My dad’s big into high-end bicycles.
My brother-in-law is all-in on sneakers.
My father-in-law loves sexy muscle cars.
I like watches.
And not smartwatches, as I hate them with the fury of a thousand raging fires. I’m talking about mechanical watches – like, the kind of timepiece your grandpa took to war way back when.
The common wristwatch hearkens back to a simpler time, which I adore. And given the insane accuracy of today’s mechanical movements, they’re nothing short of tiny feats of engineering.
Furthermore, in the mind of a watch enthusiast, they’re wearable art. Put that in your pipe and smoke it, Señorita Mona Lisa. Here’s perhaps my favorite part of watches, though …
They get better with age.
Bikes and tennis shoes can’t say the same …
Muscle cars?
Of course.
For fanatics of old-school time-keeping, to truly appreciate a watch is to regularly wear it – not keep it in some vacuum-sealed, apocalypse-proof container where nobody can experience it.
Don’t get me wrong: Watch lovers hardly go out of their way to dent, ding or destroy their hard-earned (and frequently expensive) timepieces. But visible wear is a natural byproduct of enjoyment. The first scratch is always the hardest. After that, they’re (kind of) welcomed.
Each has a story to tell.
Golf discs are the same.
I’m not going to bore you with the stuff you already know: Beat-to-death discs produce insane, circus-style flight paths you simply can’t get from fresh, out-of-the-box fliers – this is a fact.
* Note: If you want more of this kind of information, click here.
Instead, it’s the principle of the matter for which I’m most grateful. In today’s world of constant iPhone upgrades and H&M’s “fast-fashion” culture, old golf discs aren’t worth discarding at the first sign of wear – they’re meant to be kept. And even better, thrown to snot until they’re literally incapable of soaring through the air in even the most pathetic of capacities.
- Stamps fade.
- Understability increases.
- Max-weight discs lose a few grams.
But nasty, time-tested frisbees still have a glorious service to provide …
Bag them. Throw them.
Those watches I was talking about? AP, Rolex, Omega, Patek Philippe: When it comes time to have their internals serviced, many watch freaks refuse to have them professionally shined. To do so would remove the memories the watch proudly wears – I feel the same way about my discs.
You should, too.
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Editor’s Suggestions:
- I’m okay with this kind of vandalism on disc golf courses
- Disc golf: The single-best place to practice throwing straight
- Gripe No. 75: Shouting ‘Leave it there!’ at well-meaning park-goers
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Not only do discs get better with age, but even when they get “too flippy” they’re perfect for friends and family who are new to the sport.
My DX leopard from the starter pack for example is a great beginner driver for my daughter. Though it’s actually a little flippy for her now! And she’s since graduated to the Innova IT and Trash Panda Ozone.
Rocs and Teebirds are the epitome of aging like fine wine. I’ve got a 167g star Teebird and I can’t wait for the day I get to hand it down to my daughter. But for now she’s getting lots of action in my bag and I don’t see her coming out of the bag anytime soon.
Oh, that was so cringe …
I felt bad for him, too.
The most camera time he’s ever gotten in his life …
Playing with guys he absolutely idolizes …
And …
[Insert Brain Fart]
All’s well that ends well, I suppose.
It happens. Haha.
Not me. I want consistency. I’ll only buy premium plastic and attempt to master each discs profile. If a disc is always changing…. That’s just some more stuff* I need to be thinking about.
Every manufacturer has so many molds so….Buy the flight numbers you want, not the flight numbers you’ll hopefully get…. Eventually.
But also, I put with Star plastic so feel free to ignore me.
Hahaha …
I forgot about you putting with a premium-plastic, wait for it …
GATOR.
Love the disc, but that’ll never not be weird to me.
But, as is always the case, if you’re draining putts, who gives a rat’s rectum?
Also, I’d add that I CAN conceive how the Gator would feel good in the hand as a putter …
I once knew a guy who putt with a Felon, and I’ve never forgiven him for it.
This is not that. Haha.
I challenge you to toss a few c1 putts with a Gator. You’re right, it does feel perfect in hand, and that low glide is great. Also, don’t need to think about is it windy? Same putter in all conditions.
(I’m push putter, but I’m sure it would be just as great if you spin)
I push, too!
And you’re on …
Heck, maybe I’ll turn this into an article?
Not a bad idea 🙂
Nice!
And a great point, too.
If you can get to that point with a premium-plastic flier?
Oh, goodness …
You’ll have died and gone to heaven.
Because when a DX Teebird beats to flippy, it’ll keep beating.
But when a Champion Teebird beats to flippy, it holds it for a good bit.
One of my favorite processes in the game.
(it just takes a long time to get there – haha)
Doubling back to add…
I decided to let my daughter try out my beat in 167g star Teebird today. She throws with a ton of anhyzer and wanted to see how it handled for her. It flew great! Flexed out of the anny halfway through flight to go into the as expected Teebird fade. Where as her Ozone would hold that anny and fly right and never fade back. I told her to keep it, I’ve got two in DX and one in champion plastic. I’ll probably pick up another one in star plastic soon.
Feels great to beat a disc to perfection and then hand it down. Especially because she knows how often I’ve leaned on it off the tee. It’s not just another new disc (to her) it’s an old friend to both of us. It would have been too beefy for her 6 months ago but her arm is getting stronger and it’s beat in to perfection. Besides I’ve been finding myself grabbing firebirds more often lately (they never cut roll on me, lol)
That’s awesome, man!
And good on you for getting that daughter of yours into the sport early …
No, she might not become the second-coming of Paige Pierce (but who knows?), but she’ undoubtedly remember the time the two of you’ve spent together on the course for decades to come.
I’m not trying to get cheesy, but THAT is what’s probably coolest about all of this 🙂
And the Teebird, of course. Haha.
I think if you ask her she’s hoping to be the next Kat Mertsch.
And in case anyone was wondering she has a better backhand than me 😂
Bahahaha …
Well, if anything, it’s your honesty that’s refreshing 🙂
My beat in discs are like old friends. I want to go sit at the bar and have a beer with them and tell war stories. “Hey man you remember that time you flew off course into a 8 ft deep lake. Remember how I came and got you”. Fist bump. So next time I throw you in that spot I need you to perform better. It’s almost like I can hear the disc say “you got it bro”.
I’ve had that conversation with my discs, as well.
I’ve heard them respond similarly, too.
The problem?
They lie.
And frequently.
I find my love for the game also gets better with age. I have alot more nicks and dings then I used and I struggle to get high speed drivers to go as far as I used to throw my ol Cyclones and I’m not king of the hill around here any more but still the love grows stronger.
Awesome, Chuck!
That must mean you’re doing something right, huh?
Couldn’t be happier for you 🙂
I got hung up on the idea that bicycles don’t age well. Bikes are like cars, just skip the most recent 50 years and they are cool.
Whats your oldest disc?
Oh, that’s a good question …
I’ve got a couple of CE Classic Rocs that are from the late 90s or early 2000s.
The oldest disc I regularly bag and throw, however, is a beat-to-death KC Pro Roc from …
2015, I want to say?
Given recent new about Ken Climo, I’ll want to hang onto it for a good bit longer. Haha.