Posted by Gentry Stein
on November 29, 2025
In 2025, every yo-yo player from total beginners to world champions learns to do the DNA. And while it seems like every yo-yo these days is capable of doing the DNA, few are truly designed for it.
As a 2x World Yo-Yo Champion who has spent over twenty years competing, designing, and teaching players around the world, I wanted to change that. So I started asking myself...
What would the best DNA yo-yo in the world actually look like?
Well… I’ll let you in on a little secret... I just created it. But before I show it to you, let’s jump back to the real story of where the DNA started because whether you know it or not, you’ve been lied to.
The Real History Behind the DNA Yo-Yo Trick
There have been countless videos online attempting to tell the story of where and how the DNA trick started but none of them tell the whole truth. Most people think the DNA started on social media but the development of this trick actually began over 70 years ago.
The first Helix-style trick was born in the 1950's called the Sidewinder. It introduced the spinning motion that inspired the next generation of yo-yo players. Then in 2004, a player named Andre Boulay combined the Sidewinder with a grind and over the next few decades players continued to experiment by combining these ideas together.
But in 2020, everything changed. I posted a version of this style of trick on Tiktok and overnight it went viral getting millions of views...
That one clip changed yo-yoing forever.
The DNA became bigger than any of us could have imagined, replacing old school tricks like Rock the Baby and turning into a world wide movement. Suddenly every player, from young kids to pros competing on stage, was connected by this trick.
The Rise of the Original DNA Yo-Yo
When the DNA exploded online, I wanted to make a yo-yo built specifically for this trick, something affordable, accessible, and fun to use. That’s when we created the original DNA Yo-Yo, designed for perfect finger spins costing just $40.
The DNA yo-yo was capable of turning a crazy hard looking trick into something any beginner could learn so it quickly became one of the most popular finger spin yo-yos in the world, but as time went on and other similar more advanced designs began to appear, I noticed two big problems:
1st) many of the new models were extremely expensive, some costing nearly 3x times the price of the original DNA Yo-Yo, making them out of budget for most players.
2nd) While many of these yo-yos were good, none of them felt exactly 'right'. None captured what I’d consider to be the perfect DNA yo-yo.
So I began to wonder what would happen if we went just a little beyond the original forty dollar limit. I still wanted it to stay affordable, but I kept askign myself: Could we create the ultimate finger-spin yo-yo without making it expensive?
Developing the Best DNA Yoyo In The World
So I went back to work with a single goal: to create the world's best yo-yo for the DNA and little did I know, that process would end up taking us more than a year.
It began first with testing every fingerspin yo-yo I could get my hands on and breaking down the engineering behind each one.
I needed to understand what made a DNA feel effortless and what could cause it to fail.
The deeper I got, the more obsessed I became. Once I understood the formula behind a flawless DNA, it was time to build it.
We sketched, prototyped, tested, failed, improved, over and over, until I could finally feel it all coming together and then I knew that we were building something that could change yo-yoing once again.
Introducing: The DNA KING
When the final prototype arrived, I opened the box and instantly knew this was the one. The design looked perfect, every curve and detail intentional, balanced, and powerful.
But looks don’t make a yo-yo great, it still had to prove it was worthy of helping build a champion.
When I threw it for the first time, I wasn’t testing it, I was finally experiencing it. Everything I had studied, designed, and hoped for came together in that single throw. The spin was perfectly balanced, the catch effortless, the DNA locked in like it had been waiting for this moment.
Holding it, I felt the weight of everything that came before it. Seventy years of creativity, innovation, and evolution, from the first helix style tricks to the DNA that connects players around the world today, all led to this one moment. This wasn’t just a new yo-yo. It was the future.
DNA King Yo-Yo Features and Technology
Designing this yo-yo wasn't easy but it changed how the world does DNAs forever. Every element of the DNA King was engineered with one goal in mind, to create the smoothest, most stable, and most powerful finger spin experience possible. Here's how we did it:
Metal Finger Spin Cap with Auto Orientation Technology
This precision-machined metal hub provides a secure, controlled connection during finger spins, delivering a premium feel and superior stability. The Auto Orientation Technology guides your finger into perfect alignment the moment you land the catch, automatically centering the yo-yo for smooth, long lasting DNA rotations. Beginners benefit from easier consistency, while pros gain the precision required for high speed transitions and advanced variations.
Optimized Shape and Rim Weight
The DNA King’s wide profile and carefully distributed rim weight create a unique combination of speed, spin power, and stability. It feels fast but controlled, effortless yet powerful.
Metal Thumb Grind Lip
Inspired by the early grind tricks that led to the DNA, this feature opens up new creative possibilities, including advanced moves like my Cyclone DNA.
If the DNA King looks familiar, it’s because it draws from my Shutter series, the yo-yos behind my two World titles. I designed it to bring that same championship performance to the next generation.
Even though it’s optimized for finger spins, the DNA King isn’t limited to one trick. Its balance, rim weight, and shape make it a powerhouse for every style of modern play:
- Godspeed-style speed combos
- Horizontal freestyle play
- Technical string tricks
- Creative DNA variations and hybrids
It’s a yo-yo built not just for learning the DNA, but for mastering everything that comes after it.
The Perfect DNA Setup: DNA King + DNA String
When it came to perfecting the DNA, I realized the yo-yo was only half the story. The other half was the string. That’s why the DNA King was built to pair perfectly with the official DNA String, together, they create the smoothest and most reliable setup for DNA tricks ever made.
DNA String uses a custom swivel at the top that keeps it from twisting or tightening during play. It lets the yo-yo spin freely, stay balanced, and hold perfect tension through every trick. The result is longer spins, cleaner catches, and DNA tricks that feel effortless from start to finish.
The Future of the DNA Trick, Yo-Yos, and Strings
I’ve been yo-yoing for over twenty years, winning titles, traveling the world, and performing on the biggest stages. But what drives me isn’t the medals. It’s the chance to inspire the next generation.
The DNA King is only one chapter in that mission. Every new yo-yo, every trick, every innovation we release is built to move the sport forward and help more players feel the spark that got me hooked as a kid.
The DNA trick represents everything I love about yo-yoing: creativity, community, and constant evolution. What started as a single moment has grown into a global connection point for players everywhere. This yo-yo is part of that journey, but the story is still being written, one throw, one idea, one new player at a time.
The Future of the DNA Is In Your Hands
The DNA King comes from decades of experimentation and passion, from the earliest helix concepts to the viral moment that changed modern yo-yoing. Now the next chapter is yours to write.
You can find the DNA King, DNA String, and the yo-yos to take you from beginner to world-champion level right here.
Frequently Asked Questions About the DNA YoYo Trick and the DNA King YoYo
Is the DNA King a good yo-yo for beginners?
The DNA King is unresponsive and requires a bind return. If you have already learned the basics of unresponsive yo-yoing, it is an excellent choice for learning and leveling up the DNA. Its metal finger spin cap with Auto Orientation Technology helps center your finger on the catch, improving control and consistency. If you are brand new to yo-yoing and still using responsive throws, start with the Arrow first, then move up to the DNA King once you are comfortable with unresponsive play.
How is the DNA King different from other yo-yos that can do the DNA?
Many yo-yos can technically perform the DNA, but very few are engineered specifically for it. The DNA King features:
• A premium Metal Finger Spin Cap with Auto Orientation Technology
• Rim geometry tuned for maximum spin stability and clean thumb grinds
• A wide catch zone that makes finger landings more consistent
Its design draws inspiration from my Shutter yo-yos, which I used to win multiple National and World titles. The DNA King will not only help you master the DNA faster, it will also give you the speed, control, and stability to level up your style across all forms of modern yo-yo play.
Why is the DNA King the best yo-yo for the DNA trick?
The DNA King combines over seventy years of yo-yo innovation with the latest finger spin technology. Every part, from the metal cup to the rim weight, was engineered for longer spins, better stability, and that perfect “locked in” feeling that defines a clean DNA. It is not just another yo-yo that can do the trick, it is a yo-yo that was made for it.
Can the DNA King do more than just the DNA trick?
Definitely. While it is optimized for finger spins, the DNA King is also built for competition level play. Its design draws inspiration from my 2x World Championship winning Shutter yo-yos, giving it the power, control, and speed needed for advanced tricks like godspeed combos, horizontals, and technical string play.
What is the best setup for learning DNA tricks?
For the smoothest experience, pair the DNA King with the official DNA String. It features a swivel top that keeps the string from twisting, allowing you to perform the DNA trick up to four times longer while maintaining perfect tension. Together, they form the best DNA yo-yo setup in the world.
Where can I learn the DNA trick?
The best place to start is my Ultimate DNA Yo-Yo Guide, which breaks the trick down step by step. Begin with 5 Beginner DNA Tricks to build your foundation. Once those feel comfortable, move on to the full How to Do the DNA Yo-Yo Trick tutorial to master the classic version. When you are ready for a challenge, try 10 DNA Tricks From Easy to Hard and continue leveling up.
Still have questions? We'd love to help! You can contact the YoYoChampion team here
