Learning to use and play with a diabolo can be lots of fun, but it also takes lots of practice. Don’t give up, though, and don’t forget to share your tricks with your friends. There are lots of side benefits to playing diabolo as well, such as improving hand-eye coordination, balance, quickening reflexes, problem-solving skills, persistence, and patience.

Note: These instructions are for right-handed people. If you’re left-handed, follow the instructions inversely.

These five steps are just to get you started with the diabolo. Once you master them, move on to the more complex tricks.

Starting the Diabolo

Begin by holding one handstick in each hand with the diabolo on the string and on the floor in front of your feet. Your right toes should be pointing into one of the cups. Take one step to the left, leaving the diabolo where it is. Gently pull both sticks to the left. Start off very slowly and accelerate gradually. As the diabolo moves past your feet, lift the sticks to pick the diabolo off the floor, until it is just below your knees.

Keep It Spinning

If you don’t do anything to keep the diabolo spinning, it will stop. Whip the diabolo to keep “the spin” by constantly flicking your right hand up. Left hand should remain still. The faster it spins, the more stable it becomes and the more tricks you can do.

Stopping the Tilting

If the diabolo starts tilting, it will keep spinning, but eventually the string is going to get tangled. If it’s tilting toward you, pull your left stick back. If it’s tilting away from you, push your left stick forward.

Throwing the Diabolo

Stop whipping the diabolo. Bring your hands together so they are at chest height and pointing forward. Quickly pull your hands apart sideways until the string is tight. Don't yank them upward! The diabolo should rise straight up in the air.

Catching the Diabolo

Your arms are still wide apart. Keeping the string tight, lower your left arm and raise your right arm, pointing the right stick straight up at the diabolo. As the diabolo falls, line up the tip of the right stick to the outside of the axle. As the diabolo falls, it will roll down the slope made by the string. As soon as the diabolo hits the string, bring your right arm down to cushion the fall.

Advanced Tricks

The Trampoline

Instead of catching the diabolo, bounce it off the string. Keep the string tight when it lands, and push the diabolo straight back up in the air again. Note: The diabolo will slow down while in the air. You may need to stop after a few bounces so you can speed up the diabolo again.

The Foot Jump

Get the diabolo spinning and hold your arms wide apart. Step on the string with your right foot to the right of the diabolo. Simultaneously lift the string with the left stick to flip the diabolo over your foot. Upon catching the diabolo again, release the tension with the right stick and remove your foot from the string in one rapid movement.

Bounce Catch

Get the diabolo spinning as fast as you can. Lower it to the ground and flick off the side letting it bounce once on the ground. Make your string tight and straight. As the diabolo bounces back up, flick the string underneath it and catch!

The Trapeze

Get the diabolo spinning. Swing the diabolo to the left, keeping your sticks in the normal position. As the diabolo stops its left swing and begins to swing back to the right, give it more energy. The diabolo should go up and over the right stick. As it is swinging, move your right stick straight ahead slightly so the string begins to wrap around the diabolo as it swings around it. After the diabolo begins to drop, it needs to land on the string between your sticks. If your swing is even and your right stick is straight out, the diabolo should land there naturally. If something is off, you may need to catch the diabolo on the string by slightly moving your handsticks.

Other games you can play with a diabolo:

The Diabolo Push

Gather some friends and do the push. No strings needed. Have a race to see who can push their diabolo to the finish line — using their nose! Be careful!

The Diabolo Stilt Race

Each person will need two diabolos. Tie the strings around the middle, then step on the diabolos as if they were stilts. Hold on to the handsticks and race. Who can get to the finish line first?

(Originally featured in Junior, Issue 610)