While I’ve certainly played my fair share of MK1 yo-yos, this is the first time I’ve played a Yoyofriends release. This collaboration is a tri-material beast, comprised of 7075 aluminum, stainless steel, and polycarbonate. The Heron features a V/H hybrid shape with a “lock-in” finger spin dimple, and is designed to be a “play all” style of throw. That being said, I feel like I couldn’t push this yo-yo to its limits with my limited skill-set.
At 66.36g, you can certainly feel the weight of the Heron, but it’s not so heavy that you get a thunk at the end of the string when you throw it. It feels solid on the string. Balanced. Controlled. It can come back to the hand hard, but the polycarbonate rings keep it comfortable, and not so harsh on the catch. The stainless steel rings keep it balanced, pushing the weight out to the edges of the yo-yo, keep it stable and on plane with every throw. Overall, this thing is a joy to play. I love heavy throws, but I also love being able to keep heavy throws under control.
As stated before, I haven’t played a YYF release before, so I can’t tell how familiar it feels compared to other YYF released. That being said, I can certainly see MK1’s styling here. The Heron is a beautiful throw. Certainly one that elicits conversation, especially with non-throwers. I have the laserfade (blue/pink) and it spins the most lovely shade of purple. Of course, with my clumsy hands, it doesn’t spin as long as I’ve seen this spin in videos online. I always inevitably end up hitting myself with it, or fumbling the string into knots.
The MK1/YYF Heron is a piece of art that plays as beautifully as it looks. It has power and balance, and even a finger spin dimple, making it an extremely versatile yo-yo.