Catching

So the diabolo is up in the air...now what? Well, it’s easier than you think. Do you remember how we twist our wrists to make the diabolo go up? It’s the same thing backwards. Leave your hands pointing the sticks straight up in the air and keep the string tight.

Anytime the diabolo is not on the string, KEEP THE STRING TIGHT!

Catch the diabolo on the string and cushion it by reversing the throwing motion so that it goes back to where you began. There are some ways to help you catch it every time. The first is to catch it with your sticks pointing straight up. This makes the catch like catching anything else in your hand. If your sticks are pointing forward you have to guess how far the ends of the sticks are in front of you. The biggest tip I can give you is to catch the diabolo very close to your right handstick. I’m left-handed so righties should look at the video as if you were looking into a mirror. This part of the string is the easiest place to catch it, plus it slides down the string so you can throw it straight up again without pausing, plus it makes the diabolo spin faster no matter how high you throw it.

If the diabolo isn't catching well, be sure that your tight string is in line with the diabolo. Sometimes the axle turns direction during the throw so you have to be sure that you are in front of the diabolo before it catches the string.