Edit: Realized juggle and swing up swap use different techniques. This thread is more about swing up swap, but I have the same issue with juggle spike. Anyone have a magic word or tip? I cannot swap spike to save my life. I can lighthouse swap if I just let the tama fall, but swing up swaps and juggle -> spikes feel so far out of reach. I've watch all the tutorials, I am using my arm and not my wrist, I try to throw it straight up with the slightest inward spin but nothing seems to be working. I've been trying swap spikes for at least 10-15 minutes daily for almost two months and still am lucky to get 1/10. The worst part is that there isn't a pattern. I'll over spin, under spin, or send it sideways seemingly randomly. If I have to grab and toss the tama it just spins like it's stuck in an air tunnel. Any tips that helped you?
Back then when i started learning swap spikes (especially from spacewalks), i would find myself in the same situation as you. But as i progressed, i learned something. A majority of the time, i’d hold the tama like the image below, where both my index finger and thumb are aligned with the tama hole. And then i tried moving this position off-centre, so as to force the tama to rotate. And it works, for me at least. You gotta be diligent in exploring this. It might or might not work for you, but it sure is a stepping point.
Thats a great idea, thanks for the response. I'm going to start practicing again using that as soon as I'm out of work. Thinking back I've tried just about everything except adjusting where on the Tama I'm gripping. Thanks again!
Any luck on using this new technique @cpthangover ? Gonna try myself too! My consistency in swap spikes is so bad lol
Sadly not so much for me, I have found though if I let the tama fall into my palm (hole should be straight down in your hand) I can give it a toss upwards and spike it more consistently.
I would say to just experiment different ways of holding the tama (like @azleonhart said). What works for me is holding the tama lower down than the halfline.
I just started getting the hang of airplane 1.5 swap spikes and found that the grip that you use is crucial. Practice the tama toss on its own and make sure you are using that same grip during the actual trick. Also make sure you toss the tama somewhat towards yourself, not straight up as you want the hole to do a half rotation.