Diabolo Tricks
 Basics
Video Link to Basic Tricks

see also
Beginning TERMS

written for righties


For viewing larger animations with stop/step controls; click Flash Movie Controls

All animations are of the performer's view.
Learning from animations.
From performer's view.
View from above.
Rolling Start with Power Pulls
see Flash Movie Controls for the Rolling Start

1) Start by setting the diabolo on the string and then on the floor to your Right. Set the diabolo in front of your right foot, stand up and move to farther to the Right if possible. The farther the diabolo is set Right of you, the more spin possible. Remember lefties, You will need to set the diabolo to your Left.

2) Before rolling the diabolo, stand pointing your sticks at the diabolo off to your left. The string should be hanging from sticks to diabolo. If not position the diabolo even farther right.

3) Now begin by rolling the diabolo across the floor in front of you. Start your roll slow, but accelerate faster as the diabolo moves Left.

4) As the diabolo reaches a point in front of you (before your left foot's position); gently lift the diabolo up by lift with both sticks.

5) The diabolo should be spinning counterclockwise. Try to center the diabolo and begin to pull harder with the Right handstick.

Practice goals are to reach a medium speed without causing the diabolo to swing wildly after the pickup.
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Learning from animations.
From performer's view.
View from above.

animation by:
J. S.
Correcting Back Tilt
 (When near cup tilted down toward you)
Pull Forward with right stick as you add speed.
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From performer's view.
View from above.

animation by:
J. S.
Correcting Front Tilt
(When near cup tilted up toward you)
Pull Back with right stick as you add spin.
see Flash Movie Controls for Correcting Tilt

Once you know how to get the diabolo spinning the next problem is to keep it from tilting.
If the diabolo's near cup is tilted down toward you, put your right stick forward. You can keep pulling with your stick forward to keep your speed up as you correct.
If the diabolo's near cup is tilted up toward you, put your right stick back. You can keep pulling with your stick back to keep your speed up as you correct.
Once you get the hang of doing this you'll do it without even thinking about it.

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Learning from animations.
From performer's view.
View from above.

Half Sun
(Over The Shoulder Sun)
(This may be the easiest first trick to learn)
see Flash Movie Controls for the Half Sun

1) Toss the diabolo up so it will fall off to your right side.

2) After the toss quickly change your right stick to point behind you as you extend your right arm to the right. (Point upward with the right stick then back.) Make the string tight for the catch by bringing the left stick up to your chest, pointing right and pulling back left. The string should be nearly horizontal, possibly nearly under you chin, and your right elbow slightly bent.

3) Catch the falling diabolo on the string above your right elbow. Hold the spinning diabolo for a bit.

4) Swing the diabolo in a counterclockwise Sun to your left side. Use both sticks together to swing the diabolo up and over. (For example: If the diabolo starts off to your right at 3 o'clock, at 12 o'clock both your sticks should be pointing at the diabolo. Keep your sticks together as the diabolo circles over to the left side about 9 o'clock.)

5) As the diabolo returns below your sticks (6 o'clock), open the sticks to the normal position. Note that the sting is not crossed and is ready for the next trick.

See Beginning Suns and Suns for more tricks like this.

This is the beginning half of the Minetti Whip trick.
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Learning from animations.
From performer's view.
View from above.
Right Trapeze
(The diabolo stops, landing on the string, after wrapping around the right stick.)
see Flash Movie Controls for the Right Trapeze

1) Get the diabolo spinning and from normal position swing the diabolo to the left a bit, keeping your sticks in the normal position.

2) As the diabolo stops its left swing and begins to swing back right, give it more swing to the right, still holding your sticks the same way.

3) Your CC swing should be enough for the diabolo to go to the right, up and over the right stick. As it is swinging move your right stick straight ahead a little so the string begins to wrap around it as the diabolo swings around it.

4) After the diabolo begins to drop down between your sticks it needs to land on the string now between your sticks. The hardest part of this trick is getting the diabolo to land on the string. If your swing is even and your right stick is straight out, the diabolo should land there naturally. If something's a bit crooked you may need to catch the diabolo on the string by slightly moving your handsticks.

5) The diabolo can sit there and spin, continue to keep the sticks in normal position.

6) To return, pull the right stick out to the right forcing the diabolo to swing clockwise until it returns to the starting position.

Note: If you continue to have trouble getting the diabolo to land on the string try this; start with the left stick held much higher, bring the right stick to the left until it touches the left string above the diabolo, pushing against the string and 'draw with the end of your right stick' a quick counterclockwise half circle around the diabolo, bringing your arms and sticks back to normal should make the diabolo do a trapeze. Generally if you keep missing the string, check your Right stick angle. Your Right stick needs to be parellel to the axle of the diabolo.

See Beginning Trapezes and Trapezes for more tricks like this.

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Forced Sun

Source:  Ms Mary Taylor, Oxford, England

see Flash Movie Controls for the Forced Sun

1) Get good speed, and start with sticks neutral.

2) Keep the left stick facing forward and bring the right stick alongside
the left, parallel.

3) Imagine a clockface laying flat on the handstick. The stick ends (where
the string is tied to) are the center of the clock. Currently the clock
hands (the sticks) are both on 6 o'clock. Turn the right stick to 2 o'clock.

4) Now raise the right stick about 1 inch higher than the left and pull the
right stick quickly over the left stick to the left. This will create a
little loop over the left stick and force (at speed) the diabolo over the
left stick.

5) Just after the diabolo rises lift upward with the left stick. The diabolo should respond by quickly 'sunning' from between your arms and swinging left and below your sticks in a circle movement. Return your right stick to 6 o'clock and your sticks are again neutral. Note the diabolo is on open string, ready for your next trick.

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High Toss

1) Get up enough speed so the diabolo is not turning. Good spin is important for it prevents inaccurate tosses, which can be dangerous.

2) The best way to shoot straight up is to even up your sticks side-by-side. One stick shouldn't be higher than the other and the diabolo shouldn't be swinging.

3) Toss straight up, not too high for starters. When you toss, you pull outward and lift upward. Be sure to pull equally with both sticks.

4) When the diabolo is in the air, hold your sticks above you and tighten string.

5) Right handers need to point higher with the Right stick and plan to catch the diabolo not in the middle of the string but an inch or two from the right stick's end. . If the diabolo drifts behind you, you may find you can reach over your head behind you and catch behind-the-back.

6) As soon as the diabolo hits the string lessen the tightness of the string a bit to receive the diabolo.
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Correction of turned diabolo
animations by: J. S.

Correcting Far Cup from Left to Right

(When Far Cup turned too far Left)

Correcting Near Cup from Left to Right

(When Near Cup turned too far Left)
Touch Cup with end of Right stick.

1) If the diabolo's far cup is too far Left you need to touch the far cup with the Right stick end as shown above.

2) If the diabolo's near cup is too far Left you need to touch the near cup with the Right stick end as shown above.

3) Keep pulling with your power pulls and when the right stick gets close to the diabolo, touch the correct cup to turn the diabolo. If one touch isn't enough touch again.

For a general description of tricks, check out TERMS!

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String Configurations
On Open String
Full Wrap
Clockwise Sun
Counter clockwise Sun
Left Backside
Beginning or ending position
Undo with an Unwrap
Undo with Counterclockwise Sun
Undo with Clockwise Sun
Beginning of several tricks.
Undo with Crossarm toss.


For a general description of tricks, check out TERMS!

e-mail Jim

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