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How to Use Nine Dragons Yoyo

13.01.2026 On 13.01.2026

The Nine Dragons is one of the most unique yoyos ever made. Designed for impossible looking tricks, it allows you to hold the yoyo in your hand while it is still spinning. If you’re new to learning how to use Nine Dragons yoyo, this guide will walk you through its mechanisms, disassembly, and tricks.

What Makes the Nine Dragons Different?

Unlike a standard yoyo, the Nine Dragons features two free-spinning outer caps connected to an inner metal hub and ball bearing. This design allows:

It plays unresponsive, meaning it will not return to your hand without a bind.

1. How to Throw and Bind

The Nine Dragons is an unresponsive yoyo, so knowing how to bind is essential to bring it back to your hand. You can throw and bind it much like any other professional unresponsive yoyo, but due to its unique design, it may feel slightly looser on the string.

For best results:

Use a smooth, steady throw to build a strong spin
Keep your string tension neutral
Focus on a clean, controlled bind (frontstyle or sidestyle)

2. Hold the Dragon Caps

This is where the Nine Dragons really shines.

To hold the Dragon Caps, you can either:

Pop the yoyo up and gently grab the yoyo as you hold the outer caps
Hold yoyo in hand and pull start the string to let the yoyo spin in hand
Play normally and in between the trick you can hold the yoyo and place it elsewhere on the string

3. Basic Impossible Moves to Try

Once you’re comfortable holding the Dragon Caps, try these beginner-friendly impossible elements:

Hand-to-hand transfers – Pass the spinning yoyo between hands
Finger holds – Balance the yoyo between your index and middle finger
Green Triangle – Throw a Trapeze, pop yoyo up and hold in throw hand. Create the slack and drop yoyo into a Green Triangle.

4. How to Change the Dragon Caps

The Nine Dragons features removable outer plastic caps (dragon caps), which can be swapped or replaced if needed.

To change the dragon caps:

Place yoyo between both palms, gently push together and then twist to unscrew the yoyo halves
Gently remove the outer plastic cap from the metal hubs
Align the new cap and press it evenly into place
Reassemble the yoyo and check that the cap spins freely

5. How to Change the Ball Bearings

Removing the ball bearings on a Nine Dragons to either clean, maintain, or replace. Doing this can help restore to a smoother spin and reduce noise or responsiveness issues.

Steps to change the side ball bearings:

Remove the Dragon Caps
With gentle pressure, push cap against the axle on a solid surface to pop out the spacer.
With the axle, you can remove the ball bearing from the cap
Clean or replace the bearing as needed

💡 Tip: Avoid over-lubricating. A lightly lubricated bearing provides the best performance for Nine Dragons play.