Arm Orbits

[Jay1981]

I think he means you have to measure the string from the ground to your waist, or to your shoulder. To your waist seems awfully short to me, but maybe it works for some people..

Ahhhhh... making a bit more sense now. I'm going to have to try shortening my string as I really want to learn arm orbits. Any tips for best string length for this, or for getting from single arm orbits to orbiting both arms?

Plenty, if you wouldnt mind possibly starting a new thread about it so that other that might want to know (or help) would be able to benefit from your question. for now practice the orbit motion open stirnged, move your elbow into position to keep the string  in line, hold the stick so that you have enough room to catch the diabolo.

Done mate.

Now string length. Everyone's string will be in proportion to their height, but what length (measured against floor to body region) is the best length for arm orbits. I'm currently using floor to chin and finding it a struggle to manage all the extra string.

[seán_]

On string length when I first started the sugestion was floor to chin and I managed arm orbits just fine with this. You can use your left hand to take up the slack if you need, just move it to the left. your right hand also has a part to play but on the right hand its main requirement is to have enough space for the diabolo to land. sometimes I find holding the stick longer than I usually do helps.

Three ways into arm orbits.
Push your right elbow through rather than just twisting your wrist back, this helps to keep the string in line. (the string wants to touch close to you elbo btw, not your armpit )

from a high throw or large open orbit, some people find this easier and the crcular motion is allready there. just toss one up and to the right and get into position to catch it

from a sun, this gets the motion but might be a bit awkward unless you are really comfortable with suns.

HTH

[Jay1981]

...from a sun, this gets the motion but might be a bit awkward unless you are really comfortable with suns.

HTH

When you say from a sun, how do you mean? Wouldn't using a sun cross the string over the diabolo?

[JC]

look at diabolotricks

http://www.diabolotricks.com/B-suns.htm

[seán_]

side sun, clockwise coming up between left arm and body,  as it starts to complete the sun you should be doing the whole pushing your elbow into placeIts the way I would tend to enter arm orbits (or more likely a monorail- arm orbit with a loop around the arm)  for a bit of style

check out http://www.diabolotricks.com/Overarm.htm as well

[Jay1981]

OK. I've shortened my string twice to get to the stage I'm at on single arm orbits. It only comes up to my chest now. I've managed to nail single right arm orbits with confidence now, but I'm really struggling to get round both arms.
The as soon as I try to swap from single to both arm orbits I seem to be reaching forward and losing balance completely. Is this just a practice issue or am I doing something wrong?

[seán_]

Your strings too short

Probably just a practice thing. I seem to remember around both being a step up from around 1

[fadge]

i found learning around both arms quite hard actually and just practiced it for ages. I dont think there are any tips for it really.

It sounds like the string length should be okay for it.

Fadge

[tommygrhcp]

You need to make the motion flow and swing really. no help at all but thats how i learnt, plus a lot of practice and learning with shorter string. Once i got the motion i went back to long and can still do it fine. Its one of those fairly hard tricks. Gd luck to whoever!