Concave Stainless Steel Bearing – Bearing for Unresponsive YoYos

Konkave Stainless Steel Bearing – string-centering bearing for modern YoYos

Dave’s take

“A concave bearing is a simple and proven way to keep the string as close to the centre of the gap as possible.
That is particularly useful for modern unresponsive string tricks: the less the string rubs against the YoYo halves, the less unnecessary friction you create. If you simply want a solid string-centering stainless-steel bearing without any unusual special construction, this one does exactly what it is supposed to do.”

Dave Geigle · 5-time European YoYo Champion · Playing since 1997

• Concave profile → the inward-curved running surface naturally guides the string towards the centre of the bearing

• Less contact with the YoYo halves → keeping the string centred reduces unnecessary friction during string tricks

• Stainless-steel construction → durable bearing for regular use

• Size C as the standard → fits the vast majority of modern string-trick YoYos; Size D is only available from remaining stock

What does a concave YoYo bearing do?

On a traditional flat bearing, the string can move freely across the entire width of the running surface. If it moves towards one side, it can more easily contact one of the YoYo halves.

On a concave bearing, the running surface slopes down from both sides towards the centre. The string therefore naturally settles into the lower central area of the bearing.

During modern string tricks, this helps keep the string away from the sides of the gap and reduces unnecessary friction.

Which bearing size do I need?

With YoYo bearings, the profile is not the only thing that matters – the dimensions obviously need to fit your YoYo as well.

We regularly stock our concave stainless-steel bearing in Size C / Large. This is by far the most common bearing size in modern string-trick YoYos today. A limited amount of Size D is still available from remaining stock for older or specially designed models.

Not sure which size you need? Just tell us which YoYo you own and we’ll be happy to help you choose the correct bearing.

A solid standard bearing – not a magical performance upgrade

A good bearing is important in a modern YoYo, but its influence should not be overstated. Spin time and overall performance also depend on your throw, the YoYo itself, the string and the condition of the complete setup.

If your existing bearing runs perfectly well, there is no reason to replace it preventively. This bearing is primarily useful as a replacement for a lost or damaged bearing or if you want to switch from a flat bearing to a string-centering profile.

Concave Bearing or Pixel Bearing?

Both designs essentially aim to do the same thing: keep the string centred.

This classic concave bearing uses a smooth inward-curved running surface and is a simple, proven solution.

Our Pixel Bearing takes a more specialised approach with its stepped profile, allowing multiple string layers slightly more freedom to move during complex combos. If you simply want a reliable string-centering standard bearing, however, the concave bearing is a great choice.