As is frequently the case, this topic traces its roots back to the comments section. This time around, the reader in question noted how he puts with a premium-plastic disc. In defense of his position, he shared his personal belief that the ills of premium-plastic use within C1X are blown WAY out of proportion – that it doesn’t produce near the spit-outs it’s alleged by the masses …
And you know what?
He’s right.
Depending on the manufacturer of your favorite putting putter, in my opinion, spit-outs are still more likely to take place with a Star– or Champion-equivalent polymer – so there’s that. But man, I have to believe that difference – assuming it does, in fact, exist – is negligible.
Now where I will stand up in defense of baseline-or-bust putting putters is that I do think they greatly reduce the likelihood of cut-throughs when making a bid at the basket. When I expressed this point to the aforementioned reader, this is the reply I was met with an hour or two later:
“What’s a cut-through?”
And alas, here we are …
Spit-outs vs. Cut-throughs
Of the two terms, spit-out is far more commonly used. My gut tells me it’s experienced more regularly, as well. A spit-out occurs when a disc (usually a putter) comes into contact with the chains, but is then redirected in an entirely different direction. Either directly back towards the disc golfer or off to their side, this redirection is so strong and unexpected, that – in spite of the chains being cleanly (and confidently) hit – the disc somehow falls down to the ground below.
Miss.
Here’s a time-stamped example …
And in slow-motion, too.
Now for the cut-through.
The tell-tale sign of a classic cut-through is the disc – again, usually a putter – falling to the green on the opposite side of the basket from where the disc golfer originally tossed. This happens when a disc manages to slice directly through the center of the chains and out the backside. If your putt has lots of hyzer on it, don’t be surprised when this is the result.
Here’s Kyle Klein putting the cut-through on full-display …
This one’s in slow-motion, too.
Within circle one, it’s been my experience that spit-outs have less to do with plastic type and more to do with pace. Case in point, Gannon Buhr (now) putts with D-Line P3Xs, yet it’s never been uncommon in his career to see the guy lose his mind over spit-outs during Pro Tour events.
The reason?
He’s Noah Syndergaard on the putting green.
Plastic isn’t the problem.
Dial the speed back a bit, Geronimo.
For cut-throughs, as mentioned earlier, a steep hyzer angle is the biggest culprit. However, smooth, slick-feeling polymers absolutely play a role, as well. If you’ve heard disc golfers talk about softer plastics “grabbing the chains,” this is what they’re on about. 750, Lucid, C-Line, Z-Line – whatever: Premium plastic is horrible at this. Heck, it’s hardly premium stuff, but even my new, slick-feeling KC Pro Aviars are no stranger to cut-throughs on the slightest of hyzers.
The good news?
At the end of the day, if you’re sinking putts, feel free to toss conventional wisdom out the window. Putt with a PDGA-approved shoebox, if you like – the scorecard trounces all.
As long as you’re not regularly seeing THIS out on the course, you’re good …
I don’t even know what that’s called.
Voodoo?
Whatever it is, it ain’t right.
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Admit it, you’ve grabbed your Gator once and putted with it just to see what I’m talking about?
I always think gstar is so close to being the ideal putter plastic but it’s just too flimsy for me. I like my plastic stiff as a board.
I’ve got a years-long history of putting with the Gator into stiff headwinds of 15+ miles per hour …
So I’m no stranger to the feat.
But admittedly, to date, just for the heck of it in normal conditions, I’ve yet to bust mine out.
And I just got back from a night round, too.
Missed opportunity.
Next round, though, for sure – I’ll make it happen!
That’s how it started for me. Windy rounds. Then after a bad Aviar round i thought…. Why not putt with the windy putter all the time? Why change putters in the wind? That just introduces more variables. Putt with the most OS putter all the time and never have to think about the wind again. Keep it simple stupid.
I figure, don’t change putters based on weather. Master 1 putter and eliminate the decision of …. Is this Gator wind or is my aviar safe? So one putter for every condition.
That makes sense.
You hear the same argument for mold minimalism, as well as the all-max-weight bag.
Both are perfectly understandable.
The fewer variables to think about, the better.
I’ve done that for the most part, but it’s kind of a fun flex to be able to hit short putts with the Apocalypse in 30mph winds. Anything beyond like 17 ft is going to be a layup anyway in those conditions.
But I agree, knowing how your one and only putter mold behaves in all conditions is a very good thing
Love it!
Thanks for the comment, Tyler.
Don’t be a stranger!
I’m pretty sure Gannons putting with Hard Exo Links.
He might very well be!
His bag is all new with Discmania, obviously.
This reference was based on his initial in-the-bag video with Discmania: https://tinyurl.com/26zc87pt
He mentions both, though …
We shall see which wins-out come season’s end!
Ok I saw the Exo Hard Link from Jomez and they mentioned on Griplocked that Gannon yelled something along the lines of “Suck it Konner Kennedy”after he won Waco referring to when they said that Gannon was only throwing innova.
Nice!
Sounds like he’s putting with those …
Nothing wrong with that!
Nope! 🙂
I fully agree with everything you wrote. Over the years I have used base and premium plastic putters.
For me personally, I’ve decided to fully stick with what feels good, and gives me confidence when I’m lining up a 25 footer. I’d rather have the 5-10% added confidence vs. the 1% better gripping power. As a mere mortal disc golfer, I have enough trouble with releasing the putter cleanly and confidently.
Just one viewpoint.
Thanks, David!
Now you’ve got me curious …
What IS the putter (and plastic) that does that for you?
My favorite putter I’ve ever had was a Star Aviar…threw that for nearly a decade, until it split on a tree. I’ve used a Penrose for the last year or two(base plastic), but not sure if I’ll stick with it.
Once again, I value the feel of the disc over its ability to grip chains.
The Star disc split in half?!
Never heard of that before …
That sucks, but at the same time …
It’s pretty cool 🙂
(sorry for your loss, though)
Maybe a slight exaggeration. After 8-9 years of use, I hit a tree squarely with a full throw. The disc cracked/split through the top plate, but not through the rim.
Ah, I could see that happening, yeah …
I’ve had KC Pro Aviars smack the top-band and literally split in half.
Rare, but didn’t think that was possible …
Still, what you achieved is pretty cool – let’s not minimize it 🙂