diff --git a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu/Judgements/OsuSpinnerJudgementResult.cs b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu/Judgements/OsuSpinnerJudgementResult.cs
index e58aacd86e..9f77175398 100644
--- a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu/Judgements/OsuSpinnerJudgementResult.cs
+++ b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu/Judgements/OsuSpinnerJudgementResult.cs
@@ -38,6 +38,11 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu.Judgements
         /// </example>
         public float RateAdjustedRotation;
 
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Time instant at which the spin was started (the first user input which caused an increase in spin).
+        /// </summary>
+        public double? TimeStarted;
+
         /// <summary>
         /// Time instant at which the spinner has been completed (the user has executed all required spins).
         /// Will be null if all required spins haven't been completed.
diff --git a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu/Objects/Drawables/DrawableSpinner.cs b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu/Objects/Drawables/DrawableSpinner.cs
index e6940f0985..3d614c2dbd 100644
--- a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu/Objects/Drawables/DrawableSpinner.cs
+++ b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu/Objects/Drawables/DrawableSpinner.cs
@@ -109,9 +109,6 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu.Objects.Drawables
             base.OnFree();
 
             spinningSample.Samples = null;
-
-            // the counter handles its own fade in (when spinning begins) so we should only be responsible for resetting it here, for pooling.
-            SpmCounter.Hide();
         }
 
         protected override void LoadSamples()
@@ -161,6 +158,17 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu.Objects.Drawables
             }
         }
 
+        protected override void UpdateStartTimeStateTransforms()
+        {
+            base.UpdateStartTimeStateTransforms();
+
+            if (Result?.TimeStarted is double startTime)
+            {
+                using (BeginAbsoluteSequence(startTime))
+                    fadeInCounter();
+            }
+        }
+
         protected override void UpdateHitStateTransforms(ArmedState state)
         {
             base.UpdateHitStateTransforms(state);
@@ -265,7 +273,10 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu.Objects.Drawables
             base.UpdateAfterChildren();
 
             if (!SpmCounter.IsPresent && RotationTracker.Tracking)
-                SpmCounter.FadeIn(HitObject.TimeFadeIn);
+            {
+                Result.TimeStarted ??= Time.Current;
+                fadeInCounter();
+            }
 
             // don't update after end time to avoid the rate display dropping during fade out.
             // this shouldn't be limited to StartTime as it causes weirdness with the underlying calculation, which is expecting updates during that period.
@@ -275,6 +286,8 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu.Objects.Drawables
             updateBonusScore();
         }
 
+        private void fadeInCounter() => SpmCounter.FadeIn(HitObject.TimeFadeIn);
+
         private int wholeSpins;
 
         private void updateBonusScore()
diff --git a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu/Skinning/Default/SpinnerSpmCounter.cs b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu/Skinning/Default/SpinnerSpmCounter.cs
index f3e013c759..69355f624b 100644
--- a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu/Skinning/Default/SpinnerSpmCounter.cs
+++ b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu/Skinning/Default/SpinnerSpmCounter.cs
@@ -21,11 +21,6 @@ namespace osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu.Skinning.Default
 
         private readonly OsuSpriteText spmText;
 
-        public override void ApplyTransformsAt(double time, bool propagateChildren = false)
-        {
-            // handles own fade in state.
-        }
-
         public SpinnerSpmCounter()
         {
             Children = new Drawable[]