Ching Precision

 

 

So i played a full round without drivers today... and did a couple strokes better than my average, lets just not say what that is.

I used the Ching Precision for about 30% of my throws... mostly drives and long approaches as I rely on my wizards and magics for everything else. But I got a pretty good feel for the Ching Precision. Aside from the thumb divots, it flies identical to a Buzzz. Somewhere between a Pro D and Elite Z in stability.

At first glance, the divots seem to be in different places to accommodate different hand sizes. But they can also be used to set up different angles and lines. As your thumb gets closer to the center of the disc, the angle gets higher (anhyzer). As your thumb gets closer to the rim, the angle of the disc drops down (hyzer). I made every line I ever tried to make with a Buzzz... but with a lot more Precision... hey oh! I am not trying to knock on the Buzzz, but I spent 3 months trying my hardest to like the Buzzz and I couldn't do it. It wasn't the Buzzz, it was me, the Buzz truly holds whatever line you put it on, and I was too inconsistent to put the right line on the disc. The divots in the Precision helped me fix those problems, kind of like a Buzzz with training wheels. Its only 8 bucks in the Power plastic which is pretty much Pro D... its worth the try.

Discraft Nuke and Latitude 64 Halo

These ratings are from DiscGolfCenter.com - free shipping on orders over $12 by the way.

Discraft Nuke

Difficulty	5
Speed	13
Glide	4
High Speed Stability	-1
Low Speed Stability	3

Latitude 64 Halo

Difficulty	4
Speed	11
Glide	4
High Speed Stability	0
Low Speed Stability	3

Discwing Transcend

So about a week ago, I got this:

So far... does what I want it to, and more importantly what I got it for... a flat falling turnover disc. Flat falling, in my opinion, is very important in a turnover shot. You want the disc to sit down when it hits the ground, because if it comes down on an anny angle, it will roll away. What has surprised me about this disc, is that it is a little more versatile than I expected it to be. I knew I could throw it hard to get it to take a smooth turnover line, and back off on power to get straight finesse shots. But with a little touch, the disc will also hold a tight hyzer line, similar to what you would get from an Ultra-Star.

The baseline plastic is amazing grip: AMAZING! But it has the worst durability ever: AWFUL! On the VERY FIRST THROW, a downhill turnover shot thrown at about 70% power, the Transcend "Plinkoed" down a tree and took a huge gash into its rim. Sigh...

Latitude 64 Gold Line Halo

its so shiny... picked up one of these from DGCenter. Don't know when it will show up, but I shall keep you updated.

Gateway Ninja Logo Contest

On the PDGA forums, David McCormack announced a logo design contest for Gateway's upcoming driver the Ninja. He's going to pick what he thinks are the top 6, and then let everyone else vote. The winner gets $500.00 in Gateway merch... im in. So far, I have entered the following ideas...

Those darn kids are ruining the park!

Really? First off, I didn't see any teens or students running wild in the video. But I am sure that when people aren't around, they come out from hiding and stomp all over the ground so they kill all the grass... noooo not the grass!!

Caution: sarcasm ahead.

Sure, sure frolfers can play disc golf. Its a park: its a place for recreation and fitness. Parks are here to promote citizens health and well being whether it be running, walking your dog, having picnics, playgrounds, and yes, FROLF! But Disc Golfers, just like everyone, this isn't a "free lunch?" You have to pay just like grandma over there did for her 6am fanny-pack-power-walk. You have to pay just like Brad Broheim did so that he could take Rover out for his daily leash free walk, complete with tree pee and puppy poo. DISC GOLFERS need to pay just like little 5 year old Johnny did so that they could dig for and eat worms by the jungle gym. This ain't a free lunch.

Sigh... for the most part, P&R departments have recognized (and respected) disc golf as a lifetime fitness activity. But I have heard of many towns like this one, where Parks see an opportunity to make some $$$. In their defense, money is something very difficult for them to come by, and even harder to allocate. But looking at the video, the park did not look like it was in that bad of shape. I have definitely seen worse and those Parks were not closed. Could it be better? Yes. Is it disc golfers responsibility to pay up? No. Is it disc golfers responsibility to help? Yes.

Whether its disc golf or dog walkers, citizens should take care of their Parks. It is in fact a free lunch (PBJ between two slices of crispy tax dollars). If this was my home course, I would see this as a call to arms. It's hard for fanny-pack grandmas to organize and volunteer for some landscaping, but it's an easy deuce for disc golf clubs and leagues. The best courses have come to be because of the strong relationship between clubs and P&R.

Big Wing Drivers: Incoming!!!

In recent years, manufacturers have been pushing for faster drivers. Physics dictates that they be sharp and wide rimmed: 

They're heeere!!!

The Boss and Groove are almost old news, with 2.5 and 2.4 cm rims respectively. It seems that most Innova pros (and Nikko) still prefer the Destroyer (2.2cm). The Katana's recent release seems to be an attempt to put that wide rim into weaker hands/arms. It is indeed a sidewinder on steroids. It features the Boss' 2.5cm rim, and the Destroyer's top, giving it a butt ton of glide and turn. Its release has only been in fundraisers for the Japan Open (Pro, R-Pro, Champ) and Worlds (Star). Not much has been said about the star mold. The R-Pro should be out for general release in January 2010. 
I must say though, the Japan open stamps are sweeeeeet...

Discraft has been tweeting/facing (facebook?) that their Nuke (2.5cm) is coming soon. The forums have had a few words from "testers," revealing that there is both a regular and an SS version out there. The "SS" was being tested by Discraft players in November and as reported as being much less stable than the Force. The regular version which is about to be released is expected to be more stable than the earlier SS, but similar in speed: much faster than the Force. It might be fist released as a fundraiser for The Memorial. This Nuke's rim is Discraft's largest yet:

Latitude's Halo is already out and its just a matter of time before the discs make it through customs and into retail stores. With a 2.4cm rim, the disc is supposed to be stable up to 300ft. I really have no experience with Latitude's discs but I hear good things. The Halo is coming out in both their Opto line and their latest (shiniest) Gold line.

David McCormack of Gateway has mentioned a prototype in the works both on his blog and on the PDGA forums. In the forums he said it would be called the Ninja, and it would have a little HS understablity. Look for the Ninja to feature surface technology. If you have ever held an Assassin, the outer 1 inch on the top of the disc is a little rough; that's surface technology. Also, if you have held an Apache, the rim has micro grooves that also help to redruce drag, the prototype may have both. McCormack says that they expect to have the disc ready by The Memorial.


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Drivers have been getting bigger and bigger rims for awhile... these drivers may have 2.4-2.5 cm rims, but more popular max d drivers have been in the 2.1-2.3 range for a few years now, including the Destroyer and Surge. Discwing's Quarter K had a 2.3cm rim while Quest's Double D has a massive 2.6cm rim. The latest batch of big rim drivers seems to be aiming towards making a big rim disc with more HS turn.

Cabin Fever + Online Shopping

Temperatures finally dipped below 30degrees for a full week. I know you Minnesoooooootans and Miiiiiiichiganders are still playing shirts and skins ultimate games, but my Kansas ruby-slipper-toes are cold... really cold. The past week has been work, sleep, and couch slouching. No frolf makes flying monkey a dull monkey.

"Snowed-in," I have rearranged my bag no less than 10 times this week, without playing once, in the end, I have the same bag I had the last time I played:

161g R-Pro Katana - Max distance (no headwind), long turnovers.
164g EHPP Apache - Control driver, moderate headwinds, straight shots.
165g EHPP Spirit - Long hyzers, spike hyzers, freaky flex shots...
166g R-Pro Cro - Windy approach, slight hyzer approaches
145g Soft Magic - Turnover shots within 150ft
175g SSS Magic - Go to putter
175g Soft O Wizard - Short drives, straight approaches that must not go right (upto 200ft)
175g SSS Wizard - Go to approach disc within 200ft, windy putter, I-need-luck-putts. 

 I have shifted discs in and out, but in the end I always come back to 12 -14 discs with these included. In my compulsion to do something/anything disc golf, I have convinced myself that I need a midrange game. It makes sense right? Sure, I hit most shots within 200ft using my Wizards, but what about the 150-200ft turnover shot? I need an understable midrange! Time to go shopping!

What a dangerous combination: Cabin Fever + Online Shopping. If one is not careful, a few points and clicks can lighten your wallet and perhaps even lead you to overdraft. But there are so many great deals!

Discgolfcenter.com has free shipping, exact weight, exact color.
Marshallstreetdiscgolf.com has a great selection and very helpful reviews.
PrimeDiscs.com has 3 dollar shipping!

Not to mention that I already have a million discs to trade/sell - Discaroo? I am a birdie member on Discgolfcoursereview.com and there are always good trades there. The credit card is already out and propped up between keys on my keyboard.... there is no turning back.

Being me, of course I have to find something obscure to buy. Go mixed bags! The Discwing Transcend (Baseline). I have a Quarter K, which I really liked. Yes the plastic is not very durable, but I love the grip. Same reason why I choose to throw R-Pro, I figure I am going to end up buying a new disc in 3 months anyway so I don't really need something that will last forever. Anyways... hoping this is going to fill in my longer turnover shots 150-200ft? I don't know, but that color looks cool.

Again obscure... I really like Ching's Power plastic, also feels like R-Pro. I have a Genesis that I really like, and so I might like this. I couldn't find many reviews on the discs flight yet, but from the little I read about, its buzzz like - straight, light turn, light fade. I figure if the Transcend makes it into the bag, this can fit in between that and the Cro.

Stay tuned, and read about my unauthoritative reviews of these discs.