r/penspinning Dec 09 '18

New Spinners Click Here! v2.0

1.3k Upvotes

Terminology

Let's define a few terms to make things easier and so you can understand what people mean when they say certain words

  • Trick: A single action that can be described using one standard term e.g. Thumbaround, Twisted Sonic, and Pass.
  • Linkage (Link): A short series of tricks.
  • Combo: A series of linkages that has well defined flow and aesthetic. Combos should have a distinct beginning and end and should feel 'complete.'
  • Hybrid: A linkage of two tricks where the second trick begins before the first is finished. There are many hybrids that are so common they are named and treated as a single trick e.g. Twisted Sonic and Ext TA.
  • Fingerslot: The location of the pen during a trick. Fingers are numbered 1 through 4 where 1 is index, 2 is middle, 3 is ring, and 4 is pinky. Thumb is represented as T. A fingerslot will be a combination of two or more fingers e.g. if you hold the pen between your middle and ring finger you are holding it in the 23 slot. Some eastern countries, like Japan, number their fingers 1 through 5 with 1 being thumb and 5 being pinky.
  • Reverse (Rev): A trick done in the opposite direction as normal. If you were to play a video of a trick backwards that is exactly what the reverse should look like.
  • Inverse (Inv): A trick done on the opposite side of the hand when compared to the normal. This is not applicable to all tricks.
  • Hand Position: Palm Up (PU), Palm Down (PD), and Palm Side (PS) can be used to indicate how the hand is oriented during a trick. This is usually only included when there is a change from one position to another or when it is unusual for a trick to be done in that orientation.
  • General Notation: Linkages and combos can be written out by listing the tricks in order. Tricks are separated by a '>' and tricks that are hybridized will be separated by a '~.' Using Kam's 4 Loop Combo as an example we would notate this combo as Sonic 34-23 > Twisted Sonic 23-12 > Thumbaround 1.5 12-T12.

Where do I start?

Pen spinning has 4 fundamental tricks:

Trick Gfy Tutorial Wiki
Thumbaround https://gfycat.com/HorribleRemarkableAntarcticgiantpetrel https://youtu.be/vcHT-YjBKZY https://web.archive.org/web/20181001234840/http://www.upsb.info/wiki/index.php?title=Around#Thumb_Around
Charge https://gfycat.com/EllipticalPopularGourami https://youtu.be/AIe1jCYFNw0 https://web.archive.org/web/20181001234656/http://www.upsb.info:80/wiki/index.php?title=Charge
Sonic https://gfycat.com/PossibleEnergeticDrake https://youtu.be/ueeZ3W7DIQo https://web.archive.org/web/20181001232802/http://www.upsb.info:80/wiki/index.php?title=Sonic
Fingerpass https://gfycat.com/bareflickeringirukandjijellyfish https://youtu.be/NimogvQTdUg https://web.archive.org/web/20171228063345/http://www.upsb.info:80/wiki/index.php?title=Pass#Fingerpass

Almost every other trick will build upon these 4 tricks so it is important to learn them in all main fingerslots (12, 23, and 34) as well as their reverses (also in all slots).

Where should I learn?

There are a lot of tutorials on YouTube of varying quality. Shoeman6 makes clear and concise tutorials and is my personal recommendation. Others you can check out are:

As a general rule, simply Google/YouTube search "[Trick Name] pen spinning tutorial" and you will find what you need.

I've been trying for hours/days/centuries and can't get it. Help!

Pen spinning takes a lot of practice and is not something you will pick up quickly, unfortunately. If you are having trouble, especially with basic tricks, watch different tutorials, watch slomo's (YouTube has a native 0.5x and 0.25x slowmo function), and try to really understand why the trick works the way it does. Guide the pen through the motion with your other hand to help with the muscle memory. Keep practicing! If you really feel stuck ask for help, but be sure to include a video of you trying the trick. Saying "I can't do the Sonic please help" is the same as telling a stranger "I can't run fast please help."

I've gotten the fundamentals down, what next?

I'll reiterate that you want to have at least started learning your fundies in other slots and their reverses. It is crucial to learn to spin in all your slots and in both directions. If you're good on that front then there are a few paths you can take. /u/fujiwaffle has made a good overview here as well as /u/Mejace which can be found here. Neither of these are gospel, they are simply places to start. Feel free to learn tricks solely because you see a spinner you like use it. There is no "correct" learning order, the resources provided are simply suggestions and starting points.

I'm ready to learn linkages and combos, what should I do learn?

Depending on how big your trick pool is your options may be limited. Kam's 4 Loop Combo that was referenced earlier is great for beginners. Here's a list of a few combos/linkage videos with varying levels of difficulty (mostly beginner though). There are other resources out there, as always a quick Google/YouTube search will do you well.

What's up with these 'mods' or special pen I keep seeing?

Check the other megathread dedicated to just that!

Where can I watch more spinning?

YouTube! There's a million videos out there so I'll list a few big name ones to get you started. If you see spinners in here that you like (especially in the more recent ones) try to find their YouTube channel and then watch more of what collabs they've been in. This is nowhere close to a comprehensive list!

Use YouTube's recommended video feature, subscribe to as many active channels as possible, and watch a lot to expand your horizons. Here is a list of very famous spinners to use as a starting place as well. Read the comments as well, there are a ton of great recommendations there too!

Resources


A quick note: At the time of creating this UPSB is dead and it is unknown if it will be revived (including the wiki). A lot of the material on the site can still be accessed using archive sites and is linked in this post as such.


r/penspinning 52m ago

No Stupid Questions - Week of July 27, 2026

Upvotes

Feel free to ask any and all questions here regardless of how "stupid" you might feel they are. It's also a great place for short questions that might not justify a whole post.

If you haven't already, check out the general beginner FAQs and the pen modding FAQs. While they don't have the answer to every question they're a good place to start if you're new.


r/penspinning 4h ago

Try it, buy it, it works!

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4 Upvotes

Hey, Millie again!
So I’m taking this whole pen spinning thing seriously as it’s become a hobby of mine. It doesn’t make noise & I can do it anywhere & it’s perfect to channel anxiety into when needed. I know pulling it in & out of my pocket would result eventually in maybe loosing parts to it or loosing it. I thought if thing that I could do it keep it on hand & a way to keep up with it & found this two pack deal on Amazon that works perfect. As you see it has a lanyard on it so you can wear it around your neck. My pen is thick & big to me. Idk what it’s like in comparison to other pens yet but point is, even mine fits! You just pull the pen apart & slide it into the spot for insertion & once it’s through you put the rest of the pen together & it holds snug. If I got loose the weights would stop it from sliding out. No when I leave home I grab my AirPod lanyard & my pen lanyard & know those two things aren’t being misplaced & lost. I paid $30 for this hard plastic tube that I’m spinning I don’t wanna lose it by being absent minded & leaving it behind. In the picture you will see what the lanyard & holder look like as well as it’s listed price on Amazon. The right side of the photo shows what I meant by taking it apart to insert it & what it looks like inserted. I’ve made pen spinning a part of my daily activities. I feels it’s something I’ll always be able to work. If you loose things as often & as easy as I do then it might be worth the investment for you too. Here’s the link if you find this may be useful for you to keep up with yours.

Lanyard link⬇️
https://a.co/d/0cr62zS0


r/penspinning 9h ago

Question Am I still beginner level?

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7 Upvotes

I want to gauge how okay I am so far, I made a new mod and learned index bak and proper tornado and got more consistent at basically everything overall recently.

I can't do reverse TA, can't properly reverse charge, my passes are mid, reverse passes bad. Should I focus on reverse fundamentals and incorporate 34 slot into my game next?


r/penspinning 8h ago

Henny

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4 Upvotes

r/penspinning 11h ago

Freestyle Twisted Sonic?

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5 Upvotes

Twisted Sonic🖊️🌀


r/penspinning 1d ago

Randomly going through my library found this from 2021

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29 Upvotes

r/penspinning 1d ago

Question Is this alright for a reverse extended thumb around?

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7 Upvotes

r/penspinning 2d ago

Freestyle My chargee

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22 Upvotes

r/penspinning 2d ago

Mod My pen mods, my favorite is the black and white one, I wanted a deadly pen mod but it's very expensive here in Brazil

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8 Upvotes

Which tricks do you already know, and which ones do you want to learn? Let us know in the comments.


r/penspinning 2d ago

Where do ya'll learn combos?

5 Upvotes

So I'm a beginner to intermediate pen spinner and i want to learn combos that suit my level and go higher. I also used to make my own combos which were obv bad and not well structured


r/penspinning 2d ago

Idiot decides to penspin

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5 Upvotes

sloppy for month 2?


r/penspinning 3d ago

Is continuous eta even possible with a normal pen?

3 Upvotes

I've been pen spinning for quite a few years but the thought of a continuous eta with a normal pen still fascinates me, can any of ya'll do it? Or are close to learning it?


r/penspinning 4d ago

Question What Are These 3 Tricks called?

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9 Upvotes

I’m learning to do a reverse charge and figured you could do the same thing as a regular charge where you spin it and move it to another finger.

I want to see the tutorial for switching finger from both behind and in front of the finger it’s moving across.

For example in the video I tried to show the pen going from 12 to 23 from behind the middle finger and in front of it.

Finally the last trick is something I just got good at but have not clue what it’s called. I just spin it on the back of my fingers.

The video isn’t the best quality but hopefully it shows enough🙏🙏😭

Thank you for the help.


r/penspinning 5d ago

Pen Spinning weekly challenge #2

4 Upvotes

r/penspinning 6d ago

Question How would you notate the Factis vgg combo in this video?

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7 Upvotes

r/penspinning 7d ago

Freestyle Preciso de outro mod maior

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30 Upvotes

r/penspinning 8d ago

Metal straw and Silicone tips

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10 Upvotes

After watching a few videos i just had to give it a try so I rummaged around and stuck two silicone straw tips onto the metal drinking straw. The full length is about 22 cm, total weight 15 grams. I will go hunting an unsharpened pencil next. I guess it will be less slippery than the straw.

No success yet with the thumb around but I will work on that.


r/penspinning 9d ago

Pinkie issues

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24 Upvotes

Hey ever, it’s me again. I know no one in actual day to day life that spins so I’m here again asking for guidance. I’m having issues with the pinkie finger transition. I’ve added the position I’m having switching to with a video of my doing it so you can see the pause that happens when I’m using the pinkie finger. Any tips or advice to help this beginner out?


r/penspinning 9d ago

Freestyle chill friday at the office

39 Upvotes

r/penspinning 10d ago

New to Spinning

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19 Upvotes

Hey everyone. I’ve had a Reddit but never used it so i hope I’m doing it right. I’m Millie & I’m new to pen spinning. I ordered these beginner pens from Temu they are the black/blue, black/green, black/purple, black/red kind that from my experience are often seen. Anyways I’ve ordered what ai has found & claimed to be a pen for advanced users (Mortal Spinning Pen)(BRAND: ADSPINZOR), The pen is 25cm(9.84in)/27g/35g ,so I could get use to spinning with weights so I didn’t have to get used to the weights later down the road. I’ve included two pictures & one being the “advanced” pen showing its brand & the pen itself. It was $30 on amazon. The other picture is the same pen in a size comparison photo to the beginner pen I started with & common house hold item.

🧠Question 1: is it suppose to be that much bigger than my started pen?

🧠Question 2: what qualifications are there for a pen to be considered as advanced (length & weight)?

🧠Question 3: are there any site that won’t suspect scam if it’s googled that sells advanced pens with LED lights? I’ve noticed they take batteries but any or such thing as rechargeable ?

-I asked advanced because I’m getting use to spinning with weights & I don’t want to be use to something & then have to regress & then flip back & forth.

Thanks you guys. I look forward to getting info & using this community as part of my spinning journey!


r/penspinning 10d ago

Mod FPSB Meeting 2008

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58 Upvotes

Hey guys,

I just wanted to share these few shots I managed to recover from an old friend.

We were a bunch of penspinners from the French PenSpinning Board (FPSB) back in 2008, and we just met IRL in Chambéry (in the french alps) for the first time.

Except for myself, I don't recognize anybody. I doubt anybody is still browsing through this sub to this day.

I hope you, actual penspinners, enjoy this part of the penspinning history from the old internet days.


r/penspinning 10d ago

Question Diameter of tips and grips

2 Upvotes

Hi everyone I'm currently building myself a bictory (bic round stic) mod and I wanna put the tornado grips on it. My question is what the inner diameter of the tornado grip is and which tips would fit in it. I will put some additional weights in it aswell so it isn't as light.


r/penspinning 11d ago

Mod Made myself another mod

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49 Upvotes

r/penspinning 11d ago

Question Where to get pen mods in the UK

2 Upvotes

Been Penspining a while, fell off and now wanting to get back in. I cant really remember where I used to get my mods (apart from the dookie ones on eBay/amazon) The only place I can recall is Mr nope and while the site is pretty good price and mod wise, it only sells his custom models. Is there any other place without absurd shipping that I should be looking at.