FORTE
Reviewers hated it
Enter our next big idea.
It was time for our first sponsored player throw. Mike Monty was on the team at the time, and we were super lucky to have such a talented player calling MonkeyfingeR home.
Mike was very specific with his ideas: the throw needed to be slim, fast, dead smooth, and as a huge hot rod fan, he wanted that influence baked right into the design. So, we put a MonkeyfingeR twist on it.
We decided to release the new Forte in three colorways: Deuce Coupe, RatRod, and Chop-Top. We hit the ground running. Mike was stoked with the design, and we were pumped.
Was it heavy by industry standards? Yep.
Was it too slim by those same standards? Also yes.
Were the colours on par with what the industry expected? You bet.
Perfect.
We were right where we wanted to be
Sidebar: Fresh anodizing ideas
Our regular splash just wasn’t going to cut it. For this release, we needed new techniques, something bold. The Deuce Coupe became our testing ground. We experimented with layers, muddy waters, and complementary colours. The final result was unlike anything we’d ever put out.
As with any first release, we sent some out to the review crowd to generate hype. But we didn’t get the hype we were hoping for.
They hated the throw.
This could’ve been the end of MonkeyfingeR, again. All our eggs were in this one basket. After the Lesula had finally started gaining some traction, we really needed a win.
We released the first run… and there were crickets. But when we actually put the throw in people’s hands? They loved it. The problem was that most people were passing just based on the specs.
- Diameter: 56.13mm
- Weight 68.6 g
- Width: 36.32mm
- String Gap Width: 4.1mm
We were pissed. So mad that Ray wrote a four page letter and sent it straight to none other than Steve Brown.
Those are fighting words
At the time, Steve was running an anonymous review site. We didn’t know exactly who the reviewer was, but Steve’s name was attached, so he was gonna get an earful.
What followed was one of the most important phone calls Ray has ever had.
They got on the phone and talked for almost three hours. To this day, Ray says that call changed everything. The insight and wisdom Steve shared with us was exactly what we needed. We did’nt change the throw and still stand behind the design.
Did he like the throw any better after that? Maybe. But what’s worth noting is this:
Just over a year later, other companies started releasing slim throws, to reviewer delight. And they loved them.
We were just a bit ahead of the curve.
Fast forward a few years after the Forte’s release, and people couldn’t get enough of it. If you ever get the chance to play one, it will make you a better player. You’ll be more precise, more accurate with your throw placement, and sharper in every way.
This throw was a big one for MonkeyfingeR. Still riding that line on the fringes of popularity, and honestly? That’s where we’re most comfortable.
Sidebar: MonkeyfingeR Math
Too heavy + too slim + too bold = just right.
A huge shoutout to Mike Monty, an amazing person and an incredible talent in the yo-yo world. We were so lucky to be able to make this for you, dude.
And thank you to Steve Brown for sharing some hard earned wisdom with us just when we needed it most!
