Editing Yo-yo (section)

=== Rise of the ball bearing ===
As popularity spread through the 1970s and 1980s, there were a number of innovations in yo-yo technology, primarily regarding the connection between the string and the axle. In 1979, dentist and yo-yo celebrity [[Tom Kuhn]] patented the "No Jive 3-in-1" yo-yo, creating the world's first "take-apart" yo-yo, which enabled yo-yo players to change the axle.{{citation needed|date=October 2024}}

Swedish bearing company [[SKF]] briefly manufactured novelty yo-yos with [[ball bearings]] in 1984. In 1990, Kuhn introduced the SB-2 yo-yo that had an aluminum transaxle, making it the first successful ball-bearing yo-yo.<ref>[http://www.retroplanet.com/blog/retro-archives/classic-toys/the-yo-yo/ Classic Toys: The Yo-Yo] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003185659/http://www.retroplanet.com/blog/retro-archives/classic-toys/the-yo-yo/ |date=October 3, 2011 }}. Retro Planet (May 12, 2009). Retrieved on April 9, 2012.</ref> The SB2 was originally offered only in a natural silver color, but as time went on, it became available in many different colors, with various decorative embellishments.{{citation needed|date=October 2024}}

[[File:TomKuhnSB2YoYos.jpg|thumb|Tom Kuhn SB2 ball-bearing yoyos: left, original model from the early 1990s; right, a modern colored offering.]]

[[File:TomKuhnSB2Case.jpg|thumb|Tom Kuhn leather case for SB2 yoyo, 1990s.]]

In all transaxle yo-yos, ball bearings significantly reduce friction when the yo-yo is spinning, enabling longer and more complex tricks. Subsequent yo-yo players used this ability to their advantage, creating new tricks that had not been possible with fixed-axle designs.{{citation needed|date=October 2024}}

There are many new types of ball bearings in the market which deviate from the original design and/or material of the standard [[stainless steel]] ball bearing. For example, a certain type of bearing has an inward facing curved surface, to prevent the string from rubbing on the sides of the yo-yo, which would cause unwanted friction when performing intricate string tricks. Other manufacturers replicate this with a similar inwardly curved surface, but use minor modifications. Some high-end bearings use [[ceramic composite]]s in the balls of the bearing, to reduce internal friction, again making for a smoother spinning yo-yo. Precious materials such as ruby have also been used as a material in prototype ball bearings for its properties such as extreme hardness.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/BjKxSvcHh9L/|title=Wolf Yoyo Works on Instagram: "Just testing out #wolfyoyoworks Amarok with a 1 of 1 ruby bearing, you saw it here first! What is your favourite bearing type?"|website=Instagram|language=en|access-date=July 12, 2019}}</ref> The material was first tested in a prototype bearing made by Wolf Yoyo Works in May 2018.{{citation needed|date=October 2024}}