If you don’t know how to start a diabolo, check out my other article on diabolo so you can start using the basics, and come back to this article once you’ve achieved these newfound abilities. Time to continue…
Need for speed: There are many ways to increase the speed of your diabolo. A great way to start is called a horizontal power whip. Spin the diabolo using the normal method, then pull the right stick to the right, then turn it to the left again so that the string strikes against the axis of the diabolo. Keep doing this and increase your speed and intensity. If the diabolo appears to be leaning, stop and correct it.
grinds: Lightly throws the diabolo up into the air. Point your right stick in and keep it horizontal. When the diabolo falls, catch it with the horizontal stick. Diabolo must spin on the stick (this is known as a grind). Since the stick is horizontal and the diabolo is still spinning in one direction, then you have to adjust the horizontal stick accordingly to keep the diabolo on the stick! Alternatively, you can make sure the diabolo is rolling back on the string, ready for your next awesome trick!
Whip Catch: As soon as you cast the pellet high, you should quickly move the hand stick from your weaker hand to your favorite hand so that they form a “v” in your favorite hand with the string hanging down in a loop. As the pellet descends, you catch the pellet with a whipping motion. One side of the loop has to hit the spindle (the middle part of the diabolo) and the other part has to miss and pass one of the two bowls (the ends of the diabolo). This trick takes quite a bit of practice, but you can start by simply holding the diabolo outstretched in front of you with your weaker hand and trying to catch the whip.
Bounce Capture: Make the diabolo spin as fast as you can, then lower it to the ground and slide it over the side letting it bounce once on the ground, keep the string taut and straight, as the diabolo bounces up, move the string under! and catch! (Tip from Todd, Australia)
rope climbing: People love this one! All you need to do is make your diabolo spin fast and wind it around the axis with the stick of your dominant hand, then hold the string vertically (pull the string hard) and the diabolo will climb up the string. If the diabolo doesn’t spin fast enough, it may run out of power as it rises, so quickly release the hand stick so you can do the next trick or spin the diabolo faster!
cross cradle: Start by performing a standard trapeze, for example, swinging the diabolo over the stick so it lands on the opposite string, then insert your free hand into the loop caused by the crossover on the other string and pull them apart. This will form the cradle to catch the pellet. To escape, simply move or tilt the sticks in and the rope will slide off the top of the handstick.
wraparound arm: Make the diabolo spin fast, then hold both sticks in your left hand raising them above your head, place your hand on the string above the diabolo, then force your hand around the string and the diabolo should orbit around your hand. It may take a while to arrive, but it’s worth it!
J-whip: You will need to practice getting the stick very loose and catching the loop in the front cup of the diabolo. aim the lead stick at the diabolo and then give a slight tug on the lead stick which should bounce the diabolo slightly in the air. then make a clockwise motion with your dominant hand, this should cause the loop to spin. all you have to do now is aim for the loop to catch the front cup of the diabolo.
C-whip: This is just a different way of doing the trapeze which is done by placing your dominant stick on the opposite piece of string. then do a swinging motion so that the diabolo, which is now in a loop, flies over the hand stick. all you have to do now is catch it on the rope. To do the C-whip, point your dominant stick toward the diabolo and do a counter-clockwise whipping motion. the loop will go around the stick and you have to make the loop hit the shaft, pull down and spin the dominant hand stick. Now you have the C-whip! Good luck!