10ball vs KK

[Pcip]

I have been getting mixed reviews on this subject and I would just like to throw it out there once and for all. I would like to know what to invest in for the majority of my yoyos, what plates better a broken in 10 ball bearing or a broken in KK. I have used KKs for a while now and just want to know if 10 ball are a viable option.

That being said I would like to know in terms of overall smoothness, duration of a good throw,  longevity if the bearing and how it hits with multiple strings.

Thanks for your input.

[Hollandyo]

The reason you're getting mixed reviews is because neither is better. They're different, it's all about what you prefer.

[ratfacedudeguy]

Then again if you can manage to get your hands on some 10 ball KKs you'll really be in business

[beezy]

Then again if you can manage to get your hands on some 10 ball KKs you'll really be in business

true that 

[illy865]

Those 10 ball KK's are awesome, I got a few sent over from China and they've smoothed out that "CLYW vibe" from a few of my older models (Wooly Marmot and BvM).  I think mine were branded Speedteam, but the place I got them stopped stocking them, as it seems.  It took about a month to get to the US so most people wouldn't want to wait anyway.

[Marcius]

Those 10 ball KK's are awesome, I got a few sent over from China and they've smoothed out that "CLYW vibe" from a few of my older models (Wooly Marmot and BvM).  I think mine were branded Speedteam, but the place I got them stopped stocking them, as it seems.  It took about a month to get to the US so most people wouldn't want to wait anyway.

Are they made of stainless steel?

[sloegoe]

I got a 10 ball KK from in a Singapore Yo,absolutely the best. It's years old and awesome. 10 Balls are the bet quality but KK's play easier not necessarily better. KK's increase sleep time and stability, 10 balls are better for extreme multi layer tricks and overall smoothness. I love kk's for the simple fact it keeps the string away from rubbbing on the response or sides of the yo during play. I cant throw a 6 min 32 sec sleeper with a 10 ball.

[illy865]

Those 10 ball KK's are awesome, I got a few sent over from China and they've smoothed out that "CLYW vibe" from a few of my older models (Wooly Marmot and BvM).  I think mine were branded Speedteam, but the place I got them stopped stocking them, as it seems.  It took about a month to get to the US so most people wouldn't want to wait anyway.

Are they made of stainless steel?

I'm pretty sure they're not, but if they tarnish, it doesn't mean they won't work as well.  I'm pretty good about keeping my throws dry in storage so they should stay new and clean for a while.

[wolfman]

Just my opinion, but the reason you’ve seen conflicting reviews is because no one can tell the difference.  I'd wager that in a blind test with the 5 most popular bearings that the overwhelming majority of yoyoers would stand no chance at guessing the bearing.

KKs have a slightly different feel than flat bearings, and if you ask me that difference is largely psychosomatic.  Having done a decent amount of experimenting with bearings and the only thing that ever stood out to me was that KKs sometimes snag when there are a bunch of string wraps around them.  I could discern no difference in sleep time (at the end of the string or while doing tricks), I also saw no difference in the string rubbing against the response (throw straight it doesn’t, throw crooked it does) when comparing flat and concave.  If you put a new bearing in a yoyo and vibe disappears and it spins forever, it's more likely that the old bearing was causing the problems rather than the new one fixing them.

[ratfacedudeguy]

I'd be inclined to disagree with you. With the same string on the same yoyo, swapping between flat and centered bearings is like night and day for those like myself who are very particular about the the feel of a yoyo.

[wolfman]

I'd be inclined to disagree with you. With the same string on the same yoyo, swapping between flat and centered bearings is like night and day for those like myself who are very particular about the the feel of a yoyo.

Until you've done a blind test you can't say for sure if you can tell the difference or not (never underestimate the placebo effect).  Grab a flat, a konkave, a center track, a terrapin x, and a crucial center cut and have a friend switch them out at random a dozen times and see how accurate you are. 

To be honest, if anyone has a bunch of different bearings and a friend with some free time (ideally someone crashing on your couch, because they really can't refuse) I'd love to see the results of this experiment. 

[Hollandyo]

I don't think it's the centering effect that makes it feel different I think it is the bearing. Saying that all bearings feel the same is a bit extreme. While the placebo effect might play some role I think the bearings themselves make a difference. I noticed my Dv888 felt heavier with a center track before I saw people posting about it on the forums.

[Doug77]

Just my opinion, but the reason you’ve seen conflicting reviews is because no one can tell the difference.  I'd wager that in a blind test with the 5 most popular bearings that the overwhelming majority of yoyoers would stand no chance at guessing the bearing.

I could tell the difference between a kk and a flat bearing in a heartbeat.  KK's change the feel of a throw.  For some that's bad, for me that's good.  If I was loaded, I would put kk's in all my throws.  Though more difficult, I could also tell between a 10 ball and an 8.  10's are a little quieter, and have a tiny bit different feel.    Center Tracs would be easy because of how loud they are.     

[Red Yoyos]

I agree with Wolfman.  As I'm a die hard Believer in KK's I honestly couldnt tell the difference between a flat and a KK right away.  after playing it a bit I can feel a difference.  and mainly cuz my throw is not perfect.  The KK helps fix my poor throw at times. 

as for a Terrapin they are great, but I like the deeper centering effect from the KK.  But you can hear the sound difference from a Ceramic to a stainless.  as for a 10 ball KK they are kinda like Centertrac Bearings.  you can have a few great ones and a few Crappy ones.  I have had my share of both.  Still find Dif-E-Yo KK's to be the smoothest and longest lasting over time.  but again thats just my experience. 

Some Swear by YYJ Spec Bearings.  You can give them to me.  I have not had 1 that lastest.

TO Recap, I pretty much agree that most people cant tell the difference in a Bearing, un;ess it's got a Problem obviously.  Over a little time you can tell a KK vs a Flat.  But I jhighly dont any1 can tell the difference in Flat bearings.  aside from Longevity.

People get way to caught up in the Best Bearing BS!  JUST GO THROW!!!

[Red Yoyos]

@ Doug, lube or Dont Lube that's the question.  10 balls come lubed and require a good break in period, or a cleaning.  a Cleaned 10 ball sounds just like a YYF Bearing.  and a Lubed YYF Bearing sounds lubed 10 Ball.

Terrapins Do sound difference as they are Ceramic balls, stainless Races, and no Lube have a special chemical process to them.  so they are always loud.

[Red Yoyos]

I don't think it's the centering effect that makes it feel different I think it is the bearing. Saying that all bearings feel the same is a bit extreme. While the placebo effect might play some role I think the bearings themselves make a difference. I noticed my Dv888 felt heavier with a center track before I saw people posting about it on the forums.

DUDE if you can feel the Wieght Difference in a DV888 with different Bearings, you have one of the most insane and most useless talents I ever heard of!

[beezy]

Yes, there's a difference between using flat bearings or string centering bearings. Depending on how/what you play it may not make a worthwhile difference to you. Some yoyos really excel with a KK, and with others it doesn't make an appreciable difference.

Do you like extremely long combos on rim-weighted and low-walled yoyos? KK.

Do your tricks require lots of string layers around the axle? Are you throwing evenly weighted and high-walled yoyos? any decent broken-in flat bearing

Want a bearing that is mechanically superior but may require a longer break-in period? 10-ball.

[Beau]

Also, KKs add a little more oomph on the downthrow, which builds up over time and can start to make my hand sore if I'm throwing a lot.  Some yo-yos, for whatever reason, just seem to work better with a KK, but other than in those circumstances, I prefer a ten ball.

[Graiskye]

Take a supersonically cleaned ten ball eight ball, and Dif KK, and your telling me that the Dif will make me throw with more power?
Please take a moment to go through the physics of it, because I am really curious how that would work ?
You don't think you might just be imagining it ?

 Best advice I have gotten regarding the ubiquitous bearing came from 'Supersonic' Ed Haponik, essentially it came down to this...
...'leave them alone,just let them do what they are there to do.'
 Forget about them. I throw a lot more now, and spend time dicking with bearing a LOT less, and the yoyo works just as well.
 I also put all my shields back on, de shielding bearings is actually pretty dumb when you think about it, except in the odd case of the shields causing undue friction. I had one CT that I couldn't put the shields back on, it just kills the spin of the bearing. This is rare, but does happen.
 The 'best' bearing is the one that keeps you throwing the yoyo the longest, it might be old and a bit tarnished but if it still spins smooth and free, its good to go.
 Good luck on your quest, and have fun.

[ratfacedudeguy]

There's actually not any kind of advanced physics to support that. It's not that kks make you throw with more power. What's happening is the centering effect of the bearing pushes the string away from the response and makes it slip away faster at the end of the throw, creating the illusion of extra weight, or the "oomph" that was described. I like to compensate for this by using thicker string.