Cycling discs is a thing …
If you’re new to the concept, “cycling discs” is the idea that, instead of bagging a host of different molds, you use one mold in various stages of wear to achieve a number of flights, but with the same in-hand field. To do this, more often than not, a more baseline-level plastic is used.
One Mold + Many Flights = More Consistency
I LOVE the idea.
It’s the execution that complicates things on my end …
Lucas is big on cycling softer plastics – he’s written about it. For me, however, I’ve tried out a host of DX Rocs. I’ve given their KC Pro counterparts a whirl, as well. DX Teebirds have been in and out of my bag. And last season, I gave Pro Wraiths my best effort for a hot minute …
Here’s how that went:
- Issue No. 1 – Too fluid.
- Issue No. 2 – Too fickle.
- Issue No. 3 – Too flippy.
- Issue No. 4 – Too flimsy.
Admittedly, that’s likely a two-fold issue. And both aspects are part of a “me” problem: 1) I’m not great at hitting fairways like I should. 2) Here in Utah, my courses are wooded and rocky.
All of this changed six-ish months ago, though …
I discovered the R-Pro Pig.
I was browsing at my local disc golf shop. Picking up random discs. Putting ‘em back down. You know the routine. Anyway, I saw a rack of new, max-weight R-Pro Pigs. Thinking of Ricky Wysocki’s then-recent departure from Innova, I picked one up and gave it a good feel …
Euphoric.
If you’ve never gotten to second base with an R-Pro Pig, it feels like an inner-tube. Most of the disc’s weight is carried along the outside edge. Because of this, you really feel like you’ve got a firm grip on the thing. Think of the way a DX Polecat feels in your hand – THIS is the opposite.
It’s also gummy.
I bought it. I bagged it. I banged it – into trees, that is.
Now I didn’t buy the R-Pro Pig with the intention of “cycling” it – I just wanted to try it out. Knowing little about the Pig, I figured it’d work nicely for short, forehand approaches. At the time, I was exclusively using a Gator for this shot. It tended to creep a bit long on me, though.
Within two months of use, I bought (and bagged) another …
And two months after that, ANOTHER.
Here’s why I currently carrying three of these things:
- Reason No. 1 – The R-Pro Pig is a slower, shorter-flying frisbee.
- Reason No. 2 – Because of it, it beats in more gradually than other discs.
- Reason No. 3 – As a worked-in flier, I’m able to throw it forehand and backhand.
- Reason No. 4 – This thing is a cheap stock disc. It’s easy to cycle, as it’s easy to find.
What started out as an experimental approach disc is now a wind putter, multi-use approach disc and short, off-the-tee driver. I didn’t choose the R-Pro Pig life; the R-Pro Pig life chose me.
If you’ve not yet discovered the beauty of cycled plastic, try the R-Pro Pig …
It’s not the obvious choice, but it’s a good one.
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