RELEASE INFORMATION

Release DATE 15 JUNE 2021

Sold direct AND VIA YOYOEXPERT, SPINGEAR

Retail 114.99 USD (SOLID), 129.99 (SPLASH)

7068 ALUMINIUM

146 made (34 GREEN, 32 PINK, 30 BLUE, 30 PLUM, 20 SPLASH)

COLORWAY NAMES INCLUDE LEGENDARY ANACONDA (GREEN), PINK TRACTOR BEAM (PINK), BLUE VEINED ARISTOCRAT (BLUE), PLUM TREE SHAKER (PLUM), LONG DONG SILVER’S (SPLASH)

Diameter 66mm, Width 51.5mm, Gap 4.4mM

Weight 64.7G

M4 x 8mm axle

CONCAVE C bearinG

CLYW SLIM / G-GRIP SIZE TYPE 50 LANDING PADS RESPONSE

GO BIG OR GO HOME

Making an oversized yo-yo has been a massive dream of mine, literally and figuratively. Sometimes the stars don’t seem to align… until now. I had intended to release a larger Bowl before a mini one last year but ran into dead-ends and roadblocks on the journey.

The BIG (there’s that adjective again) problem was sourcing 7068 aluminum bars that could be anodized with great color-pop and consistency. There were no issues 2 years ago when producing the regular sized Bowl 7068. But most recently, I had prototyped another yo-yo, the upcoming “Heavy Duty”, with 7068 aluminum bars obtained from two different suppliers - the anodizing process created blotches on all 10 samples. I decided to give away all the prototypes to those who bought yo-yos from RSO, and to my delight, they are still in circulation throughout the community today.

I felt it was not worth the risk due to the much higher costs involved in producing an oversized yo-yo. Material costs are based on the amount of material required and these bars, sold by weight, are massively heavy compared to standard sizes. As a general rule of thumb, the aluminium bars have to be about 2-3 mm thicker than the target yo-yo diameter. With the 66mm Bowl XL, we had to buy 72mm 7068 aluminum bars since there were no other sizes in-between. This added a lot more cost in materials on top of production time to lathe away all that extra aluminum to arrive at the 66 mm diameter. Here’s a tip for the next time you’re deciding what pizza size to order: when you increase the diameter of a circle, the volume essentially increases by a power of 3. We also had to invest in tooling to create an anodizing rig to cradle those bigger yo-yo halves, then add in more post-production costs because fewer yo-yos may be anodized at a single time due to the size increase. And finally (I know, you get the point by now), shipping is more costly due to the higher volumetric weight. Here’s another impact (I said finally, but I didn’t mean it): material costs and freight are experiencing hyperinflation and prices for these commodities have increased since I started dreaming about “GOING BIG!”

Fun fact: the 7068 Bowl XL costs almost double to make compared to the 6061 Bowl mini.

Fast forward to early 2021. Due to the limited yet sufficient availability of quality tried and tested oversized 7068 aluminum bars combined with the immense popularity of the Bowl series, I decided that it’s time; time to revive the Bowl XL project so you can see why I’ve been obsessing over this big dream.

IT’S HUUUGE

Make no mistake, the Bowl XL is a gigantic yo-yo. It is one of the most enormous yo-yos ever made. Put this in a pocket of your tight-fitting pants, and you’ll get a decent Jason Derulo bulge. Don’t be surprised if you hear, “Is that a Bowl XL in your pocket, or are you happy to see me?” The goal of the Bowl XL was to pack the usual floaty play-feel of the Bowl series into a Godzilla-meets-Mothra-sized hefty package. So I took the original Bowl CAD and gave it a dose of Viagra. A super-charged one where the effects would last infinitely. Don’t worry, you wouldn’t need to bring your tool to the doctor. The yo-yo retains the “for your hand pleasurable” organic shape of the Bowl series.

People often say, “it’s not the size but how you use it.” But what if you could have both playability and size? At only 1g heavier but 10mm bigger than the regular Bowl 7068, you’ll be thrusting in and out of your tricks effortlessly. The fun is guaranteed to last as long as you want, without tiring out at the climax of your trick combos. How awesome would it be to supersize your way through a session of maximum-sized yo-yo play?

NOT A ONE-MINUTE YO-YO

Bowl XL prototype in rose gold (with maroon 19mm Type 40 Landing Pads) and the production version in blue (with CLYW slim / G2 G-grip sized Landing Pads)

The Bowl XL prototypes were equipped with 19mm response pads. As with most development processes on newly designed RSO models, 10 prototypes were made and sent to a selected few with their RSO purchases. Everyone loved it, but felt it did not gain enough rotational momentum when launching down the string on the initial throw. And sometimes, as a result, the yo-yo often came (back to the hand) prematurely. Nobody wants a 5-second combo unless you’re ordering fast food through the drive-thru. After much deliberation, I attributed this to the response pads, which were changed on the production version to the CLYW slim / G2 G-grip size. Wait until you experience the massive BANG!

So what is the science behind this mystery concoction? With thinner pads, the yo-yo actually makes fewer 360-degree revolutions with string contact compared to thicker pads. Larger yo-yos also make fewer of these revolutions compared to smaller yo-yos when they unravel from the string. Combine these two factors and the momentum is significantly reduced. The thicker CLYW slim / G2 G-grip size response pads made up for the shortcomings and made the production version of the Bowl XL last longer on the string. The Bowl XL has enough stamina to spin all night long.

PERFORMANCE REVIEW

From left to right, Atmos Projects Pomelo, Sengoku Bakemono, RSO Bowl XL, One Drop Par Avion, CLYW 2018 Sasquatch.

Yo-yo’ing isn't just shallow fun; it's good for you too. Finding your flow releases a flood of the hormone oxytocin, improving your mood. Regular throwing may improve your cardiac health through movement, reduce stress through flow, and increase self-esteem through improving every session. Reducing stress has been shown to help improve sleep. So choose your yo-yo like how you would pick a life partner: wisely.

It has been said that just like the noble Sasquatch, the “too big yo-yo” is simply a myth. Some go as far as saying it is an unplayable paper-weight that should be reserved for those who can’t afford a monster truck to overcome some hidden deficiency of self-consciousness.

But trust me when I say that too big yo-yos are very real and may pose a problem. The CLYW 2018 Sasquatch (71.4mm diameter, 78.9g) and the Sengoku Bakemono (68mm diameter, 85g) might be too overwhelming for the common folk. The Bowl XL weighs as much as a regular-sized yo-yo - you can play it for hours and never have to tell the story of your painful “first time” or how you got a hernia playing a “too big yo-yo.”

The One Drop Par Avion (62.4mm diameter, 65.2g) has much more palatable specifications. Due to the less float compared to the Bowl XL, the experience might be a little… similar to that of a married couple who has been doing it the same way for decades. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. In such a scenario, I would suggest moving from the bed to the floor, the bathroom, or the kitchen counter for a change of scenery. But… that is not my place to get involved.

The Atmos Projects Pomelo (65.3mm diameter, 61.3g) is the closest thing you would get to the Bowl XL experience but its play-feel would be described as “lightweight” rather than “floaty”. It may perform like the young dude you just met at the club that you may struggle to instruct and control, if that is your fetish. The extra 3.4g of weight in the Bowl XL puts you in the driver’s seat.

Tip: Yo-yos do not make their own natural lubricant. If it is in short supply, playing the yo-yo may be a rough and unforgiving experience. Most lubricants are safe to use with your Bowl XL.

Don’t miss out on the Bowl XL! Because at the end of the day, and during your yo-yo play…

SIZE MATTERS.

P.S. The above comparisons are all made in good fun. They are all great yo-yos which are special in their own way, and part of my collection. Have a laugh will ya?

From left to right, Yoyofactory Mightly Flea, RSO Bowl XL, Doc Pop Executive

THE COLORS

Green - Legendary Anaconda. The most epic colorway that needs no explanation. Many often boast that they have one but they do not. Inspired by the CLYW Wintergreen Peak.

Pink - Pink Tractor Beam. Rumoured to refer to a very important body part, from the song Here In My Room by Incubus, from the album A Crow Left of the Murder.

Blue - Blue Veined Aristocrat. Refers to a long critical organ which increases in size like the hulk, with veins showing. Inspired by the gowns of French Aristocrats of the Seventeenth-century.

Plum - Plum Tree Shaker. An Eighteenth-century term for a certain human appendage.

Here In My Room is a song by Incubus, from the album A Crow Left of the Murder.

French aristocrats from the Seventeenth century.

A SPECIAL EDITION - RSO’S FIRST SPLASH COLORWAY

Long Dong Silver - RSO’s first splash colorway is a tribute to one of the greatest performers of the century, and inspired by the colors of one of my favorite fast food restaurant, Long John Silver’s.