Gasing

INTRODUCTION

Gasing or tops spinning, is a traditonal games popular among Malay(Native people). Especially amongst the villagers in the State of Kelantan and Melaka. Each season after the rice harvest,several villagers will come together to challenge each other in an ultimate test of skill. The villagers believed that the spinning tops would help bring good harvest.

Both adults and children can play the game. But bigger or giant top spinning is more of a games for adult than children. the one used by adults are much bigger in size and can spin for a period of time whereas the one played by kids are much smaller.

The Gasing or top spinning is usually made of wood or hard fruit, iron and lead. One of those huge top from Kelantan actually weighs about 4 to 5 Kilograms while a smaller top is about 0.1 to 0.5 Kilograms.

Gasing or top spinning is split into two(2) categories. One is for ornamental purposes and while the other is for playing.

Different Shapes of Gasing

1. Plate-Shaped 
2. Heart-Shaped 
3. Hat Top
4. Egg-Shaped 
5. Berembang-Shaped

TYPE OF GASING

TYPES OF "PANGKAH GASING"

1. Pangkah Totok
2. Pangkah Hentak
3. Pangkah Layang
4. Pangkah Tebang

Gasing Contest

1. The "Spinning Contest", the one who can spin his top for the longest time wins the match. Once the top has been launched, the top is carefully scooped off the ground using a thin wooden bat. It will then be transferred to a little wooden surface and left to spin for as long as possible. The trick here is to ensure that the top doesn't topple during the transit. Tough as it may seem and unbelievably so, the current record stands at two hours.
2. The "Striking Match" is far more exciting that the first. At least you won't need to stand there for hours watching a top spin and spin and spin. The "striking match" is as the name suggests. Each contestant must try to hit their opponent's tops so that the already spinning tops will topple and loses its balance and speed.

Spinning Video : http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=WnHIeiwvzIw&list=HL1363840300#t=0s