It’s easy to make fun of amateur disc golfers who insist on throwing a single manufacturer’s frisbees. Given the way most sponsorships work, it’s almost as if they’re playing make-believe professionals or something. And if that’s actually the case, sad is the state of said golfers’ affairs.
These days, there are a million-and-a-half great manufacturers out there …
Why not bag the best of what they ALL have to offer?
That one’s easy: Because there are a million-and-a-half of ‘em.
That’s an exaggerated number – duh. To date, however, dating back to the late 1970s, the PDGA has approved roughly 1,700 different molds. Some certainly suck, but most are more than serviceable. And if they’re not, with a little time and effort, they could work in a bag.
I started playing disc golf in Tulsa back in 2005. At the time, Innova was all that was readily available in my area. Because of it, it was what I threw – there was really no other choice.
Eighteen years later, I now run a daily disc golf blog. And while the writing’s a grind much of the time, the new discs retailers send me (for free) to review is a welcomed perk of the gig.
Currently, I bag 15 discs – only five of them are NOT from the Innova lineup …
- Non-Innova No. 1 – DGA, X1 SP-Line Sail
- Non-Innova No. 2 – Discraft, X2 Z-Line Scorches
- Non-Innova No. 3 – Millennium (Fake Innova), X2 Quantum Scorpiuses
I’m not a devout Innova thrower.
I love their discs, but I’m not married to anything they produce …
And STILL, in spite of the mountain of awesome frisbees I’ve reviewed from other brands, I keep going back to Rancho Cucamonga. Not only that, when I write reviews on other companies’ discs, to describe how they fly, I compare them to popular Innova molds.
Is Innova better than MVP, Discraft, Discmania or Dynamic Discs?
Nope.
But what I’ve found works. Hunting for more of the same would be a waste of time – time better spent in a field dialing in what I’ve got. Sure, if something better comes along, dynamite. But even if it does, at best, it will result in a microscopically marginal gain – nothing impressive.
So when an amateur appears to go all in on a single disc manufacturer, before passing judgment, give the guy the benefit of the doubt: Maybe he’s focused on fixing his game. And to that end, he’s decided to work within the confines of a disc lineup he’s already super familiar with …
Too many options can make a mess of bag-building: Throw what you know.
But what about the dudes who revamp their entire bags when a favorite pro changes sponsors?
For the life of me, I don’t get it …
If you’ve got to bash on somebody, consider them fair game.
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When I first started, I only threw MVP/Axiom/Streamline. I wanted to support an in-state company, loved the feel of the plastic, and at the time, I just couldn’t mesh with the hand-feel of Discraft, so my bag was a full Maple Valley Plastics setup. Now, my primary bag is a blend of MVP and Doomsday, but my collection and secondary bags include smaller manufacturers (Kasta, Viking, Discmania, Finish Line)
Oh, that’s nice …
Secondary bags, eh?
There’s a concept I’m new to – maybe I’ll give it a whirl!
Thanks for reading, man!
Well yeah, secondary bags. You have your main bag/tournament bag, a single color bag, and a glow bag.
Haha – duh!
I try different stuff, because being a fanboy to that extent is pointless, also you’re missing out on potential discs that might just be perfect for you.
I have Lat64, kastaplast, dynamic disc, mvp & north star in my bag.
Try different things, don’t limit your self.
There’s certainly nothing wrong with doing things that way!
Many people do, and it pays off for ’em …
Plus, let’s be honest: It’s fun to try out new stuff, too.
I’m an Innova guy to the core. I do appreciate other manufacturers and I do bag some mixed discs.MVP (relay), Kastaplast (berg), millennium (jls) and infinite (sphinx). I certainly own far more discs than I need across 18 different manufacturers but in pretty much every slot Innova outperforms the competition. I simply cannot throw a Discraft or an MVP as far as I can the Innova equivalent. There are a lot of nice discs out there but for my money give me a tee bird, firebird, leopard, Wraith and an Aviar and I’m ready to play pretty much any course. Sprinkle in the other manufacturers listed above for wooded courses and it’s go time
TurboJoe, it sounds like we’ve had similar experiences with Innova …
Sometimes, it pays (literally) to be one of the first to the game, you know?
I throw Discraft only. Z Line Scorches is my favorite right now. Z line is pro level plastic. When I find a certain mold/color theme that actually flies good for me, i will keep an eye out for similar molds or colors of previous discs. Recently, the esp aqua colored swirl Buzzz has given me the truest flight, so straight, stable, so awesome.
Thanks for the tip, Frank!
Hadn’t even considered that one …
Appreciate it.
I’m not particularly strong, and my whole bag is shifted to the under-stable side. Seemingly, no single manufacture has a lock on that. Most lines are stable/over-stable with the occasional (and wildly random) under-stable disc. Which necessitates mixing. Alas, I don’t think I could be sponsored (but, at 65 nobody’s knocking down my door…)
Hang in there, Cloudsongs …
Don’t sell yourself short!
So I pretty much bag only mvp/axiom nothing to do with James or Simon, but ive got a few reasons:
1: They’re easy to find in light weights, and the fission plastic somehow seems to retain stability at lower weights.
2: An old beaten in pfn tesla was the first disc that I actually got full flight out of and my only ace was with a relay when I was still mixed bag.
3: the runs are (with few exceptions) remarkably consistent. I’m comforted in the fact that if I send a driver into the great beyond I can nab one off the shelf instead of trolling the secondary market and paying exhorbtant prices for that one perfect run of sexton Firebirds.
4: I’m a plastic addict. I know it. I’m a level 7 susceptible and I WILL chase every new flavor, every meme disc, ALL the new hotness if I don’t set confines. I have a feeling Simon’s signature lines won’t help with that though, lol.
There’s a few more, like avoiding overlap, costumer service, and all that, but I’ve rambled enough.
Boy, remember when Madison Walker first signed with MVP + Axiom?
She couldn’t find a light-weight disc to save her life!
Glad things have changed since then 🙂
I bag 100% innova made (fd from old innova run in there) and have more or less since 96 when I had a shark and hammerhead.
For me it’s about the gline plastic and working through one manufacturer’s flight numbers.
Gotta admit when the wife got sponsored by innova I dropped my buzz for a roc3 but I did miss that buzz for a long time.
Mike, woah, woah, woah …
You’re wife’s sponsored by Innova?
Talk about a quality connection to the manufacturer!
It doesn’t matter what you throw. All that matters is that you know what it will do when YOU throw it.
Spoken like a true Simon Lizotte …
Couldn’t agree more: Thanks, Glen!
I just go with what feels good to me. Innova makes my favorite distance driver: the Destroyer. Really, a collection of Destroyers in various stages of wear could be enough in the driver category for anybody. They’re just the best.
The Axiom Insanity is my favorite fairway; Although, the Latitude 64 River is a close second. The Insanity is just a little faster, and it feels a little better in my hand. They’re both great for long, straight shots. They’re also good for long, sweeping turnovers or hyper flips. I use a Discraft Raptor if I need something with more stability.
The Buzzz is the best midrange to me. A good one will follow any line you put it on from start to finish. Innova’s Mako3 basically flies the same way; it just doesn’t feel as comfortable to me. I’m sure there are several others that fly similarly, but why mess around with a good thing?
Zones for approach shots. Great, reliable, overstable disc that works well backhand or forehand. I’m not really a sidearm guy. I only feel confident throwing those shots from about 125-150 ft. The Zone is basically the only disc I use for forehands; although, I will throw my Destroyers forehand from time-to-time, as well. I’m just not confident in where they’re going if I am trying to throw a forehand with a little distance
Putters always change for me. I’ll be doing good with one for a while before I go through a slump. If the slump lasts for too long, I’ll change my putter. It’s not so much because of the disc, though. It’s more of a mental reset thing. Right now, I go back and forth between a Dynamic Judge and a Discmania Rainmaker. The Judge is a little straighter, but the Rainmaker seems to be a touch more reliable from longer ranges. Again, more of a mental thing than anything.
So, like most of us lowly, unsponsored earthlings, I have built my bag based on what I think feels best.
This wouldn’t happen to be JOEY Chestnutt …
Would it?
Love the way you build a bag, man – keep it up!
(and thanks for reading, of course)
Good read
I have been playing since 94and mostly throw innova , but I also have a couple different disc that are another brands with a similar mould
Likewise, Terry!
Well …
Haven’t been playing since 1994, but I do rock a mostly Innova bag.
I am new to disc golf (6 months) and I only throw mvp brands. They feel the best in my hand. I spend a couple of days checking out the feel of every disc from different companies and just like the feel of mvp.
It’s funny, because there’s a DANG good chance you’ll stick (mostly) with what you started with …
Happens all over the place.
The longer in the game, the more you’ll tinker with other stuff – but you’ll keep coming back.
All innova. Mostly because I’m lazy and they are local.
1) they are couple miles away.
2) just easier for me to trust flight numbers when the same people are determining then. Is an innova 3 Fade the same as a MVP 3 Fade? I don’t have time to figure that out.
3) I can only remember so many different plastic characteristics. Keep it simple stupid.
Fletch, it sounds like our brains function about the same way …
Love it!
I throw mostly Innova because their factory seconds were such an inexpensive way to try out a ton of discs when I was just getting started. I have definitely been adding other brands lately though as I try understable stuff from other places. It’s also a good way to support my local disc store.
Nice!
Yeah, there’s not much F2 stuff at most local retailers …
And hey, if you get into dying discs, you’re covered on that front, too.
I bag all Innova for a variety of reasons.
1) It is what I started out with. I was given an Innova starter set and when I went on their website to look at more discs and saw that they had a good website I was hooked. Their chart with most of their molds on it is awesome for beginners.
2) I like the idea of being easy on the wallet with Factory Second. Innova has all of its older molds in Factory Second.
3) I adore Calvin Heimburg and Ricky Wysocki. I started playing during the off season off season after the 2020 season. With Ricky and Calvin being sponsored by them it really made it a no brained. Also, for the record, I was super ticked when Ricky made the jump to Team DD. But I reckon it is his call. And he is playing super hot with Felons and Slammers and Daggers.
Even though there are awesome young manufacturers out there, I think that Innova Discs is always going to be the best out there and I can’t help but wish them the best in the future.
Makes sense, Benji …
And while my bag isn’t 100% Innova, it’s not far from it.
Great minds think alike, right? Haha.