YoYoFactory’s early metal yo-yo “Grind Machine” has been updated and is now called “Turbo Grind Machine.”
There was a plastic version of the yo-yo also named Grind Machine in the past, but this new model is based on the metal version, and is actually a yo-yo with a lot of historical background.
The most important feature of this work is the use of brake pad response (sometimes called Cork Starburst or Cork Pad). This is a response system invented by Hans Van Dan Elzen (also known as Yohans), the president of YoYoFactory. He was originally a well-known demonstrator for a manufacturer called Playmaxx, and the story of how he adopted the system of Playmaxx yo-yos in the 1990s for the 2023 yo-yo is very moving (there are a few models that have used it in the meantime, such as the “Flame Wing by Hyper Yo-Yo Promotion” for example).
Another key point is that it comes with caps. This is a gimmick that can revive the flavor of the original version of the Grind Machine, which adhered to the early to mid-2000s convention of “a yo-yo is a thing that has caps.” The specifications are full of old-school atmosphere, with a size A bearing and tug-response by default. Furthermore, this Grind Machine is crowned with the retro moniker “Turbo,” which is likely derived from models such as “Turbo Bumblebee.” It’s a yo-yo that goes back to its roots, but also has a freshness that makes you think that it is nice to have a yo-yo like this even now.
Original article written by Jun Aramaki
Translated by Rei Iwakura
