The third round of voting for Stamp Wars 2018 is underway. Nine designs remain. The top four from this round WILL be stamped on hundreds of discs, plus each winner will receive a $100 gift card! You can vote for your favorite four stamps. Ready, go!
Check out one of the designs from round one that received a large number of votes…
If you’re looking for the perfect gift for a disc golfer, we’re here to help you out! There are a lot of great ideas that you may not have considered. But first, let’s talk about the thing that disc golfers love the most… DISCS!
Here are some of the new discs for the 2017 year which have stood out as popular sellers and could make the perfect gift.
MVP RELATIVITY – This is a great choice for players who love to test their long distance throwing abilities. It is the most understable of MVP’s highest-speed disc class. That means that it can be a fun disc to push the distance limits even for relatively new players. But if you’re looking for a distance bomber that requires serious power, better for a very experienced player, you could go for maximum overstability with the MVP LIMIT instead, or choose the middle ground with the excellent distance driver, the MVP TELEPORT. All of these were new, maximum speed drivers released in 2017.
DISCMANIA TDX – Discmania continues to grow their brand with excellent discs for a variety of players. The TDX is a new understable driver that works great for players at all levels. For newer players, it will help increase distance. For experienced players, it is a great utility disc for anhyzer lines and lower-speed control shots that can hold a straight line. Also check out the new CD3 power driver for more experienced players, mixing control with distance. Or consider the new the P3X as a nice driving putter. All of these were released by Discmania in 2017.
PRODIGY X3 – Prodigy increased their line of power distance drivers in 2017. The standard edition for experienced players would be the X3. For newer or intermediate players, the X4 or the X5 would be better choices, being more understable. For those players who throw with a lot of power, go to the X2. As a little reminder, the Prodigy discs are numbered from low which are overstable, to higher numbers which are more understable (easier to throw). So, X1 would be the most overstable (experienced) to X5 being the most understable (easier to throw).
WESTSIDE CROWN – Perhaps you are looking for a good, general purpose putter that will feel instantly comfortable and will fly right for almost all players. The Crown was one of the more popular new putters of 2017. It is beaded and similar to other popular putters like the Dynamic Discs Judge or the Gateway Wizard. All of those are good, beaded putters if you want to give a gift of putting consistency. Give them a try.
DYNAMIC DISCS DEPUTY – Another one of the hot, new putters of 2017 was the Deputy which was introduced as the putter for the Trilogy Challenge recreational tournaments. With the signature backing of professional player, Paige Pierce, this putter got a lot of momentum right away. It is a slightly understable, straight-flying putter that will work for players at all levels, but will likely be a gentle, accurate putter for beginning players.
DGA TREMOR – The Tremor by DGA was the next in a line of excellent discs that DGA has released lately. The Tremor is an easy-throw mid-range for great control shots. It will work as a go-to disc for new players who are concerned more with accuracy than with huge distance. It will also work wonderfully for controlled anhyzer shots for experienced players. It is one of the stand-out midrange disc releases of 2017. If you want a more overstable mid-range with predictable and accurate fade, then go to the other new release from DGA, the Quake. Both are excellent and actually compliment one another very well in any bag.
MINT DISCS ALPHA – Mint Discs launched as a disc brand in 2017 and the Alpha was their flagship disc. It is a power driver – a hybrid between a distance driver and a control driver. As far as introductory discs go, this one was a real winner. For intermediate and experienced players it can quickly become a go-to disc for many situations. It can be thrown for great distance, but can also be used for shorter control shots that need dependable and predictable fade. Some players have claimed that they were able to handle almost all of their driver needs with a handful of Alpha’s in their bag. It makes an excellent give idea, since it is a disc that many players have yet to try, but will most likely impress.
LATITUDE 64 TRIDENT – This disc makes a great gift idea because it is a model that was announced to be discontinued by Latitude 64. Though they aren’t making stock editions of the Trident at this time, they did make a special run of Gold Line Burst, Retro Burst and Moonshine (Glow) Tridents for the 2017 holiday season, and they are pretty! They look good, and they’ll be hard to find later, so it’s a great gift idea.
Another gift idea that is more of a possibility this year than ever before is an affordable disc golf backpacks. For several years, all of the major backpacks on the market were very pricey, ranging from $100 to $200 or more. That made the backpack more of a luxury item. But several bags have become available in 2017 which have dropped the price for simple, yet functional backpacks. Check these out as possible gifts!
INFINITE DISCS STEALTH BAG $29.99 – At just about thirty dollars, the new STEALTH BAG is a unique, comfortable, and fun bag for any disc golf who wants to grab a few discs and go for a quick round of disc golf. It is light-weight, has several pockets, holds a water bottle, and fits 4-10 discs. It is a great backpack for rugged courses where players would not want to lug around heavy backpacks with many discs. A 2-liter water bladder can be purchased separately to add to the bag for a great water supply on hot days or rough courses. Or, the Stealth Bag can also be purchased with the 2-liter Bladder Included for $37.99 (only $8 more for this great added feature). There are four colors available: Red, Light Blue, Green, and Black, all with grey highlights.
DYNAMIC DISCS TROOPER $39.99 – At just under $40, the Trooper is a solid, affordable backpack that first 18+ discs in its main pocket, plus additional putters in the top pocket. It comes with a side pocket and drink holder. It also features padded straps and back panel for comfort. It is a great backpack with all the added features for the price. It comes generally in grey/black but with three versions featuring different colored highlights: Red, Green, and Blue.
DISCRAFT TOURNAMENT BACKPACK BAG $79.99 – At a higher pricetag than the other economy bags, it the Discraft Tournament Backpack still falls under the $100 price range and is a high-quality bag for frequent use. It is durable, comfortable, and carries 18-22 discs inside a water-resistant, sturdy structure with reinforced stitching. It has extra pockets and a front putter pouch. If you want to spend a little more for a quality backpack, but don’t have a large budget this one makes an excellent choice.
If you really want to spoil a disc golfer this year, sign them up for the Infinite Discs VIP Club. This is a very special subscription club that sends out unique, collectible, limited edition discs every month! You can subscribe yourself or another player up for month-to-month service until you decide to leave the VIP Club, or you can subscribe for an entire year at one price so you don’t have to worry about monthly payments. You can also sign up for multiple discs per month in case you want one for yourself, and one to give away…or one to throw, and one to collect. There are many options for this top-tier disc club. Plus, all subscribing members have exclusive access to the VIP Club Store where other collectible discs can be purchased, and will receive discounts on the Infinite Discs website on regular disc purchases. It’s the ultimate gift for disc enthusiasts!
The INFINITE DEALS BOX is one of the most popular gift items on the entire Infinite Discs website. It is a fun way for players to explore several discs that may or may not be familiar to them. The box includes seven discs, including at least one putter, one or two mid-range discs, and a variety of overstable and understable drivers. There are at least three brands represented in each box. The box may include some mis-prints or tournament stamps, but also includes stock stamps and some limited edition stamps. All of the discs are premium plastic. There are no guarantees of what brands, disc models, or weights and colors, but for the adventurous disc golfer, the surprise is worth it! And if you think about it, at only $67.88 it comes to less than $10 per disc for premium plastic discs.
Maybe you aren’t interested in picking up a box of seven mystery discs in a Deals Box, but you DO want to include at least a taste of unpredictable mystery in your order. Infinite Discs now allows you to add a MYSTERY DISC or MYSTERY SWAG to every order during checkout. Watch your shopping cart for the easy click-to-add features. For only $12 you can receive a premium plastic mystery disc in your order (will NOT be a misprint or x-out). Or for only $8 you can add mystery swag which could include fun items like t-shirts, towels, keychains, beanies, etc. The Mystery Disc and Mystery Swag can be purchased independently on the website, or simply as an add-on during checkout.
When it comes to disc golf, there are a lot of little extras that can be added to any order for potential gifts. Check out the ACCESSORIES PAGE or the APPAREL PAGE for a lot of options at all price levels. Here are a few fun ideas for your consideration.
FRICTION GLOVES – These gloves are specially designed for players who want to play disc golf in adverse conditions, where hands could be cold, or grip could be an issue. These gloves help keep a hold of the disc and throw accurately, even if the weather is cold and snowy.
Friction gloves are available as a pair, or they can be purchased individually if the player only wants one glove for their throwing hand. Check the sizes and make sure you get the left or right hand if you buy them as singles.
POCKET DISCS – This fun, woven discs are not necessarily for disc golf, but for disc fans, they’re a blast to throw around. You can play catch, or throw them at targets, or even toss them around the house, since they are soft and less likely to hurt people or damage property. You can go for the fun, smaller size Indoor Pocket Disc or the larger, heavier El Grande if you want to go for distance. Plus, click the “Select Yours” button to browse through all the fun designs and patterns!
SPORTSACKS – There are a lot of different varieties of grip enhancing sacks around. One of the most popular styles is the Sportsack, and you can get them with logos from several disc brands. Of course, we prefer the Infinite Discs Sportsack. They can increase your grip before you throw on those hot summer days when your palms and fingers are getting sweaty and slippery.
Other styles on the Accessories page can be found that are filled with everything from sand, to dirt, to chalk. One of the most popular is the WHALE SAC because of the “tail” on the whale that can be tied onto a cart or backpack frame.
UV FLASHLIGHT GLOW DISC CHARGER – One fun aspect of night disc golf is using glow-in-the-dark discs or glow tape. That usually requires carrying around a flashlight. But if you haven’t tried a UV Flashlight before, you’re in for a treat! This handy flashlight lights up glow-in-the-dark discs in mere seconds. Plus it can help to spot those discs out on the fairway without casting a lot of white light around. It adds a whole new level of fun to your glow disc golf experience.
MINI DISCS GALORE! – It goes without saying that Mini Discs / Mini Markers are a huge part of the disc golf experience, especially when involved in tournament play. But recently they’ve become even more fun with a large selection of larger mini’s that can be thrown for respectable distances. Check out the huge selection of mini discs available. Some of the most fun ones we’ve seen lately are actually minis and coasters, from VIBRAM. Click to “Select Yours” and look at the fun designs!
DISC RETRIEVERS – Every disc golfer knows that they loose discs in hard-to-reach places sometimes. Water hazards can especially be a pain. That is when disc retrievers come in very hand. These make great gifts because they are items that every disc golfer wishes they had at certain moments, but rarely think to buy. The DISC GATOR is an extendable pole with a trap that grabs discs, while the DISCDIVER GOLDEN RETRIEVER and DISC CLAW are worked with a string and a trap that are tossed out into water and dragged along the ground to “fish” for the lost disc.
One of the fun developments in the disc golf scene is the revolution for mini discs and mini baskets. You can now get small baskets that will catch mini markers, macro (flying) mini discs, as well as tiny, primarily decorative baskets to put on your desk at work or in your living room to show you passion for the sport. The smallest is the BLACK HOLE MICRO which is only 6 1/2 inches tall. The next size up, while still being a small basket, is the MICRO RECRUIT standing at 13 inches tall with a diameter of 6 inches (this one perhaps is the best as a decorative basket in a room).
If you want baskets that catch your mini markers, then go for the BLACK HOLE MINI or the MINI RECRUIT. Innova also entered the mini basket market this year with the DISCatcher Mini.
Of course, there are those big, extra special gifts that fall into the more pricey category, but that really makes a disc golfer feel important. There are Portable Baskets which allow every player to set up their own practice rounds or putting practices. Or there are DISC GOLF CARTS which allow players to push around large numbers of discs in tournaments with the luxury of a portable seat and lots of run for their other accessories.
One of the new 2017 baskets on the scene is the DISCRAFT CHAINSTAR LITE. Or consider one of our long-time best-selling baskets for portability is the DGA MACH LITE which is a sturdy basket that is functional as well as easy to fold up and carry around in the accompanying pouch. You can throw it in the backseat or trunk and take it wherever you’d like for a new disc golf adventure. Or, you can try the brand new 2017 release, a DGA MACH SHIFT which can be configured into three different sizes, all in one basket.
CHECK OUT LAST YEAR’s 2016 GIFT IDEA LIST
DGA has always been a solid manufacturer in the portable basket market. Here at Infinite Discs, we have seen steady sales when it comes to the excellent, high-quality DGA Mach Lite collapsible basket which is very easy to set up, take down, and carry around when on the go. So it isn’t a surprise to see DGA push the envelope in their design and creativity for their newest portable basket, the MACH SHIFT.
The Mach Shift portable basket has three different catching positions:
These three settings allow the player to use the basket in multiple ways, from standard play, or as a narrow putting practice basket (similar to the MVP Black Hole Precision, or the Dynamic Discs Marksman), or even as a “macro” basket for play with throwable mini discs like the Junior Judge or the Mini Buzzz. But you don’t need to buy multiple baskets for those different purposes– only one!
The Mach Shift also comes with high-quality, gunmetal grey, powder coated base, lower pole section, trapper basket, and outer chain assembly. The upper, retracting pole is weather resistant, silver zinc coated and the top inner chain holder band has a durable, powder coated finish in either blue or white. So it both looks good and is durable for long life, all for a price tag well under $200!
The Mach Shift will begin shipping in December of 2107, just in time for holiday gift-giving. It can be pre-ordered in advance to make sure that it arrives as soon as possible.
Whenever October arrives, we find a bunch of new stamps that have a more seasonal, Halloween flare. Let’s take a look at some of the discs that have hit the shelves at Infinite Discs for the 2017 Halloween season:
Infinite Discs likes to present some unique, fun stamps during October, and here are some that we’ve put together this year. First of all, there is the PLAGUE DOCTOR stamp, presented on popular disc models from both Innova and Trilogy (Dynamic Discs, Latitude 64, and Westside).
Infinite Discs also made a limited number of Spooky Sabertooth stamped discs only on Discmania models.
And of course, Halloween isn’t complete without something cool from MVP / Axiom / Streamline. This year Infinite Discs made a special run of 3-color Creepy Clown stamped discs on many of the most popular disc models. They are coming very soon.
Also for the fans of the popular Gateway putters, Infinite Discs also put together a super-spooky skull stamp on Wizards, Warlocks, Magic, and Voodoos.
Innova made use of their XXL stamping setup to release some really good-looking pumpkin discs in 2017 including the DX Glow Aviar and the Star RocX3. They also released a really cool bunch of Champion Dyed Beast drivers with stenciled Halloween shapes, like skulls, jack-o-lanterns, ghosts, and cats. The Beasts have already become hard to find.
Axiom has created some anticipation each year for their special Halloween disc, and this year they’ve introduced a great-looking 3-colored Owl stamp that will be a big hit for the collectors, on Plasma Envy discs.
Legacy likes to keep up a tradition of special Halloween stamps, and this year they’ve got a couple, including the Icon Ghost, the Icon Cannon, and the Icon Aftermath. Plus they’ve got Protege Ghosts with a wreath of ghosts stamped on the discs.
Discraft released the “Buzzzeyman” for Halloween 2017. You can the limited edition stamp on a Z Glo Buzzz, as well on a Z Glow Supercolor Mini Buzzz.
Discmania presented a special stamp this season on their most popular putter. This cool spider stamp is found on a limited edition Glow D-Line P2.
Prodigy presents a nice Halloween stamp on their PA-3 putters this year. You can get the stamp on either 400S plastic, or on Prodigy Glow plastic for your night rounds:
Let’s finish with a look at the Halloween Alpha from Mint Discs that is hitting the Infinite Discs store very soon:
Check out all our special Halloween Edition discs here.
There is a growing niche within the disc golf market that loves a pleasant surprise. This has become apparent with mystery boxes and mystery disc programs popping up from different retailers. Infinite Discs has been a leader in the mystery disc market and have now added a new program, alongside their longer-running programs that have grown over the last few years, like the Deals Box and the VIP Club…
Other disc sellers have joined the trend in selling mystery disc packages. One popular subscription program features a mystery disc plus mystery disc golf swag for $24.99 per month and has been received with open arms by hundreds of disc golf lovers who simply want to try something new without having to think about it. These usually aren’t custom stamped discs, yet still provide the element of surprise to the subscriber. The arrival of a monthly package in the mail is usually cause for excitement.
INFINITE DISCS is happy to introduce a way that customers can get a mystery disc anytime they want! This new program removes the subscription approach and is designed for those who simply want to try a new disc that is a complete surprise to them, but at an affordable price. Infinite Discs now has a Mystery Disc listed on the website, for those who want to buy one, or two, or more as part of their shopping trip. These are not necessarily custom stamped, or limited editions (though some mystery discs may have tournament or special stamps), but they are guaranteed to be premium plastic and high quality discs. Each Mystery Disc is only $12.
But here is an even easier way to get a mystery disc: If you just happen to be shopping the Infinite Discs website, you’ll also see an option during checkout that allows you to add a mystery disc to your package for only $12 extra, on top of your existing order. Plus, you can select to add mystery disc golf swag for another $8 in order to receive any item or combination of accessory items that amount to a value higher than $8. If you click to add one of each, then you’ll be paying only $20 for a mystery disc and mystery swag, and the best part is that you can do it whenever you want. If you don’t necessarily need a monthly surprise, then simply click to add a little mystery to your package every once in a while, when you’re in the mood. Don’t want to spend too much when you can’t afford to? Just be impulsive when you happen to have the extra money and you want a little surprise.
If you only want the mystery swag, which could include anything from a t-shirt in your specified size, a sportsack, towel, keychains, hats, etc. then you can just add it to your cart and check out.
Infinite Discs is always looking for ways to give our customers what they want at an affordable price, and in ways that are convenient to them.
Infinite Discs has had the Deals Box as a product on our website for more than two years now, and it has steadily risen in demand. The boxes sell out quickly whenever a few more are added to inventory. At a price of $67.88, it’s a great deal considering that at least 6 of the 7 discs are guaranteed to be premium plastic blends (the putter can be a softer blend), with a mix of a putter, mid-ranges, plus both overstable and understable drivers. That’s less than $10 per disc. However, there is an element of surprise– either celebratory or disappointment when the box is opened, because the discs are a complete mystery to the buyer!
Some shoppers love the idea of trying out a bunch of randomly selected discs, even if a few are misprints or tournaments stamps, so they don’t really care what is inside the box. Other players are more selective in what they throw, so they run the risk of opening the box and finding discs that they don’t necessarily prefer or need. That’s the risk of a mystery box. But something keeps prompting shoppers to put these Deals Boxes in their cart. This product has remained the best-selling, non-specific disc product on the Infinite Discs website, and has sold far more than any other package set or disc golf starter set that we stock.
In the spring of 2016, Infinite Discs launched its VIP Club, which is a subscription program that sends a unique, collectible, and completely unannounced disc to subscribers every month. Every month a shiny envelope arrives in the mail that contains a mystery disc. There are only enough discs made for the existing club members, making them instantly collectible and rare because the stamp design, and sometimes even the plastic blend, is unique for the club. Additional small items are usually thrown in the package with the disc, just for fun, like towels, minis, stickers, and other accessories. The opening of the shiny package each month is cause for great anticipation among VIP Club members who rush to post photos online and show-off their special editions. The support for the club has been wonderful, giving collectors and mystery disc lovers a monthly fix and something new to try from different disc makers.
However, the VIP Club isn’t for everybody. Some people really don’t want to spend $19.99 every month for the thrill of a mystery disc that may or may not be something they need. Yet still, there are club members who are very brand-specific in their tastes, but who subscribe because they know that their disc will most likely have a higher resale value than what they paid, when sold to somebody in the right collector market. Some subscribers are signed up for two each month, just because they want one to hang on the wall, and one to throw. Plus, VIP Club members have access to the VIP Club Store which features other uniquely stamped discs from time to time.
All of these programs and products are designed for those players and disc collectors who love the thrill of the unexpected.
Infinite Discs has been growing at a very fast pace over the last couple of years, and with that growth comes the challenge of keeping up with the website development and building the features that our customers want.
One of the features that has been requested in the past and finally made available to our customers is the NEWLY ADDED DISCS search link. On your computer browser, open the Infinite Discs website, and then look on the right sidebar of the first page to find the link for Newly Added Discs. Or on your phone browser, simply scroll down until you see the boxed menu for Featured Discs and you’ll see the Newly Added Discs link there.
Infinite Discs has a lot of customers who are disc enthusiasts, and they want to get the best-looking discs, or the discs that meet very specific specifications, before other shoppers find them. They have asked for a way to see what we’re photographing and adding into our inventory in real time. That is now possible!
We’re not yet at the point where we’re adding inventory 24-hours-per-day, but we are usually adding new inventory onto the website during business hours on weekdays. With the Newly Added Discs link you can search for those fresh additions in almost anyway you’d like. Either refresh the page from time to time to see what else has been added in, or select a time period that you’d like to search, along with other specific queries to narrow down your search.
You can select to search for the last 7 Days, 10 Days, 15 Days, 20 Days, or 30 Days. Just to warn you, searching the discs added in the last 30 discs could pull up well over 8,000 results. If you want to search back further than that, you might as well search the entire website using the Advanced Disc Search feature, which is an excellent way to narrow down searches of the entire online inventory. Keep in mind that using the Newly Added Discs link will narrow your search to discs entered into inventory within the last 30 days (or fewer) so it will not automatically search the store entire inventory.
You can also narrow your disc search by brand, by disc model, or within a weight range, or a combination of all of those factors. Let’s say that I want to see which P2 putters by Discmania are still available from those entered in the last 30 days, but I only want max weight (175g) discs. I can select to search 30 Days, Discmania brand, P2 Psycho as the model, and 175g as my minimum weight. Suddenly, those discs appear and I can add them to my cart simply by scrolling through and clicking the “Add to Cart” button by the discs I want.
Be the first to find the treasures that used to take more effort and time! Find what you’re looking for quickly and easily! Or just sit and refresh the screen while we work to add new discs into our inventory.
Most disc golfers who fall into the category of “disc enthusiasts” are familiar with the overmold approach used by MVP Disc Sports and their spin-off sister brand, Axiom. Aside from the obvious decorative effect of overmold discs, the combination of separate plate and rim plastics is also supposed to enhance the flight of the disc. There is apparently science to the approach of having differently weighted materials on the inside flight plate and the outside rim of the disc. However, the true test of how well that theory plays out on the disc golf courses comes from player experience. If a disc golfer feels like they are getting better results from one disc rather than another, then I’m not going to argue the point, whether the disc is an overmold model or a standard, single mold model. There are those who swear by the results, and those who aren’t believers. Those who wholeheartedly embraced the overmold philosophy have proudly given themselves the name of “gyro-heads.”
Overmold technology was briefly touched upon by Innova when they put out their extremely popular Nova putt-and-approach disc, and their not-so-popular Atlas mid-range. But at the moment, Innova’s interest in overmold discs has not continued beyond those two molds. We shall see if the future brings any continuation of their own unique approach.
But now a new company has jumped into the overmold market, and that is Latitude 64, who not only has their own brand, but manufactures discs for Dynamic Discs and Westside all within their factory in Sweden. Latitude 64 has come at the overmold approach with a different angle, combining both of their premium plastics into their initial models. So far, they have used their durable, translucent Opto plastic for the flight plate, and the their durable, opaque Gold Line plastic for the rim. They call the combination of the two plastics “Opto-G.” They claim that this approach makes the entire disc not only more durable, but more predictable in flight.
Let’s take a look at the three flagship overmold discs from Latitude 64, all of which seem to be aimed at the larger beginner-to-intermediate disc golfer demographic.
SAREKFirst of all, let’s take a quick look at the putter. The Sarek is designed for precision with a very straight flight path and very good glide. It has very light end fade, so the Sarek can hold a line for long putts or approaches and would even work well as an easy-throw driver for a novice player. If you guide the angle of release with the tilt of your wrist, the Sarek holds that angle nicely as well.The putter can also be used for gentle forehand flicks with accuracy.
The rim is not too deep for my personal tastes, and the shape feels comfortable in the hand. I would feel comfortable recommending the Sarek as a putter for players of all experience levels.
GOBIThe Gobi really surprised me when I took it out for a few throws. For a mid-range, this disc can really go. I don’t usually throw my mid-range discs with much power (that’s not really the point of a mid-range) but once I saw how well it glides, I had to throw the Gobi with a little more heat. I wanted to see what kind of distance it could attain. With a little hyzer angle on the release, I got this disc to stand up and fly up to 300 ft. It doesn’t move fast, but it keeps going, and the gentle comeback fade at the end-of-flight results it even more distance.
But aside from surprising distance from the Gobi it is a really accurate, easily controlled mid-range for upshots and for working the fairway. It isn’t too understable, but it isn’t too overstable either. It’s a straight-flyer that obeys your command, and finishes with a gentle fade.
The Bryce is a great introductory fairway driver in Latitude 64’s overmold line. It is designed as a neutral driver with just enough stability to hold a straight line under respectable speeds. When thrown with too much speed, it flips a bit too much to the understable side, but that is because it is not designed as a high-speed distance driver. When thrown at a lower speed it can be easily controlled for accuracy and consistency at distances between 200 and 300 feet.
Latitude 64 is smart to make this introductory overmold driver accessible to the majority of players who work within the realm of novice to intermediate. So the speed and stability are just right at those skill levels. The excellent glide gives the flight just a little extra distance. New players can build up their speed and control with a disc like the Bryce, and then continue using the disc as a manageable fairway driver even as their skills increase.
Overall, all three of these discs cast a hopeful light on Latitude 64’s attempts at moving into the overmold territory. All three discs were particularly strong in terms of their glide, much like the classic Latitude 64 River. It will be interesting to see what they do when they start to stretch into more overstable and higher speed thresholds.
Heading into the summer months of 2017, we’ve seen a good number of new drivers from different disc brands, vying for attention. Let’s take a look at six of them, which just scratches the surface when it comes to new drivers for the year, but these should give you a place to start if you want to add something new to your bag when it comes to distance.
Let’s kick off this overview with one of my personal favorites, the Prodigy X4. I thought that the line of “X” drivers from Prodigy had been abandoned when the beefy, overstable X1 seemingly vanished from production, but alas, along came the new X4 for summer of 2017. It is the much more understable installment in the X Series, which has now been joined by the more manageable overstable X2 as well.
The X4, while being generally straight-to-understable, can handle the torque associated with high-power throws. It pulls very nicely to the understable side, but still provides and end-fade to get some serious distance, while not straying too far in one direction or the other. The X4 works well even for lower powered throws as a distance driver with dependable fade, but can be thrown at high speeds for wonderful distance results. It is hyped as a great driver for tunnel shots, though I found that the S-Curve flight characteristics would require a fairly wide “tunnel.” This is the kind of disc that I can have fun taking to a large fairway and just ripping it as hard as possible without sacrificing too much in the way of accuracy.
I have a feeling that the X4 will become the top-selling disc in the X Series since it is not “too much disc” for the largest demographic of throwers who can toss in the 250-350 foot range, but is also fun for those who want to push it over 400 feet.
Discraft has kicked off 2017 with a couple of beefy, overstable drivers for experienced power throwers, and the Punisher is the latest. First of all, the Machete was introduced as a highly overstable fairway driver for forehand throwers and wind-fighting, then the Punisher was released as an overstable distance driver to push the limits for power drives.
Discraft has often held an image as being a very beginner-friendly brand, using only a one-number stability rating and making discs that are manageable and even easy to throw for new players and the huge intermediate market. Of course, they have put out more advanced discs, but they are readily recognized for popular “easy throw” discs like the Avenger SS, the Buzzz, the Comet, the Heat, the Stratus, the Thrasher, and the new Archer. In 2017, Discraft seems to be interested in expanding that image into the competitive advanced and professional market.
A disc like the Punisher is much more difficult to throw as a novice, and it really takes some power to get impressive distance. It could fight head winds for a straighter result, but still requires a strong release. After a few throws, I felt like the Punisher was a Discraft answer to powerhouse distance drivers like the Innova Destroyer, with a manageable rim size– a 2.2cm rim, rather than the ultra-wide 2.5cm rimmed Nuke series. It’s a disc that I could see professional players actually carrying in their bags.
Axiom is a spin-off sister company to MVP, and the discs from the two brands often seem to mirror each other. The Mayhem is the first in the 23mm (wide rim) distance driver series for Axiom, following up last year’s 23mm distance driver releases from MVP. It is meant to be a high-speed distance driver that lands somewhere between the stability of the MVP Octane and the MVP Catalyst, with the Catalyst being the most understable of the two.
After field testing the Mayhem, I had a really hard time telling the difference between its flight characteristics and those of its MVP cousins. That isn’t saying that the results weren’t great, because the Mayhem is a very good distance driver with reliable and predictable fade, but it didn’t feel like a new disc. When it comes to Axiom, one of the great appeals is the combination of plate and rim colors and the often striking multi-color stamp editions that are often released. They are basically MVP discs that look more “pretty” if you want to throw with decorative style.
The Mayhem may have a name that sounds somewhat threatening, but the flight attributes of the disc are really not very threatening. I wouldn’t recommend the disc for new players, since it is indeed a high-speed driver, but it really isn’t too much disc for most intermediate players who should find the Mayhem to be an excellent driver off the tee.
Now let’s take a moment to recognize a new driver from a very young disc golf company, Full Turn Discs. Full Turn is new on the scene and is still building the foundation of their brand. The Drifter is their 2017 driver release, and it is focused on a very large chunk of the disc golf market. Many players tend to be able to handle discs in the “speed 9” range, which is the no-man’s land between fairway and distance driver. For a lot of players, that is about as fast as they can handle and still get respectable distance in the 200ft to 300ft range. The Drifter can easily manage those distances without too much exaggeration on the understable side or on the fade. It is a somewhat neutral disc that allows players to learn good throwing technique, rather than focusing on discs that minimize their throwing weaknesses.
Full Turn discs are manufactured with the same plastic blends as the popular Finnish brand, Prodiscus, and the grippy premium plastics feel very good in the hand. The Drifter is comfortable and accessible and has the potential to be a workhorse driver for players at many levels.
Westside is part of the Trilogy collaboration of brands and is known for their popular distance drivers like the Destiny, the King, the World, and the Catapult, among others. The Fortress is the newest addition to the family, and it is very fitting of its name– it is not a disc for the weak. While flight ratings on Westside drivers can sometimes seem a little bit off-base when compared to other brands who use the same 4-digit system, the Fortress seems to be right on point. It takes power as a “speed 10” to get the distance, especially since it has no understable turn and wants to fade as soon as the velocity drops in the slightest. This is a disc for experienced players who want to navigate around objects, fight a head wind, or who simply throw with a lot of power, but aren’t looking for maximum distance. The Fortress is very serviceable for forehand throwers who generally need more stability.
Don’t hand this disc to a beginner or they might quickly become disenchanted with the sport of disc golf. It it more designed for the intermediate to advanced players who have an overstable slot in their bag that needs filling.
The first maximum rim-width distance driver from MVP is the Teleport, and it hits the disc golf scene with something that a lot of players can’t resist– sheer distance. Now don’t get me wrong– you won’t be able to flick your wrist and watch this thing fly a mile. With a rim (wing) this size, you need to put a lot of speed behind the Teleport, but if you get it released just right, without letting it go too high, this thing will really get out there! It was a fun disc to field test!
MVP has argued since their inception that the “Gyro” (trademark) overmold disc design is just plain better, creating extra glide and control that is not present in traditional discs. I’m not sure I completely buy into the idea or understand the science behind it, because I’ve been able to throw traditional single-mold discs with just as much or more success than overmolds. But whatever they did with the Teleport seems to have given it a fun little turbo-boost.
I wasn’t able to get maximum distance with every throw, but when I released one “just right” it was fun to watch. The stability tuning was just right for a disc that is designed as a bomber without being too advanced for most players. Though the rim is definitely wide and may bother those who use a power-grip, I personally hold my drivers in a loose grip, so the wide rim didn’t bother me. The Teleport flies pretty darn straight for being a high-speed distance driver, if you can find a way to handle that rim. It is going to be a disc that a lot of players want to try. For some it will be a struggle, just because it needs a powerful release, but for others, the Teleport will be a disc they’ll want to throw again and again.
Keep your eyes open and your hands ready to grab onto other new disc golf drivers that are undoubtedly heading our way!
