Review: The Discraft Nuke SS

Two words:

More. Distance.

Sold, right?

Pump the brakes there, Sparky: There’s WAY more to the Nuke SS than that. I get that everybody wants more distance off the tee. I’m also confident that, for the right disc golfer, the Nuke SS can make it happen – no form changes required. The keyword in that statement, of course, is “right.”

So, is she right for you?

Read on.

The feel of the Nuke SS

Here’s my prediction:

• You will love the feel of the Nuke SS.
• You will hate the feel of the Nuke SS.

There is no in-between.

The Nuke SS is a distance driver. As far as its in-hand feel is concerned, it has the rim-width of a Boss and a rim-depth of a Ballista. If you’re unfamiliar with those molds, that’s a roundabout way of saying it’s quite possibly the widest-rimmed disc I’ve ever held, but with a rim that’s fairly shallow-feeling. As someone who hates the feel of fairway drivers, however …

It works.

That’s me, though.

That might NOT be you.

And if it isn’t, do not buy this disc.

You will be disappointed.

Also, if you’re new to Discraft golf discs, the manufacturer embosses the names of its discs in large letters along the inside of the rim. I like this, because it gives me a bit more grip, especially when throwing a Z-Line frisbee, as it’s a slicker polymer. Others hate this, though. If that’s you, don’t let it dissuade you from throwing Discraft molds – just grip the disc elsewhere on the rim.

And lastly, speaking of Z-Line plastic, brand-spanking new, it’s prone to slipping out of the hand. After a few rounds of use, though, the “shine” of the disc disappears. Furthermore, Discraft’s ESP plastic is another great option. It’s softer than the Z-Line stuff, while still being durable.

The more you know.

The flight of the Nuke SS

I’ll cut right to the chase …

This disc bombs.

It’s the farthest-flying frisbee in my bag.

DO keep the following in mind, though:

• If you spend five minutes with it, it’ll be finicky.
• If you spend five rounds with it, it’ll be fabulous.

Time matters.

Here are its flight numbers: 13 (Speed) 5 (Glide) -3 (Turn) 3 (Fade)

I’m not one to participate much in the “flight numbers are evil” argument. With this disc, however, I think they’re off. The 13 is high, as you don’t need a mega-powerful arm to get this frisbee to perform as intended. Also, the fade of three is misleading. Yes, this disc maintains some integrity at the end of a long flight, but I’d give it a one or two, as there’s not much.

On a steep hyzer, this thing will hold it and push 25 to 35 feet farther than both my Sirius and Quantum Scorpiuses. On a gentle hyzer, it’ll flip to flat, turn fairly quickly, hold the turn and near the tail-end of its flight, fight out of it ever so slightly – hitting 400 feet is a breeze.

* Note #1: To put my distance in perspective, 350 feet is easy, and 375 feet isn’t surprising.

A flat-and-high huck results in a never-ending turnover, which is awesome. And for even the most modest of arms, an outright anhyzer angle will produce some sort of backhand roller. Understandably, how effective that roller ends of being is a byproduct of individual skill.

* Note #2: On forehand lines, the Nuke SS can work, but if your form sucks, it’ll struggle.

There’s versatility with the Nuke SS.

You just need to know how to throw it.

The aesthetic of the Nuke SS

I don’t have lots to say about this, really …

Shocking, I know.

In general, I’m not much of a fan of the look of Discraft’s stock Z-Line frisbees. The font’s wonky and gives off a “Saturday morning cartoons” vibe. But this is just me nitpicking.

It’s fine.

And that’s that.

Did the Discraft Nuke SS make my bag?

Absolutely.

Disc Golf Deals USA sent me this disc to throw a couple of months back. Though intrigued by what I’d read about it online, I figured I’d review it and then sell it to Play-It-Again Sports for some quick pocket money. But again, it’s hard to ditch BIG distance – and it’s instant, too.

I said it once; I’ll say it twice:

No form changes required.

If my hyzer-flip game is trash that day, I’m not reaching for the Nuke SS. If there’s any kind of headwind, I’m not reaching for the Nuke SS. If the fairway’s even mildly tight, I’m not reaching for the Nuke SS. But if all is calm, I’ve got ample room and need to bite off some serious D …

The Nuke SS gets the call.

This is a fun slot to fill.

For the time being, I’ve filled it.

The Final Green Splatter Grade: A-

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Editor’s Suggestions:

• Perk No. 3: Disc golf is dirt-cheap
• Here’s how to use disc golf to fight insomnia
• Why you should experiment with ‘one-grip’ rounds of disc golf

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