Knowledge Hub

What kind of string comes with your return tops?: All CLYW return tops ship with Kitty String Fat.
What kind of bearings are in CLYW return tops?: We use CTX bearings from Central Bearing Company. We switched for a little while to flat bearings, but our products work best with a centering bearing, and we like the CTX the best so we switched back and all of our products currently ship with CTX bearings installed.
When is XXXX return top releasing?: Here’s a nifty feature of our new website that should help. Go here: http://shop.clyw.ca/. If you click on “Filter” you’ll get a drop down menu that let’s you sort our products by different criteria. Here’s what they all mean:

ALL – Shows you everything, but at the top of each product logo there is a label telling you that product’s status.
AVAILABLE – We have some in stock and you can purchase them direct from CLYW.
FEATURED – Products that we have available for direct sale that are featured items. Used for promo.
FOOL’S GOLD – This is our “b-grade” product. Slight vibe or anodizing flaws, sold at a large discount.
IN ASSEMBLY – Currently being assembled, tested, and packaged.
IN PRODUCTION – Currently being machined or anodized.
RETIRED – No longer being made, gone forever.
SOLD OUT – Return tops that are not available right now, and have not yet started production.

We’ll do best to keep everything updated on the site so that you can quickly peek and see what is coming up next. When we have actual release dates we’ll announce them on the blog.
Are you going to continue making XXXX colorway?: Colorways come and go. Some of them stick around for a long time, others we end up discontinuing because the anodizers can’t do them consistently. At any given moment, a typical production run is available in 4 – 6 colorways, and we have dozens and dozens of different colorways to choose from. So for the most part, the answer is “Yes, we’re going to continue making it, but you might not see it again for a while.”
What kind of bearings/string does your team prefer?: We put together a handy dandy guide of what our team uses right here: What Do They Use?
What determines when a return top is to be retired?: Any number of things! Sometimes it’s time to update the design, sometimes it’s a signature model and that player wants something different, sometimes it just doesn’t sell very well. Mostly we just retire something when it seems like it’s a good time to let it go.
How can I join the CLYW team?: Be amazing. Be valuable. Be the kind of player that other players want to be like, both in skill and demeanor. Create and add value to the return top industry and community. Be helpful. Be amazing. Do all of this, and we’ll find you.
Where do you make your return tops?: We use several different machine shops, anodizers, and engravers, located in the US, Canada, and China.
I got a brand new CLYW return top and it's responsive. What's wrong?: Nothing is wrong. We use CTX bearings in our return tops, and these begin their lives semi-responsive. They are lubed at the factory, and we add a drop of thin lube (basically a bearing degreaser) to each one during the assembly process…this doesn’t make them fully unresponsive, but it does help speed up the breaking-in process. Basically, if you run a bearing dry it shortens the life of the bearing. Allowing it to break in, and allowing the lube to break down naturally through play gives you a smoother playing bearing that will last a lot longer. If you have some patience and just wait it out, you will be rewarded with much better performance.
What kind of cameras/lenses do Alec and Aaron use?: Alec mainly uses a Canon 6D with 24mm f/1.4L lens. Aaron mainly uses a Canon 5D mk III with a 16-35 f/2.8L lens.
What are Pool Party and Heaven Sent?: Pool Party and Heaven Sent are sub-brands of CLYW. Think of them as side projects…like someone from a band making a solo album. Pool Party is Chris’ project, and Heaven Sent is run by Alec.
Why wouldn't you just make those return tops as part of the CLYW line?: Because they didn’t quite fit. And because Chris and Alec wanted to make them ultra limited, and work with different artists and aesthetics outside of the usual look and feel of CLYW.
I'm designing a yoyo, can you send me the specs for your pads and bearings and bearing seats?: You’ll learn a lot more about how to design for these things if you measure and design them yourself. What works for our return tops might not work for yours.

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