Modern acrobatic kites employment two or four lines to allow fine control of the kite's Wind Spinners angle to the wind. Traction kites may have an additional line to de-power the kite and quick-release mechanisms to disengage flyer and kite in an emergency.

In Pakistan, kite flying is a fashionable ritual for the spring festival familiar as Basant. However, kite flying is currently banned as some kite fliers engage in kite battles by coating their strings with glass or shards of metal, leading to injuries and death. Kite fighting is a very popular sport in Pakistan, mainly centered in Lahore