As a kid growing up in the 80s, I played with my yoyo a lot. We didn’t have information on finding the best yoyo for beginners – we just went out and played. There were regular tournaments held at the local malls, and everyone was Walking the Dog or going Loop da Loop. The great news is they are back, and the craze is worldwide. Thousands of kids and adults around the world are practicing Around the World, the Creeper, and the Elevator, and if you hit the search button on YouTube for trick tutorials, you’ll be astounded by the number of views some of the videos have received.
The cool thing about this simple toy is how accessible it is, from the price right down to the fact that you can buy one pretty much anywhere. In my experience, it’s also one of those past times that crosses all barriers; try and communicate with someone from Japan in their language and see how far you get, pull out your yoyo and do a quick UFO and in seconds, you’re speaking the same language.
From a developmental point of view, I believe they also serve a number of uses, from building hand-eye coordination and socialization to helping kids with their confidence as they start mastering new tricks. An added bonus, which I think is great, is that it gets them away from the TV or their PC.
Whether you want to get nostalgic and try doing it for old times’ sake or your kid’s asked for one, here are my top 9 yoyo picks. I chose yoyo from These are from some of the best yoyo brands around today.
Our Top 9 Yoyo Picks
 | Yoyo King Merlin Professional Responsive Yoyo | Check price at |
 | Yoyofactory Loop 360 Yoyo | Check price at |
 | MAGICYOYO Responsive YoYo K1-Plus | Check price at |
 | Duncan Vintage 1955 Tournament Replica Yoyo | Check price at |
 | Emoji Universe: Emoji Faces Light Up Yoyos | Check price at |
 | Yomega High-Speed Maverick Yoyo | Check price at |
 | Duncan Imperial YoYo for Beginners Lowest Price | Check price at |
1. Yoyo King Merlin Professional Responsive Yoyo
From beginner to pro and anywhere in between, the Merlin is perfect to easily perform tricks like the Trapeze, Split the Atom, Braintwister, or the Double or Nothing. With its silicone response system and a narrow C-sized bearing, you get the right amount of responsiveness for your standard tricks too.
2. YoYoFactory Velocity Adjustable Yoyo
Described as the yoyo of the 21st century, the patented Velocity® is the first of its kind. By turning the Adjust-O-Matic Dials on both sides, it’s transformed from a classic up-and-down yoyo into a beast of a long spinner, perfect for string tricks. It’s like two for the price of one!
3. Sidekick Pro Professional Aluminium Yoyo
This looks so cool; you’ll have won any competitions before you’ve even done your first trick. The Sidekick Pro, which comes in blue with gold and silver splashes, is a beautifully designed and silky smooth aluminum alloy high-speed professional yoyo, perfect for most skill levels. Its design gives it plenty of stability and great spin time for longer combos, and do we need to say anything about the awesome color combinations?
4. Yoyofactory Loop 360 Yoyo
Not called the Loop 360 for nothing; it pretty much does a Loop da Loop out of the box. As cool as all the new styles are, with responsive and nonresponsive options, sometimes all you want is a good old classic. Reminiscent of days gone by, this is the yoyo for you if you want to learn or master your Professional Aluminum classic and looping yoyo skills.
5. MAGICYOYO Responsive YoYo K1-Plus
The improved Magicyoyo Responsive YoYo K1-Plus is made from more substantial and durable plastic than the previous version. No weight rings are needed. With the floating bearing, the yoyo is more stable, which makes it a super-high-speed yoyo.
Three colorful replacement yoyo strings customize the yoyo. The yoyo is designed to improve fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Have fun or learn Style String Tricks (1A, 3A, 5A) and other tricks to fascinate onlookers with your acrobatic moves.
The yoyo is responsive, and with a tug upwards, the yoyo toy returns to your hand. Included in the purchase is a bag for the yoyo, three strings, and a glove for the upcoming professional.
6. Duncan Vintage 1955 Tournament Replica Yoyo
If you’re into collectibles and memorabilia, then you’ll love the Duncan vintage replica yoyo circa 1955. An exact reproduction of the “Crossed Flags” Tournament yoyo, it makes a perfect gift for any vintage toy collector or player. Made with the finest wood and aged for a minimum of six months to assure perfect balance and flawless performance, the ‘retro-yo’s’ is identical to the 1950s model. Included is the Master Champion Trick Book, considered by many to be the most comprehensive collection of tricks. Whether you know your way Around the World or are a novice, the booklet will get you Walking the Dog in no time at all.
7. Emoji Universe: Emoji Faces Light Up Yoyos
As a mum, I’m always looking for fun party favors and stocking fillers, and these Emoji Light Up Yoyos are perfect. Combining the fun of a yoyo with the appeal of the emoji, they light up as they go up and down. There are eight included in a box, each one with a different expression. The battery can’t be replaced, so once they’re flat, they’re flat, but the yoyo itself will still provide hours of entertainment.
8. Yomega High-Speed Maverick Yoyo
More of a technological orb than a yoyo, the Maverick is one of Yomega’s most popular products. Made of airplane-grade aluminum, yes airplane grade, with an edgy laser etched print, the Maverick has been remodeled to meet the demands of high-end pro yoyo players. Designed for high-speed spins, it’s the ideal choice for learning how to master advanced string tricks, from the Double or Nothing right through to the Atom Smasher.
9. Duncan Imperial YoYo for Beginners
The Duncan Imperial YoYo for beginners is designed to provide long and smooth spins. An American classic, the looping yoyo continues to entice tweens and teenagers.
With a narrow string gap, strong, durable plastic body, and a steel axle, the Duncan Imperial is one of the top yoyos for kids and beginners that will last for a long time. If the string tangles or your yoyo needs lubrication, the yoyo is designed for easy unscrewing of the two halves.
The yoyo is designed for beginners to learn looping and other string tricks. More advanced users may appreciate the raised axle that allows the yo-yo to fit comfortably in your palm.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Best Yo-Yo’s
Is an unresponsive-style toy the best yoyo for kids?
Can you perform the same tricks with a unresponsive yo-yo that you could with a responsive one?
No. There are differences in the types of tricks you can perform on different styles of the top yo-yo’s. For example, a responsive yoyo isn’t able to perform a whip. Likewise, unresponsive yo-yos are unable to perform looping tricks.
Help! I need some easy tricks for a beginner to learn to do with a yo-yo!
Some would say the first ‘trick’ to perform is simply winding up the yo-yo correctly and begining the throw! I know that’s not what you are referring to – you’d like a real trick for a newbie.
I’d look at the elevator to begin. Here’s a great video describing how to perform it. Once you’ve mastered that top trick, move on to oldie-but-goodies such as walking the dog or The Creeper.
Is there a best kind of string to use on my yo-yo?
You might not have known it, but there are many different types of yo yo strings. There are Type 6 and Type 8 strings. The numbers refer to how many threads each string has. You’ll definitely want a Type 8 if you get serious about the best yo yos. That’s because looping tricks (which you will learn if you stick with it) put a lot of stress on the string. The thicker, the better in this case.
Strings on yoyos for kids are also classified by their composition. These strings can be cotton, polyester or a blend. Cotton is easier to get a good hold on, but it is not as strong as the best polyester strings. For your children, pick a good polyester-cotton blend.
My teen has shown some yo-yo skill. Is the best yo yo to buy her one with a clutch, or is that not needed?
No, don’t get her a yo-yo with a clutch. Clutches are found on some beginner yoyos. They are there to help get the yoyo back up the string without a tug.
If your daughter is enjoying the hobby, a good yoyo for her is one with a ball bearing axle.
Do different axles matter for yo-yo quality?
Feature image courtesy of Flickr, piviso_com.