Review | The Smooth Move by Spin Dynamics
Do you know who Nick Gumlaw is? If you are from the Massachusetts area, you probably do. If not, here's a quick lesson. Nick is a staple in the Massachusetts yo-yo community, known for his role in local contests as a judge. Recently, Nick dove head first into the yo-yo manufacturing world and founded Spin Dynamics. Spin Dynamics just released a new yo-yo called the Monkey Fist, but their first yo-yo release was the Smooth Move and Nick was kind enough to lend me one for a review.
Brown box adorned with a sticker
Diameter: 50.25 mm / 1.978 inches Width: 41.35 mm / 1.628 inches Gap Width: 4.25 mm / .167 inches Response System: 19mm pad Weight: 64.5 grams Bearing Size: Size C Stainless Steel Bearing
Looks Great Looks Good Looks Bad Multiple color options Shallow IRG Plastic caps Beadblast finish Polished rim wall Really really really tight bearing seat Logo ties neatly into name and brand Two step catch zone with one inverse wall Very âClassicâ look Common yo-yo shape Stainless steel helicoil insert
First thing first. What the heck is a helicoil axle insert? Well, it is that thing that looks weird in the axle hole.
Basically, it is a coil insert that is placed into an object to add a threaded interface. The coil is held in place via the pressure of the axle. What does this mean to you? Well when you strip an axle, usually it happens because the steel axle is harder than the aluminum body of the yo-yo. The threads on the yo-yo half get worn down by constant screwing and unscrewing. This is why some designers, such as OneDrop and YoYoJam, offer designs with a âharder than aluminumâ nut capture. Using a steel / steel contacts prevent the wear and tear of the axle threads.  Bottom line, you probably will never strip the axle on this yo-yo.
The rest of the yo-yo has a mix of features that I either love or hate. I am not a huge fan of the plastic caps but they could be removed. If I were keeping this yo-yo, I would have dug them out. I think the polished outer rim is fantastic. I love the way it catches the light, but is isolated to the rim. The bearing seat is WAY too tight for me. This yo-yo squeaks when you open it up, and every time I worry that I am going to mar the bearing seat.
Great! Not so great⦠Vibration free A bit tilty but easily correctable Smooth on grinds Plays heavier than it is Performs great for slow and smooth play Spun out on fast movements Great grinds Eats string quickly
With a name like Smooth Move, you have to pretty much be a smooth and vibration free yo-yo. Luckily, the Smooth Move is very smooth indeed. I found the SM to perform well on slow and deliberate play styles. When pushed too quickly, the SM tended to tilt and flop out. The weight seems to be largely be concentrated on the inner wall with a bit more on the outer rim. I think a bit more weight on the outer rim would add a bit more stability but itâs not really that critical.
My gripes with the Smooth Move are minor. My personal play style is a mixture of fast and slow with a heavy rotation of regens. The Smooth Move lends itself more towards smooth and steady play styles and in that play style it performs very well. The caps are a personal taste also. The only thing I worry about is how quickly it ate through my strings and how tight the bearing seat is. The tradeoff is a very very smooth throw with zero vibe of wobble. The Smooth Move feels like it was designed for a player who leans to the slow and smooth playstyle. If you think that is you, I would categorize this yo-yo as a definite try.
Written by Chris "Dr. Yo-Yo" Allen who is not a smooth criminal
Edited by Will Mitchell, who prefers smooth to chunky