What would you recommend to someone who wants to buy their first diabolo? Knowing next to zero about the whole field, I only have a couple good leads on potential purchases.
I know nothing of what axle type, weight, diameter, or brand to look for... or even how much money is expected to be spent.
Owen Greenaway - - Parent #
I usually spend more on my props as I then don't need to spend more money later if I want to upgrade to better gear. I also assume that the prop will basically last forever and I might use it for hundreds of hours.
I have therefore always bought these:
https://www.firetoys.co.uk/diabolos/diabolos/mr-babache-finesse-g4-diabolo.html
and these handsticks:
https://www.firetoys.co.uk/diabolos/diabolo-handsticks/henry-s-short-aluminium-diabolo-handsticks.html
"Taibolo" diabolos also seem quite good.
Daniel Simu - - Parent #
Consider the large top of the range diabolos only. They are well worth it (as with any juggling prop) even if you are not a pro, as they remain very affordable.
Don't get hold of a bearing axle (sometimes called free hub), that is nothing you need to play with as a fresh beginner.
If you are going to play only indoors on nice floors:
Taibolo
Sundia
Epic
If you also want to play outdoors get a softer diabolo. Dropping a hard plastic diabolo on asphalt will leave awful scratches.
Babbache Finesse
Henrys Circus
I have always been very pleased with my Henrys circus and Henrys alluminium sticks. Once you get to play with 3 diabolos, if ever, you'll get to the point where you can start worrying about diabolo weight etc.
Special axles are overrated.
Sticks you will start to get some preferences once you play around with suicides. Many prefer carbon sticks, which are quite similar among different brands. Play has been producing the Trash sticks, though I don't know what they call them. They are quickly gaining in popularity I hear.
Carbon sticks break after some time, aluminum might last longer.
You'll have fun with any diabolo, you're a beginner after all.. Just get the one that you can get your hands on!
loganstafman - - Parent #
I sort of disagree with this post for several reasons.
First off, I think bearings are better for beginners. They spin longer with less speeding up.
Secondly, your bit about aluminum sticks is simply not right. Sure, they might be a bit less breakable, but in my 13 years of diaboloing, I've only broken carbon sticks once, and aluminum sticks hurt a LOT more, especially when you're learning basic suicides.
I disagree that special axles are overrated. My recommendation is simple. Get the Sundia triple bearing (https://www.renegadejuggling.com/Sundia-Shinning-Diabolo-p39.html), until you're ready to do multiple diabolos at once, at which point you should get several fixed-axle Taibolos.
lukeburrage - - Parent #
If I was teaching a beginner, I would ONLY give them a bearing diabolo. It's like having training wheels on a bike.
Don't forget about string. Replacing diabolo string is the most neglected part by beginners. I'm often dumfounded when I see new diabolists trying to do anything with non-bearing diabolos and scuffed up dirty string. I've only used Henrys string for a decade now, along with their aluminium handsticks, so I don't have anything else to recommend than that. The aluminium sticks use the minimum length of string on each change, because the string doesn't also run the length of each handstick on the inside.
I'd vote against bearing axles for beginners (& everyone) because you lose a lot of tactile feedback (for instance it is easier to tell that your string needs replacing with a fixed axle because it 'bites' more). Yes they will spin for longer with less effort which means they won't put in the effort to learn how to generate lots of spin. You could put a beginner racing driver in an F1 car & they would be able to go faster but they certainly wouldn't be able to control it[1].
Also if you use a bearing diabolo a lot of people will think you are a cheat!
I bought my first Henry's Circus diabolos 21 years ago. They are scuffed but still in perfect working order, never even had to tighten the bolts. The Henry's Circus set the standard for diabolos, don't go for anything smaller in size. I also agree that changing the string regularly is essential, back when I did a lot of diabolo I would change it every 2 weeks at least. I bought a 1000m reel for something like £17, a wise investment!
I'd also like to recommend Beard's nylon handsticks which are by far the best thing they've ever made. They are indestructable & have some thickness to them so they can *gasp* be seen by an audience. They do have a springy flex to them which I prefer over more rigid sticks but your preference may vary.
[1] I know in reality they probably wouldn't be able to pull away without stalling it but you get my point.
I agree with Orin, fixed axle. I'm a dinosaur though, so many will disagree with me.
I also liked the Beard flexi sticks, but I've since moved on to using the Deos ones. But as a beginner the handsticks are a squazillion times less important than the string, so save money by buying a pair of wooden handsticks, and buy some nice string as spare.
There's a whole thread of gear advice on https://diabolo.ca/forum , btw, if you want a lot more conflicting advice! ;)
loganstafman - - Parent #
I think we might disagree on what a beginner is. For example, is a basic suicide a beginner trick? I think so, in which case a pair of sticks with a whole coming out the end is going to make the trick 10x easier and 100x more elegant.
lukeburrage - - Parent #
The last thing a beginner needs is string that bites, ever. After a month or so, it's probably good to move across to normal hubs to learn the extra control and feel.
If people think I am a cheat for using bearings, I'm happy to be a cheat who hasn't had any snag or tangle or knot in the last 7 or 8 years of me performing diabolo on stage. And also a cheat who never has to worry about the diabolo even wobbling due to getting slower. Why put myself through that stress?
loganstafman - - Parent #
I totally agree with Luke. Sure you lose some tactile feedback and the ability to do the elevator, but that's really all you have to lose.
And when you DO make the transition to fixed axle for multiple diabolos, it doesn't affect you that much, because when doing multiple diabolos, each one doesn't spend much time in a wrap, so you won't get those nasty binds.
Subscribe to this forum via RSS
1 article per branch
1 article per post