YoYoJam Trinity
Reviewed by Brett Grimes
June 29, 2010

Intro:
The trinity is the third installment in the series of YoYoJam yo-yos designed by National YoYo Master Andre Boulay. Boulay is well known through out this community for his easy to follow tutorial videos and his yo-yo designs have proven successful in the past. The Dark Magic was the first from Andre and YoYoJam and it was a huge success. Then came the Legacy, which also received excellent marks for its no nonsense play and inexpensive price. With a full plastic and a plastic/metal hybrid under their belts will the all-metal Trinity be the trifecta for Andre and YoYoJam? Lets find out.

Specs:

• Diameter: 55.86 mm
• Width: 40.17 mm
• Gap Width: 4.80 mm
• Weight: 69.3 grams
• Bearing Size: Size C (.250 x .500 x .187)
• Response: YYJ Silicone O-Ring

Construction:
The Trinity is well constructed, although I find the lack of a media blasted surface to be a disappointment, and I’m sure others will think this as well. I find that a straight anodized yoyo tends to feel sticky in the hand and grinds are completely thrown out the window. The laser engraving has mixed reviews some love it, some don’t. Personally, I like the graphics. The engraving is well done. The yoyo is very well machined with no visible flaws to be found. The shape has a very familiar look to it. When you compare it side by side with the Legacy and Dark Magic it is readily evident that they achieved their goal of creating a metal Dark Magic in the same way that the Legacy is a plastic Dark Magic. There is a very odd little lip in the cups of the yo-yo; I wouldn’t exactly call it an IGR. The lip is not deep like on say a General-Yo 5-Star or Hspin Pyro; it’s basically a set of grooves into the wall. We will get into this later. Overall it is a very pleasing shape that will be instantly recognizable in the hand to fans of the Legacy or the Dark Magic.

Weight:
Coming in at 69.3 grams is going to turn a lot of people off, but this yoyo does not feel like the tank that it should. There is a lot of weight focused in the center of the Trinity. It has a definitive thump at the end of the string but it never feels ultra heavy. YoYoJam seems to have nailed the weight distribution, allowing for a very manageable feel on the string.

Response and Bearing:
The Trinity arrives with YYJ silicone o-rings and a stock YYJ Bearing. The YYJ bearing is a workhorse of a bearing, they seem to hold up very well and just keep going. I never had an issue with their bearings in any of the YYJ yoyos I have owned. So not much to speak of on the bearing, it works and gets the job done. Not my favorite bearing but its definitely in the top 5. The silicone o-rings that are stock in the Trinity take a bit of wearing in, they were very snappy and almost snaggy for the first week I threw it. Once the pads seem to wear in they still provide a snappy bind but lose the snaggy death grip they originally had.

Playability:
I like the Trinity. I wouldn’t say it’s my go to yoyo, but I do throw it quite a bit. A few things I should note. First, everyone has heard of the YYJ vibe associated with a lot of their yoyos, this one also has that same vibe. It can be felt on the string but it never distracted me from playing with it. I personally do not care if a yoyo vibes a little bit like this one; it gives character. It’s when a yoyo is unplayable due to vibe that it becomes a problem and that is not the case here. The Trinity is very authoritative and takes a little bit of love to get used to it, once you do you will be rewarded with a great throw. The pseudo-IRG can be caught with a decent thumbnail. If you keep your thumbnails short you will have to tilt the yoyo slightly to do a thumb grind. I do about 3 thumb grinds a year so its a non issue for me. The yoyo to me would of been a real contender if it was a little more floaty, it plays well but its not the fastest thing in the world, for my style it works well. Those into speed might not like the feel of this yoyo.

Final Thoughts:
Andre labels and promotes the Trinity as a yoyo you can learn, perform and innovate with. I believe all three of those can be done. It is a great “first metal” for those intermediate players looking to graduate to the full metal lifestyle. It is also a good addition for collectors looking for a different feel on the string. The style and weight distribution offers play that I have a hard time comparing to any other metal on the market today.