What is the best kendama?

8 min read 6 views Updated December 16, 2025

Quick Answer

The best kendama depends on your skill level and play style; for beginners, the Sweets Kendamas Prime Radar or Kendama USA Kaizen Half Split are excellent due to their sticky paint and balanced design, while advanced players often prefer maple wood kendamas like the Krom Strogo or Sol Pro Models for their durability and specific weight distribution.

Understanding What Makes a Kendama Best

Determining the "best" kendama is subjective and highly dependent on a player's skill level, preferred play style, and budget. For a beginner, a kendama that is forgiving and easy to track is paramount, meaning a sticky paint finish and a balanced weight distribution between the ken (handle) and tama (ball) are crucial for learning basic tricks like Spike and Around the World. These typically feature a tama diameter of around 62mm and a ken height of 160mm, which are standard competition sizes, ensuring consistency as skills develop.

As players advance, their definition of "best" shifts towards specific performance characteristics. Intermediate players might seek a kendama with a slightly more durable paint or a specific wood type like maple, known for its density and crisp click sound, which can enhance lunar balance tricks or stalls. Pro players often prioritize specific ken shapes (e.g., Krom's LOL shape, Sweets' Boost shape) that feature larger cups, wider sarado (cross-piece), and specific weight distribution for advanced balance tricks, juggles, and slings. The paint choice also becomes more nuanced, with some pros preferring a super-sticky paint for lunar tricks, while others opt for a more slick, durable clear coat for fast flow tricks and stalls, understanding the trade-offs in grip versus durability.

Wood type significantly impacts playability and durability; beech wood is common for its affordability and consistency, while maple is heavier, more durable, and offers a distinct feel preferred by many advanced players. Ash wood, with its unique grain, is often used for its aesthetic and slightly different weight properties. The quality of the paint finish, such as rubberized, sticky, or transparent clear coats, directly affects grip, tracking, and how quickly the kendama breaks in. A high-quality bearing or bead in the string hole is also important for smooth string movement and preventing tangles, contributing to overall play experience.

How to Choose Your Best Kendama Specifically

First, identify your skill level; if you are a beginner, starting with a kendama designed for ease of learning will significantly improve your experience. For beginners, the Sweets Kendamas Prime Radar or Boost Radar, priced around $25-35, are excellent choices because their sticky Radar paint provides superior grip for catching the tama in the cups and spiking, making it easier to land tricks. Another strong option is the Kendama USA Kaizen Half Split, which also features a grippy paint and a well-balanced design that helps with tracking the tama as it spins. These models typically use beech wood for consistent weight and feel.

Next, if you are an intermediate player looking to expand your trick repertoire, consider upgrading to a kendama with a more durable paint and potentially a different wood type. The Krom Pop or Sweets Kendamas Boost Radar with a pro clear coat finish offers excellent durability while maintaining good stickiness, suitable for learning more complex stalls and balance tricks. These often range from $30-45. At this stage, you might experiment with maple wood kendamas like the Krom Pop Maple or Kendama USA Kaizen Shift Shape, which provide a heavier, more solid feel for improved control and stability during lunar tricks.

Finally, for advanced and professional players, the best kendama often comes down to specific ken shapes and wood combinations tailored for competitive play. Look for models like the Krom Strogo, Sol Pro Models, or Sweets Kendamas Pro Mod series, which cost $50-70 or more. These feature enlarged cups, specific weight distribution, and premium wood like maple or ash, designed for maximum consistency and performance in intricate balance tricks, juggles, and slings. For example, the Krom Strogo's LOL shape provides large cups and a stable base for lunar tricks, while Sol Pro Models are often crafted from maple for its density and durability, allowing for precise control during technical play. Consider the paint finish carefully; some pros prefer very sticky paints for lunar tricks, while others opt for a slicker, more durable clear coat for faster play and consistent stalls.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

One frequent error is purchasing a cheap, low-quality kendama from a general toy store or online marketplace for under $15. Many people do this because of the lower price point, but these kendamas often feature inconsistent drilling, unbalanced weight distribution, and slick, chipping paint that makes learning basic tricks incredibly frustrating and difficult. The wood quality is usually poor, leading to premature splintering or breaking, which discourages new players. To avoid this, invest at least $25-30 in a reputable brand like Sweets Kendamas, Kendama USA, or Krom.

Another common mistake is neglecting string maintenance and replacement. The string is a critical component, and over time, it frays and weakens, leading to snaps during play, which can damage the kendama or cause injury. Many players overlook this until it's too late. It is recommended to replace your kendama string every 2-4 weeks of active play, or immediately if you notice significant fraying. Keeping spare strings on hand, typically available for $5-10 for a pack of 5-10, is a simple and effective preventative measure.

A third error is not considering the wood type and paint finish relative to your preferred play style. A beginner trying to learn lunar tricks with a kendama that has a very slick, non-grippy paint will struggle immensely, leading to frustration. Similarly, an advanced player focused on fast flow tricks might find a super-sticky paint too grabby. To avoid this, research the paint type (e.g., sticky, rubberized, clear coat) and wood (e.g., beech, maple, ash) before purchasing, ensuring it aligns with the types of tricks you want to perform and your current skill level.

Finally, many players make the mistake of not breaking in their new kendama properly. A brand new kendama, especially with a fresh paint job, will often feel slick and less responsive. People expect immediate peak performance. However, playing with the kendama for several hours, focusing on stalls and balance tricks, allows the paint to cure, scuff, and achieve optimal grip. This break-in period, typically 5-10 hours of active play, is crucial for unlocking the kendama's full potential and improving its playability.

Expert Tips for Best Results

First, always keep a supply of spare kendama strings and a stringing tool on hand; a snapped string can halt your session, and being able to replace it quickly, usually in under 2 minutes with a tool, ensures continuous practice. Different string lengths can slightly alter playability, with a standard length of 40-45 cm offering a good balance for most tricks, but some players prefer slightly longer or shorter strings for specific styles.

Second, consciously break in your new kendama by focusing on specific tricks that scuff the paint and wood evenly, such as lighthouse, lunar, and balance stalls, for the first 5-10 hours of play. This process helps the paint develop optimal grip and the wood to settle, improving overall playability significantly compared to just doing spike tricks, which don't engage the paint as much.

Third, experiment with different paint types and ken shapes as you progress; don't stick to just one. While sticky paints are great for lunar and balance tricks, a more durable, slicker clear coat can be superior for fast-paced flow tricks and consistent stalls without getting stuck. Trying a Krom LOL shape versus a Sweets Boost shape, for instance, will reveal subtle differences in cup size, weight distribution, and sarado width that can dramatically impact your ability to land specific advanced tricks.

Fourth, rotate between 2-3 kendamas if you play frequently. This allows paint to cure and wood to rest between sessions, extending the lifespan of each kendama and providing a fresh feel when you switch. For example, dedicating one kendama for practice and another for filming or performance can preserve the finish and sharpness of your preferred competition setup.

Frequently Asked Questions

What kendama is best for a complete beginner who has never played before?

For a complete beginner, the Sweets Kendamas Prime Radar or Kendama USA Kaizen Half Split are highly recommended. Their sticky paint makes it much easier to land basic cup tricks and spikes, providing a more forgiving learning experience than a slicker kendama, typically costing between $25 and $35.

Does the type of wood in a kendama really matter for play?

Yes, the wood type significantly impacts playability and durability. Beech wood is common and consistent, while maple is denser, heavier, and more durable, often preferred by advanced players for its solid feel and crisp click. Ash wood offers a unique grain and slightly different weight properties, influencing balance and stalls.

How often should I replace my kendama string?

You should replace your kendama string every 2 to 4 weeks with active daily play, or immediately if you notice any significant fraying, thinning, or a risk of snapping. Keeping spare strings, which usually come in packs of 5-10 for about $5-10, is a practical habit to maintain consistent play.

Are expensive kendamas significantly better than cheaper ones?

Generally, kendamas from reputable brands in the $25-$70 range offer significant improvements in balance, paint durability, wood quality, and overall playability compared to sub-$15 toy store models. While a $70 pro model might offer specific performance advantages for experts, a $30-40 kendama is perfectly sufficient and excellent for intermediate players and most beginners.