Ken Climo bags one midrange …
It just so happens to bear his initials: the KC Pro Roc.
No matter how long you’ve been in disc golf, you’ve likely heard tales of the wonders of the KC Pro Roc. Payers fantasize about them, collect them and even throw ‘em on occasion, incredibly.
But is this REALLY a make-or-break mold?
As an Innova fanboy since day one, I’ve thrown just about every kind of Roc Innova’s produced, thinking it’d magically transform my game into something otherworldly. In spite of my diehard Innova fandom, keep reading if you’re looking for an honest, unbiased (I promise) opinion …
Have at it:
The KC Pro Roc: The good
Personally, I think “Star Wars” is dumb, but you know what?
Billions of people can’t be wrong, so it must be good: The KC Pro Roc is the same way.
It set the standard for beaded midranges. Regardless of manufacturer, if your go-to midrange has a sizable bead on it, it’s a clone of the Roc in one way or another – sorry, but it’s true. Being “first to the game,” so to speak, has its advantages in disc golf – everything else is a knockoff.
Also, should you choose to bag a KC Pro Roc, it’ll easily be your farthest-flying midrange. If I step up to a hole that’s over 315 feet, I’m likely going with a fairway driver – I know my game; I know my limitations. If I’ve got a slightly beat KC with me, though, I can 100% get it there.
They glide and glide and glide …
Did I mention they glide?
Hands down, though, the No. 1 reason to buy a KC Pro Roc is for the unique flight. Answer this question honestly: Released on a backhand hyzer line, how many discs do you bag that will flip to flat, fly straight and then, at the end of its flight, drift ever so slightly to the right?
Unless I’ve got a KC Roc with me, I don’t have one – plain and simple.
Granted, the disc doesn’t come out of the box like that: This is a good thing. New, the disc will fly straight and fade at the end. After a few good tree hits, from start to finish, it’ll fly straight. And then, months later, it’ll flip and drift – this is why guys rarely just have one of ‘em …
One mold. Multiple flights. That’ll do.
The KC Pro Roc: The bad
The disc’s not all rainbows, cotton candy and shooting stars, I’m afraid …
All the time, I read about how great the grip on a KC Pro Roc is – man, I just don’t see it that way. It’ll get there, but only after it’s been used for a bit. Brand new, the vast majority of ‘em have a chalky feel that sometimes causes them to slip out of my hand – I don’t like that.
Furthermore, I know Climo wasn’t big on sidearms, but the KC Roc didn’t do him any favors, really – it’s not great for forehands. Unless you buy a flat-top CFR run, the dome and shelf height probably won’t feel all that comfortable with your flick grip – go for something else.
Also, here’s a weird one …
The very thing that grants the KC Pro Roc “legend” status is one of its downfalls, too. If you’re prone to whacking the first-available tree right off the teepad, this disc might not be what you’re looking for. Yes, a “beat-in” KC Roc is gooey goodness, but it’s firm Pro plastic – not Kevlar.
Square up a tree and don’t be surprised to find a flight plate that’s now warped. Please don’t be one of those uber-prissy golfers that thinks a warped disc can no longer fly great, but still …
It can be annoying – I get that.
The KC Pro Roc: So, is it overrated?
I’m about to get all lame up in here: It depends …
Similar to how courses were attacked back in Climo’s day, if you throw very few sidearms and go the one-angle route with most of your shots, there’s not a better disc on the market.
Properly rated.
If you do have a semi-competent forehand and prefer to keep the same discs in your bag for years on end without having to introduce new plastic, go with something else. The Roc3 in a premium plastic is great. And if you don’t like beads, the Buzzz or EMac Truth are solid, too.
Overrated.
As for me, right now, I don’t actively bag a KC Pro Roc …
In fact, if you watch a few of the “In the Bag” videos of current members of Team Innova, you’ll notice that many of them don’t bag KC Pro Rocs, either. Ricky Wysocki did the past couple of years, but most go for the Roc3 or Mako3 in premium plastic for their “workhorse” duties.
If you’re still on the fence, here’s what I’d recommend:
- Step No. 1 – Pick one up.
- Step No. 2 – Give it a whirl.
- Step No. 3 – Buy more if it works.
* Note: If you do buy one, get a max-weight (180 grams) Roc – anything less is sacrilegious.
This belongs in the “good” section, but for as mythical as KC Pro Rocs are made out to be, they’re HARDLY expensive – they’re also easy to find. You’ve got nothing to lose: Go for it.
That’s it for the KC Pro Roc – don’t get me started on the Classic Roc, BTW …
Discs simply don’t get any better: That’s an article for another day, though.
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