Forte Specs:

Diameter: 56mm /  2.2 inches
Width: 35.6mm / 1.4 inches
Gap Width: 4.6 mm / 0.18 inches
Weight:  68 grams
Bearing Size: Size C (.250 x .500 x .187)
Response: Monkey Snot Flowable Silicone

PLAY

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The Forte is very much a vanity project for Monkeyfinger player Mike Montgomery. It’s not a yoyo that is going to have a wide player appeal…it was very obviously designed to a single person’s tastes and that comes across in the general play of the yoyo. The typically full-sized diameter combined with weighing 68 grams and measuring about 7mm narrower than most full-sized yoyos gives this a solid thwack as it hits your hand, and the threat of #yoyodamage with this bit of metal is very, very real. The yoyo spins dead smooth, but being both narrow AND heavy is a lot to ask of the average player. The yoyo does play quite well, though. Actually, it plays REALLY well. It’s remarkably stable and holds spin through pretty much anything you can throw at it. But the narrow profile makes it feel a bit awkward in the hand, and if you pull it back at full speed you stand a really good chance of regretting it.

LOOKS

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The Forte is machined nicely, but it’s not an attractive yoyo. Straight lines and hard angles all over, both in the profile and the inner cup area. It’s not that there’s anything wrong with plenty of straight lines…lots of yoyos go for that these days and it works wonderfully. But something about this yoyo being so narrow makes this look like a metal version of an early TMBR yoyo…very rudimentary. The black anodization is very uneven, appearing almost brown in places and looking worn through in others, both in the gap and the inner cup. I’m told this is intentional, but since it’s not a uniform finish the result is a bit odd. But to be fair, it’s not very noticeable unless you’re really inspecting it.

Monkeyfinger gets some points for unique packaging, and the fabric pouches that are packaged with the yoyo are a nice touch. But the box graphics are a mess! The box carries a dark argyle & skull pattern, but then has pseudo-graffiti blow-apart diagram of the yoyo that looks to be simply carried over from other packaging…in spite of not even matching the Olde English Monkeyfinger logo. There’s so much going on that it’s hard to get any idea of what you’re looking at, and it’s genuinely difficult to recognize if Forte is the name of the yoyo or the company making it.

VALUE

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At $125, this is not a casual purchase and it’s definitely not a bargain. At this price, it’s a commitment to a yoyo that plays well, feels odd, and looks…well, you can decide how it looks for yourself. I don’t care for the finish but opinions may vary.

The Forte plays really nicely, but feels weird in the hand. If you’re looking for something narrow, heavy, and stable, look no further! This yoyo can handle a lot in the trick department, and the narrow width admittedly makes it a good everyday pocket throw. But it’s an oddball, for sure, and carries a high threat of #yoyodamage due to its weight and narrow profile.

Click Here To Buy Forte