Review: The Sockibomb Slammer

Anything Ricky Wysocki touches becomes cool …

Given Rick’s die-hard following, it’s easy to understand the initial frenzy. However, getting beyond the guy’s friendly face, infectious laugh and brilliant bucket hat, I wanted to see for myself if there was any actual logic behind disc golf’s seemingly instant Slammer-fandom …

Here’s what I found:

The feel of the Slammer

I don’t love the feel of the Slammer.

It’s not bad enough that I couldn’t learn to love it – it’s not a Polecat. But it’s a deeper disc. For a guy with smaller hands like myself, it wouldn’t be my first choice. I’ve thrown Zones. The Pig is in and out of my bag, too. Both have a thin enough profile to allow for a clean forehand release. I’m not finicky about disc depth on backhands, but the flick is the Slammer’s calling-card …

Not for me.

It’s one of the FLATTEST discs I’ve ever seen, though – freaking awesome.

The Slammer’s also a beadless disc with a thumbtrack. I prefer a bead, but that’s for backhand throws. For sidearms, I’m indifferent. And a fan of the Champion Rhyno, I’ve had a love affair with thumbtracks for quite some time. For an approach putter, these are hardcore selling points.

When mentioned in conversation, the Sockibomb Slammer’s plastic is usually left out of the mix. Classic Supreme Orbit plastic is what you get when you order a Sockibomb Slammer. It’s firm. It’s durable. And it’s really grippy. It’s soft enough to beat-in, but tough enough to handle a buttload of trees and fly the same. I’ve used mine for a month – the flight’s not changed.

The flight of the Slammer

Let’s get the flight numbers out of the way: 3 (Speed) 1 (Glide) 0 (Turn) 4 (Fade)

* Note #1: This is a retooled Slammer for Rick – here are the regular digits: 3 | 2 | 0 | 3

Usually, I’m one to poke fun at the utter uselessness of flight numbers. In the case of this Slammer, though, they’re spot-on. It’s a flightless, overstable approach putter that dumps. Ninety-nine percent of golfers are buying it for that purpose – it delivers on the promise.

While I’m not a fan of the disc’s overall feel, the beef that comes with it accounts for poor flick form. This is (technically) a putter – that’s rare. The overstability makes the Slammer great for 175-foot, forehand and backhand spike hyzers. It performs well on flex lines, too. Slow, it’s not going to fight out of it like a Felon, but with ample air underneath it, it’ll flex back for you.

Lastly, it’s worth mentioning the Sockibomb Slammer is NOT a Harp. Wysocki bags both. You’d have to ask him, but my guess is that it’s because the Slammer doesn’t fly as far nor cycle as well as the Harp. If you’re coming over from a Pig to somewhat mimic Rick’s bag, go with a Harp …

The Slammer’s a different beast.

* Note #2: If sold on the flight, Infinite Discs has a TON of X-Out Slammers – click here.

The aesthetic of the Slammer

They don’t make ‘em much cooler than the Sockibomb Slammer …

This thing belongs on a runway in Paris.

Void of hyperbole, it’s one of the best-looking discs I’ve ever seen. And while the thought of buying a disc to hang on a wall makes me nauseous, if that’s your jam, this qualifies. The flight plate’s classic. The knock-off Halo ring around the rim is clean. Even the underside is sharp.

I know what a 10 looks like, and this thing’s a smokeshow.

* Note #3: The Raptor Eye Sockibomb Slammer is even more tempting – check it out.

Did the Sockibomb Slammer make my bag?

Nope, but man …

It’s not hard to see why so many love it.

I’ve droned on about the depth of the disc, but more than that, the flight’s nothing new. There are a million-and-a-half overstable approach putters on the market. I’ve mentioned the Zone, Pig and Harp, but that’s hardly the extent of it: The A2, Toro, Tactic, Entropy and Distortion all exist.

But the Sockibomb Slammer does EXACTLY what it says it’ll do – that means a lot.

If I’d started with the Slammer and gotten used to the Slammer, I’d swear by the Slammer.

The Final Green Splatter Grade: A-

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