Best New Overstable Disc Golf Discs of 2017

So far, 2017 has seen a large number of new disc releases. Among those new discs are a good number of overstable offerings. For those who are unaware, an overstable disc is one that exaggerates the natural fade. These are NOT discs for beginners.

 

 

For those who feel like they can’t get their discs to fly very far or straight before prematurely fading, these overstable discs would exasperate your problem (understable is what you seek). But for power throwers, or for playing into a headwind, or for maneuvering around obstacles, overstable discs are exactly what the doctor ordered. Let’s take a look at some of 2017’s highlights.

Would You Like Some Beef With That?

Very overstable discs are often called “beefy” or a “meat-hook”. These new releases definitely fall into that category.

MACHETE – This fairway driver is definitely a utility disc for hard turns or serious headwinds. Discraft wasn’t messing around when they named it after a somewhat large, ominous utility knife.

It flies fairly similar to a Discraft Flick, but is a little more curved (domey) on top, rather than the flat profile of a Flick. It works nicely as an overhand (thumber) disc, if that’s your game.

  • Speed: 9.0
  • Glide: 4.0
  • Turn: 0.0
  • Fade: 3.0
  • Primary Use: Control Driver
  • Stability: Very Overstable
  • Recommended Skill Level: Advanced

CRIMINAL – You’d think that Dynamic Discs already had the overstable distance driver slot filled with discs like the Enforcer and the Defender, but they’ve turned the speed down just a tad with the Criminal and made a flat-profile, “speed 10” slide of beef that will cut hard, no matter what.

  • Speed: 10.0
  • Glide: 3.0
  • Turn: 1.0
  • Fade: 4.0
  • Primary Use: Distance Driver
  • Stability: Very Overstable
  • Recommended Skill Level: Advanced

If You’ve Got the Arm…

These distance drivers can get out there, but only if you’ve got the arm for the high speed requirements and overstability.

PUNISHER – With the Punisher, it feels like Discraft is focusing on balancing their disc arsenal with some professional-level discs that can compete with juggernauts like the Innova Destroyer and Wraith. These are discs that can go the distance without having to fall into the “speed 14” category, but that have plenty of stability to keep them aloft when thrown by players with a lot of power.

  • Speed: 12.0
  • Glide: 5.0
  • Turn: -0.5
  • Fade: 3.0
  • Primary Use: Distance Driver
  • Stability: Overstable
  • Recommended Skill Level: Advanced, Intermediate

GLADIATOR – Latitude 64 has a lot of distance drivers already in their lineup, with a few overstable discs already filling the bags of top professional disc golfers. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for more, with a high-speed, smooth rimmed, powerhouse like the Gladiator. The ratings put it close to an Innova Boss, which currently holds the distance world record.

  • Speed: 13.0
  • Glide: 5.0
  • Turn: 0.0
  • Fade: 3.0
  • Primary Use: Distance Driver
  • Stability: Very Overstable
  • Recommended Skill Level: Advanced, Intermediate

FORTRESS – Westside has some high-speed bombers that fall into the overstable category, like the Giant or Catapult, but at a slightly lower “speed 10” the Fortress actually feels more overstable, fading sooner than those higher speed discs. While some of the Westside flight ratings seem a little off-base when compared with the other major brands, the Fortress ratings seem to be right on the money.

  • Speed: 10.0
  • Glide: 4.0
  • Turn: 0.0
  • Fade: 3.0
  • Primary Use: Distance Driver
  • Stability: Very Overstable
  • Recommended Skill Level: Advanced, Intermediate

Approach With Power

Let’s finish with a fairway driver, a couple of mid-range discs, and putter that will help you navigate your way to the basket, assuming you don’t mind a curved path.

AHTI – The Ahti is one click slower in speed than the Westside Fortress and has a very similar flight path. It wants to fade and drop before going too far. It’s an excellent head-wind fighter and overstable driver for controlled, shorter shots. Full props also go out to the designer of the stamp, because who doesn’t want a disc with what looks like the king of the sea getting ready to chow down on a very large fish.

 

  • Speed: 9.0
  • Glide: 3.0
  • Turn: 0.0
  • Fade: 4.0
  • Primary Use: Control Driver
  • Stability: Very Overstable
  • Recommended Skill Level: Advanced, Intermediate

 

ANCHOR – The Anchor is not one of those massively overstable mid-range discs that just wants to dump out of the sky once it loses velocity. It has a flight pattern more like a long, drawn-out curve. So while it is overstable, it feels like it is always in control. It could be compared to other manageable overstable mid-range discs like an Innova Roc3 or a Discraft Drone. When you get to short distances, it is always great to have a disc that flies with a lot of precision and predictability, like the Anchor.

 

  • Speed: 5.0
  • Glide: 4.0
  • Turn: 0.0
  • Fade: 3.0
  • Primary Use: Mid Range
  • Stability: Overstable
  • Recommended Skill Level: Advanced, Intermediate

 

QUAKE – DGA has put out a lot of great discs lately, making sure that each possesses a solid and unique spot in a player’s bag. They don’t do a lot of overlapping in disc design. The Quake is their more overstable mid-range, and it is a flat-topped disc with a very comfortable rim that fades predictably. It is like a more comfortable, and slightly less dramatic version of a Dynamic Discs Justice. It flights straight, then banks hard, and works great as a forehand control disc.

 

  • Speed: 5.0
  • Glide: 3.0
  • Turn: 0.0
  • Fade: 3.0
  • Primary Use: Mid Range
  • Stability: Very Overstable
  • Recommended Skill Level: Advanced, Intermediate

 

SLAMMER – The Slammer is Dynamic Disc’s first foray into the realm of the thumb-track. The outer edge of the flat-topped disc has a thumb track for grip enhancement and control. The inside rim is pretty deep, and the flight path is pretty beefy for a disc that flies at putter speed. It is much more of a short approach disc than a touch putter. In a world where a disc like the Westside Harp gets a lot of attention and love, it basically came out as a Harp-style disc that has the added thumb track.

 

  • Speed: 2.0
  • Glide: 2.0
  • Turn: 0.0
  • Fade: 3.0
  • Primary Use: Putt & Approach
  • Stability: Very Overstable
  • Recommended Skill Level: Advanced, Intermediate

KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN for more new discs in 2017. We’re expecting to see the newest high-speed overstable drivers from MVP and Axiom, and new surprises are always around the corner!

 

Todd is the Vice President of Infinite Discs and mastermind behind the Infinite Discs VIP Club. He writes Infinite Discs newsletters and works with pros and artists to create a masterful selection of unique discs for you to enjoy.

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