Update-April 28, 2010
KATANA’S-A laser for the rest of us…
By thebigE
UPDATE: For several weeks, I’ve been the proud owner of a few Champion Katanas, and I wanted to follow up my previous post with a little more information about how these discs performed.
As is the case with a lot of Innova runs, the Champion plastic is just a touch more stable on the fade than the corresponding mold in Star plastic. The Katana lived up to that tenet, but in other ways the Champion discs are unlike the norm, at least the norm as I know it.
My general rule of thumb is that domey = overstable, while flat top = straight to turnover. Leave it to Katana to knock that theory out of the park. I have two Champion Katanas, one domey double-stamped X-Out from the Ams in Ohio and the other is a flat-top CFR discs from the Southside Smackdown in Mobile, AL.
Both discs have a degree of gumminess, but that’s really where the similarity ends. Using my previous experience, I figured the Ams disc would be stable, so I cranked it off on a flat line and the thing flipped over on me like a wet pancake, rocketing down the fairway about 120 feet before standing up slightly into a hooked roller. Not exactly what I was expecting from this disc at all.
After that experience, I figured the flat-top would be so flippy that it would be useless to me. I gave it a good sling on a steep hyzer angle, and the disc peaked out and demonstrated a little high speed turn, though it never “flipped.” The disc finished flat then faded hard left at the end. When I paced the distanced off (my steps are 3.5 yards each), the disc had traveled 116 paces, or roughly 405 feet. Nice, to say the least.
Once I got a feel for the way these discs flew, I began using them on any drive that allowed me to use the right side of the fairway, a must with Katanas unless you’re a 300 yard max D thrower, or you throw every drive on an extreme hyzer angle. They are standards in my bag now, taking the place of my trusty Wraith and beat-up Star Boss. I threw my max D with the Katana this week, paced off at 125 yards or 438 feet. I did have a little help from a nice tailwind, but the Katana has so much glide that you can really take advantage of tailwinds and downrange crossing winds to squeeze out extra distance.
After battle-testing these Katanas, I would recommend that anyone who has good control, a decent arm and knowledge of disc physics to give this blade a try. You will be amazed by the resulting increase in your distance, and given the fact that you can milk max D from these discs at about 80% power, they’ll keep that arm fresh longer into a round. In other words, don’t buy a Katana, buy two!
Thanks for reading, keep huckin’ and watch your 6!
April 28, 2010
Discraft Nuke
By thebigE
I’ve had a few more weeks to broaden my experience with the Nuke by Discraft, and I must say, the results have been a mixed bag. While I really like a lot of the things this disc can do for the average player’s game, there are some quality control issues that have been eating away at me ever since I put a shiny new Nuke in my bag a few weeks ago.
First of all, let me make full disclosure that while I look at most plastic on a disc-to-disc basis, I admit that most of the discs in my personal bag rolled through Innova’s gates. In other words, though I carry a few Discraft plastics in my bag (mostly mids…the Comet and Buzzz are really irreplaceable for me). But I am open to anything new that comes down the pike, no matter what company made it, which is why I was so anxious to get my hands on a Nuke after hearing rave reviews.
As I said in my initial article, the Nuke is everything it claims to be in regards to long distance. The Nuke is a rocket: it leaves the hand smoothly due to a flat underwing, its speed is only matched by that of Innova’s Katana and its accuracy is true. At the time of my original article, I had one production run Nuke, not a first run but an early disc nonetheless. After playing a couple rounds, the Nuked looked…well…nuked. Chunks were missing from the top of the flight plate, scuffs were deep and could be felt easily and it took only a couple rounds of throwing for the Nuke to become flippy. I still use the disc, don’t get me wrong. It is a great thrower. But I see this disc requiring a replacement pretty soon, I don’t see myself getting more than 10 or 15 rounds out of this particular disc.
That being said, I soon found a back up from a later run. It looks like Discraft is aware of the durability issues with the earlier Nukes and they are working on the problem. I got a new flat-top from the Southside Smackdown tourney in Mobile, AL a few weeks ago, and already I can tell a big difference in the plastic durability. Since it’s a flat-top, it is slightly more flippy than the production run. But it still flies long and true, which is exactly what I want it to do.
I also did a little experiment with the Nuke on other drive styles, namely the sidearm/ forehand, the thumber drive and the tomahawk drive. Though the Nuke is by no means overstable, it did have enough juice when new to roll out of the thumber drive and the tomahawk drive. With a more beat Nuke, I’m not so sure the Nuke would be the best choice for these throws. But if your disc is new, give it a shot and see what you get.
The forehand is a different story. I typically look for fast, flat overstable drivers for my forehand (I have a Champion 175 XCal and an old 175 Pro Firebird for forehand drives and ups). The Nuke is not as stable as those discs, but once I developed a feel for the flight path, I was macking that Nuke off the forehand for an easy 360 feet without using a ton of torque. My estimation is that when stable, these drivers would be a good tool for someone who wanted a straight and fast forehand.
So if you haven’t yet gotten a Nuke, look for discs from a later production run. Shy away from the First Runs, as they tend to be the softest of all the Nukes in terms of durability. A local pro literally got three rounds out of his before it flipped and refused to come back, meaning it ended up in the trade bin, destined for a weaker armed player.
So though I have more information, my opinion of the Nuke remains the same. If the Boss/ Force are not too overstable for you, stick with those discs. If you need something that requires a little less muscle for max D, then the Nuke may be your bag. At worst, you’ll not like the Nuke and can post it on Discaroo!
Thanks for reading, keep huckin’ and watch your 6!
October 18 Innova release premiers new disc, The Mako
By thebigE
Though it’s not quite December yet, many disc golfers will get an early Christmas present with the October 19 release of several new configurations of existing discs, along with the debut of what is sure to become a favorite of those who love straight reliable mid-range discs, namely the Mako.
2009 has seen the debut of many discs, but the Mako is one of the most anticipated new models to come on the scene due to its straight flight characteristics and ability to stay true to any line the thrower puts on it. The Mako is a large-diameter mid, coming in at 21.7 centimeters, roughly the equivalent of its cousin, the Shark. However, the Mako is no Shark; coming in with a more glide and less fade for a very sweet flight path. The Mako should be a great disc for those who like the speed and turn of the Roc, but with additional glide and less fade. The Mako will easily take and hold the angle of release, meaning that a hyzer stays a hyzer rather than flattening out, while turnover shots flip and remain turnover shots, regardless of the velocity of the throw. Think of it as a wider diameter, beat-in DX or KC Pro Roc that flies like a more “experienced” disc right off of the shelf.
Innova describes the Mako as “our straightest flying and straightest finishing mid-range disc. It has the flight characteristic of a putter, with the glide and speed of a mid-range disc.” Initially, the Mako will appear in Innova’s grippy and durable Star plastic in weights ranging from 170 grams to 180 grams. This new mid should come as a welcome addition to the bags of those who play heavily wooded courses, as the straight, predictable line make the Mako perfect for those tunnel shots and narrow windows on wooded courses. This disc could also come in handy on narrow fairways where water is in play on either side due to it’s ability to hold a straight line with no turn or fade. According to Innova, the Mako is also suitable for sidearm mid-range throws as well as backhand throws. The Mako is a great disc for beginners due to it’s friendly grip, substantial glide and straight flight path.
Speaking of Rocs, Innova will also add to the legend of this beloved mid-range with the addition of the San Marino mold Roc in Star plastic. The San Marino old is the vintage Roc of old, only this model adds the new age twist of the Star plastic super-polymer. In Star plastic, the Roc will take hit after hit from trees, rocks and other obstructions without losing its shape of flight pattern. The Roc has a legion of fans, as it’s one of the best selling models ever introduced by Innova for good reason. Reliable and true, Rocs get better with age. According to Innova, 14 of 15 pros have at least one Roc in his or her bag, and many players, such as Innova pro Matt Orum, keep multiple Rocs in various conditions in their bags for every round. The Roc is the preferred mid-range disc of 12x World Champion Ken Climo.
The addition of the San Marino Roc in Star plastic means gives pros and novices alike a chance to break in a Roc that will last for longer regardless of playing conditions. The initial run of the Star San Marinos will feature discs in the 170 to 180 gram weight range, though that weight range may be expanded in future runs.
Those who have had trouble powering up to the Star and Champion plastic versions of the Boos super-driver, but who prefer a stiffer disc than the R-Pro model that came out earlier in 2009 are in luck. Innova will also introduce the wildly successful and coveted Boss in Pro plastic on October 19. The Boss is a small diameter, high speed overstable driver that takes a cannon of an arm in the Champion and Star polymers. The Boss got it’s name for a reason: it is currently Innova’s fastest, farthest flying disc off of the tee. The Boss is a 13 speed disc with a glide rating of 5, with no high speed turn and a strong fade at the end of the flight. The Boss is perfect for tailwind drives, and will fly for a mile when thrown on a booming hyzer line.
According to Innova, there have been numerous requests from players for the Boss cast in Pro plastic, combining the range and overstability of the Boss mold with the grippy durability of Pro plastic. This should be a winner for those who have too much arm for the R-Pro model but not enough to huck the Star version without shanking it. The Pro version of the Boss should break in nicely and become a little less stable with use, creating a user-friendly power drive for those huge hyzers or power-flex shots in the open.
The last disc set to be released by Innova on October 19 is the Star Dart. The Dart has grown in popularity since being introduced by Innova last year in the gummy R-Pro plastic. In its original configuration, the Dart proved to be a straight, predictable putter with no turn or fade under most putting conditions. However, because of it’s soft and extremely flexible make-up, use as a mid was fairly limited. The Star Dart will introduce a new formulation of the Star plastic, giving the Star Dart adequate grip but with added durability. This will add to the disc’s versatility as well, turning it from a long putter at best to a solid approach discs for mid-range up-shots.
The Star Dart will premier in weights ranging from 165 to 175 grams. At 21.2 centimeters, the Dart will perform much like a thrown-in Aviar with greater range and less low-speed fade. The Dart will be great for those who employ straight or straddle putting styles, though in Star plastic the Dart may also be suitable for those who hyzer putt.
With four new models rolling out, October 19 should be a great day for disc golfers everywhere. This newest Innova release offers a little something for everybody, with putters, drivers and mid-range discs all represented.
