Diabolo Tricks
GRINDS hints
written for righties (lefties always welcome)
Flash Movie Controls allow viewing larger animations with stop/step controls.

Righthand Grind
see Flash Movie Controls

1) Slightly toss the diabolo up in the center.
2) Point your right stick to the left and keep it horizontal.
3) After the diabolo reaches its highest point and starts to fall, catch it with the level right stick.
4) Diabolo should land on the stick and spin in place, if the stick is still level the diabolo will move to the left.
5) To keep the diabolo on the stick, tilt the right stick end up until the diabolo quits moving.
6) An easy way to return to normal is to point right stick end down so diabolo slides down to the sting. Another way is to toss the diabolo by pointing down then quickly swinging right sick upward. Make sure to quickly tighten string to catch the falling diabolo.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Grind with Whip Catch
see Flash Movie Controls

1) Do a Righthand Grind.

2) Try to hold the stick horizontal (pointing left) while the diabolo is grinding.

3) Pull the end of the right handstick up quickly so the diabolo is tossed up and to the left.

4) While the diabolo is in the air off to your left, quickly hand the left handstick to your right hand so your right hand has both sticks by their handles. Hold the sticks so the string ends of the sticks are apart so the sticks form a 'V'.

5) Turn your body to the left and swing the right hand so the loop of string swings counter clockwise toward the axle of the falling diabolo. The string of the closest stick to you should be the side of the loop to come down on the axle.

6) If the location of the toss is correct, the swinging loop should catch the diabolo. After the catch hand the closest handstick to your left hand. The diabolo should be on open string and ready for the next trick.

See also Whip Catches & The Grind, Drop, and Whip Catch.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

The Hop n' Grind
see Flash Movie Controls

source: Adam Bledsoe

1) First of all do a Righthand Grind. Your right stick should be pointing left and tilted slight upward so the diabolo stays on the stick.

2) Then toss the diabolo between 1 and 2 inches high on the right handstick.

3) Catch it so it is grinding again.

4) Now repeat this. It looks like the diabolo is hopping on the right handstick.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Pinball Grind

source: Bart Van Brempt,
Kontich,Belgium

1) First of all do a Righthand Grind. Your right stick should be pointing left and tilted slight upward so the diabolo stays on the stick.

2) Now while the diabolo is grinding hand your left stick to the right hand so that both sticks are held in a 'V' and the left stick is above the diabolo.

3) Then toss the diabolo up into the left handstick. Do this like doing a Hop'n Grind, but with left stick stopping the diabolo's hop and quickly returning it back down to grind again on the right handstick..

4) Toss the diabolo up and down, bouncing it between sticks, like a ball in a pinball machine.

5) To return, toss the diabolo upward out of the V'd sticks so the diabolo is in a free toss.

3) Hand your left handstick over to your left hand, while the diabolo is in the air, and then catch diabolo.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Animation by J.S.

X-Grind
see Flash Movie Controls

source: Jakob Schazmann (Galway, Ireland)

1: Start with the diabolo spinning at a medium speed, and the string not tangled/crossed in any way.

2: Toss the diabolo up, about the height of your chest.

3: Cross the sticks. (You are making a standing 'X' right in front of you) Catch the diabolo where the sticks meet, you shouldn't grind too long otherwise the diabolo will fall off. (You should grind approx. three seconds) NOTE: It is much easier to grind if the crossed sticks are a flat-X instead of a normal-X.

4: Toss the diabolo up, pull your sticks apart to catch it, and catch the diabolo.

Note: When you catch the diabolo on the sticks, do it as gently as you can, other wise the diabolo will fall off. When you throw the diabolo up don't throw it up high. Try to get your sticks under the diabolo as smoothly as you can.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Animation by J.S.

The Adam Grind
(also call the Chopstick Grind)
(See Also Italian Translation for this trick)
see Flash Movie Controls

source: Adam Bledsoe

1) First of all do a Righthand Grind. Your right stick should be pointing left and tilted slightly upward so the diabolo stays on the stick.

2) Now point the left hand stick right and move it so it is about an inch or so below the right stick with the grinding diabolo.

3) Drop the diabolo off the end of the right stick and allow it to land onto the left hand stick. The left stick needs to be tilted downward slightly to keep the diabolo grinding.

4) You can end the trick here by pointing the left stick downward so the diabolo falls onto the string.

5) For this trick you can pass the diabolo many times. After dropping the diabolo off one stick, move the stick with the grinding diabolo up to where the other stick was, position that other stick underneath as before. I like to pass it between 3 and 5 times.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Animation by J.S.

Upside-Down Grind
see Flash Movie Controls

source: Jakob Schazmann (Galway, Ireland)

1: Start with the diabolo spinning at a medium speed and the strings not tangled or crossed in any way.

2: Toss the diabolo up onto the right stick so the diabolo is grinding. While grinding turn your body so you are facing left. Your right stick is also pointing left and tipped up a bit. (Grinding on the right stick)

3: Toss the diabolo up and point the end of the stick at your face. Your right stick now points right and down a bit. This should be a 180 degree change from your first grind.

4: Catch the diabolo on the stick. (Grinding)

5: Toss the diabolo up again and catch it on the string.

Note: When you catch the diabolo on the upside-down stick, make sure the handle end of the stick is pointing downwards. If you don't do this the diabolo will come off the stick.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
 
Animation by J.S.

Caged Grind
see Flash Movie Controls

source: Jakob Schazmann (Galway, Ireland)

1: Start off with the diabolo spinning at high speed and the string not tangled or crossed in any way.

2: Toss the diabolo up to about the height of your head.

3: Catch the diabolo on your right stick, (grinding) put your other stick on top of the diabolo. (The stick should be directly above your other stick) Make sure you put your fingers in-between the sticks. It helps if you have fat fingers.

4: Turn the sticks upside-down, so that you are now grinding on the other stick. (Your arms should form an X).

5: Turn the sticks back to the normal position, and take the top stick off the diabolo. The diabolo should be grinding on the right again as in step 3.

6: Toss the diabolo up off your (right) stick, pull the sticks apart and be ready to catch the diabolo.

7: Catch the diabolo.

Note: When you turn the sticks upside-down, do it fast so that the diabolo doesn't touch your hands. Don't push the sticks together, just hold them together. If you don't do this it will stop the diabolo from spinning.

Also: The trick doesn't last very long, you will have to do it quick.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
 
Animation by J.S.
Trapeze Grind
(Good beginning way to learn Grinds.)
see Flash Movie Controls

source: Ronan Casey, (Ireland)

) Do a Right Trapeze. While the diabolo is sitting in the trapeze spinning, turn your left stick to point right.

2) Lift up with the right stick so you can point the end of your left stick under the diabolo's axle. Your left stick needs to be horizontal.

3) Move your left stick more to the right and set the diabolo on the left stick so it spins there (grinds). Return is similar manner as returning from trapeze.

Beginning Trapezes --- Trapezes

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Waterfall Grind

source: Jakob Schazmann (Galway, Ireland)

1) Do a Waterfall on the Leftside, but don't undo it.

1a) Waterfall Instructions: From the normal position, turn your body to the left and reach out with the right stick so the string off the right stick wraps over the left stick. The sticks are nearly pointing at each other as you do this.

1b) Now pull down with the right stick as you go behind the diabolo. This should make the diabolo rise on two strings.

2) Now pull the right stick under the diabolo and to your right. Move your right stick to the left keeping it horizontal and bring it under the diabolos axle. The diabolo should now be grinding on your right stick.

3) Bring your right stick back to the right, so that the diabolo isn't grinding on it anymore.

4) With your right stick pull to the right, this should make the diabolo begin a counter clockwise circle around the left stick. Like a barrel suddenly going over a waterfall.

7) You should now be on an open string.

A variation trick is to start with a Double Waterfall and then undo one wrap at a time into a grind each time.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 
Animation by J.S.
Twix Grind
see Flash Movie Controls
source: Gijsbert Obbema Diabologekte

1) Start with a lot of Spin.

2) Hand your left stick to your right hand and point both sticks Left. (Right stick over left stick.)

3) Toss the diabolo up in-between the two sticks, so it will grind on the bottom stick. (Do not toss it out of the string loop, just toss it so it hops onto the bottom stick.)

4) Now toss it up and grind on the highest stick to grind. (Then toss it back in-between if you want.)

5) From in-between the two sticks or from the top stick, toss the diabolo up and then quickly point the sticks to the Right. This is done with a quick Clockwise 'wrist flip' while the diabolo is in the air.

6) Catch the diabolo on the top stick in a grind. (You can toss it to the in-between position and back as before, but here your sticks are pointed right.)

7) Let the diabolo drop into the string. (The diabolo should still be in a full twist of string and still spinning.)

8) Do a Counter Clockwise Sun and hand the left stick back to the left hand to return the diabolo to the normal position.

9) Smile:)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Grind Entry into Whip Catch

Source: Josh Jacobson, Chicago

This entry is actually easier as long as you let it roll off the stick, and don't toss it.

1. Hold both sticks in right hand pointing left. Make sure that one stick is higher than the other, and slightly angled up to your left.

2. Toss the Diabolo up and catch on both strings. This is like the first part of Loop and Hook trick.

3. Toss the Diabolo to your right, and catch in a grind on the upper stick.

4. Once the Diabolo is in a grind, let go of the string, but make sure that the string doesn't tangle.

5. Let the Diabolo roll to your left and fall off the stick. There is no need to toss it.

6. Catch the Diabolo in a Whip Catch as it falls straight down.

Note: This trick differs from the Loop and Hook with a Whip Catch in that the diabolo is not tossed. Another main difference is that with the toss, you are able to pull your sticks and arm backward in a back swing, so to allow you to swing your arm and sticks to whip catch the diabolo. BUT if the diabolo only drops off the sticks the whip catch is done with the wrist in a very quick 'snap' movement.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Bouncin' Grind

source: Joel and Jonas , Sweden

1) Do a Righthand Grind. Your right stick should be pointing left and tilted slightly upward so the diabolo stays on the stick.

2) Now raise your left stick high above the grinding diabolo so the string goes straight upward from end of the right stick. This 'creates a wall' that you can bounce against.

3) Now toss the diabolo up a bit and to the left so it bounces into the string and returns back on the stick in a grind again.

4) Toss the diabolo into the string and catch it back in a grind as many times as you want.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Grinding Sticktoss

source: Elias

1) While grinding on one stick the other stick is free.

2) Toss and catch the non-grinding stick while the diabolo grinds.

Note: You might first just practice tossing a stick and catching it. The stick needs to tossed in such a way that the string doesn't get in the way. This trick looks pretty neat.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Switcheroo

source: Nick Bestor

1) Do a grind on the right stick, with the stick pointing left. You might try facing left while doing this trick.

2) Toss the diabolo up a bit higher than your head so you can have some extra time.

3) While the diabolo is in the air, toss your sticks at the same time to the other hand. (So the stick that was in the right is caught by the left hand, and the stick that was in the left is caught by the right hand. You'll quickly toss both at once then catch both at once.)

4) Now catch the falling diabolo in a grind with the stick that is now in your right hand.

5) Now exit the grind in your favorite move.

Note: You might first just practice without the diabolo tossing the sticks at the same time and catching them with opposite hands. It is also good practice to toss the diabolo out of a righthand grind and catch in the same grind. You'll need to catch 'giving' a little so the diabolo doesn't bounce off your stick.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Shooting Grind

source: within

1) Get up a bunch of spin and use the right stick to put a clockwise wrap around the diabolo's axle. (You might be able to add even more spin by pulling with the right while you have this wrap, but take care that the knot doesn't catch.)

2) Now lightly toss the diabolo over to your left side and catch it on the left stick in a grind. The left stick is pointing right and tilted up a little after the catch. (Don't toss the diabolo any higher than your head so the string doesn't close the knot.)

3) Keep your right stick out to the right while your diabolo grinds on the left stick. (As the diabolo grinds, you should notice that the diabolo stays on the stick in one place better because of the wrap.)

4) Suddenly pull out right with the right stick so the string tightens. The pulling action should 'shoot' the diabolo horizontally to your right side.

5) As soon as the diabolo ends up on your right side, unwrap with the right stick (counterclockwise) to remove the wrap.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Tornado Grind

source: Chris K

1) Bring the diabolo up to a pretty high speed.

2) Toss it up just so it reaches the sticks' height. The the toss needs to be slightly off your left side. NOTE: The key to this trick just may be the low toss required, a toss as high as your chin makes the grind catch more difficult.

3) As the diabolo is tossed quickly turn to your left and position the sticks so they point at each other.

4) Just before the diabolo begins to fall down, put the ends of the sticks (where the string is attached) inside the two cups of the diabolo. If the sticks are held correctly, they will be grinding high inside the cups.

4) After you've held it there, toss it back up and catch it.

NOTE: Care needs to be taken so the toss doesn't make the string end up on top of the grinding diabolo, this will cause problems with the toss later.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Ochs' Grind

source: Jonathan Ochs

 

1) Do a left-hand Trapeze Grind. NOTE: This is where you do a Left Trapeze instead of a Right Trapeze and where the diabolo lands on the right stick in a grind.

2) After the diabolo grinds for a while finish up with the rest of the Ferris Wheel Trick. NOTE: The Ferris Wheel starts with a Left Trapeze which you have already done. After the grind, wrap the string around the diabolo again as per the Ferris wheel instructions step 3.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

See-Saw Grind

source: Daniel Nikzad

 

1) Start with a Righthand Grind. The Diabolo should be spinning very fast on your right stick which is pointed up slightly.

2) After the diabolo grinds for a while, point your left stick's end at the right stick's end. Now push the two stick ends together so the sticks are in a straight line. NOTE: The diabolo is still grinding on the right stick.

3) Now tilt both sticks together (still in a line) so the diabolo slides over to the left stick side. So like a seesaw the sticks tilt down and the diabolo goes to the other side. If you have enough spin you can tilt back so the diabolo returns to the right side.

4) When your spin starts to run out, point both your sticks downward and the diabolo should fall into the string to end. Another ending is to toss the diabolo up and catch.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Tail Grind
(You'll need sticks without wrapped or rubber handles.)

source: Jack A.

1) Get the diablo spinning fast.

2) Move your left hand to the front of your left stick. This is so you are holding the stick near the string end and not on the handle.

3) Now hold the stick horizontal so the handle points rightward.

4) Toss the diablo into the air a bit and catch it in a grind on the tail of the left stick.

5) Grind as long as you dare and then toss the diabolo up so it can be caught and returned to normal postion on the string.

6) Reposition your left hand back on the handle of the left stick.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Friend Grind
(You'll need a friend for this.)

source: Joona Suomalainen, Finland

1) Start with a lot of spin.

2) Hand your left stick to your friend. NOTE: Your friend may hold the stick in the best hand he can grind with.

3) Now do a Righthand Grind.

4) Toss the diabolo over to your friend so he can 'catch' it in a grind on his stick.

5) Your friend can toss it back to you and you can allow it to land and the string and take back the stick.
Note: You may try to toss it back and forth for more than two grinds if you have enough spin.

See also another similar trick: The Kevorkian
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Easy Grind
(The first grind to learn.)

1) From the normal position, point your right stick to the left.

2) Lift your left stick higher and higher.  (The diabolo should get closer and closer to the end of the right stick.)

3) Keep the right stick pointing leftward, and lower it until the diabolo spins onto the stick.

4) Hold the stick so the diabolo keeps grinding and lower your left stick so there is slack in the string.

5) When your want to quit grinding, slowly point your right stick downward and the diabolo should roll onto the sting.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 

More Grinds

Also see Arm-Orbit-Grind and Overarm Grind (see right animation og).
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

For longer Grinds:

1) Use fiberglass sticks, their narrow shaft keeps the diabolo spinning much longer.

2) Mister Babache Performance sticks are metal and also very good for grinds.

3) If you are using large wooden sticks, you might want to switch to smaller wooden sticks. Wooden dowels can be purchased for very little that make good sticks.

4) Some diabolos grind much better than others. Mister Babache's Jumbo is better than Henry Circus because of its wider angle to the axle. Renegades are even better. True Canadian Balls diabolos have an all brass axles that works well, and the Radical Fish diabolo is also a great grinder.

5) Diabolos with wide hubs are the best. The Sundia Fly and Sun come with wide hubs. There are add on different hubs avaiable for the Henry Circus diabolos.

6) One way axle diabolo spin much longer with grinds.

7) Spray your sticks with Armor All. If you haven't heard of it, ArmorAll is an automobile interior and exterior cleaner that leaves the surface very slick.
Armor All can also be sprayed on the string for less knotting.
courtesy: Walter Watts

I know Armor All is available in the US. It is also available in the UK (see Armor All UK link) at stores like Halfords, a very large car and bike shop. courtesy: Andy King, UK

Correcting Tilted Diabolos in a Grind:

1) If the diabolo is tilting to the right, (while grinding on the right stick) point the end of your (right) stick to the right. When it is balanced out then stop pointing your stick to the right, straighten your stick up.

2) If the diabolo is tilting to the left, (while grinding on the right stick) point the end of your (right) stick to the left. When it is balanced out then stop pointing your stick to the left, straighten your stick up.

NOTE: If you grind your left stick then point your stick in the opposite direction of above.

e-mail Jim

HOME - ONE TRICK LISTING - TWO TRICK LISTING - FLASH Movie Controls

|)><(|