Opinion: AceYo Kuyostar

Before I move on to describe my experience with this yoyo, let me share how this thing works. Take a close look at the pictures below, or watch the video below them.

So first off, the Kuyostar is nothing like the Synergy from YoYoJam, or the Photo Spirit from the Blazing Teens, where both of those yo-yos have independent spinning caps that you can hold on to while the yo-yo spins. BUT, it is, in fact, an improved version of the Kuyostar from King Yo Star. No, KYS did not collab with AceYo as far as I know, but AceYo have gotten the rights from Chen Jia Lin, the creator of this the Kuyostar, to produce these supposedly improved version.

Kuyostar have this thing they address as a V5 catch zone, which means you can hold on to the yoyo by it's catch zone area while it spins. The idea of this is to supposedly reduce friction string and the yoyo body, and of course, aside from that, to create a new experience.

So how does this work? Look at the picture above, parts taken apart. The white piece is the V5 piece, and the gold piece is the main body/rim/hub piece, which has a bearing seat on the inside of the body which you can actually see from the photo. The spacer on the left side is pretty much like a SPR system, or the dual sided spacer from C3YoyoDesign's Sceptre, because this spacer too, have bearing seat on both sides of the spacer, except that only one side has response and is meant for the string play.

You can see from the above photo of the spacer, and the bearing main bearing seat. The bearing seat on the bottom side is meant for the V5 piece, which you can see in the photo below, with no response.

And the photo below shows how the bearing is holding the V5 piece, the Kuyostar given to me have concave bearings used in the V5 system, but I think some will come with flat bearings as I'm told.

Watch the video for more understanding maybe?

And so, this is how the V5 catch zone works.

So moving on to my experience with it. I had quite a bit of fun with it, even though I still couldn't generate any good stuff utilizing the V5 catch zone. I only have trouble quick starting it every time i have to wind it up because of the V5 catch zone. What I'll do is holding the yoyo by the V5, and spin the main body real hard, and just bind it back. Before I move on, here's the specs:
width: 48mm
diatemer: 54mm
weight: 73g

So the width is a little wider than the regular yo-yos, but I guess it's because of how the Kuyostar is being constructed together. Now it does feel heavy on string play but it's still manageable in my opinion, by that I mean it doesn't tire my hands out actually, I still can enjoy the play for a pretty long time. And it does not vibe, even on a string hold. I was given 3 of this, so far I've played with 2, and they both don't vibe, but I am not sure of its durability yet because I've not ding it yet. It spins long, like any yo-yo of today, and I actually am not 100% sure if the friction thing helps, but yea, string slips off the V5 zone and it doesn't really slow down the spins or decrease the spin time so far, so I guess it works. I attempted finger spin on the hub, but failed. I attempted because the hub area looks like it's being made for that, but the depth is kind of shallow though, if anyone manage to do it, maybe share it in the comment section?

Overall, I can't really compare it to most other regular yo-yos, because this is like a... multi piece constructed yo-yo, and I haven't tried the Kuyostar from KYS too. But that being said, its stability is good, although it does vibe/wobble on a bad throw, but it's easily fixed by just stabilizing it with the finger. Regular plays are fun, safe for competing use, can't comment much on the V5 catch zone possibility because I really couldn't come up with any new stuff with it, but I look forward to people creating stuff with it. Is there anything I'm missing out that you want to know about it? maybe drop me a message on facebook or something.

For now, the AceYo Kuyostar isn't available anywhere else except through Guo Pin, the owner of AceYo. You can contact him through his email at 1058916152@qq.com, the AceYo Kuyostar is going for about 48.99USD exclusive of shipping. What I was given are the regular editions, Special edition with glow in the dark V5 catch zone are also available at about 52.99USD. He can interact in English so you can contact him with ease.

For those who wants to try out the Kuyostar, you can let me know and I can bring it along when I head to meetings. For those who happen to own this yo-yo and have a different opinion, do share it in the comment section.

Opinion: WHIMSYYOYOS Pokerface

It's been a while since I got this yoyo, been caught up with school, what else?

Before I move on to share my opinion on this yoyo, take a look at more pictures of the yoyo first!

So when I learnt that Steven has a new brand, I was pretty curious how the yoyo will be as compared to his old line of yoyo, mainly the Eterni Tee Spider Man. This released for a while before I asked him if I could try one out which he offered to send one.

I wasn't exactly aware of the shape because the caps always stole the attention, so I didn't really expect too much from it. Finally, got it, unbox it, put on a string and play with it. Steven told me the bearing that came in mine wasn't the stock bearing as they ran out of it. But even so, it plays very well, it will not come in KK bearing because of some carrier issue I supposed. I want to start with the feel of the shape, which I think is very comfortable, vibe-free spin and very smooth, despite the bearing not being stock. I have to say... it feels somewhere between floaty and solid, at 66g, during spin, it feels a little heavier in my opinion. The finish is smooth, the grinds are smooth, not sure if rim was design for IRG but I would say it can be done. I like the art on the cap, but I dig the joker more, but of course it doesn't affect playability, I'm just sharing.

Like mentioned, I have this for a while now, and Steven mentioned to me when we chat that they may not make another batch of Pokerface, but there were some 44Clash editions around which I think you guys can get? Overall I really enjoy this yoyo, I carry it out almost most of the time since I got it, long spinning, stable, smooth, handles everything I threw at it. I think it may feel even more floaty if you throw a KK at it. And yes, the caps can been removed, I used a needle.

You can watch the video below where I unbox it, and removed the caps.

If any of you local kids want to try this out, let me know so I can bring along IF I'm heading down town. If you have a different opinion, do share it in the comments for the benefit of those who may be interested!

Opinion: YoYoSkeel Sense

It's been too long, sorry for the long wait, finally settle down to write my opinion on this yoyo, I'll be on  break for approximately 2 months from school, so hopefully I get all videos and write-ups done by then. So here goes. A video and photos of the YoYoSkeel Sense.

width: 43mm

diameter: 57mm

gap: 39.5mm

weight: 69g

Similar to the YoYoSkeel Stalker 2, the Sense should come installed with a China Produced 10-ball Concave bearing, and YoYoSkeel's own silicone pad. Unlike the Stalker 2 which has a relatively removable bearing, the Sense, or at least the one I have, has quite a tight bearing seat, the removal of bearing need some effort.

So the Sense, I would say it's really stable, at 69g, it doesn't really feel heavy, and still perform fast on the string. Pretty rim weighted, stable, and vibe-free during string hold, string play and finger test.
This thing handles everything I threw at it, unfortunately I still can't do a single horizontal trick, but from the video you can see that it's no problem, WeiXuan did it.
The yoyo didn't appeal to me at first due to the ridge around the inner rim/catch zone area, but it definitely didn't affect the play, however, the step area on the wall, like mentioned in the opinion entry on the Stalker 2, is a issue for me, it hits the string especially during front style, it could be a personal issue, but I would suggest player try out before making a judgement on this, but I would definitely like it better without that step. Another issue is the lifespan of the bearing, which is also being mentioned in the opinion entry on the Stalker 2, it kind of screwed up after filming of promo, the yoyo's not dinged or damaged in any way, it's probably just the bearing. Now I'm not sure if the later batch are still using the China produced concave bearing, but the bearing on my Stalker 2 and Satisfaction does not have this issue yet, but it's best to install a bearing of your choice, I would say.

Overall, if the step on the wall is not an issue for you, I would say give this yoyo a try, it's really smooth on the string(until the bearing screw up), and stable no doubt, provides long spins, and definitely a competing worthy yoyo.
Share your opinion on the Sense for the benefit of those who may be interested to get one!