Zhigao Spinning Pen V12

Zhigao Spinning Pen V12

Zhigao Spinning Pen V12 is a pen spinning pen from the ZhiGao mod series. The model has the manufacturer code 5095 and is sold as a "Non-Slip" DIY set with two pens. It works well for learning your first tricks and later for regular practice. The pen is balanced, so it's easier to keep it moving between your fingers, and it slips out of your hand less often than an ordinary pen from your pencil case.

Why an ordinary pen isn't the same

Writing pens have their centre of gravity shifted towards one end, they're slippery and often too light. As a result, your spins quickly fall apart and learning goes more slowly. A pen spinning mod like the Zhigao V12 is better balanced along its entire length, and the Non-Slip version has a surface that doesn't slide around in your fingers as much. This makes it easier to repeat the same move, which is what practice is all about.

Where to start

Pen spinning is a form of contact juggling. You set a pen, pencil or similarly shaped object in motion and guide it between your fingers so that it performs smooth spins and transitions. The hobby is thought to have started in Japan in the 1980s. One of the first pen spinners to show it online was Hideaki Kondoh.

From the outside, the tricks look light and natural, but mastering them takes patience. Smooth spinning is the result of many hours of practice, and for those who stick with the hobby, even years of training. To begin with, it's worth mastering four basic tricks that form the foundation for more complex combos:

• Thumb Around
• Sonic
• Charge
• Fingerpass

Who is it for?

For anyone just getting started with pen spinning who wants to practise on a pen designed for spinning rather than a random one. The second pen in the set comes in handy as a spare, for practising in two places or for spinning together with someone else. It's a simple gadget that also makes an affordable gift for a teenager.

Specifications

• Manufacturer: ZhiGao
• Model: Spinning Pen V12 (5095), Non-Slip version
• Type: pen spinning mod, DIY set
• Contents: 2 pens
• Colour: mixed, the colour version is sent at random