Need some advice/help with my sleeper

[midshipman01]

So, quick background. I've been throwing responsive yo-yo's for about 10 years on and off. I wouldn't say I was an expert or anything, but I did feel very confident with a yoyo. Fast forward to the last few weeks since I've discovered unresponsive and have been practicing quite a bit. I picked up a lot of basic tricks pretty quickly, but now I'm starting to work on more advanced, longer string tricks like matrix. This need for longer sleepers has revealed an issue.

Basically, when I throw a really hard sleeper it is pretty consistently not balanced nor does it last for nearly as long as many people seem to be quoting. Rather, it usually falls slightly "inward", with the yoyo tilting toward my non throw hand side. The string around the bearing is usually snugged right up to one edge as well, and it seems to me that it should be centered for maximum perfomance.  I've tried all sorts of grips and it doesn't seem to change anything and it obviously results in closer to 1 minute spin times as opposed to 3 or 4 minute since it's burning on the string. Even when it's not burning the string initially, and when I'm using a concave bearing, I feel like my yo yo falls off balance rather quickly, almost always to the inside as before.

Anyway, I guess I'm asking if there is really anything to be done about this? Is it common? What might be causing it? For reference, I see this same thing happening with all four, Markmont Next, Spyy Addiction 2, 888x, and Hspin Icon...so it's not the yoyo.

[hadoq]

I don't have much responsive throwing experience but I'll try to help

first off, what yoyo/equipment are you using?

then, don't time your sleepers, just throw tricks. also, don't listen to all the bragging on the internet about guys getting crazy sleep times all while doing tricks, for good reference, watch contest videos and you'll figure out what "trick time" you can get out of a good throw.

About the tilting issues, it is your throw, keep at it, and it'll sort itself out. You can also use a concave (or "KK" bearing) or any other type of string centering bearing (terrapin X/wing, Center trac, crucial grooved bearing are the first that come to mind). your throw will not have any influence on where the string sits (as I did read every now and then here and there) as the purpose of the bearing is precisely to disallow interaction between the yoyo spinning and the string. Some will say that string centering bearing are "bad" and whatnot, see for yourself. I like string centering bearings for 5A and I tend to prefer flat ones for 1A, but it's not always true.

of course, if the yoyo is tilting, you can still correct it (youtube tutorial for it)

if it's not the yoyo, it's your throw, as simple as that. keep at it, it WILL get better. another lead to "investigate" would be your hands/yoyo/string general alignment. a video would be great to have at this point.


little tip, something to try, try and use the 5A hold and catch for your 1A, I know since I started throwing 5A, my throw got MUCH better and feels much more natural using the 5A hold and catch, maybe you want to give it a try.

[Faust]

Welcome to tilt & precession!

Both can be easily controlled once you're in a mount.

Try this: throw a Trapeze, then move your freehand away from you... See what happens to the tilt? Now try moving your hand in toards your body. Experienced players constantly do this, mostly subconsciously due to repetition.

Also, have a look at the guys who go for Sleeper records. They grab the string an inch or two above the spinning yoyo, and then twist the string, adjusting the tension the whole time to keep it centred.

Throwing a staight Sleeper and not adjusting the string tension or mounting the yoyo WILL make precess and/or tilt.