So you just got your first diabolo, what now ?

You need to learn how to speed it up. Accelerating the diabolo is the first thing you need to do before performing any tricks.

Step By Step Explanation

STEP 0 : Before you start

Make sure:

• your string is the right length
• you have some space around you (1 metre or 3 feet in all directions)
• you stand on a smooth, flat surface

STEP 1 : Set up

• Place the diabolo on the ground, in front of your strong side foot (right foot for righties, left foot for lefties)
• Put the string under the axle
• Take one stick in each hand

STEP 2 : Initial speed

• Roll the diabolo over to your other foot
• When the diabolo reaches the foot, lift it off the ground

This will give your diabolo a bit of speed, but not enough to do any tricks.

STEP 3 : Acceleration

Before the diabolo stops spinning, move your strong hand (right for righties, left for lefties) up and down. Imagine playing the drum with just your strong hand, the other does nothing.

If your diabolo turns, turn with it. At first, you might turn in place a bit until you learn corrections. In the meantime, keep the circle of the cup parallel to your body.

Keep the tip of your sticks at the same distance from your body, otherwise your diabolo will start tipping. If the diabolo tips forward, bring your strong hand closer to your body while continuing drumming. If the diabolo tips backwards, push your strong hand away from your body while moving your strong hand up and down.

What’s Next ?

Once you mastered this way of accelerating your diabolo, you are ready to learn some tricks:

• Throw and catch: the first trick every diabolo player learns
• Whip acceleration: a faster way to accelerate your diabolo
• Waterfall: cool beginner friendly trick
• Sun: an easy trick that will familiarize you with one of the basic string positions
• Wrap and unwrap: a technique more than a trick, but very useful and easy to learn and understand. You will use it all the time.
• Correction tipping: a technique to keep your diabolo parallel to the ground, a must-know
• Correction turning: this is the most challenging one to learn at level 1 (you can skip it for now, but all you need to know to learn it is the rolling start), however it will be very useful down the line. Take your time and keep at it, it will soon become second nature.