the questions players ask most when choosing the right yo-yo for their skill level, goals, and favorite styles of play.

What is the best yo-yo for beginners?

For most beginners, the best first yo-yo is a responsive plastic yo-yo. It returns to your hand with a simple tug, making it much easier to learn proper throwing technique, sleepers, and your first tricks before moving on to more advanced play.

If you're starting from scratch, I recommend beginning with the EZ Trick because it's designed specifically for first-time players. If your goal is to learn fingerspin tricks like the DNA, the Vyral is another excellent beginner-friendly option.

Many new players upgrade to an unresponsive yo-yo within a few weeks or months. If you already know you'll stick with yo-yoing, a beginner bundle like the Master Pack can save both time and money by giving you everything you need to progress from your first throw to advanced tricks.

Should I start with a responsive or unresponsive yo-yo?

For almost everyone, a responsive yo-yo is the best place to start. It returns to your hand with a simple tug, making it much easier to learn proper throwing technique, sleepers, and your first tricks before progressing to more advanced play.

If you're just getting started, I recommend the EZ Trick. If you want to learn modern fingerspin tricks like the DNA, the Vyral is another excellent beginner-friendly option. Both are included in the YoYoChampion Master Pack, along with the Replay Pro, giving you the flexibility to progress at your own pace without wondering which yo-yo to buy next.

Once you can consistently throw a straight sleeper and perform beginner tricks, transitioning to an unresponsive yo-yo becomes much easier.

What's the difference between plastic and metal yo-yos?

If you're new to yo-yoing, I generally recommend starting with a responsive plastic yo-yo like the EZ Trick. If you want to learn modern fingerspin tricks like the DNA, the Vyral is another excellent beginner-friendly option. Both are designed to make learning easier while helping you build the skills needed for more advanced play.

One of the biggest misconceptions in modern yo-yoing is that plastic yo-yos are only for beginners. Advanced plastic models like the Replay Pro have even been used to win national championships. Likewise, modern hybrid yo-yos combine materials like polycarbonate and stainless steel to create unique performance characteristics that aren't possible with a single material alone.

Many players choose to upgrade to a metal yo-yo after learning the basics because metal designs often provide greater stability and longer spin times for modern unresponsive play. However, the material alone doesn't determine how a yo-yo performs.

A yo-yo's shape, width, weight distribution, bearing, and intended purpose often have an even greater impact on performance than whether it's made from plastic or metal. That's why there are excellent plastic, metal, hybrid, and bimetal yo-yos available for players of every skill level.

Ultimately, the best choice isn't determined by the material alone—it's about choosing the right design for your current skill level and the tricks you want to learn.

Can I learn advanced tricks on a plastic yo-yo?

Absolutely. One of the biggest misconceptions in modern yo-yoing is that plastic yo-yos are only for beginners. While beginner-friendly plastic yo-yos are great for learning the fundamentals, advanced plastic models are capable of performing at the highest level.

In fact, I won the 2015 U.S. National Yo-Yo Contest using the Replay Pro, proving that a well-designed plastic yo-yo is capable of advanced tricks and world-class performance.

If you're ready to move beyond the basics without jumping straight to metal, the Replay Pro is one of the best first unresponsive yo-yos and an excellent choice for learning how to use a professional unresponsive yo-yo.

What is the best yo-yo for learning the DNA trick?

The best yo-yo for learning the DNA trick is one that's specifically designed for fingerspins. Features like a fingerspin hub, thumb grind area, and the right yo-yo string, such as DNA String, can make learning the trick easier and more consistent by helping reduce string twisting and tangles caused by string tension.

If you're learning the DNA for the first time, I recommend the Vyral, which was designed to make the responsive version of the trick easier for beginners. Once you can perform the DNA consistently, the DNA Yo-Yo is the next step, offering a professional fingerspin design for learning the modern unresponsive version of the DNA trick. As your skills continue to improve, the DNA King is my top recommendation for mastering advanced DNA variations with its DNA Hub, thumb grind area, Center Trac bearing, and DNA String.

If you're new to the trick, be sure to check out my complete DNA Trick Guide, where I cover everything from your first fingerspin to mastering advanced DNA variations.

When should I switch from a responsive to an unresponsive yo-yo?

Most players are ready to switch to an unresponsive yo-yo once they've mastered the fundamentals of yo-yoing, including throwing correctly, winding the yo-yo, and performing beginner tricks like Around the World, Rock the Baby, Brain Twister, and Trapeze with confidence.

Another great sign is when you start feeling limited by your responsive yo-yo. If you find yourself running out of spin before you finish your tricks, or wishing your yo-yo would keep spinning longer so you can learn more advanced tricks and longer combinations, you're probably ready to make the transition.

If you're ready for that next step, I recommend the Replay Pro as one of the best first plastic unresponsive yo-yos or the G Speed as one of the best first metal unresponsive yo-yos. The Replay Pro was designed to make learning binds, longer combinations, and modern unresponsive tricks as easy as possible, while the G Speed is an excellent choice for players ready to experience the performance of a metal yo-yo.

For a more detailed comparison, check out my Responsive vs. Unresponsive Yo-Yos Guide and How to Bind an Unresponsive Yo-Yo guide.

What makes a good yo-yo?

A good yo-yo isn't defined by just one feature—it's the combination of its design, performance, and how well it matches your skill level and goals. Factors like shape, width, weight distribution, bearing, response system, and material all influence how a yo-yo performs.

For beginners, a good yo-yo should be easy to control, forgiving, durable, and reliable, helping you build proper technique and confidence. As your skills improve, features like longer spin times, greater stability, fingerspin hubs, wider shapes, and specialized designs can make learning more advanced tricks easier and more enjoyable.

The best yo-yo isn't always the one with the most advanced features—it's the one that's designed to help you learn your next trick and continue progressing as a player.

How much does a good beginner yo-yo cost?

A good beginner yo-yo doesn't have to be expensive. Most quality beginner yo-yos start around $15–20, depending on their design and features. However, not all inexpensive yo-yos are designed for tricks. Many cheap toy-store yo-yos are only intended to go up and down and don't have the spin time or performance needed to learn modern yo-yo tricks. Instead, look for a modern beginner yo-yo that's specifically designed for learning.

If you're just getting started, I recommend the YoYoChampion Master Pack. It's a complete set of three yo-yos designed for different stages of learning, allowing you to progress naturally from your first responsive throw to advanced unresponsive play. Since most players quickly outgrow their first beginner yo-yo, the Master Pack can save you money compared to buying each stage separately while ensuring you always have the right yo-yo as your skills improve.

Do expensive yo-yos make you a better player?

Not by themselves. More expensive yo-yos often offer greater performance potential through features like improved weight distribution, premium materials, longer spin times, and specialized designs. However, those advantages only become meaningful once you've developed the skills to take advantage of them.

A great example is the Replay Pro, a plastic unresponsive yo-yo that I used to win the 2015 U.S. National Yo-Yo Contest. It proves that practice, technique, and choosing the right yo-yo for your skill level are far more important than simply buying the most expensive model.

If you're just getting started, I recommend the YoYoChampion Master Pack, which includes the Replay Pro along with two beginner-friendly yo-yos that help you naturally progress from your first responsive throw to advanced unresponsive play. As your skills continue to improve, you'll be in a much better position to appreciate the advantages that premium yo-yos can offer.

Are expensive yo-yos worth it?

If you can afford them and want to experience the performance of different yo-yo designs, then yes, expensive yo-yos can absolutely be worth it. There's a reason premium yo-yos cost more. More advanced designs often require tighter machining tolerances, more complex manufacturing, higher-quality materials, and additional machining steps, all of which increase production costs.

As your skills improve, you'll begin to notice the subtle differences in stability, spin time, weight distribution, and overall feel that make each design unique. While you don't need an expensive yo-yo to become a great player, many experienced players enjoy collecting and playing different yo-yos because each one offers a different experience.

Some players choose to start with a premium yo-yo. However, many advanced yo-yos are designed to maximize performance instead of making the learning process easier. While you'll certainly notice the difference, most beginners will progress faster by first building a solid foundation on a yo-yo designed for their current skill level.

If you're ready to upgrade, I recommend starting with the G Speed as an excellent first premium metal yo-yo before branching out into more specialized designs based on the tricks and styles you enjoy most.

How do I choose the right yo-yo?

The right yo-yo depends on your current skill level, goals, and the tricks you want to learn. A beginner learning their first sleeper has very different needs than a player practicing fingerspins, speed, horizontal tricks, or competition.

The best yo-yo isn't always the one with the most advanced features—it's the one that's designed to help you learn your next trick and continue progressing as a player. As your skills improve, you'll naturally begin to benefit from more advanced designs and the additional performance they offer.

If you're buying your first yo-yo, I recommend the YoYoChampion Master Pack because it includes three yo-yos designed for different stages of learning, allowing you to progress naturally from your first responsive throw to advanced unresponsive play. As your skills improve, the Replay Pro is an excellent first plastic unresponsive yo-yo, the G Speed is a great first metal pro yo-yo, and specialized models like the DNA King, Super G, G Force, AIRA, and Shutter Mini Bimetal allow you to explore different styles of modern yo-yo play as your interests and goals evolve.