I didn’t plan on writing this until I saw what Lucas pushed live a few days back …
Click here for that.
By and large, I agree with what he says in the piece. I’ve used a bag throughout the entirety of my disc golf career. For now, I see no need to change. But eventually, as Father Time does his best to break my body, I’ll need to exchange my Upper Park Shift for a cart of some kind.
Know this much, though …
I’d prefer death to using a Rovic.
To date, to the best of my knowledge, nobody within the disc golf commentary community has taken shots at this monstrosity. How it’s managed to avoid any kind of fun-poking is nothing short of miraculous. It’s time somebody says something about these three-wheeled freaks …
I’m honored to be first.
Rovic is a company out of Hong Kong that makes push carts for ball golf. To satisfy that need, they offer a number of different models. For disc golf, they offer one: It’s the Rovic RV1D.
Jeremy Koling and Colten Montgomery are two professional disc golfers who use them. If I’m not mistaken, Kona (Panis) Montgomery has gotten in on the action, as well. And while I’d normally say following a pro’s lead on gear is a good idea, THIS is a clear-cut exception.
It’s massive.
It is capable of breaking down into an impressively small bundle for storage in a trunk, closet or garage. But when in actual use, it might as well be a school bus thundering down a fairway. If you’ve ever seen one out in the wild, it’s clearly too big for the purpose it’s alleged to serve.
Admittedly, I’ve never used one …
But I don’t need to experience a nipple piercing to know I don’t want one of those, either. Due to its sheer size, the “Look at me, Louie” vibes it promotes are off the charts. Drawing attention to oneself at the Grammys might be warranted, but trust me: My sorry-arse game doesn’t need it.
But wait …
Incredibly, with a few attachment upgrades, the eyesore that is the Rovic can fester even further. You can attach a GPS caddie, padded seat, insulated cooler and umbrella holder – and all to the SAME cart. By the time it’s outfitted with all the bells and whistles Rovic provides, it’s better suited to sell lukewarm hot dogs in Manhattan than transport golf discs around a course.
Seriously, depending on the state in which you live, you might need a driver’s license to operate one. As presently constituted, however, all that’s required is a brain short on firing neurons.
Unless you’ve got thick skin, don’t buy one of these.
Ridicule incoming in three, two, one …
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I have always thought that they look more like a baby stroller than an actual disc golf cart. If I got a cart, I’d get one of those that Rick totes around.
Oh, the Ridge Rollers are nice …
Now that he’s with Dynamic Discs, he’s working with a Zuca.
Your twat is showing might want to take it off the internet
Thanks for the heads-up, Mike 🙂
Someone got their feelings hurt lol
LOL, I read this the day after I ordered one.
I’ve used pull and push ball golf carts, push was a lot more comfortable than pull…and that was when I was in my teens. Now that I’m in my late 30s and have a degenerating shoulder joint, I don’t care what it is if it helps keep my shoulder functional. And all I know is push is going to do that better than pull.
Function over form is the name of the game for me.
Bad timing on our part, Dustin!
But, man …
If you love it, screw some random article, right?
Happy throwing!
Played my first round with it yesterday. I feel better today than I have after a round in a LONG time. Function over form indeed.
…it is huge, lol. I won’t argue that point. But do I care? Not remotely. Even got mine in the overly obnoxious almost neon blue frame and wheels. If you’re gonna go big, go bright too!
Never seen one in neon blue, but sounds cool!
Almost like a rocket ship of some sort.
My man, if it works for you, that’s all that matters 🙂
I had several reasons, I like my bag, and would definitely forget discs and important items if I had to transfer them between a cart and bag all the time, this cart lets me use my bag. The wide wheel base is necessary to distribute your bags’ weight evenly while holding it at a higher height, a height which lets me retrieve my discs from my bag without bending over, which when playing 3 rounds over a weekend tournament adds up to over a hundred times I don’t have to bend down retrieve a disc and sling my bag over my shoulder. The seat attachment also has a mechanism that lowers a support to the ground as you sit, so your weight is on the ground instead of the cart frame, which should increase longevity, and makes me feel better about sitting on it. These reasons along with the push instead of pull design are why I enjoy the cart.
Judgey much? Its comfortable and if the course isn’t cart friendly I don’t unfold it. When you’re 65 and still huckin discs any little less weight helps. I guess you’ll be giving us old guys crap about throwing 150g understable discs next. Enjoy your macho why you can Taytay 😉
So don’t get one because this guy thinks they look stupid and will make fun of you… well I have owned one for the last 4 years and I can tell you, no one has made fun of me (at least to my face). There are a ton of bad things about the rovic that you could’ve mentioned. The only thing we got outta you was “it’s a monstrosity “. Good job dude…
If anyone is wanting to know actual bad things about the rovic, here you go. Bolts come out like crazy!! I have talked with rovic everytime and they always send me replacement parts/bolts (good on them). Every attachment costs way too much money. I once did a front flip over my cart because I was going down a small hill and the front wheel got stuck in a golfer hole! I won’t keep going on at this point but I will say there are also advantages to it over a zuca, and yes I have owned both. You can push the rovic with little effort most of the time where you are constantly having to push a zuca. You can fit way more stuff onto a rovic than a zuca. It’s got mitten attachments qith hand warmer pockets for cold weather. You can buy a cell phone holder and get sweet videos without having to have someone hold your phone or set up your phone against something.
Maybe your articles could include some actual information next time instead of you just complaining about something you have never used and clearly have no clue about any of its functions or advantages…
I want one! I see big Jerm pushin that in practice rounds and I want it more every time I see it.
I can just hang my backpack on it? Thats rad.
You see the terrain he can take on with this thing? Amazing.
One hand push, even?!
I want it meow!
Maybe I’m just old and unhip though?
Do you have a perception issue? Golfer with bag versus with cart or just specific carts. The seed has been planted by you, carts bad. Can’t unsee it.
A few words in favor of the rovic-
Doesn’t fall over like zuca carts.
Snake detector in front of you.
Bag pops on and off, no shoe-horning your bag in, no lost storage or water bottle pockets, and lastly,
Pull behind carts create rotational stresses on the body.
Ditched my zuca for a rovic years ago, couldn’t be happier.
Hot dog vending – great idea!
Mike, all I needed to hear was “snake detector.”
Reason enough to buy a Rovic!
I’ve been using the Rovic for 4 years now. I love it. Repeat,…. love it. I’m an old guy who really doesn’t care what people think, but have received many compliments on it. Guess how many times I have to pick up my bag per round. This cart probably isn’t for you though. They are well made, fold tiny as you stated, and do provide space for everything. Maybe gripe 24 should be your discs are too round.
When did Colton stop using Ridge Roller carts?
The Bag Boy Quad XL carts are just as bad as the Rovic carts with their enormous presence.
I know I will get a lot of hate for this, but for PDGA tournament play, all carts should be banned. Chairs should also be banned, but that’s another story.
We should also have disc limits on how many we bag (which would go a long way to reducing cart desirability), but we all know that will never happen because of manufacturer influence – disc limits could lessen sales if it forced people to actually think about carrying less.
I get it, not everyone wants to carry around a huge bag; and maybe as we get older it will help, but tournament play is SUPPOSED to be hard. If we can contort our bodies and try ripping our arms off on every long drive for two hours, then carrying a bag shouldn’t be the end of the world.
/rant
Ryan, LOVE the idea of limiting the number of frisbees a golfer can carry during a tournament …
I’ve heard this theory tossed around before, but it’s been a LONG time.
This might be the workings of a future article …
Thanks for the tip – happy throwing!
Although I despise comparing disc golf to ball golf, the club limit in PGA makes a lot of sense at all levels – amateurs don’t have to buy as much and learn their equipment faster while the pros are challenged with a limited tool bag. It’s one of the few things we should implement in DG…
If a disc limit ever came, I hope it would actually be a meaningful limit (i.e. maybe 20 discs, and not something unreasonable, like 35 discs).
What do you think would happen in the case of lost discs?
Just part of the challenge?
(love the added layer)
Big Jerm only used his for one season. He is back to the Bag Boy Quad XL. I suspect it is because the Rovic is larger in width and length and just not and nimble as the BagBoy.
Thanks for the update!
Maybe he’d read this article and agree with it, eh?
I’m with you on this one lucas. Not a fan of carts in general. Of course I don’t need one and can carry a bag just fine. Becomes a point where things get a little Frou Frou. Plus there’s a lot of courses that I play that you could not take one. Each to their own but I’m happy to carry my bag
I have some issues with my back. After pulling zuca style cart”pull behind’ I can only play one round. Pushing a 3 wheel cart leavs no stress on my back. Which leavs me to believe that pull behind golf carts create stress that some people don’t realize. My 2 cents.
Lmao.. Big jerm dos not use a rovic and has never used one..He uses a bag boy quad xl.. I’m not sure about the other pros u spoke of . Do some research before you write..
Hate to break it to you, but BigJerm used a Rovic last season …
He currently uses a four-wheel Bag Boy.
Which is impressive, because it’s not even a disc golf cart.
This is a lame article. Who gives a flip what people use to haul around their discs. They’re enjoying their time in the course, and people like this writer must have shortcomings to be a Karen.
I have one…in the bright blue. I’ve used a zuca and I hated taking it up or down hills, trying to turn it correctly to not roll on a incline, shoving my bag into the frame, finding companies who make accessories I wanted…so the rovic is perfect for me. Both my grip and squatch bags for perfectly, I have room for phone and wallet right in the top “drawer” and gotta love having the hand brake. Do I look a bit special with it…yeah probably…but then again I’m a bit special 😂
Bill, if the thing is working for you, screw this article …
You keep doing you.
No complaints here 🙂
LOL, great article and made me laugh. Good on you for writing it knowing how worked up some would get. The aesthetics are absolutely the worst, let’s all agree on that. It is not possible to look cool or athletic with that apparatus. For the record, I am 55, in good shape, and still carry a bag. I do have a Zuca but only use it for long/slow/flat course tournaments, mainly so I can have a seat without carrying a stool around.
No denying the functionality is probably superior, and if you legitimately have need for it then who cares what people think. Myself, I would rather play putter only than roll that shopping cart around. The surprise attachment that is missing from it … a child seat!
Bahahaha …
Damon, that “child seat” comment got an audible chuckle out of me.
I will also add, however, that the Rovic carts break down REALLY small …
So there’s that, too.
But it’s just too much – I’m not confident enough for that kind of attention.
Thanks for reading!
I have been using a Rovic for two years twice a week.
I think it is awesome!
The only people who have ever said anything negative about it are people who have never tried it.
There are always going to be haters, and I hate to say it, but probably they are jealous to.
Glad it’s working for, you Michael!