Diabolo Tricks - Grinds, Whip Catches, Rope Climbs, Cradles and More!
If you don't know how to start a diabolo, please see my other diabolo article to get you up and running with the basics and come back to this article once you have accomplished these new-found skills! Time to continue...
Need for Speed: There are many ways of increasing speed for your diabolo.
One great way to get started is called the horizontal power whip.
Get the diabolo spinning using the normal method, then pull the right stick out to the right, then swing it back to the left so that the string hits against the diabolo axle.
Keep doing this and build up your speed and intensity.
If the diabolo looks as if it is tilting, then stop and correct it.
Grinds: Slightly toss the diabolo straight up in the air.
Point your right stick inwards and keep it horizontal.
When the diabolo falls, catch it with the horizontal stick.
Diabolo should spin on the stick (this is known as a grind).
Because the stick is horizontal and the diabolo is still spinning in one direction, you then have to adjust your horizontal stick accordingly to keep the diabolo on the stick! Alternatively, you could make sure that the diabolo rolls back onto the string ready for your next amazing trick! Whip Catch: As soon as you throw the diabolo high, you need to quickly pass the handstick from your weaker hand to your favoured hand so that they form a "v" shape in your favoured hand with the string dangling down in a loop.
As the diabolo comes down, you catch the diabolo using a whipping motion.
One side of the loop has to hit the axle (middle part of the diabolo), and the other part has to miss and go past one of the two bowls (the end bits of the diabolo).
This trick takes a fair bit of practice, but you can start by just holding the diabolo at arms length in front of you with your weaker hand, and attempting the whip catch.
Bounce Catch: Get the diabolo spinning as fast as you can then lower it to the ground and flick off the side letting it bounce once on the ground, make your string tight and straight, as the diabolo bounces back up flick the string underneath it and catch! (tip from Todd, Australia) Rope Climb: People love this one! All you need to do is get your diabolo spinning fast and wrap around the axle with your dominant hand's stick, then hold the string vertically (pull the string tight), and the diabolo will climb the string.
If the diabolo isn't spinning fast enough, then it may run out of power as it climbs, so quickly unloop the handstick so you can do the next trick or spin the diabolo faster! Cross Cradle: Start by performing a standard trapeze eg swinging the diabolo over the stick so that it lands back on the opposite string, then insert the free hand into the loop caused by the cross over on the other string and pull them apart.
This will form the cradle to catch the diabolo on.
To escape simple flick off or tip your sticks inwards and the string will slip off the top of the handstick.
Arm Wrap-Around: Get the diabolo spinning fast then hold both the sticks in your left hand raising them above your head, put your hand into the string above your diabolo and then force your hand around and around the string and the diabolo should orbit around your hand.
it might take a while to get but its worth it! J-Whip: You will have to practice getting a lot of slack round the stick and catching the loop on the front cup of the diabolo.
point the dominant stick in towards the diabolo then make a slight tug on the dominant stick which should bounce the diabolo slightly into the air.
then make a clockwise motion with your dominant hand, this should bring the loop round.
all you have to do now is aim so the loop catches the front cup of the diabolo.
C-whip: This is just a different way of doing the trapeze which is done by putting the dominant stick on the opposite bit of string.
then make a swinging motion so the diabolo, which is now on a loop, flies over the handstick.
all you have to do now is catch it on the string.
to do the C-whip point the dominant stick in towards the diabolo and make an anti-clockwise whipping motion.
the loop will come round the stick and you have to make the loop hit the axle, pull down and twist the dominant handstick.
you now have the C-whip! Good luck!
Need for Speed: There are many ways of increasing speed for your diabolo.
One great way to get started is called the horizontal power whip.
Get the diabolo spinning using the normal method, then pull the right stick out to the right, then swing it back to the left so that the string hits against the diabolo axle.
Keep doing this and build up your speed and intensity.
If the diabolo looks as if it is tilting, then stop and correct it.
Grinds: Slightly toss the diabolo straight up in the air.
Point your right stick inwards and keep it horizontal.
When the diabolo falls, catch it with the horizontal stick.
Diabolo should spin on the stick (this is known as a grind).
Because the stick is horizontal and the diabolo is still spinning in one direction, you then have to adjust your horizontal stick accordingly to keep the diabolo on the stick! Alternatively, you could make sure that the diabolo rolls back onto the string ready for your next amazing trick! Whip Catch: As soon as you throw the diabolo high, you need to quickly pass the handstick from your weaker hand to your favoured hand so that they form a "v" shape in your favoured hand with the string dangling down in a loop.
As the diabolo comes down, you catch the diabolo using a whipping motion.
One side of the loop has to hit the axle (middle part of the diabolo), and the other part has to miss and go past one of the two bowls (the end bits of the diabolo).
This trick takes a fair bit of practice, but you can start by just holding the diabolo at arms length in front of you with your weaker hand, and attempting the whip catch.
Bounce Catch: Get the diabolo spinning as fast as you can then lower it to the ground and flick off the side letting it bounce once on the ground, make your string tight and straight, as the diabolo bounces back up flick the string underneath it and catch! (tip from Todd, Australia) Rope Climb: People love this one! All you need to do is get your diabolo spinning fast and wrap around the axle with your dominant hand's stick, then hold the string vertically (pull the string tight), and the diabolo will climb the string.
If the diabolo isn't spinning fast enough, then it may run out of power as it climbs, so quickly unloop the handstick so you can do the next trick or spin the diabolo faster! Cross Cradle: Start by performing a standard trapeze eg swinging the diabolo over the stick so that it lands back on the opposite string, then insert the free hand into the loop caused by the cross over on the other string and pull them apart.
This will form the cradle to catch the diabolo on.
To escape simple flick off or tip your sticks inwards and the string will slip off the top of the handstick.
Arm Wrap-Around: Get the diabolo spinning fast then hold both the sticks in your left hand raising them above your head, put your hand into the string above your diabolo and then force your hand around and around the string and the diabolo should orbit around your hand.
it might take a while to get but its worth it! J-Whip: You will have to practice getting a lot of slack round the stick and catching the loop on the front cup of the diabolo.
point the dominant stick in towards the diabolo then make a slight tug on the dominant stick which should bounce the diabolo slightly into the air.
then make a clockwise motion with your dominant hand, this should bring the loop round.
all you have to do now is aim so the loop catches the front cup of the diabolo.
C-whip: This is just a different way of doing the trapeze which is done by putting the dominant stick on the opposite bit of string.
then make a swinging motion so the diabolo, which is now on a loop, flies over the handstick.
all you have to do now is catch it on the string.
to do the C-whip point the dominant stick in towards the diabolo and make an anti-clockwise whipping motion.
the loop will come round the stick and you have to make the loop hit the axle, pull down and twist the dominant handstick.
you now have the C-whip! Good luck!
