CompanyYo-yo BrandEst. 2004
YoyoFactory
YoyoFactory is one of the largest and most prolific yo-yo manufacturers in the world, headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona. Founded in 2004 by Ben McPhee and Hans Van Dan Elzen, the company was built on a simple philosophy: make the best performing yo-yos possible and put them in the hands of players at every skill level. From the very beginning, YoyoFactory operated with a team of world-class players driving research and development, ensuring that every model was competition-tested before it reached consumers.
The company rose to prominence in the late 2000s through a series of groundbreaking releases. The 888, released in 2007, became one of the most iconic competition yo-yos ever made — at the 2007 World Yo-Yo Contest, half the finalists chose it as their weapon of choice. The Genesis, Superstar, and Boss solidified YoyoFactory’s reputation for precision-machined aluminum that punched above its price point. Their hubstack technology — bearing-equipped posts that allow the yo-yo to be grabbed while spinning — opened entirely new trick categories and influenced the entire industry. In 2013, Gentry Stein’s Shutter became a phenomenon: an accessible, premium-performing 6061 aluminum throw at a price that democratized unresponsive play. Stein went on to win the 2014 World Yo-Yo Contest with it, and the Shutter remains one of the best-selling competition yo-yos of all time.
YoyoFactory has sponsored a roster of world champions across every division, including John Ando (2× 1A World Champion), Jensen Kimmitt (2010 World Champion), Gentry Stein (2014, 2019 World Champion), Shu Takada (2A World Champion), and siblings Mir and Miri Kim (2023 World Champions). The company has released hundreds of models spanning beginner plastics, entry-level metals, competition-grade 6061 and 7075 aluminum, bimetal (aluminum + stainless steel rims), titanium, and even magnesium constructions. Collaborations with SUS YOYO MECHANICS, Japan Technology, TOKI-YO, and international players have yielded some of the most technically ambitious designs in the modern era. YoyoFactory continues to operate from Phoenix, running an in-house Shopify store at yoyofactory.com and distributing worldwide through major retailers.
