The only worthwhile way to make a kendama play better or the tama sticky is to wear it in properly through play and practice.
Spraying stuff on it / changing the paint etc is just cheating.
It is basically pointless as you're not *really* landing the tricks, you've just redefined the parameters and made the whole thing simpler.
Having said that - I understand that in the early days it can be frustrating so I came up with a method of temporarily making your tama sticky just to help you get a feel for new tricks. You can see the details of this very effective method here:
http://www.kendama.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,1013.msg7451.html#msg7451Personally, I tried this as an experiment and played this way for a day - I quickly returned to proper play, but it was fun and perhaps it did help me get a feel for lighthouse / lunar type tricks earlier than perhaps I would have done without it.
An artificially sticky tama might let you "land" tricks but you can't count them - it's like riding a bicycle with stabilisers - you're just not really doing it.
Remember, we're all in the same boat - it's not the kendama that needs improving but your skill level.
If there are players that are better than you or me it's because they've practiced longer and harder and/or have better technique than you or I - but this is OK! We can do something about it - if you are prepared to put the time and effort in to practice, and you focus on good technique the progress will happen!
So in summary: my advice - stick with regular practice and enjoy yourself.
