In the Beginning…

Over the next several months, I’ll be conducting a deep dive into disc selection. I want to dissect how, in my opinion, to put together the perfect bag for you. One of the biggest weaknesses I see with most amateur and casual players is that their bag is in a constant state of flux.

If you head over to our in the bag section and look at some of the top pros (check out Steve Brinster, Ken Climo, and Barry Schultz for great examples), you’ll see that they have been playing with the same discs for years. Every once in a great while you might see them add a new mold. Unless they have switched sponsors, though, they tend to stick to the same tried and true discs that have served them well for years.

Before we can get into the actual selection process, there is some ground work that needs laying. There are a fair number of topics that need addressing before we can begin to talk about the act of picking discs.

To start with, there is one topic fundamental to all the others… Your throw.

Your Throw Matters…

A while ago there was an article posted on the Disc Golf Answer Man website. It claimed that the flight numbers of discs don’t matter. I whole heartedly agree and flight numbers will not be a part of this series of bag building articles.

One of the biggest reasons I think people shouldn’t use flight numbers is that everyone’s throw varies wildly. Head out to your local course and you will see as many different types of throws as you see players throwing.

[tweetthis]#discgolf flight numbers don’t matter. [/tweetthis]

While there are a lot of ways to throw a disc well, there are also a lot of ways to throw a disc poorly. They all impact how discs fly. This creates a problem for those with a less than optimal throw. They often select their discs to mask or compensate for their throwing technique. These folks rarely end up with discs that will help their games in the long term. Instead they want to offset either their lack of ability or their refusal to work towards cleaner form. There are a wide spectrum of possibilities here.

For the most part, these players have one thing in common. Regardless of where the opportunity with their throw lies, none of them can throw a stable putter off the tee. At least not with finesse and for a reasonable amount of distance.

The Putter Shall Set You Free…

I harp on this skill all the time. That’s because it’s one of my core disc golf beliefs. I believe that everything good that can happen with a disc golf throw starts with being able to throw a putter for more than just putts. This is the true test of whether your throw is on the right track or not. People often make excuses about how they don’t need or want to do this. That’s usually because they haven’t tried, can’t, or don’t want to put in the effort to learn.

And that’s fine. I can’t make anyone work on this skill. I can’t even make them agree with me. What I can say is this…  Nothing I write over the next few months will help someone who doesn’t at least understand the importance of this skill. It would be even more helpful if they took a little bit of time and started working on it.

You see, building the perfect bag for you requires that you can throw discs as they are intended. They are intended to be thrown with no flutter, no off axis torque, and no wrist roll. One of the first few discs I’m going to recommend for your bag is a midrange you can throw in a straight line that finishes straight. That disc doesn’t exist for people that can’t throw a putter well off the tee.

It’s Not That Hard, I Promise…

Let’s back up a step before anyone gets discouraged. First, throwing a putter off the tee well isn’t all that hard. I’ve taught a ton of people to do it. The technique I teach is identical to the stand still technique that Will Shusterick teaches in this video.

If you were to dedicate just one week to learning this skill, you would most likely be able to approach doing it well. Just 3-5 sessions of dedicated field work should have you in great shape. You simply have to commit to making a few changes to your throw.

Second, let’s make sure you are learning this with the right putter. You need something stable. A Swan or a Magnet are not the right discs for this. You need something like a Judge, KC Pro Aviar, Shield, Challenger, Wizard, etc. Check the Inbounds flight charts for discs that fly like these. You are looking for a flight that shows as straight with a little fade, like this:

Third, you don’t need to be perfect. You don’t need to be launching your putters 500 feet like Simon Lizotte. You don’t even need to be able to get them to 300 feet (although that is a completely attainable goal if you work at it). If you can throw a putter straight with no flutter and get it to go 150-200 feet, you are in great shape. You are in even better shape if you can do that with no run up.

Like I said before, this is not that hard. Will’s video and that week of field work should get you there. Commit to working on your throw. I promise it will be one of the single best things you have ever done for your game.

Disclaimer…

If someone doesn’t want to learn this skill, they shouldn’t. A new skill can only be acquired with an open mind. Besides, it won’t hurt my game or my feelings at all. I know that there is a group of disc golfers out there that will fight this idea to the death. We will never see eye to eye. But everyone is entitled to their opinion. Of course there isn’t a single pro in the world that agrees with them, but hey, some people like to be different. I wish them the best of luck.

What’s Ahead…

I am really looking forward to the upcoming in depth articles on plastic selection and bag building. Probably more than any other articles I’ve written. It’s something we are all passionate about. It’s something we all spend a lot of money pursuing. And it’s something that when done right, will pay you great dividends over your time playing this great sport.

So until the next article, get out there with your putters and start exorcising the wounded duck out of your throw. If you start now, you’ll be ready just in time for our next post! Make sure and let us know how you are progressing in the comments below!

Make sure you don’t miss a single post in our ongoing “Building the Perfect Bag” series. Subscribe to the blog by entering your email below and we’ll email you links to every article we post!

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Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

The post Building the Perfect Bag | It Starts With Your Throw appeared first on Mind Body Disc - Disc Golf Blog.

If you don’t get the reference, you need to stop reading this blog and go watch Billy Madison. Laugh a lot. Maybe even watch it twice before you resume reading this blog. As and aside, I’m here to tell you that neither shampoo nor conditioner is better. I’m bald, both of them are kind of useless to me.

When I got tired of telling the Swan to stop looking at me (OK, I never actually got tired of this), I decided I should probably take it out and give it a good testing. After all, this is the Swan “reborn”. The reissuing of the mythical Swan 1. Swan 1’s were selling on FaceBook for a good amount of money before this disc came out. I wanted to see what all the hubbub was about.

I need to start by saying that of all the slots in my bag, putter is the one I’m happiest with. I carry several Latitude 64 Pures. I got two aces last year (one a tournament ace for $112) with Pures. I’m not looking for a new putter. The Swan had it’s work cut out if it was going to impress me.

I went out to my local 9 hole pitch and putt practice course. I only took the swan. I played 36 holes. I went back and did that again the next day. That gave me a really good feel for what the Swan 1 Reborn was all about.

The first and most obvious observation is that it is under stable. Right out of the box, no beating in needed. I currently carry a beat in zero hard Pure that’s pretty easy to turn over. The Swan flew almost exactly the same as the beat Pure, but the Swan was brand new.

I think everyone needs to carry an under stable putter. They’re great for longer putts. They’re great for tailwind putts. They’re great for upshots that need to go dead straight and not fade. They’re great for longer upshots or drives that need to turn over and glide right (RHBH). They can be a very useful disc in a lot of circumstances.

The problem this gave me when playing my one disc rounds, though, was that I just couldn’t throw the Swan more than about 50%-60% power without it flipping over and having it go someplace I didn’t want it to. If you carry a Swan, you’ll have to carry other putters too. It just can’t be your full time driving or approach putter.

That said, if you need a putter to hyzer flip into a big glidey turn over shot, the Swan 1 Reborn rocks. If I ever lost my perfectly beat in Pure, I could sub in the Swan and not skip a beat.

With the Swan, I was also leaving my upshots and my longer putts to the right. I’m used to putters that have some fade at the end. My brain just automatically throws them to the right a little to allow for the fade. The Swan goes straight on these shots. There’s really no fade to speak of.

Once I got used to that, it was actually pretty cool. 60 foot putts could be thrown directly at the basket. Those longer putts just seemed to float right at the chains and always end up exactly where I aimed them. Tight tunnels that needed a finesse approach with no fade were no problem. Just an easy toss with a touch of hyzer and the Swan would sit up flat and head straight down the tunnel. It’s a very point and shoot disc.

The warning I would give you is the same one I would give about any under stable disc. There’s a lot more possibility of error than there is with something more stable. The Swan is absolutely unforgiving of mistakes.

If you turn it over too much, it isn’t coming back (at which point you scream, “Where are you going, Swan!?!?!”). If it catches even the slightest headwind, it’s going right (RHBH). If you roll your wrist at all on approaches or drives, it’s not going to end up where you hoped it would.

These are not reasons to avoid an under stable putter. They are just part of the deal. Same as any other “flippy” disc. You have to have good form to throw them. In fact, I would say that discs like this are ideal in helping to teach you correct form. It’s very fun to watch them thrown well.

In the end, I can think of quite a few people who might enjoy the Swan 1 Reborn. Here’s a short list. Are you on it?

1. You want to carry just one putter for both short and long putts.
2. You lost your favorite beat in putter and don’t have the time or patience to beat a new one in.
3. You don’t have a beat in putter.
4. You want to learn how to throw hyzer flips and controlled turnover shots. (This would be the perfect disc to teach you this skill)
5. You want to be able to scream a Billy Madison quote at your disc whenever you pull it out.
6. You play tight, wooded courses and need a finesse disc for shorter approaces.
7. Your current putter is leaving you short or short and left (RHBH) more than you’d like.
8. You are a pitch/loft putter.
9. You play on courses with some shorter anhyzer lines.
10. You play on a lot of wooded courses.

I never threw the original Swan so I can’t give a comparison. Then again, if you were a fan of the original, you probably already have one of these reissues anyway.

As usual, I’ll be giving away my review copy of the disc later this week over on the FaceBook page. Keep an eye out there for the announcement if you want a chance to win one! Until then, I’ll just leave it here on my desk and continue to yell at it. Stop looking at me Swan!!!!

Have you seen our new newsletter format? Every week I’ll not only send you links of all of that week’s posts, but I’ll also send you some unique articles giving you insight into what’s cool and worth checking out this week. Enter your email below to subscribe to the Mind Body Disc Sunday Rundown!

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The post Stop Looking at Me Swan!!! appeared first on Mind Body Disc - Disc Golf Blog.

If you’ve followed me on line for any length of time, you know that I’m a huge fan of the discs from Latitude 64, Westside, and Dynamic Discs. It’s pretty simple reasoning for me. I like their consistency and I like their plastic. Out of all the plastic I’ve tried (and I’ve tried it all), theirs feels the best in my hands.

This is purely a personal preference and does not reflect a recommendation one way or the other on other companies. There are a ton of great disc companies out there. They make a ton of great discs.

I’m just picky. There is something about the feel of the plastic from those 3 companies (all made by Latitude 64, actually) that feels right in my hand. It’s like picking up that security blankey when you were a kid. There’s something that just fits for me.

So, last year, when Latitude 64 came out with the Misselen, I was skeptical. The Misselen was the first disc to come out in their “Opto Hex” plastic. Basically it’s the Opto plastic that I really like, but with a hex texture molded into it. The idea is to make it more like a golf ball and reduce drag through the air. This reduced drag nets the Misselen a speed rating of 15.

When I got my hands on one, I was disappointed. Even though they left smooth patches to place your thumb on, it just didn’t feel right to me. It was certainly no blankey. It felt like it was going to slip out of my hand at any moment.

Add to that the fact the Misselen is too much disc for me. It didn’t fill any gaps in my bag or my game. It was a meathook in my hands. I didn’t like the feel of it. It felt like it was covered in teflon, ready to fall out of my hand with the smallest of missteps. I gave it away at the first opportunity. I quickly went back to my normal Opto and Gold line goodness.

Enter the Raketen

Now comes the Raketen (Rocket). Billed as a Misselen for those with normal human arms, it’s the second release from Latitude in their opto hex plastic. I could not have been less interested. Based on my experience with the Misselen, this disc was not on my radar at all.

But that’s one of the cool things about being a reviewer for Dynamic Discs. Every once in a while, my mailbox is graced with new plastic that I might not have otherwise tried. Coming on the heels of the surprise delight that was the DD Breakout, I put my bias aside and headed to the field to test this bad boy out.

First, let’s get this part out of the way. I still don’t like the way the plastic feels. It gives me zero confidence and the thought of it falling out of my hand is firmly lodged in the back of my mind. It feels slippery. For me, and this is just me, I can’t bag any discs that feel like this. I have enough doubts floating through my head at any given time, I don’t need to add to them.

Second, I think it’s important to add that of the ten or so other people I had throw the Raketen, NONE of them had a problem with the plastic. Several said they liked the feel better than standard, smooth plastic. Apparently, I was the only goofball who didn’t like the way the opto hex plastic feels.

The real question, though, is how does this thing fly? I’ll start by saying that we were all impressed. The Raketen is a speed 15 disc and it’s every bit that fast and then some. Out of the ten people I let throw this disc, 5 of them said it was the longest disc they had thrown. Another 3 said it was right up there with their longest disc. The remaining 2 have mutant arms and are better suited to the Misselen than this newer offering.

The couple of people with slower arm speeds, when throwing the disc flat, got a nice straight flight with a decent fade at the end. The people with medium speed arms (most of us) were throwing it with a slight bit of hyzer. The Raketen would stand up, turn just a bit, and always finish with a decent fade at the end.

The crazy thing was that all the throws went further than the thrower, or any of us watching, thought they would go. It consistently hit the ground further away than it looked like it would. This was that 15 speed rating coming into play.

The slick, dimpled plastic was helping the disc maintain its air speed longer than other discs that are slower and have more drag. That meant it could go further than a non dimpled disc in the same amount of time.

Usually, long throws seem like they stay in the air for quite a while. And they usually do. The Raketen didn’t seem like it was staying in the air that long. It doesn’t have a ton of glide (it’s glide rating is 3 and I think that’s pretty accurate). What it lacks in glide, it makes up for in speed.

When throwing it against other distance drivers, it took the other drivers more time to cover the same distance as the Raketen. It looks like those hexagonal dimples do something after all.

Testing round 2

Everyone got a few throws in with the Raketen. Most were impressed. I decided to take it out for a second round of field work to see if I could get past the feel. It was certainly flying far for me. And it was flying in the nice, tight S pattern I like so much in a distance driver. I really wanted to like it as much as the other people who threw it.

Not one single throw slipped out of my hands. Not one single time did I early release. Not one single time did I have any issued due to grip. But it still felt funny. It still felt like it was covered in the same stuff Clark Griswold put on the bottom of his sled in Christmas Vacation. But I guess that’s the point. Maybe I should rephrase it. It doesn’t feel slick. It feels fast. And for good reason. It is.

Who is the Raketen for?

After quite a bit of work with this disc, I’ve compiled a short list of people who might really like having one of these in their bag. I’ll be giving this one away very soon, but you can go ahead and order one right now here.

1. If you have wanted to add a high speed driver to your bag, but could never get them to stand up or turn a bit for you, give the Raketen a try.
2. If you are just learning to forehand and want something that will reward a good throw but not be too finicky or punishing on a less than perfect flick, the Raketen would be a good choice.
3. If you’ve hit a distance plateau and you are a low to medium arm speed player, the Raketen might be just the disc to help you rocket past that distance plateau (see what I did there, do ya, do ya?).
4. If you are a big arm and want something super fast that you can get to turn over yet still fight back at the end, the Raketen is unique here and fits that bill well.
5. If you dig new stuff and all of your latest disc purchases have bored you as “just another disc”, the Raketen’s speed will blast you right out of being bored. The speed this disc has makes it super fun to throw.

In the end, I really wish I could get past the plastic feel. No one else had problems and that made me wonder if I wasn’t being just a bit weird about the whole thing. If you’ve been looking to dip your toe in the ultra high speed driver market, the Raketen is the perfect disc for you. Don’t let the dimples hold you back. They are the whole reason this disc is cool in the first place.

If you like these reviews, and want to automatically be entered to win the discs we give away as part of doing them, just enter your email below and subscribe to the blog. You will be entered in every random type drawing give away we do. And we do a lot of them!

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

The post Slipping Into Orbit – The Latitude 64 Raketen appeared first on Mind Body Disc - Disc Golf Blog.

My Dad is an airplane freak.  He’s like that dog in Pixar’s “Up” except instead of darting away and saying “squirrel!”, he says “airplane!”.  He’s flown model planes my whole life.  He even flew the real thing for a while.  For me, though, airplanes are more of a puzzle than an obsession.

I remember staring at them as a kid and wondering how they flew.  What wizardry and magic made them leave the ground?  I even did an 8th grade science project on aerodynamics because I really wanted to know what was going on there.

The short answer to how planes fly is they have wings.  Wings lift the plane off the ground and without them, the big aluminum cigar tube would just kind of sit there.  Wings are aerodynamically constructed to do this job.  That and I still think there’s some voodoo involved.

When I started playing disc golf, I found myself asking a similar question about discs.  How do discs fly?  It turns out that it’s not so much that they have wings, but that they are a wing.  Airplanes and discs stay in the air in pretty much the same way.  It’s called lift.

There are actually two different explanations of lift.  I won’t go into either of them here, but if you want a quick 2 minute explanation, check this video out:

What’s important to realize is that regardless of the explanation (I still say it’s witchcraft), the wing’s shape is what causes it to stay in the air.  You know what isn’t a factor in it staying in the air?  How high you throw it.

You don’t have to throw a disc high up in the air to make it fly.  It’s a wing.  It will fly on its own.  You just have to throw it straight and fast.  Yet time after time when we try to throw a disc far, one of the things we do is throw it too high in the air.  Our brains forget that the disc will stay in the air because that’s what it was designed to do.  It doesn’t need us throwing it straight up to help.

With folks who are new to the sport, their brain isn’t thinking lift.  Their brain is thinking it wants the disc to go far, so therefore it needs to be thrown high.  And thus we have courses full of new players chucking their disc way up in the air and watching with a very sad face as it crashes to the ground a disappointingly short distance away.

Of course this is a severe oversimplification.  There are a lot of things that impact why and how a disc flies.  But in the end, most throws don’t need to be more than 10-20 feet off the ground.   Again, that’s an oversimplification, but for most people it’s a great guideline.  Especially if they are new to the game.

So take a look at your throws.  Are they going way up in the air?  If so, you are robbing yourself of distance.  The energy that is propelling the disc up could instead be propelling it forward.  Making it go forward will allow the disc (which is a wing) to make its own lift.  This is one of the first things that I try to teach new players…

Just throw the disc straight and level.  The disc will take care of the rest.  Science!!!

You know what else is meant to fly?  This blog, directly into your email in box!  Just enter your email below and I’ll make sure you never miss a flight.

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The post Just the Tip – The Disc is a Wing appeared first on Mind Body Disc - Disc Golf Blog.

I first saw a Dynamic Discs Breakout as part of my player’s pack at the Glass Blown Open.  My first question to the people at the merch table was, “Do you have any in heavier weights?”.  Turns out the Breakout is the newest addition to the “easy to use” line from the Emporia based disc company.  It’s a 150 class disc only.

Easy to use?  Why would I want or need that?  Me big powerful man disc golfer!  Me no need light weight disc!  Me want hard to throw disc…  Easy to throw discs for children.  Ugh, chest pound, exit stage right.

Those are the thoughts that went through my head as I took my Breakout and put it in the backpack we also received.  I didn’t think about it again until last week when Bobby over at Dynamic Discs sent me one to review.

If you watch the “in the bag” videos in our Pro In The Bag section, you’ll see pro after pro recommend to only use max weight discs (Avery starts off his in the bag with that advice).  They give quite a few different reasons, but in the end most of them recommend max weight.  With one exception, my bag lineup reflects that.

It might be time to rethink that decision.

It never really crossed my mind to throw lighter discs.  I’ve had a couple of “air” discs here and there, but I’ve never really liked any of them.  If Cool Daddy Slick Breeze (Bobby at DD) hadn’t sent me a Breakout to test, I probably never would have gone out and thrown it.  Surprisingly, getting a bright pink “easy to use” disc in the mail reminded me of one of life’s most important lessons:

If you can, always push the rock down hill.

Not Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.  He might punch you in the face really hard if you pushed him down a hill.  I’m talking about the figurative rock.  Push that one down hill.  It’s one of those lessons that we learn over and over as we grow older.  If there’s an easier way to do something, do it that way.  It’s hard to move that rock up hill and much easier to roll it down.

Many of us have seen a younger sibling doing things the hard way.  We giggle to ourselves and sit back to enjoy the show.  Hey, we had to learn our lessons the hard way, why not them, right?  We watch and we laugh and we eventually “let them in” on the secret of how to do whatever it is they are doing in a better, easier way.

Sometimes they listen and sometimes they don’t.  Ego tends to get in the way when you tell your younger brother or sister they are doing something wrong.  Often times they’ll continue doing things the hard way just to try and prove you wrong.  That pesky ego.  It gets in the way a lot.  Throwing an “easy to use” -aka beginner, kids, or slow arm speed- discs is one of those things.

After throwing the Breakout, my recommendation is that if your ego can handle throwing an “easy to use” disc, get yourself one these bad boys right away.

Learning to throw the Breakout took about 4 throws.  The first 3 times, my ego threw the disc.  I put my best max distance effort into throwing it.  It immediately flipped over and crashed to the ground as if it had been shot from the sky by one of those guys from Duck Dynasty.   On throw #4, I benched my ego.

This time I added some hyzer and threw a very smooth, 75% power throw.  What happened was beautiful.  The Breakout flipped up nicely.  It started to slide to the right (RHBH), just gliding through the air.  It stayed that way for quite a while.  At the end of its flight, it hooked up, faded some, and rode nicely to the ground.  It had gone as far many of my max weight distance drivers when thrown at 90-95%.

I wanted to see if this was a fluke, so I did it again.  And again.  And again.  Every time, a consistently long flight with minimal effort.  Always fading back at the end.  I found myself wishing that I had had this disc when I was trying to learn to hyzer flip.  I found myself having a ton of fun.

Another thing I noticed was that I was not getting tired or worn out.  This was almost too easy.  I wasn’t just pushing a rock down hill, the rock was kind of rolling on its own.  I started to think back to the fatigue that sets in during the second round in a tournament.  Or the third or fourth round on a casual play day.  How nice would it be to not have to throw full power at the end of a long day?

Who will like the Breakout?

When I was done with my test throws and driving home from the soccer field I’d been at, I started to think about all the different people who could benefit from a disc like this…

1. If you are a new player looking for a first driver, this disc will reward good form and give you distance that not many other “first drivers” would give.
2. If you are looking to learn how to hyzer flip a disc, this will flip and ride nicely, not flip and turn over too much.  It struck me as a perfect teaching disc.
3. If you are looking for easy distance from lower power throws, that’s just what the Breakout does.
4. If you are looking for a disc that will cruise straight and far from a stand still throw, grab one of these things.  If you play in the woods, you know that you often end up throwing with no run up.  This disc works great from a stand still.  It will pop up and go straight with reliable fade even from a standing throw where your normal form is restricted.
5. If you are someone looking to learn how to “work” a disc, the Breakout is easily workable.  If you are moving up in skill and want to learn how to shape different lines with a disc, this is a great choice.  Just by varying the amount of power I threw with, I was able to throw a ton of different lines.
6. If you are looking for something to keep in the bag to use when your arm starts tiring out but you still want to play more, the Breakout will allow you to do that and still throw great shots.
7. If you are looking to throw farther, but are worried about previous injuries, arthritis, or other health concerns that come with throwing hard, this disc might help.
8. If you’ve never tried a 150 class disc, but always wondered why they were sold in the US in the first place, the Breakout will answer that question for you.

For me, I’m going to keep one around for those times when I decide to play that 3rd, 4th, or 5th round in a day.  It won’t always be in the bag, but it will be in the back up bag for sure.  It will be nice to sub this in as one of my drivers and give my aging arm a break now and then.

If you think this sounds like a good disc for you, head on over to the DD store right now to pick one up!  Or, if you’re feeling lucky, keep an eye on the Mind Body Disc FaceBook page for our giveaway later tomorrow (6/28/15).

Another way to push the rock down hill is to subscribe to this blog.  We put up a lot of new content all of the time.  Make sure you don’t miss any by subscribing and you won’t even have to come here to the site all the time to check!

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

The post The Dynamic Discs Breakout appeared first on Mind Body Disc - Disc Golf Blog.

Breaking story from the AP news wire…

Today, a public outcry was heard from the disc golf community.   Disc golfers from around the country are rallying together behind a common cause.  They are speaking out in unison against a wrong that has been done to them over the last several years.  This outrage has been growing behind the scenes, but today it spilled into public view.

Tom, a disc golfer from New York says, “I’m sick and tired of it!  What do they think, that we are made of money?!?!?”.

Julie, a tournament participant in Texas proclaims, “We can no longer stand for this!  We have come together to demand more from the disc manufacturers at large!”.

Bill, a recreational player from Wisconsin explains, “Look, we’re not dumb but they continue to treat us like we are.  It’s high time they stop and put some more thought into what they are doing.”

The galvanizing issue that has brought these disc golfers together in protest is one that has plagued disc golf for years.  It’s a problem that they have quietly lived with and one that disc manufacturers have made worse as time has gone on.  The problem?  Non distinct discs.  Too many discs are coming out that fly just like many other discs already on the market.

Why the sudden outcry?  It seems that an upstart company from Emporia Kansas is behind all the ruckus.  It looks as if Dynamic Discs has been aware of this seething problem for quite a few years.  A spokesman for the company told us, “The disc golf community, in response to the vast quantity of unremarkable discs flooding the market, has demanded Justice.  Today we are prepared to say that we have delivered Justice to the disc golf community!”  Dynamic always has liked to stir the pot a little.

These golfers have a point.  It used to be that a new disc was introduced because it added to the arsenal of the golfers it was sold to.  Now, new discs come out almost daily.  They all promise to be different and useful… And they usually fly just like all of the other discs that are already out and in bags everywhere.

George, a disc golfer from central Florida recounts a recent difficult time in his disc golf career…

“I was paralyzed with indecision.  I just couldn’t decide between a Leopard, an Amp, a Stalker, or a River.  I had all four in my bag and I could never decide what to throw.  I’d pick one up, look at the shot in front of me, and then change my mind three or four times.  All four are such good discs.  I’ve thrown amazing shots with all of them.  But which one to throw now?

“One day I just sat down in the middle of my round and started crying.  I couldn’t take it any more.  I had just added the Seer to those other 4 and it overloaded my brain!  I was unable to play the sport that I love.  Something had to be done!”

George eventually came to his senses and got rid of all but one of those discs.  He realized that he only needed one stable fairway driver in his bag and not 5.  He applied the same thinking to the rest of his discs too.  You can now find George playing with only 6 discs.  He carries them in his NutSac.

“The Nutsac ensures that I don’t go back to the land of overlap”, George tells us.  “It’s one of the best things I’ve done for my game.  There’s room for one more disc in there, but I’m holding that spot in case something truly different comes out.  You know, something that will do things no other disc will do.”

Here is where golfers like George will be happy to hear about what Dynamic Discs has recently brought to disc golf.  If you are looking for something truly unique to put in your bag, the Justice could be just what you are looking for.

When I’m not fake reporting for the Associated Press, I’m a disc golfer just like George, Tom, Julie, and Bill.  I’ve got a garage full of different discs that all kind of do the same thing.  When I heard that Dynamic was releasing an obscenely over stable midrange I had two initial thoughts…

One.  I’ve already tried and still have 3 Drones, 2 Gators, 1 Hornet, 2 Zones, 1 Jokeri, 3 Harps, a Blaze, and a Demon.  All of them have been in my bag at one time or another, and all of them basically do the same thing.  Why would I want to try this new Justice thing?

Two.  Of those discs, only one of the Harps is still in my bag because frankly I don’t need a stupidly over stable mid range.  The Harp comes out in the wind for putts and approaches.  For everything else, I can just power down something else that’s over stable and get the flight I’m looking for.  No reason for the extra disc, right?

Dynamic Discs knew I was writing this story, so they sent me one.  I put it in my bag and didn’t think much else about it.  I honestly didn’t expect to throw it during my rounds.  I was just going to field test it a few times.  I figured it was going to be a one trick pony, so a few throws in a field would be enough.

Well, it’s been in my bag for almost 3 weeks now and I use it constantly.  I’m having a really hard time coming to grips with the fact that I’m going to have to give it away to a reader soon.  It’s a rare occasion when a disc that I review makes my bag.  The Justice has done just that.

I’ll start by saying that the Justice is the disc you never knew you needed.  It’s flight is so different than anything else I’ve thrown.  There’s no way I could have known how much I’d actually reach for it until I actually threw it.

In its first round, I threw it 3 times.  In the second I threw it over 10 times.  That’s all it took.  It was unlike anything else I had tried and I was hooked.  It’s basically become my swiss army utility disc.  It should be yours too.

Here are the shots it has proven itself on so far (I’m RHBH):

1. Sharp fading short range shots.
2. Shots that you can’t afford to go past the target.
3. Short to medium length flicks that go hard right.
4. Flicks that won’t go left even if you screw up and roll your wrist.
5. Crazy sharp turning short S shots in the woods.
6. Any short to medium range shot that has to go around something.
7. Flick rollers that go straight.
8. Thumbers and tommys that pan super slow and come to rest upside down.
9. Putts into 40mph winds.
10. Approaches into 40mph winds.
11. Really any throw into any wind.
12. Short range spikes.
13. Grenades.
14. Short, hard skip shots that almost make a U turn.

How is it so good at all of those shots?  The Justice is probably the most over stable disc I’ve ever thrown and it has no glide.  Those are two qualities I never thought I would like or have a use for in a disc.  Turns out I was wrong.

It’s a rare occasion when a disc is released and turns out to be truly unique.  Most of the time they can be described by saying, “it flies kind of like a …”.  This is not one of those times.  You really need to play with one to understand.

I’ll be giving my review copy away next week on the Facebook page.  I’ve already got two more of my own ready to go into the bag.  Make sure you keep an eye out for your chance to win, but even if you don’t win one, go buy one anyway.  You will be happy you did.

You know what else you will be happy to have done?  Subscribe to this blog.  You will be automatically entered into every random drawing contest we do.  You’ll also get quality disc golf content delivered to you weekly.  How awesome is that?!

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

The post Justice Has Been Served appeared first on Mind Body Disc - Disc Golf Blog.

It’s faster than a moderately quick squirrel.

It’s stronger than a stiff and blustery headwind.

It spike hyzers over trees in a single throw.

It’s not a bird or a plane…  It’s the new Latitude 64 Spark, Dave Feldberg’s new signature disc.  It has a snazzy, sparky stamp and a super heroish name.  I can see it now, coming to the CW….  The Spark (cue dramatic music).  But does it have any actual super powers?  While it would be awesome if someone released a disc that allowed the thrower to be invisible, fly, or see through walls, the Spark doesn’t deliver on any of those things.  It does remind me of today’s super heroes, though.

It seems like you can’t turn on the TV, go to a movie, or walk through a book store these days without seeing super heroes everywhere.  They are making a resurgence in popular culture thanks in large part to Marvel’s non stop release of flicks over the last several years.

Comic book heroes have always been popular.  Batman has been around for ages.  So has Superman and Spidey.  But with the popularity of the genre comes an over saturation as well.  Now we also have the Flash, Daredevil, Green Lantern, Guardians of the Galaxy, Arrow, and Ant Man to name just a small fraction of them.  It seems like there is a glut of super heroes all vying for our attention.

Each has their fan base too.  There is an underground cult following for Spawn.  Daredevil is gaining equal popularity.  I’m sure somewhere in the world even the Green Lantern has his fans despite that Ryan Reynolds debacle of a movie.  Me, I’m a Batman guy.  Always have been, always will be.  Batman is a bad ass and he’ll beat any of your favorite super heroes in a fight.  It’s not even up for debate!

As strongly as I feel about Batman, there are plenty of you out there sticking up for your particular favorite.  I hear some of you screaming for the Fantastic Four.  Some are cheering for Wolverine.  Some are probably even throwing their backing behind Electra (I’ll bet the leather pants have something to do with that one).  And most of you are probably wondering what the hell does this have to do with the Latitude 64 Spark!?

I’ve had my review sample of the Spark in my bag for the last two weeks.  It’s in there beside a couple of different Firebirds, an Opto Felon, a GL XXX, an Opto Trident, a Champ Banshee, and a Prodigy H1.  All good discs.  All with their own fan base willing to fight for their honor.  And honestly all pretty much interchangeable.

Now, before anyone gets their undies in a bunch, I’m not saying that all those discs are the same.  They are most certainly not.  What I am saying is that they all fill the slot of over stable fairway driver.  They are all similar enough that if you picked one of them and learned it, that’s all you would need for that slot in your bag.  Just like all those super heroes, they can each save the day in their own slightly unique way.  Just like all those super heroes, they have more in common than they have differences.

Super heroes are reliable.  All those discs are reliable.  Super heroes are predictable.  All those discs are predictable.  Super heroes do well in the face of adversity.  All those discs do well in the face of a bunch of wind.  The list goes on, but I think you get the idea.

I’ve read a ton of feedback posted by players who have the Spark, and their opinions are all over the map.  One says it will replace their Firebird, another says it won’t (it’s really close to the Champ Firebird I tested it against).  One says it’s more over stable than a felon, another says it’s less (it’s more).  One says it’s less over stable than an H1 and longer, another says the H1 has more glide and distance (it’s about the same, but doesn’t fade quite as early).  And then there are the couple of people talking about how easy it is to turn over (either they have serious form issues or huge power – you and I won’t be turning this disc over any time soon).  I haven’t seen that many differing opinions on a new disc in a long time.

That leaves me, as a reviewer, in a quandary.  How do I help you, the reader, decide if this is a disc you’d like to try?  If you are in the market for an over stable fairway driver, that’s easy.  You should absolutely try this if that slot in your bag isn’t filled.  In fact, go here right now and pick one up!  But what if that slot is filled?  Or, what if you’ve got something that you kind of like, but don’t absolutely love?

First, it’s Latitude 64 plastic.  I got a good reinforcement of why that’s important as I tested it against the discs I listed above.  I personally like the grip and feel of Latitude plastic better than any other out there.  I also like that, for the most part, if you need to replace a Latitude disc down the road, the new one you buy has an exceedingly good chance of flying the exact same way as the one you are replacing.  I had to giggle as I borrowed Firebirds from people.  Everyone I asked to borrow one from answered the same way…  “Which one did you want, there’s like 10 different kinds”.   I was also told that I couldn’t borrow certain Firebirds because they were not replaceable.   I’m not saying Lat is perfect, but I have found them to be much more consistent than most.

Second was its fade.  When the Spark flew, it fought hard to go left.  It took a decent amount of power to get it to go straight for a bit.  Even then, it started to fade pretty early in its flight.  When it did fade, it developed a steep angle to the left (I’m RHBH).  That angle got steeper the more time it had to fade.  That meant that if it had any height at all, it hit the ground edge first and dug.  It did not skip and flare as much as some of the other discs I compared it to.  Unless I threw it really low, it didn’t really skip at all.  Once I got adjusted to how much height was needed on a throw, I was able to dial in exactly where I wanted it to land and stay.

Third was that I couldn’t really overthrow it.  What I mean by that is that with some of the other discs, on seemingly equal powered throws, there was an uncomfortable difference in distance.  With the Spark I could count on it going the same distance every time.  It never decided to stay flat and cruise for a while instead of fading like I wanted it to.  Even starting it with some annhyzer didn’t add a ton of distance to it.  It fought back to the left relatively quickly.  Again, I can’t say the same for some of the other discs I tested it against.

In the end, I honestly had a hard time figuring out what I was going to write in this review.  All the discs I used were so similar I was at a loss.  Normally the disc I’m reviewing sets itself apart in some obvious way (sometimes good, sometimes not).  This one showed it’s uniqueness in much more subtle ways..  It was a solid, reliable disc.  The differences the Spark showed were in a few nuances here and there.  It’s these nuances, though, that I came to appreciate about it over many of the other choices.  Overall, I liked throwing it and I’m sure that whoever wins it when I give it away will also enjoy it.

It all comes back to that super hero analogy I started the review with.  Each hero has it’s fan base.  Each of those fan bases love their particular hero of choice.  The Spark is the new guy on the block.  I have no doubt that it will develop its own following.  I’m sure that it will take it’s place in the bag of many a player looking for a solid, reliable hero.  There’s no way it can beat Batman in a fight, though.

I want to be your new favorite super hero.  My super power is sending great disc golf content directly to your email inbox once a week.  Exciting super power, I know.  Don’t be jealous.  Just enter your email below to experience this wondrous talent for yourself!

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

The post Just Another Hero? – The Latitude 64 Spark appeared first on Mind Body Disc - Disc Golf Blog.

I learned a long time ago that the only time to make a judgement about a disc is after you, specifically, have thrown it.  Not before, not after.  The Bard would turn out to be no different.  This is the story of how I met the Westside Discs Bard.

I had bought tickets to see the Bard recite her new poem some time ago.  There were excited reports for weeks before her release containing all kinds of speculation.  I often wonder how it is that people can make a spot in their bag for a disc that has yet to be come out.  I was reading all kinds of comments like “It will for sure take over for my Verdict”, or “It will be the Trilogy version of the Roc3”, or “Finally, a mid I’ll be able to throw in the wind”.

My plan was to hear her perform on stage first.  Then I was lucky enough to have convinced her agent to set aside some time afterward to go out and play a couple of rounds with her.  One of my buddies was also excited to see the Bard, so he came with.  It’s a good thing he did.

We took our seats in the auditorium and not long after, the lights dimmed.  The audience became quiet.  Curtains parted.  There, standing behind a lone microphone, was the new Westside Discs Bard.  True to her name, she was going to perform for us today.

The first thing I noticed when the spot light came on was the absolutely gorgeous plastic.  She had chosen a deep blue Tournament plastic for this performance.  But it wasn’t a solid blue.  There were faint but noticeable swirls of something metallic.  It was mesmerizingly beautiful.  I’ve always loved the different variants of Latitude 64’s Gold Line plastic (also know as Tournament plastic from Westside and Fuzion plastic from Dynamic Discs) and this swirling cobalt beauty was no disappointment.

I also could see her shape.  The first thing I noticed was her flat, almost concave top.  Not what I expected from a supposedly over stable disc.  There was no dome at all to her.  She also had a very pronounced bead.  While I personally love flat tops, my hand has never gotten along very well with beaded discs.  I have always preferred beadless to discs with a bead (i.e. Buzzz over the Roc, Meteor over the Comet, Warden over the Judge, etc.).  Between the flat top and the bead, she seemed to be of a medium depth.  I was anxious to give her a throw.

It was then that she started to perform.

Oh how I love to play
Disc golf on a summer day.
Flying through air in sun or rain
Always aiming for the chain.

‘Tis the sport I love most
That my local park doth host.
Around plant, bush, and tree
I fly through the air with glee.

Then I encounter the wind
That causes many a flight to bend.
I feel it gust on my face
And I smile as through it, I race.

So many of my kin sit unused
For in the wind they feel abused.
I, on the other hand, can play
Regardless of the weather of the day.

Not only in wind, but in calm too
Many reliable flights I pursue.
I glide through gaps with ease
And end in a fade around the trees.

I am the Westside Laulaja, or Bard
I’ll help you beat the other players on your card.

My friend and I looked at each other and almost burst out laughing.  “Dude, that was awful!”, I said to him.  He just shook his head in amusement.

Thankfully, the performance was short.  I sincerely hoped she was a better golf disc than poet.  I thought about paring her up with my 6 year old niece for poetry lessons later, but that would have to wait.  But even conveyed with terribly bad poetry, it was nice to hear what she thought of herself as a disc.  My friend and I proceeded backstage to meet with her.

She spared no time in telling us that she disliked the stage performance part of her job.  She had “much more passion for disc golf than sonnets and such” and was anxious to get out on the course.  We felt the same way.  So off we went…

When we hit the course, we started with a little field work.  My friend and I decided to play catch a little just to get a feel for her flight and to warm up a bit.  Honestly, I was having a hard time with her.  Like I mentioned, I really dislike beaded discs.  I’ve met a few that have worked for me and I’ve been able to get past the bead, but this was not going to be one of them.  My friend, on the other hand, was falling in love.  For reference, I currently throw the beadless (mostly) Verdict in my over stable mid slot and my friend throws Champion Rocs, which have pronounced beads.  This was not the only place our opinions would differ.

While I struggled to get clean releases (and I will admit that much of my issue with beaded discs is probably in my head more than anything), my buddy was just killing it with this disc.  My inability to release the disc at the angle I wanted was keeping me from getting a good idea of what this disc could do.  So here is my first conclusion in this review.  If you don’t like beaded discs, and you are looking for an over stable midrange disc, get yourself a Verdict.  The Verdict will do everything you need in that slot.  If you like beaded discs, on the other hand, the Bard is something you will want to try and will probably really like.

Next, I asked him to throw the Bard on a few different lines.  When thrown at lower power, it faded nicely throughout the flight.  When powered up, it resisted turn very well, went straight, and then hyzered out a lot more than many other over stable mids I have tried.  It was nice to see a disc you could get to go straight but still have strong fade at the end.  Many over stable mids, when powered up, will lose a lot of that end of flight fade when thrown hard enough to go straight.

Another interesting thing we found when throwing the Bard relatively hard is that it has a good amount of glide compared to what we were expecting.  On good pulls, we were both able to get some very good distance out of it.  It definitely flew further than my Verdict and it was getting out there with some seasoned champion Rocs.

The biggest surprise for us was what happened when thrown on an anhyzer line.  It didn’t just crash back to the left.  The Bard held the anny line for a surprisingly long time before fighting out of it.  This made some very clever and useful lines possible when playing in the woods.  It always fought back out, just not as early in the flight as the Verdict or the champ Rocs.

Another note is that the Bard seems to be very nose angle sensitive.  In order to throw the lines described above, it had to be thrown flat to slightly nose down.  Any nose up at all and the Bard hyzered out hard, did not go as far as needed, and didn’t cut through the wind as we would have liked.

Speaking of wind, here was another difference from what was anticipated.  While it was good in a mild to moderate head wind, it did flip a little in stronger wind.  When tested side by side vs. the Verdict, it did not cut through strong headwinds as well.  It behaves like a bit slower disc than it is and becomes even more nose angle sensitive.  We also tested it vs. some champion Rocs and found the same thing.  Is this a bad thing?  Not at all.  It’s just different from the hype we had heard before the disc was released.  It was also dependent on how hard we threw the Bard.  Lower to medium arm speed players will likely find the Bard a very suitable midrange disc for headwinds of almost any speed.  Big arm players will need to back off of it a bit when throwing into strong headwinds.

This wind performance also seemed to be a nice trade off with usability.  A lot of the time when a manufacturer makes a disc meant to throw in the strongest of winds, it’s pretty much unusable for most regular human disc golfers (see the Stiletto for an example).  The Bard is not that way.  It’s over stable enough that it will fit nicely in the OS mid slot for all but the fastest armed disc golfers.

So, who will want to go see the Bard perform?  You will if you like any or all of these things:

• Beaded discs
• Medium speed mids
• Mids that are over stable, but manageably so
• Mids that can be made to go straight but still have a good amount of fade at the end
• Mids that can fight moderate winds well
• Discs that are best thrown flat to slightly nose down

Overall, I think the Bard will find a welcome home in many disc golf bags.  If you would like it to find a home in your bag, you can either order one here, or you can keep an eye out for our contest happening over on Facebook today.  Just like and follow the Mind Body Disc page and you’ll see your chance to win our tester of the Westside Bard!

If you liked this review and would like to see our slightly different take on many other disc golf topics, subscribe to this blog!

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

The post Ode to a Golf Disc – The Westside Discs Bard appeared first on Mind Body Disc - Disc Golf Blog.

This weekend I played in a tournament where I got to see first hand how something I was taught a long time ago can pay off.  It’s something that I think a lot of people have heard, but not everyone does.  It’s the advice to always use the slowest disc that gets you to your target.

What that means is that if you can get there with a putter instead of a mid, use a putter.  If you can get there with a mid instead of a fairway driver, use a mid.  If you can get there with a fairway driver instead of a high speed distance driver, go fairway.

In this tournament on Saturday, I played with a guy who didn’t even bag a midrange disc.  He carried two putters, but only used them for putting.  Virtually every other disc was a driver.  Many might laugh at this, but I’ve also played with people who bag throwing putters and mids but never throw them.  That’s the same thing, isn’t it?

So, based on what I saw in action this weekend, here’s a quick list of why you should always try to throw the slowest disc that gets you to your target.

1. Slower discs are more likely to stay where they land.  Why throw a sharp edged driver to hyzer around trees to the basket when an over stable mid will fly the same line but stay put when it lands?  That driver will often skip and fly well away from where you wanted it to end up.  The mid or putter will most likely not.
2. Slower discs are easier to throw straight.  When you are playing in the woods, discs that go straight with less effort are like gold.  Just because you can throw a high speed driver straight doesn’t mean it’s the easier or wiser choice.
3. Speaking of playing in the woods, if you do happen to hit a tree, a faster disc will fly much further in the wrong direction after the hit.  Slower discs are much more forgiving on a ricochet in most cases.
4. Slower discs don’t fly past your target as easily.  I’ve seen a lot of people watch a driver fly way past the basket because they “got all of that one”.  A slower disc is much more forgiving in this category.
5. Slower discs can be thrown with more finesse.  High speed discs need to be thrown at higher speeds to fly their normal lines.  Lower speed discs require a lot less power.  I am a lot more accurate when throwing 70% than when trying to throw at max velocity.
6. Slower discs tend to glide more.  If you are playing with a low ceiling, this can be key.  If you’ve got an uncomfortable stance with no opportunity for a runup, this is also helpful.  Extra glide can come in handy in a lot of ways and it’s more common for a slower disc to have a lot more glide than a faster one.

Time after time this weekend I saw others in my group throw drivers where I threw mids or putters.  Time after time I was inside my 20 foot confidence circle and they were scrambling.  Time after time I asked myself, why do they keep throwing all that fast plastic?

The next time you are out on the course, ask yourself, “Can I get there with a slower disc?”.  Ask yourself, “Do I have to throw a driver?”  In fact, the next time you go out to play a round, only bring your mids or putters.  When you get to holes where you normally rely on high speed plastic, you might be surprised at how well you play and how well you score using the slower discs.  You will also see how mistakes are minimized and you don’t find yourself scrambling as much.  Remember the old adage, slow and steady wins the race.  If you can, use the tortoise, not the hare.

Do you enjoy these disc golf tips?  Have they helped your game?  If so, you should subscribe to the blog.  That way you make sure you don’t miss a single one.  You never know when we might share something that helps you break through to the next level!

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The post Just the Tip – Use the Tortoise, not the Hare appeared first on Mind Body Disc - Disc Golf Blog.

The room was dark and smelled of incense.  This was not the cheesy incense your college roommates used to use to cover up the fact that there was a 3 month old pizza under the couch.  This was the aroma of mystery itself.  Walking further into the room, a sense of something ancient overwhelmed me.  It was as if I’d stumbled into a spot that time had forgotten to take with it.

I came here to improve my disc golf game by consulting the Westside Seer.  Also known by her Finnish name, Ennustaja, the Seer was shrouded in mystery.  It was said that she could communicate with the Tree of Life itself.  The Seer was consulted by people of all walks of life.  Kings and peasants.  Queens and maids.  She had taken many incarnations in her life.  Now she sat before me in the form of a fairway driver golf disc.

I was told that even though she had taken the form of a plastic disc, yearning to fly between the trees and through the woods, in this room I would be able to speak with her.  So here I was, with an open slot in my bag for just such a disc, ready to talk to a piece of plastic.

Seer:  Welcome, child.  Please sit down.

MBD:  Thank you.  I have to admit, it’s a bit weird talking to a golf disc.

Seer:  Really?  I have had visions of you talking to all of your discs after you have thrown them.  Am I different in some way?

MBD:  Um, no.  I guess you are the first one to say something back, though.  So, tell me about yourself.  Why come into this world as a golf disc?

Seer:  I’ve always loved being outside.  My favorite place is deep in the woods.  It is there that I commune with one of my favorite animals, the owl.  I was always envious of how the owl flew through the forest, gliding through the trees, even at night when no one else could see.  It’s physical vision is as magical as my spiritual vision.  I love the owl so much that I’ve brought its spirit with me in this disc form.

MBD:  Wow.  So it sounds like you’ll be really helpful when I need you to fly through tight gaps and carve lines in and around the trees.  How about out in the open?  Do you fly as well as the owl there too?

Seer:  When I chose to come to life as a disc, I had to decide what I wanted to be.  As you know, one disc cannot be all things to all people.  I very much enjoy flying through the open air.  Wind, though, is not my best friend.  I do not mind flying into some, but too much will have me going where I did not intend to go.  A wind at my back on the other hand, that is a different story.  I can ride that wind for days.

MBD:  So how about when you land from your flight?  How do you leave the air?

Seer:  While it depends on how you threw me, I prefer to fly forward for as long as I can.  If I’ve flown in a straight line, I most definitely like to land in the same direction.  This is also true if I am turning either right or left.  I like to continue in the direction I was thrown.

MBD:  I don’t mean to be too forward, but can I see how you are shaped?  What type of feel and rim did you decide to come into this world with?

Seer:  I am a woman, so I do enjoy having some curves.  I have a modest dome.  I have enough rim to feel comfortable in your hand, but it is not wide by any means.

MBD:  And how do you like to be thrown?  Do you have a preference there?

Seer:  I do enjoy being treated like a lady.  There is no reason to throw me as hard as you can.  Being a bit more gentle will get you a lot further with me.  Just as the owl flies effortlessly, so do I.  I think you will be surprised.  In fact, I think that it is time to leave this room, stop our conversation, and venture out to the course.  I am very anxious to fly!

With that, I picked Ennustaja up and headed out to my local course.  Here’s how it went.

The first hole I threw her on was an open 320 foot shot.  I just wanted to get a feel for how she flew.  I stepped up and threw her flat at about 85-90%.  She immediately took off right and didn’t show any signs of coming back.  Apparently I don’t listen well.  I went out and grabbed her for a second try.  This time I threw at about 70% power with some hyzer.  Wow, what a difference.  She popped up flat and just went straight.  Lots of glide.  At the end of her flight, she faded a touch, but mostly just kept going forward.

The next hole I threw her on was about the same distance, but with some trees on the right I chose to throw her with some anhyzer.  She held this line really well.  Again I only threw at about 70% power.  She had a slight pan at the end and landed flat.  She did not dive to the right.  She did not fight to come out of the anny.

Now into the woods.  Tight tunnels were no problem.  It took minimal effort to get her to pop up flat and go straight.  The lack of a lot of fade at the end of the flight was nice.  Add a little power and throw flat and she slid right very nicely.  Always coming back to land flat at the end.  I found out a couple more times how much she doesn’t like to be overpowered, though.  There is definitely a sweet spot for how hard this disc likes to be thrown.

One thing I noticed was how forgiving she was.  Even when thrown with nose up, she would still pop to flat and go straight.  A lot of other discs in this category would either not pop up or would fade hard when thrown with nose up.  Not with the Seer.  Of course, it was still better to throw flat or slightly nose down, but I wasn’t punished too badly for nose angle errors.  This is huge for a disc thrown in the woods.

Another nice surprise was just how far it went with almost no effort.  A nice, smooth throw and it just cruised.  Straight the whole way.  Bonus points for not needing a high ceiling either.  This disc is just money in the woods.

For a frame of reference, the Seer is in the same category of disc as the Innova Leopard, Discraft Stalker and Zombie, and reminded me of a slower Latitude 64 Saint with a touch less fade.  I’ve thrown all of those discs and honestly the Seer is the best of the bunch for it’s intended purpose (and I don’t say that lightly as the Leopard is a killer disc!).  I would also say that it more reminds me of the Fuse (Comet for you Discraft throwers) than of any other drivers.  It’s just faster with more distance potential.

If you are looking for a lower speed driver to throw on tight lines in the woods, the Seer is a keeper.  She’s also the answer if you are looking for a disc to anny and hold the line all the way to the ground.  I can also see her being a huge favorite of those with lower arm speed.  I can’t impress upon you how easily this disc gets up and goes.  She hyzer flips with ease.  In the end, I was impressed.

If I wasn’t giving this one away, I’d probably put it right in my bag (and I don’t say that very often after trying a new disc).  If you’d like to enter to win this Seer, please head over to our Facebook page and follow the directions there.  You can also enter by subscribing to the blog below.  You never know, there could be a new fairway driver in your future (“see” what I did there?!).  Can’t wait to see if you win one?  Just go ahead and order one up for yourself!

If you’d like to be entered into every random drawing type of contest we do, just subscribe to the blog below.  All blog subscribers are automatically given one entry every time we do a giveaway like this!

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

The post Are Lower Scores in Your Future? Ask the Seer. appeared first on Mind Body Disc - Disc Golf Blog.