Yoyo Bearings

Want longer spin time and smoother yoyo play? The best yoyo bearings are key to unlocking better tricks and play. Shop all YoYoFactory Europe ball bearing yoyos for responsive and unresponsive play.

FAQ

Why Choose a Professional Ball Bearing Yoyo?

Professional ball bearing yoyos are designed for speed, stability, and long spin time. 

 

Did you know YoYoFactory’s best yoyo bearings have been tested by professionals and trusted by champions worldwide?

 

  • Ball bearing yoyos allow longer trick combos, cleaner binds, and smoother play.
Responsive vs Unresponsive Yoyo Bearings

Not sure what you need?

  • Responsive yoyo bearings (HALF SPEC): Great for beginners. Return with a tug. Ideal for looping 2A style of play.
  • Unresponsive yoyo bearings (SPEC or Center Trac): Built for advanced tricks. Requires Bind yoyo trick to return. Offers longer spin time.
What Is a Bearing for?

The bearing is the essential element that distinguishes the old classical yo-yo from the modern freestyle yoyo.

 

Thanks to the bearing, the yoyo can spin much longer at the end of the string, and this has enabled the development of much more challenging and complex tricks.

Why and When to Clean Yoyo Bearings?

Why? To make your bearing last longer, it’s recommended to lubricate it. However, lubrication reduces spin time and can make an unresponsive yoyo responsive (return with a tug).

 

Most players prefer dry bearings for advanced tricks. To achieve this, clean or degrease the bearing using technical gasoline or lighter fluid. A dry bearing spins longer and remains fully unresponsive.

 

When? Over time, dust, string fibers, or metal particles can get inside the bearing, causing noise, rough spin, or even jamming. If this happens, clean the bearing. You can test it by spinning it with your finger. If the bearing stops after only a few seconds, it needs cleaning.

TIPS

How to Clean a Yoyo Bearing

Ball bearing maintenance is essential to keeping your yoyo performing its best. A yoyo with bearings should be cleaned whenever your bearing does not perform well, gets too loud or becomes responsive.

Check our guide to learn How to Fix Yoyo Ball Bearings easily at home. Here is a brief guide:

 

Removing the Bearing

  • By hand: Some yoyos allow the bearing to fall out easily after unscrewing.
  • Multitool: Insert it into the bearing’s inner ring and rock gently side to side. If the axle is on the same half, unscrew it first.
  • Pliers: Use only with caution — wrap the bearing in a cloth, grip lightly, and rock it free. Avoid crushing the bearing.
  • String trick: Place an old string around the bearing before screwing the yoyo halves back together. After unscrewing again, pull the string sharply to pop the bearing out. (This may not always work.)

 

Bearing Cleaning

  1. Pour lighter fluid, technical gasoline, or kerosene into a small container so the bearing can be fully submerged.
  2. (Optional) Remove the side shields using a needle or pin for a deeper clean.
  3. Submerge and gently shake the bearing, then let it sit so the dirt dissolves.
  4. Remove, pat dry with a napkin, and let it air dry completely.
    • You can speed this up by spinning the bearing with a drill (Dremel) to dry it by centrifugal force.
  5. If needed, repeat the process.
How to Lube a Yoyo Bearing

Do you want a smooth, quiet spin and longer bearing life?

 

The yoyo may play little too responsive after using oil. Only apply few drops and play yoyo for a while, the performance will improve later.

Sizes of Yoyo Ball Bearings

As standard, bearings of sizes A, C, D are used in yoyos.

  • C is in 99% of today’s yo-yos. Sometimes also called as a large bearing.
  • A it is also sometimes called a small bearing. It only fits into yo-yos like Loop and a few others.
  • D is a dimension that has been used by some European companies in the past. It is hardly used now.
Bearing Thickness

In addition to width, thickness is also important for the bearing.

 

  • Half Spec is a designation that says the bearing is half the thickness than usual. This bearing is used in beginner yo-yos to properly return the yo-yo (responsive). Usually, this bearing can be replaced with a classic size and the yoyo will change from responsive to non-responsive.
  • Center Trac & Spec are full width ball bearings, these are unresponsive.
Bearing Shapes
  • Flat – basic flat bearing (Half Spec and Spec)
  • Concave (Center Trac) – a bearing that has a U-shaped profile. This is because the string then holds more at the center and reduces friction against the walls of the yoyos. As a result, the yoyo spins a little longer and the string folded several times can fit inside.