[Innova] The Tern!

[chain_ape7]

I played a 1 disc challenge round last weekend with our local club. I thought about using a mid(FLX Buzz)
but reached for my 164 Star Tern - my first ace disc. I came in with a -1 tied for 3rd place with about 15 players. I really couldn't believe how my putting was fast and straight with a driver.
I'm an older player with average distance and the Tern has really helped my game - I own 4 of them!
3 Star - 1 Champion

 

[Um...]

Congrats on the ace!! Bold move going with the driver. :thmbup:

I would never be able to get away with using a high speed driver for a one disc challenge. My Axis would hate me for weeks.

 

[Uncle Matt]

Congrats on the ace!! Bold move going with the driver. :thmbup:

I would never be able to get away with using a high speed driver for a one disc challenge. My Axis would hate me for weeks.

I would go with a Comet and people would be in trouble. I kill it with a Comet

 

[BirdieMachine]

How do you like your Champ Terns dome wise? I have a 167 that I would call between Small to FAF. Thinking about doming it up some. I like it but always wonder if I could get a bit more consistency with more dome.

FAF, Small dome, Medium dome, Large dome, Mega dome?

 

[Aim For The Chains]

the only terns I have thrown were pretty domey. felt like they were a lot more OS than people made it sound but mine also were pretty much new with flash also. Honestly didn't like the feel or flight due to dumpy fade and touchy turn. I think i read in here that the flat are more true to flight ratings.

 

[BirdieMachine]

Doming up usually raises PLH a bit making it more stable. I actually like the stability wise. Nice gentle turn and forward fade. Maybe I will just look for another one with small to medium dome. I always take the flashing off before I throw my discs just because I know it will wear off and change the flight. I don't want to end up liking it with flash on.

Anyone else? How do you like your dome?

 

[Uncle Matt]

I've been throwing Kings and Terns side by side and my Terns are always doing something great to make me want to keep them in the bag.

Like today I had this killer S-Shot with my Champion on this hilly hole. It went close to 410ft . It was the prettiest shot you would ever see.

It's looking like the Kings may be coming out soon.

Both my Star and my Champion have a Slight dome to them.

 

[Stoney J]

Have a grape Tern that kicks butt and I found a matching Mako3 and Mamba to complete the set. All three are grape colored Champion plastic. I have pics that I need to upload and post. Tern is Awesome for me. It's 168 and the way it performs, it's hard to find a reason not to keep it in the bag. By next spring it should be worn in and ready for duty.

 

[bfowler]

By next spring it should be worn in and ready for duty.

That's what I can't wait for. I've got a 168 Star Tern and I can't wait to see some super hyzer flip rolls when it gets beat in. I'll pair it with a new Star Tern and be ready for battle.

 

[Fraser]

I was able to have two throws with a champion Tern today. Both throws were very conservative because of uneasy footing due to snowy/slushy conditions. All I've got to say is that for me, this disc produces some easy distance. The first was a one step, 70% power, flat release throw that had some nice turn and fade to land straight ahead at 300'. The second was a full run up, 85% power hyzer into a 10 mph headwind. I threw it a bit too high and a little too nose-up. It flipped up flat but it didn't turn and kind of stalled out to fade 30' left of center. It still went 320'. As of right now, my backhand is still a work-in-progress so take all of this with a grain of salt. My normal BH controlled distance is 300-320' with a max of 350'. The thing that really shocked me is that this disc doesn't feel like a speed 12 disc in my hand.

After the round, I ended up buying a star Tern and ordered a champ one. I'm really hoping that the star is going to be able to replace my fliptastic, beat-to-snot pro Wraith that I lost a couple of weeks ago.

 

[mattc]

I was able to have two throws with a champion Tern today. Both throws were very conservative because of uneasy footing due to snowy/slushy conditions. All I've got to say is that for me, this disc produces some easy distance. The first was a one step, 70% power, flat release throw that had some nice turn and fade to land straight ahead at 300'. The second was a full run up, 85% power hyzer into a 10 mph headwind. I threw it a bit too high and a little too nose-up. It flipped up flat but it didn't turn and kind of stalled out to fade 30' left of center. It still went 320'. As of right now, my backhand is still a work-in-progress so take all of this with a grain of salt. My normal BH controlled distance is 300-320' with a max of 350'. The thing that really shocked me is that this disc doesn't feel like a speed 12 disc in my hand.

After the round, I ended up buying a star Tern and ordered a champ one. I'm really hoping that the star is going to be able to replace my fliptastic, beat-to-snot pro Wraith that I lost a couple of weeks ago.

You throw about the same distance as I do.
I feel like the Tern was too fast for me, so I took it out of the bag.
I am sticking with control drivers and slower for now.
Until I can break out to 400' there isn't much point in packing anything faster.

 

[ranger]

The star tern is easier to throw imo

 

[discspeed]

I'm throwing 2 Terns for the winter, a Star 166 and a Champ 166...I throw 400' or so with good footing, but I'm happy with a 360' placement shot when there is snow on the tee. My Champ gets just a touch of high speed turn and a nice gliding fade making it a pretty straight disc overall. My Star is more understable, but it's still not as understable as it's rated. FWIW I have heavier ones as well...The Champs all fly consistently. My 166 Star is more HSS than my 175 Star.

For under 400' of power I'd recommend a Mamba/beat Pro Wraith over the Tern.

 

[Fraser]

You throw about the same distance as I do.
I feel like the Tern was too fast for me, so I took it out of the bag.
I am sticking with control drivers and slower for now.
Until I can break out to 400' there isn't much point in packing anything faster.

While I completely agree with you (that's the primary reason I haven't even touched one let alone thrown one until now), I found it was giving me a quantifiable increase in distance with less power than my control drivers without the loss of any control. Not only that, but my two throws were the second and third throw on a brand new disc and I was surprised that it wasn't a meathook for my power. Most discs faster than a Valk are typically meathooks for me. However, I'm still a strong advocate of using discs that are more suitable for your arm-speed.

I'm only going to experiment with my Terns for more of a situational role than a primary driver. There are a few holes that are greater than 400' and are wide open off the tee but have the pins set deeply inside dense woods at my home course. It's much easier to hit a 15' gap when you are 50' out than 100'. I'm a FH dominate player with around 400' of power so when I get to these tee boxes, I typically throw FH. There is no reason for me, other than to work on my BH, to throw BH on these tees. Having a little more distance gives me a little more confidence in throwing BH off the tee (or from the fairway of a 720' dogleg left that if I'm playing really well will card a 4. It's much easier to throw a BH hyzer at the turn of the dogleg (which starts at the 400' mark) than a FH turnover. The fairway to the left is heavily tree-lined and the pin is in a copse of trees inside this tree-line.)

 

[Stoney J]

That's what I can't wait for. I've got a 168 Star Tern and I can't wait to see some super hyzer flip rolls when it gets beat in. I'll pair it with a new Star Tern and be ready for battle.

:thmbup::clap:

 

[Fraser]

...For under 400' of power I'd recommend a Mamba/beat Pro Wraith over the Tern.

I tend to agree with you discpeed but I found that the Tern was a little easier to control than a Mamba. My beat Pro Wraith is sorely missed. The champ Tern flew eerily similar to the way my Pro Wraith did before it got completely beat in. I'm hoping that the star Tern might have a similar flight as the Wraith at the time I lost it.

 

[PMantle]

I don't throw 400, and I can't keep a Mamba in the air unless downwind and hyzer flipped. Champ Tern is perfect for me into a slight headwind. Star for dead calm or slightly downwind.

 

[ranger]

Not a fan of the mamba either. Is it any better in the wind than the Tern?

I think I would still recommend a star tern to someone throwing under 400. I think the disc can still do a lot of good if you have some decent snap.

 

[PMantle]

I love my Mamba, but it's a special use disc.

 

[justinf67]

Just got a 172 champ tern. Had some testing with it yesterday and I really like it. I was comparing it with my most stable king, a 172 vip, which is my go to disc for distance. My king in calm conditions is money, nice subtle turn, then good forward fade. In a bit of a headwind, the king will turn a little too much, losing some accuracy. I was hoping the tern at 172 in champ plastic would hold up better in headwinds than my king and it delivered pretty well. Heavy headwinds, no way, but medium headwinds it was a better option than my king. I have 350-375 ft of power and it will turn slightly, then a nice late forward fade. Very nice disc, already made the bag