RELEASE INFORMATION

28 FEBRUARY 2023

379.99 USD

ANODIZED MAGNESIUM

50 MADE

Diameter 56mm, Width 45mm, Gap 4.4mM

63.7g

M4 x 10mm axle

CONCAVE C bearinG

CLYW SLIM / G GRIP SIZED LANDING PADS RESPONSE

The Bowl Series needs little introduction. Since the original titanium Bowl was released in August 2018, almost 800 Bowls have entered the yo-yo community across its various sizes, materials and editions.

Its simple structure makes it an ideal platform for exploring different alloys. Without Side Effects, bimetal rims or extreme weight distribution to dictate the geometry, the Bowl can be adapted primarily by adjusting its wall thickness to suit the density of each material and then refining the surrounding curves. Bowl 303 is the notable exception. Stainless steel is too dense for the usual formula to be applied without more substantial changes.

The objective of the Bowl Series is not to reproduce the same playfeel in different metals. It is to preserve a recognizable silhouette while allowing each material to express itself.

The Bowls may look closely related. They are not intended to feel identical.

MAGNESIUM IS FOREVER

The obvious question is why magnesium is selected instead of a high-performance plastic such as Delrin.

Magnesium has a density of approximately 1.8g/cm³, only moderately higher than Delrin at around 1.4g/cm³. From those figures alone, plastic might appear to offer a simpler route to a lightweight Bowl. The material, however, affects more than weight.

A modern Delrin yo-yo typically requires metal hardware to create a durable and precise bearing seat. That hardware would interrupt the Bowl's clean hub geometry and make it difficult to retain its signature central bump. Atmos Projects addressed a similar problem elegantly on the Snowberry by concealing the metal hub beneath a machined Delrin cap. The same approach would not preserve the Bowl's uninterrupted hub profile.

Magnesium allows the entire body and hub to remain metal. It retains the appearance, tactile response and acoustic character expected from a Bowl. When tapped or struck by the string, Bowl MG produces the bright metallic ring that immediately distinguishes it from Delrin. Even without looking, the two materials are difficult to confuse.

Magnesium feels less like conventional metal and more like an unusually expensive piece of pottery that happens to spin.

ON CLOUD NINE

At 63.7g, Bowl MG feels nimble and unusually airy for a full-sized yo-yo.

The low density of magnesium allows more material to be distributed throughout the body rather than concentrated in a few narrow areas. This produces a comparatively homogeneous weight distribution and a soft, almost fluffy movement on the string. It changes direction readily and responds to small inputs without feeling insubstantial. Its movement suggests something much lighter than the number on the scale. A yo-yo made from marshmallows or helium would probably behave similarly, although neither has yet survived machining.

The CLYW Slim / G-Grip-sized Landing Pads provide a broader response interface and a firm, positive bind. Their greater thickness requires additional material around the centre of the yo-yo, but magnesium’s low density allows that structure to be incorporated without making Bowl MG excessively centre-heavy.

THE BOWL SPECTRUM

The Bowl Series can be viewed as a controlled study of material density and weight distribution.

Stainless steel is the densest material used in the series, followed by titanium, 7068 aluminium and magnesium. The resulting play characteristics, however, are not determined by density alone. Each CAD is adjusted to account for the behaviour and machining requirements of its material.

Among the full-sized Bowls, titanium places the greatest emphasis towards the rims. Bowl 303 occupies the opposite end of the family, with the most pronounced centre-weighted character. Bowl 7068 lies between titanium and Bowl 303. Bowl MG sits between titanium and Bowl 7068, making it more closely related to the titanium Bowl in its overall weight distribution.

The weighting spectrum of the Bowls is best represented visually below:

The differences are most apparent when Bowl MG and Bowl 303 are played side by side. Bowl MG behaves like a helium-filled balloon. It changes direction easily and appears to float in response to the smallest input. Bowl 303 is closer to a water-filled balloon. Its movement is more deliberate, dense and predictable, requiring a more conscious pull to redirect it. Neither approach is inherently better. The purpose of the series is to let the same basic shape produce contrasting experiences.

When Reuben from Atmos Projects tested the available Bowl variants, MG and titanium became his preferred versions. Shimon Osada, who received an MG prototype, remained partial to Bowl 303 but frequently used MG as an alternative. Preferences will vary. Choosing a favourite Bowl is rather like choosing a favourite child: technically possible, but best not announced publicly.

BACK TO ORIGINS

Bowl MG brings the Bowl Series back to one of its earliest influences.

Its pale finish and rounded profile bear a strong visual resemblance to the ILoveYoYo (ILYY) 2WEI, the design that provided the principal inspiration for the original Bowl. The 2WEI remains an important part of my collection across its original grey and later blue and green editions.

Despite their visual similarities, the two designs feel markedly different in play. Depending on the production run, the 2WEI weighs approximately 67-69g, substantially more than the 63.7g Bowl MG. The resemblance is therefore one of lineage rather than imitation.

After passing through titanium, stainless steel and aluminium, the Bowl returns to the form that first inspired it - this time in magnesium.

BEAUTIFULLY IMPERFECT

Magnesium is visually distinctive, but it is not an easy material to finish. Raw magnesium oxidizes rapidly, while anodizing it consistently requires specialized techniques. The precise process used for Bowl MG remains proprietary to the machinist. The finished surfaces display natural variations in texture. Considerable time is spent matching halves with comparable finishes before assembly.

Approximately one-fifth of the production has a more pronounced, stony grain reminiscent of the ILYY candy-blasted finish. This variation is named Rambo. Most of the run has a smoother, velvety texture and forms the standard finish. Even these examples may contain small areas of grain that can be felt in the hand but are difficult to see. The Rambo and standard finishes offer two different expressions of the same material.

Although its surface appears visually uneven, it feels exceptionally smooth when handled. Bowl MG has a more tactile finish, particularly in the Rambo variation. These differences reflect the behaviour of anodized magnesium rather than an attempt to make every unit appear perfectly identical.

Small dark speckles may also be present within anodized magnesium.

These characteristics are not unique to Bowl MG. Similar marks can be found across high-end magnesium yo-yos from manufacturers such as Turning Point and sOMEThING. Examples in my collection - including the Mgksa, Alnilam, Radix and Anglam MGSS - display their own combinations of dark speckles, pale marks and textural variation.

Turning Point Mgksa with black speckles on the hub, one which appears more prominent.

Turning Point Alnilam, with a black speckle on the catch zone.

Turning Point Radix, with black speckles in the hub.

Anglam MGSS with white blotches and black speckles in the hub.

Anglam MGSS with black speckles on the rim.

The Duncan Freehand MG provides another useful comparison. One thing for sure is that Bowl Mg does not feel as smooth as the surface of the Freehand Mg. Despite its appearance of uneven bumps and ridges, the surface of the Freehand Mg is exceptionally smooth to the touch.

ART BY ATILA

ATILA returns Owen - the Bowl Series' resident sloth with a bowl cut - to the centre of the artwork.

For Bowl MG, Owen appears as Rambo on a covert mission through a dense jungle. The accompanying MG provides a deliberately literal interpretation of magnesium's material abbreviation, while the packaging transforms the release into a complete RSO Special Forces operation.