Zhigao Spinning Pen V19

Zhigao Spinning Pen V19

The Zhigao Spinning Pen V19 is a pen spinning pen from the Chinese brand ZhiGao, which has been making mass-produced "mods" (pens designed for spinning between your fingers) for years. The V19 is balanced so that its centre of gravity sits close to the middle of its length, and it still writes like a regular pen. You can practise tricks with it and then use it at school or at work.

How it differs from a regular pen

A regular pen usually has one heavier end, so it slips out of your hand mid-spin or rotates unevenly. A spinning pen is balanced, so it holds a stable spin for longer and is easier to catch after a trick. This matters a lot when you're just starting out. You spend less time picking the pen up off the floor and more time practising the movement itself.

Where to start

Four tricks are considered the foundation of pen spinning. Without them, it's hard to move on to more complex combos:

• Thumb Around: the pen rotates around your thumb,
• Sonic: a quick flip of the pen between neighbouring fingers,
• Charge: a continuous spin on one finger,
• Fingerpass: passing the pen between your fingers one after another.

They look simple at first glance, but performing them smoothly takes a lot of practice. A well-balanced pen won't replace that practice, but it makes it noticeably easier.

A few words about pen spinning

Pen spinning is a form of contact juggling in which you spin a pen, pencil or a similarly shaped object between your fingers. The hobby dates back to the 1980s in Japan. One of the first people to show pen spinning on the internet was Hideaki Kondoh.

Who is it for?

For anyone starting out with pen spinning who wants a pen designed for spinning right from the start. It's also a good choice if you already know the basics and are looking for a balanced mod for everyday practice that writes as well.

Specifications

• Manufacturer: ZhiGao
• Model: Spinning Pen V19
• Type: balanced pen spinning pen (mod)
• Writes: yes
• Colour: mixed colours, colour version shipped at random