4A/ Off-String: The style of yo-yo play where the player uses yo-yo(s) that are not connected to the string. The yo-yo is thrown up into the air, caught on the string, a trick is performed, and then the end of the string is thrown back into the yo-yo gap so it will wind back up.

5A: A style of yo-yo play invented by Steve Brown where the yo-yo string is attached to a small counterweight instead of being tied to the finger. Known as the Counterweight division or 5A in yo-yo contests. See also Freehand.

6-strand: Yo-yo string made up of six strands instead of the traditional eight strands of cotton, cotton/polyester blend, or all polyester. Also called Type 6.

8-strand: Traditional yo-yo string made up of eight strands of cotton, cotton/polyester blend, or all polyester. Also called Type 8.

A/ Single A: The style of yo-yo play where the player uses only one yo-yo, and primarily does String Tricks.

AA/ Double A: The style of yo-yo play where the player uses two yo-yos, and primarily does Looping Tricks.

AAA/ Triple A: The style of yo-yo play where the player uses two yo-yos, and primarily does String Tricks.

Alpha: Single-A play where the yo-yo is in constant, flowing, and repeatable motion. A trick or combo where one move is started before the previous move is finished, creating one smooth motion.

Astro: Counterweight style play where the counterweight slides on the string rather than being permanently fixed to the end of the string.

Ball-bearing: A friction-reducing bearing consisting essentially of a ring-shaped track containing freely revolving hard metal balls against which a rotating shaft or other part turns. (source: dictionary.com)

Bearing: A broad term for any friction-reducing moving part. More specific terms are Ball-bearing, and Sleeve-bearing.

Bind: The method used to get an unresponsive yo-yo to wind up.

Counterweight: A) The small weight, usually a die or a super-ball, attached to the string of a 5A yo-yo. B) The 5A or Freehand style of yo-yo play.

Double A/ AA: The style of yo-yo play where the player uses two yo-yos, and primarily does Looping Tricks.

Fixed axle: A yo-yo where the axle does not spin independently from the body of the yo-yo. Traditional (i.e. old) yo-yos are of this type.

Freehand: A style of yo-yo play invented by Steve Brown where the yo-yo string is attached to a small counterweight instead of being tied to the finger. Known as the Counterweight division or 5A in yo-yo contests.

Looping Tricks: The group of tricks where usually the only contact the player has with the string is the finger loop (like Loop the Loop). As opposed to String Tricks where the yo-yo player manipulates the string with the fingers, the yo-yo, or in other ways (like Atom Smasher).

Moebius: Performing yo-yo tricks using the opened up finger loop of the yo-yo string.

Off-String/ 4A: The style of yo-yo play where the player uses yo-yo(s) that are not connected to the string. The yo-yo is thrown up into the air, caught on the string, a trick is performed, and then the end of the string is thrown back into the yo-yo gap so it will wind back up.

Pog: Paper or plastic disk that pops into the side of some yo-yos like the Duncan Freehand Zero, the Spintastics Technic, and Yo-yo Jam Hitman. Many players make their own custom pogs for their yo-yos.

Responsiveness: How easily a yo-yo will come back up when you tug on the string. A responsive yo-yo will come up immediately, and an unresponsive one won’t come back up at all.

Sidecap: Usually a hard plastic cap that snaps into the side of a yo-yo like the Duncan Freehand Zero. Sometimes also a Pog.

Single A/ A: The style of yo-yo play where the player uses only one yo-yo, and primarily does String Tricks.

Sleeper: a yo-yo trick where the yo-yo spins at the end of the string until the yo-yoer tugs the string to make it wind back up.

String Tricks: The group of tricks where the yo-yo player manipulates the string with the fingers, the yo-yo, or in other ways (like Atom Smasher). As opposed to Looping tricks where usually the only contact the player has with the string is the finger loop (like Loop the Loop).

Transaxle: A yo-yo where the axle spins independently from the body of the yo-yo. This is a broad term that refers to all types of yo-yos where the axle spins independently including ball-bearing, sleeve-bearing, brain, clutch, etc.

Triple A/ AAA: The style of yo-yo play where the player uses two yo-yos, and primarily does String Tricks.

Type 6: Yo-yo string made up of six strands instead of the traditional eight strands of cotton, cotton/polyester blend, or all polyester. Also called 6-strand.

Type 8: Traditional yo-yo string made up of eight strands of cotton, cotton/polyester blend, or all polyester. Also called 8-strand.

Unresponsive: A yo-yo that will not wind up by simply jerking the sting. A bind must be used to get an unresponsive yo-yo to wind up.