Category: Controversial Topics

Best Disc Golf Putters of 2018

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This article was written in 2018. Check out this article for the most current list of best disc golf putters.

Welcome to December disc golfers! Hopefully these best disc golf discs posts are helping you survive the off-season! And today we have a category that may cause some fights. We all have our favorites, but today we at Infinite Discs are going to try to select one disc golf putter as the best!

Before listing the nominees for The Infinite Discs Best Disc Golf Disc: Putter, let’s break down what we are looking for when making our selection. The two words I always come back to are popularity and utility. We want to choose a popular putter that is utilized by disc golfers of every skill level. Also, please note that this category is titled “Putter” and not “Putt and Approach.” We will be splitting those categories. For our purposes today, we are naming discs that are most commonly used as the disc inside 50 feet or so when you are trying to hole out. So for example, the Westside Harp which is an overstable Putt and Approach disc that is most commonly known for approaching will not be nominated in this category.

That being said, let’s take a look at the best selling Putt and Approach discs of 2018 so far:

Top sellers of 2018:

  1. Discmania P2
  2. Innova Aviar
  3. Dynamic Discs Judge
  4. Westside Harp
  5. Dynamic Discs Warden
  6. Axiom Envy
  7. Gateway Wizard
  8. Innova Nova
  9. Innova Sonic
  10. Latitude 64 Pure

Some of you might be surprised to see the Innova Sonic make the top 10, but there were some special editions released during this year that helped to boost those sells. Beyond that, these are all very familiar names that those who are close to disc golf shouldn’t be surprised to see make the top 10.

Now, here are our nominees for the best putter!

MVP Atom

The Putt and Approach category is what helped put MVP on the map, but the MVP Atom wasn’t released until a few years later and has become the most popular putter in their lineup. It has a very comfortable rim that seems to be the perfect middle ground between their two original putters, the Anode and Ion. The Atom offers a flight that is straight and reliable, and of course, MVP gives you its signature Gyro technology with the overmold on all of their discs.

Innova Aviar

This disc is a common first putter to own with the DX Aviar available at most sporting goods stores, but it is the McPro Aviar that has kept this mold at the top of the sales chart. It will be interesting to see how Innova brands that plastic blend next year with Paul McBeth leaving. Either way, the Aviar is a beadless putter that offers a straight and reliable flight that is great for disc golfers of all skill levels.

Latitude 64 Dagger

The Latitude 64 Dagger is the tallest putter on the market, which allows for a nice glide. The large bead and “deep dish” might make the Dagger a little harder for smaller hands, and it is an adjustment for golfers used to pretty much any other putter, but those who learn to use it can be lethal with long range putts (just ask Raptor Legs Ricky…).

Axiom Envy

The Axiom Envy is a slightly overstable putter that flirts with the line between approach and putting putters, this putter has a flatter top and of course the gyro technology overmold. The Envy like the Dagger, is not your typical putter, but those who take the time to practice with it enjoy the way it feels in their hand and the way it performs on the course.

Dynamic Discs Judge

The Dynamic Discs Judge has become one of the standards of the Putt and Approach category since its release in 2012. The Judge is a beaded putter that has a comfortable height that is perfect for all hand sizes and ages. The Judge is a straight flying putter that is very predictable and easy to learn to use.

Discmania P2

The Discmania P2 has been on the market for over 10 years, but recently it has become one of the best selling discs in the world regardless of category. The P2 is a popular approach putter as well as putting putter. It is a tall, beadless disc that offers a very comfortable grip and predictable, straight flight. Discmania does a good job as well of differentiating the different plastic blends and the benefits of each blend. But regardless of plastic type, the P2 offers a flight that offers something for disc golfers of all skill levels.

Latitude 64 Pure

The Latitude 64 Pure is another unique putter that has a strong following among those who use it. It is a shallow, beadless, and understable putter that feels just a bit different when compared to other putters. The small and short rim might be uncomfortable for players with larger hands, and the understable flight is not ideal for the wind, but in the right conditions this disc flies true to its name–pure. The Pure goes straight for a long time, making it great for longer putts.

Dynamic Discs Warden

The Warden is another standard in the Dynamic Discs family. The Warden‘s mold is basically a beadless Judge that flies just as straight and just as consistently. If you have tried the Judge and decided you like it but the bead isn’t for you, then you shouldn’t skip a beat switching to the Warden. And of course, vice-versa.

Gateway Wizard

The Wizard has been doing it for over 15 years, and has become the “old reliable” in the putters category. It has an average to slightly taller height and a beaded rim that fits great for all ages and hand sizes. The Wizard is a straight flying putter that can be lethal from distance as well. Gateway has also done a great job of making the Wizard available in LOTS of plastic blends. So from Firm to Really Freakin’ Flexible or anywhere in between, you should be able to find a Wizard that is right for you.

THE INFINITE DISCS BEST DISC GOLF PUTTER of 2018

GATEWAY WIZARD

This might be our most debatable selection so far, but the Wizard has been a popular choice for disc golfers for years. The Wizard is a great disc that covers just about everything you need in a putter, and when you add in the fact that it is available in a plethora of plastic blends, there is a Wizard for just about everyone. You don’t see the top sponsored pros throwing the Wizard much due to Gateway being a smaller fish in the sponsorship market, but when you take a look back in time to what some of the big names were throwing before they got manufacturer’s sponsorship, a lot of them were putting with the Wizard. For example, Kevin Jones, who just announced he will be throwing Prodigy Disc equipment in 2019, was a big proponent of the Pure White Wizard during the 2018 season.

What are your favorite disc golf putters?

Which putt and approach discs do you like for different weather conditions, wind, rain, cold etc? Share your opinion by commenting below!

Best Disc Golf Midrange Discs

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This post was written in 2018. For a more updated post on the best midrange discs, be sure to read our 2020 article.

It’s time to keep naming the absolute best disc golf discs in the world! At least, the best in our opinion! Today we will be naming our nominees for the best disc golf midrange discs on the market today.

Before I list the nominees for The Infinite Discs Best Disc Golf Disc: Midrange Disc, lets break down what we are looking for when selecting these discs. Like with all of the discs in these posts, we are using two keywords for choosing our nominees: popularity and utility. We will choose popular midrange discs that can be utilized by disc golfers of all skill levels.

First, lets take a look at which midrange discs have been the best sellers so far in 2018.

Top sellers of 2018:

  1. Discraft Buzzz
  2. Innova Roc3
  3. Innova Mako3
  4. Innova Roc
  5. Dynamic Discs Emac Truth
  6. Discmania MD3
  7. Hyzerbomb Mortar
  8. Innova Gator
  9. Discraft Comet
  10. Innova Rat

It doesn’t look like there are too many surprises in the sales chart. The Innova Rat was released at the start of 2018, and it looks like it has been able to maintain positive sales numbers throughout the year. It will be interesting to see how this disc performs over the next few years as well.

Now, here are our nominees!

Discraft Buzzz

Far and away the most popular disc in the Discraft lineup, the Buzzz is a staple of the disc golf world. It has been part of the game since 2003. For many years disc golfers had two main choices for midranges, either the Buzzz or the Innova Roc. As the sales numbers show, both of these discs have proven to stand the test of time. The Buzzz offers a smooth, beadless profile that fits comfortably in the hand for all sizes and grips. It offers a very stable flight that can be used by disc golfers at all skill levels.

Discraft Comet

Another disc to show that age doesn’t matter, the Discraft Comet has been a part of the game for over 20 years. The Comet‘s mold is unique with a significant bead and more significant dome that offers a very understable flight with lots of glide. The Comet is great for beginners looking to get some distance out of their midrange, and perfect for more experienced throwers trying to navigate tight fairways.

Dynamic Discs Emac Truth

The Emac Truth is DD’s third effort at crafting a midrange with a “true” straight flight pattern after the disc now named the Verdict was too overstable and the original Truth was just a bit too understable. But the Emac Truth was worth the wait, as it is an excellent midrange disc for all skill levels. It offers a flight that is right in between a Buzzz and a Roc in stability. Faster armspeeds shouldn’t have to worry about turning it over, and newer players who find the Roc fades out more than they’d like, the Emac Truth should be just the right fix.

Innova Gator

The Innova Gator is one of the original “utility” midrange discs. The Gator is designed to fight stiff winds and dive around tight corners on the course. It is a great approach disc for more experienced throwers who can master its very overstable flight. The Gator is not a beginners disc by any means, but it has its purpose on the course.

Dynamic Discs Justice

The Dynamic Discs Justice brought an entirely new meaning to the term, “overstable” when it was released in 2015. Take everything I just said about the Gator and multiply it 2 or 3 times. The Justice is a true “Meathook” designed to hold up to any kind of wind out on the course. Try to turn it over, I dare you. Again, not for beginners, but still a great disc that fulfills a great purpose for those who have learned how to throw it.

Prodigy M4

The Prodigy M4 is a midrange that hasn’t gotten a lot of hype recently in the disc golf world, but that doesn’t mean it should be forgotten. The M4 is a straight flyer that is just a bit more understable than the Buzzz. Of all our nominees, it is one of the most beginner friendly midrange discs. It has a beadless rim design and is offered in a variety of Prodigy’s premium plastic blends.

Innova Mako3

The Innova Mako3 is another very beginner friendly midrange disc. More experienced throwers like to use the Mako3 for longer hyzer-flip shots and is great when you need a midrange to hold straight throughout the flight with very minimal fade.

Discmania MD3

The Discmania MD3 has grown in popularity as Discmania team members like Eagle McMahon have been throwing it all over the course. Probably the most comparable disc to the MD3 from this nominee list would be the Emac Truth. they both hit that sweet spot in stability that is right in between a Buzzz and a Roc.

Hyzerbomb Mortar

The Hyzerbomb Mortar is another utility midrange. It is very overstable, but not quite as much as the Gator. This is because of the only real difference between the two molds, which is that the Mortar is beadless. This makes the Mortar very popular for disc golfers who prefer to forehand their approach shots in the wind, as the beadless design allows for an easier and more consistent forehand grip and release.

Innova Roc

One of the original midranges in the game, the Roc has been flying around disc golf courses for now over 30 years. The Roc is a domey disc that has a comfortable beaded rim. This beaded rim makes the disc a bit more overstable than several of the other midranges on this list, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t beginner friendly. This disc flies straight for a long time and then has a reliable strong fade at the end.

Innova Roc3

Normally we wouldn’t give discs like the Roc and Roc3 their own individual nominations, but the Roc3 has shown that it has its own following that is seperate from its predecessor. They Both have very similar beaded rims, but the Roc3 is a bit flatter, and it is rated to be just a bit faster than the Roc, which allows for a little more distance in the air. Both discs have proven to be staples of the midrange category.

And the 2018 choice for best Midrange Disc Golf Disc is…..

Best Midrange of 2018: Discraft Buzzz

If you have been following these posts, you should know by know that we aren’t picking upsets. The Buzzz is the old standard for midrange discs. It is a pure, straight flyer that disc golfers of every skill level love to use. The old debate of Roc v. Buzzz will never die, but we had to choose the Buzzz because of its friendlier stability for newer players and the comfortable beadless rim that allows for the occasional forehand throw. The Discraft Buzzz is our choice for the best midrange on the market today.

What are your favorite midrange discs? Share your opinion in the comments below.

Best Disc Golf Fairway Drivers of 2018

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Disc Golf Tunnel Shot

Note, this article was written in 2018. If you’re interested in more details of the best fairway drivers this year, check out this article as well:

Last week we kicked off our new series of posts naming the best disc golf discs on the market. We chose our pick for the best distance driver, and today we will take a look at the fairway drivers. Like the distance drivers, there are lots of new fairway drivers for players to choose from. Do you just want someone to tell you which one is the best? Well, let’s try to answer that question today.

Before I list our nominees for The Infinite Discs Best Disc Golf Disc: Fairway Driver, let me break down what we are looking for in a fairway driver today. Like the distance drivers, our keywords for choosing nominees will be popularity and utility. We will select popular fairway drivers that can be utilized by disc golfers of all skill levels. This especially gets interesting for control/fairway drivers, because we see a larger spectrum of stability and uses for different types of control drivers. Just a reminder from our last post as well, we will avoid nominating similar discs from the same brand (think TeeBird and TeeBird3).

So first, lets look at which fairway drivers have been the best sellers in 2018 so far.

Top sellers of 2018:

  1. Innova Firebird
  2. Innova Teebird
  3. Innova Thunderbird
  4. Discmania FD
  5. Innova Valkyrie
  6. Innova Leopard3
  7. Innova Leopard
  8. Infinite Discs Exodus
  9. Innova Teebird3
  10. Innova Roadrunner

Innova has traditionally dominated the best sellers in the distance driver category, but in 2018 they have really made gains in the fairway drivers as well. But what is interesting to know is of the next 10 best sellers, only 2 of them are Innova discs. Nearly all brands have released a competitive selling fairway driver.

But like I said, it takes more than popularity to receive a nomination and be named the best! So here are the nominees:

Latitude 64 Diamond

The Latitude 64 Diamond is considered by many to be the beginner driver.

This fairway driver is very understable and only comes in lighter weights. That combination makes it perfect for younger players or newer players who are still working on their form. Even more experienced players who like to throw at slower speeds have been able to put the Diamond to work for their game.

 

Dynamic Discs Escape

The Escape was the first Fairway Driver made by Dynamic Discs, and it has been a staple of the lineup ever since.

The Escape offers a pretty straight and neutral flight that can be used at all skill levels. The Escape gets a little more distance than some of the other fairway drivers nominated, and it is offered in a variety of DD’s plastic blends.

 

Discmania FD

The Discmania FD has been around for seven years now, but it has really just grown in popularity over the last 2 or 3 years.

Many players consider this the slightly understable cousin of the Innova TeeBird. The FD is straight to understable with a glide rating of 6 that is no joke. The FD is a sneaky far disc with a flight pattern that can accommodate all skill levels.

 

Dynamic Discs Felon

The Dynamic Discs Felon falls in the more overstable side of the fairway driver category.

With a flatter profile and overstable flight, many would consider this disc a primarily forehand or flick disc, but more seasoned players can manage this disc throwing backhand as well. What sets the Felon apart is it isn’t a true “meathook.” This disc, when given the right power, will hold straight before delivering a reliable overstable fade at the end of the flight.

 

Innova Firebird

The Innova Firebird‘s popularity has skyrocketed in recent years due to the Nate Sexton Glow Firebirds.

But even before then, the Firebird was known as a reliable overstable fairway driver perfect for getting around a corner or when you needed a disc to hold up in the wind without turning over. The Firebird along with the Felon are probably the least beginner friendly of our nominees.

 

Innova Leopard/Leopard3

We decided to list the Innova Leopard and Leopard3 together. If we were putting this list together last year, we probably would have just nominated the Leopard. But over the last year the Leopard3 has jumped way up on the sales charts and is becoming more and more mainstream. They are similar discs, with the Leopard3 offering a little more speed and stability. The Leopard is a very popular beginner’s disc, especially in DX plastic where it is inexpensive and offered in lighter weights. But both the Leopard and the Leopard3 have a flight that all throwers can find a use for.

 

Latitude 64 River

The Latitude 64 River has moved down the sales charts a bit over the last year, but it still is a very popular disc that has a unique mold and flight.

The River is slightly bigger than most drivers, but it has a smaller rim and a slight dome. I personally don’t know the science of it, but the River has great glide that allows the disc to stay in the air for what seems like forever. This disc is a long, straight flyer that can accommodate all arm speeds.

 

Innova Roadrunner

The Innova Roadrunner has been around for over 13 years, but it is experiencing a bit of a resurgence.

It has always been a very popular understable disc that is great for beginners. But recently the Roadrunner is growing in popularity as a distance roller disc for more experienced players. That being said, bigger arms will still enjoy this disc for long understable air shots.

 

Innova TeeBird

The Innova TeeBird will turn 20 years old in 2019, and throughout that time it has been an extremely popular disc for players of all skill levels.

It is in that sweet spot in stability where it isn’t too overstable for newer players, but it is overstable enough to handle big power from the pros. The TeeBird has a reliable flight and is available in a large variety of plastic blends and weights.

 

Innova Thunderbird

The Innova Thunderbird is often described as being a faster TeeBird, offering a little more distance. And if you just go by the manufacturers flight ratings, that is exactly right.

The higher speed makes this disc a little less beginner friendly, but is still very popular among all disc golfers. If you have found a shot that the TeeBird just comes up a bit short on, try a Thunderbird and you should be pretty close!

 

MVP Volt

MVP and their Gyro technology disrupted the disc golf world when they first hit the scene.

At first they just offered putters and midranges, but at the end of 2012 they brought the overmold to the drivers with their release of the Volt. The Volt has continued to be one of MVP‘s best selling discs ever since. It is a straight to slightly overstable fairway driver that delivers a consistent flight pattern.

 

We have quite a few more nominees for our fairway drivers than we had distance drivers, but like I mentioned, the fairway driver category covers more types of flights, so we felt that there were more discs that deserved nominations in this category.

Best Fairway Driver of 2018

All of these fairway drivers are very popular and can enhance the game of disc golfers of all skill levels. But today we have made our decision for the BEST fairway driver on the market. And the winner is…

THE INFINITE DISCS BEST DISC GOLF DISC: FAIRWAY DRIVER

INNOVA TEEBIRD

It is hard to make a case against the Innova TeeBird. The TeeBird has been the standard of the fairway driver category for years, and it offers a flight that can compliment the game of all skill levels of disc golfers. The TeeBird is available in a large variety of plastic blends and weights, so if you haven’t, check out the TeeBird today.

What’s your favorite fairway driver? Share your opinion with the disc golf world by commenting below.

Best Disc Golf Distance Drivers of 2018

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***Update***

This post was written for 2018. If you’re looking for the best drivers of 2020, check out these more recent articles.

Choosing a disc golf disc isn’t as easy as it used to be. Over the last 5 years alone the disc golf industry has exploded with new manufacturers and molds that has given the disc golfer more variety and options than ever before. But what is a blessing can also be a curse for folks who are new to the sport. They might feel intimidated by complex flight charts and numbers. While working at Infinite Discs, I have often been asked by newer players, “Could you just tell me which is the best disc?”

Well, that’s the question this new series of posts will hope to answer. Over the next few weeks, we will be naming nominees for the best disc golf disc in a variety of categories and awarding one of the nominees with the title of The Infinite Discs Best Disc Golf Disc in each category. Will our nominees and winners be subjective? Absolutely, but we will do our best to be fair and impartial judges.

How will we choose our nominees and winners then? The two key words we will use to guide us in the nomination process will be popularity and utility. We want to select a popular disc that can be utilized by disc golfers at a large variety of skill levels and arm speeds. We will also try to avoid nominating similar discs from the same brand. For example, we won’t be nominating both the Destroyer and the Wraith from Innova. While they are two different discs that can be used differently, that difference is slight enough to not merit nominating them each individually.

Today, let’s discuss the best disc golf distance drivers. We will first take a look at the top 10 selling distance drivers of 2018, and then I will name our nominees.

Top sellers of 2018:

  1. Innova Destroyer
  2. Innova Wraith
  3. Innova Shryke
  4. Infinite Discs Pharaoh
  5. Innova Boss
  6. Innova Tern
  7. Innova Beast
  8. Dynamic Discs Trespass
  9. Discmania PD Freak
  10. Innova Orc

If you have followed any of our sales reports, this shouldn’t be a very surprising list. The one that surprises me the most would be the Discmania PD. It wasn’t a new release this year, but its popularity has grown significantly over the last few years. This is a category that has been dominated by Innova for a while now, but as you will see in our nominees, there are other manufacturers that are producing high quality distance drivers that continue to grow in popularity.

So, without further ado, here are the nominees for the Infinite Discs Best Disc Golf Disc: Distance Driver:

Discraft Crank

The Discraft Crank was originally released in 2013. Ever since then, it has been a staple in the Discraft lineup that has provided throwers with a long, slightly understable flight that works great for intermediate players who are just getting the hang of the distance drivers, but it still has enough stability for more expert throwers who need a reliable understable flyer that can just sail forever.

 

Discmania DDx

The DDx set the disc golf world on fire during the summer of 2016 with a hot release that was highly anticipated. The DDx is rumored to have been created by combining a Destroyer top and a Tern bottom. I’m not sure how true this is, but this allows for a great explanation for the DDx‘s flight pattern that is enjoyed by players of all skill levels. It isn’t too understable like a Tern is for some, and it isn’t too overstable like a Destroyer is for others. The DDx is a straight, stable flying disc with glide for days.

 

Westside Destiny

The Westside Destiny might be the most understable distance driver nominated, but don’t assume you have too much arm speed if you haven’t tried it yet. The Destiny offers higher arm speeds a reliable hyzer-flip disc that (in the right conditions) can turn over and sail a long time before slowly stabling up to have a soft fade to finish. If you’ve tried throwing the other discs nominated here and can’t seem to get the distance your more experienced friends are getting, try out the Destiny.

Innova Destroyer

The consistent king of the sales charts, the Destroyer definitely ranks high in popularity. It has an impressive performance as well that nearly all disc golfers can incorporate into their game. It may not be considered the most beginner friendly, but this disc is available in a wide variety of weights and plastic types that make it accessible for nearly all skill levels, and it is a disc that players do not outgrow. There has been some speculation already that the Destroyer will suffer from the recent Paul McBeth news, but they have a short memory. The Destroyer has been a game changer since 2007, and I think it will be just fine without the McBeast.

 

Discraft Nuke

The old question in the distance driver world was do you prefer the Nuke or the Destroyer?

Since then the distance driver world has gotten much more crowded, but the Nuke still remains a favorite for lots of disc golfers who prefer the higher speed and larger rim that it offers.

Like the Destroyer, Discraft has made the Nuke available in a wide variety of plastics and weights.

 

Dynamic Discs Sheriff

The Sheriff came to town in 2017 with a very welcomed reception. The Sheriff offers a little more stability than the Westside Destiny, making it one of the most utilizable distance drivers in the trilogy lineup.

The Sheriff can be hyzer-flipped by the big arms, and it offers reliable distance for nearly all skill levels.

 

Innova Shryke

The Shryke has had a somewhat sneaky climb into prominence. It rose above other understable high speed drivers that Innova released before by offering that perfect balance in stability that allows higher arm speeds to still enjoy and maximize the distance in the Shryke.

For many players, the Shryke has become  the Destroyer light.

 

Dynamic Discs Trespass

The Trespass was one of the first discs that Dynamic Discs released when they began manufacturing discs in 2012. It has been a strong seller ever since, and it was one of the first discs that really disrupted the “Nuke or Destroyer” train of thought. It disrupted the market with a similar flight in the now popular Swedish plastic blends, and now the Trespass has become a household disc golf name.

Those are the nominees for The Infinite Discs Best Disc Golf Disc:

And the winner is….

Best Distance Driver of 2018

 

THE INFINITE DISCS BEST DISC GOLF DISC: DISTANCE DRIVER

INNOVA DESTROYER

No upsets here. The Innova Destroyer was a game changer when it was first released over 10 years ago, and it continues to be a force in the disc golf community. It is available in nearly all plastics and weights, so if you haven’t given this disc a shot, you should be able to find a Destroyer that will fit for your game. We have thousands of Innova Destroyer’s in stock in dozens of fun and limited edition stamp types.

Sales Impact of Paul McBeth Leaving Innova

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We all heard the big announcement yesterday. Paul McBeth and Innova have parted ways for the 2019 season. Where will he go? It has not been confirmed yet, but the biggest speculation out there is that he will join the ranks of Team Discraft.

But, how does this effect sales? Let’s take a look! We snagged the sales data over the past week for Star Destroyers and the entire brand of Discraft to take a look. Let’s start off with Star Destroyers. (Like always, we cannot disclose exact sales numbers, but can show trends.)

Star Destroyer sales rocketed through the roof on Halloween after Innova’s announcement. People are stocking up on the McBeth stamped discs. We also saw higher trends in Roc3s, Thunderbirds, Novas, and even Kraits. While it is unknown how many of these discs remain at Innova’s warehouse, people aren’t taking any risks. Some people see these discs as an investment, and others as a piece of history.

Now let’s take a look at the Discraft sales for the week, just for fun.

Discraft did have a bump in sales after Halloween’s announcement, but not nearly as massive as the Star Destroyers. This is likely because it is not confirmed where McBeth will make his new home. However the rumors and speculation most often place him with Discraft.

Will these trends change going forward? We will see!

How Do We Feel About Out-of-Bounds

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One of the questions on the 2018 State of Disc Golf Survey asked disc golfers how they feel about out-of-bounds rules. It was a straight-forward question and the breakdown of the responses is pretty basic. While some players feel strongly in favor of, or against the use of “OB” in the game, most players seem indifferent and feel like the use of Out-of-Bounds is generally fine.

These were the possible responses:

–> I don’t like OB and feel it should only be implemented when necessary.  16.9%

–> I feel indifferent about OB. Some OB is good, and other OB detracts from disc golf. 64.6%

–> I like lots of OB and feel that added OB enhances the disc golf experience. Bring on the islands! 14.8%

–> N/A I don’t play out-of-bounds rules anyway. 3.7%

It appears that most players understand that OB lines can be necessary to discourage players from crossing fairways or throwing toward areas where discs shouldn’t fly. But when it comes to adding more OB’s just for the sake of adding difficulty to the course, slightly more players appear to feel that it can go too far (16.9%) while a slightly smaller number feel like more OB lines add to the experience (14.8%).

We asked our own crew what they felt about OB lines, and while most are as indifferent as the majority of survey participants, the most poignant response was from our Open level player. He basically said that OB’s which are drawn artificially around naturally occurring hazards, like trees or rough terrain, should be removed. Why? Because if you throw into those areas, then navigating out of the rough terrain or throwing out of trees can be like a penalty stroke already– you either pay the price by wasting a throw to get back onto the fairway, or you prove your skill by escaping unscathed. He feels that any time a stroke is added to his score card that he did not throw, it is unwarranted. The exception would be obvious out-of-bounds lines that protect other fairways, roads, foot traffic areas, etc.

If you have opinions about OB’s that you’d like to share, please feel free to leave comments below.

Fun With Disc Stamps at Infinite Discs

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Here at Infinite Discs, we’ve had a lot of fun with disc stamps over the last couple of years. We’ve presented a huge variety of styles and artistic approaches. A couple have become standards that we keep bringing back, like the Infinite Bomber stamp which has been a hit in several configurations. The Infinite Discs Aztec stamp was the first “Stamp Wars” winner, though it only had to beat out the Tommy Cat design for that first Stamp Wars title. But that Aztec design became very popular during the 2017 year and was offered on many brands and molds.

The Infinite Discs VIP Club was a fun program initiated in 2016 with a goal to present a variety of artistically interesting stamps on great discs. Since the inception of the VIP Club, over twenty stamps have been presented on a variety of disc brands and plastics. The members of the club tend to be made up of players who appreciate unique and interesting images on the latest discs. But even among them, it has been very interesting to see the responses to different stamps. Sometimes we worry as we’re mailing out the discs that a new stamp approach won’t be popular, but inevitably we get feedback from members declaring that it is their new favorite. The club members often end up trading and selling back-and-forth, based on their differing stamp tastes.

DIFFERENT STAMPS FOR DIFFERENT TASTES

Infinite Discs has also presented a lot of custom stamps on new release discs, as well as on entire brands, or across multiple brands. Those stamps are added to our online store for anybody who wants them. Some were sleepers, while others were instant hits. But once again, it became instantly apparent that, when it comes to stamps, every person has their own taste. One person’s “most amazing stamp ever” is another person’s “most hideous stamp.” Even within the walls of the Infinite Discs headquarters, tastes in stamps vary greatly. Some prefer minimal, others prefer heavy detail, and so it goes.

One thing is for sure, we’re not afraid to try about anything. We’ve gone with basic stamp designs featuring characters (Sheriff, Anchor, Infinite Discs Clown, Relativity Einstein, etc.), we’ve gone with geometric design concepts (see the latest runs on MVP and Axiom), we’ve gone with logo-style images (the Infinite Bomber, Infinite Illuminati), we’ve gone with monsters and skulls (see Halloween stamps), and we’ve even started a series of joke stamps (see Firebread, Foxbat, etc.).

GOOD FOR A LAUGH

The joke stamps have been some of the most fun, and obviously the most controversial, criticized, hated, and absolutely loved stamps we’ve put out so far. Whenever an idea comes up as a joke, then makes it to a disc, we’re a little nervous about who will “get it” and who will simply write us off as a bunch of tasteless idiots. Well, we see both sides among the forums and fan groups, but usually the number of people who “get it” is large enough to scoop up the discs from the store.

When we released our series that started off with the Firebread stamp on Firebird discs, we were amazed how well they sold. It was a very simple design put together by Kesler who works at Infinite Discs. It was a loaf of bread with flames on it, in a minimal line art style. So, we followed up with the next two in the series, the Thunderbread (on Thunderbirds) with lightening bolts coming out of a loaf of bread, and the Teabread (on Teebirds) with a cup of tea next to the loaf of bread. Suddenly we had a hit trilogy and even ordered a follow-up run of discs with those stamps because the response was so positive…at least in terms of sales. Meanwhile, some of the feedback online was negative, saying things like “worst stamp ever” or “how could they ruin such a good disc!”

After such an unexpected hit, we followed up with a Thanksgiving disc called “Firebird” which was…well…on Firebirds. But it was a cooked turkey in the same style as the bread series, with flames on it. That one didn’t go over quite as well, probably because it felt more seasonal, and the joke was old at that point. Oh well. It was still fun to throw it out there.

Another joke stamp recently released was the “Beware the Foxbat” stamp which was presented on Foxbat discs. It was basically a dog with a fox tale and bat wings. Duh. It wasn’t supposed to be scary, or impressive, or realistic, or convincing. After all, we’re talking about a foxbat. Who even knows what that is? Apparently it is a Ukrainian aircraft? Maybe an animal? Maybe not? But now it is a dog-like, fox-like, bat-like creature on a disc. Why? Well…why not? Immediately there was an outcry on disc collector groups, thinking that Infinite Discs had once again hit a new low in stamp design, while here at headquarters, employees were musing at how many Foxbats we were suddenly shipping out to customers. After all, this isn’t exactly a top-selling disc. But those sales figures are now on the rise.

Other joke stamp ideas didn’t make it to the discs. At least not yet. For example, we came up with a concept for a stamp featuring Kim Jong Un of North Korea smiling for a selfie with his arm around a missile. We were going to put that one on a run of Discraft Nukes. Another idea that made it through the art stage, but not to the disc was a great version of the Dynamic Discs Justice stamp that simply added space between a couple of letters to change the meaning to “just ice”. Of course, ice cubes were a must.

Yes, we can be strange. Some people get it. Some people don’t.

STAMP WARS

Aside from the jokes, the serious stamps, the spooky stamps, and the simply strange stamps, we decided that all of our customer should have a chance to submit their own ideas as stamp designs. That is why we introduced the 2018 Stamp Wars contest as a way for anybody to introduce a stamp design for voting. After three rounds of voting, the 20+ submitted designs were narrowed down to a field of four stamps. Those final four stamps are being presented on equal runs of discs from both Trilogy and Innova. Whichever sells the fastest will be the top winner.

We were thrilled with the number of cool submissions to the Stamp Wars contest. There is a lot of talent out there. Once again, the stamps ran the gamut as far as style goes. There were some of the typical monsters and skulls, but also some truly creative and unique stamp concepts. Some didn’t make it far in the voting, perhaps because they didn’t have the necessary appeal to the disc golf market, but we still loved some of those eventual losers. We may find ways to work at some degree with those artists who didn’t make it to the final four. Why not strive to incorporate as many artists and ideas as possible when it comes to presenting stamps to the public? We keep an open mind when it comes to art. The only things we try to exclude are those ideas that are generally seen as tasteless or insulting.

Watch for the Stamp Wars “final four” stamps to hit the Infinite Discs inventory in the beginning of February. Then watch for the winner to make appearances throughout the 2018 season.

WHO CARES ABOUT STAMPS?

Why all these stamps anyway? Well, Infinite Discs is in the business of selling discs, and we are also disc golfers. When it comes to selecting our discs, oddly enough, the way those discs look often comes into consideration. We have come to accept and embrace a simple fact: Even though we’re selling discs that are meant to be thrown around in a game, the throwers are all individuals who like to express that individuality with the images on their discs. Whether the clean text of a stock stamp, the chaos of misprints and x-outs, the intricate design from an artist, a full-color image on Vibram rubber, or the silliness of an office joke, everybody has a preferred style. So, Infinite Discs wants to bring the largest variety of stamp styles, images, and tastes to our inventory for ALL players. We don’t ask that every person like every stamp, because that will NEVER happen. But we hope that among a huge selection of tens of thousands of individually photographed discs, you’ll find some that really appeal to you. Enjoy!

State of Disc Golf 2017 – Is Game Play Too Fast? Too Loud?

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In the State of Disc Golf 2017 Survey, we asked thousands of players a couple of questions about subjects that are sometimes a bit touchy when it comes to playing the game with others. First of all, we thought we’d ask about the speed of play. We’ve all met those players who like to take their time before each throw, seeming to measure the weight of each disc in their hand, drawing imaginary lines through the air, and finding their apparent moment of zen before finally taking their throw. Or, perhaps you are bothered by that pushy player that wants to step up and throw right away, regardless of who should take the box first according to turn order.  Is the game generally too fast for you? Or is it too slow for you? Here is what the surveyed players thought:

Which statement about speed of play typically applies to you for recreational disc golf rounds?

Despite those occasional irritations when it comes to speed of play, the majority 57% of those surveyed felt that the rounds move along at the right pace. But when it comes to those who wish the speed of play were different, it is more about wanting to take their time, rather than wanting to push the pace up a notch. 35.6% of players like to take their time, so if you add together those who are content, and those who like to take their time, you come up with 92.6% who are fine with the way things are or who like to take their time, so apparently it is a vocal minority of 7.4% that wishes things would speed up.

The percentage of those who feel the game is too slow was higher when narrowed down to those who called themselves “professional” on the survey, with 12% feeling the game moves too slowly. However, those who called themselves beginners, recreational, intermediate, and even advanced, fell right in line with the majority who are fine with the pace of the game.

How important is it that those around you stand still and are silent before you throw?

This is another touchy subject in some casual and competitive rounds. We’ve heard announcers say things like, “Oh, that is a shame,” when an observer coughs or makes a sudden noise just as a professional is throwing. For a really good player, should it make a difference if there is some background noise or movement in their field of vision? Let’s see how those surveyed responded when it comes to stillness and silence before the throw:

For all the emphasis on being silent during putts or throws, it looks like it is a huge minority that fines the silence to be “very important”– so much so that they won’t throw with a potential distraction. That 7.7% pales in comparison to the 69.2% majority who feels that it is only “somewhat important” and who are not generally bothered by a little noise or movement. That 7.7% also pales in comparison with the 23.1% who feel that silence and movement is “not important”.

We looked at those who called themselves “professionals” on the survey to see if the competitive nature of their game play makes the distraction factor more or less important. It turns out that 17.1% feel that silence is “very important” and 66.1% feel it is “somewhat important”.  That leaves 16.8% feeling it is “not important”. So, to a small professional players find distractions to be a nuisance.

In fact, moving through the categories from beginners to advanced, the more advanced the player, the higher percentage that said silence and stillness was important, though never a majority.

 

 

 

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