[Vs.] Rate Disc Golf companies from first to worst.

[Basshunter]

Every company has their strengths and weaknesses. Many players, as seen in the thread, are old school and throw what they know. Innova and Discraft. Imagine the thousands of players out there who aren't on DGCR and have been playing for many years. Chances are good that few of them throw the newer brands.

All manufacturers make good discs. And all of us here posting could switch bags around from manufacturer to manufacturer and play just as well. Well, you'd have a tough time making an all Aerobie, or all Salient bag.

I always chuckle when players say that certain manufacturers "didn't work out for them" or something along those lines. It's more honest to say that you like what you like, and don't want to switch. And there's nothing wrong with that.

Best post in the thread, thank you. We all search for the equipment that serves us best, in any endeavor. Were you a trout fisherman like I am, I've no doubt you'd throw a different rig than I, but we might both land the same amount of fish. I work in the craft beer business and my answer to anyone who asks "what should I drink" is drink what you like. Same with DG, throw what you like.

 

[SteezeOG]

I'd put DD first. Shocking. They pretty much did exactly what I would've done if I was starting a disc line though. Lat64 imo has the best plastic selection for manufacturers and DD put together a quick lineup of molds that I love. Almost all of them and the ones I don't love I still like enough in a few plastics to have around.

All the others but the two I list below I have pretty good experience with and won't hesitate to add to my bag if I need to.

The two companies that are pretty much on my never purchase list are Prodigy and Salient. Only because of customer service I've received in some way. I've actually thrown Prodigy but they never responded to me about a replacement and I had to get a member here to do it. Since then I've noticed they are doing much better and maybe after some more time I'll be open to spending money on a prodigy disc. I don't see it though I'm happy with what I use. Salient I just couldn't be a customer after their attempts at marketing here. I have yet to see any videos of their disc flight that can't be measured in traditional terms...still waiting.

 

[Connor Jones]

Just going to name five based off of things that I actually throw.

1. Innova/Mill - They make a ton of discs. I don't have many in my bag but I could easily have an all innova bag and still score well. Rocs,Destroyers,Eagles,TB's,Aviar,OLS,OLF,PLF(love) too many great molds to not be #1.

2. Prodigy - The M3. That's the only disc they would ever have to make and I would still have them at #2. The straightest flying mid I have ever thrown, also bag a couple of D2's and really enjoy the PA1&PA4.

3. Discraft/DGA - A great list of mids including the mighty squall, no longer in my bag but that thing goes far, the M3 just does it better for me.

4. Gateway - I've putted with the magic for over 95% of my rounds since I started playing disc golf. I chose it very early on and have stuck with it. Great disc to go along with all the other fantastic putters and some of the decently underrated midranges.

5. MVP - I don't bag any MVP, and I don't have a huge love for the discs themselves, but they get a nod just for being the most professional group based on a communication basis, especially here on the forums. I really enjoyed the Ion for approaches but had to go back to the magic for putting, still give them credit for what they've done.




Bonus - Companies I will never deal with because of the way they have portrayed themselves on the forums.

1. Salient

 

[Tpro]

Innova and Discraft everyone else will always be playing catch up!

 

[Bardu]

1) Innova
2) Discraft
3) Gateway

 

[JTacoma03]

Imagine the thousands of players out there who aren't on DGCR and have been playing for many years. Chances are good that few of them throw the newer brands.

You seem like a really nice guy (and I mean that sincerely)...but you tend to overstate other companies market impact to a big degree.

I'd say that WITHOUT the DGCR buzz chances are good that many of these tiny companies would never sell close to what they're selling. Their niche market is right on here.

 

[ZAMson]

You seem like a really nice guy (and I mean that sincerely)...but you tend to overstate other companies market impact to a big degree.

I'd say that WITHOUT the DGCR buzz chances are good that many of these tiny companies would never sell close to what they're selling. Their niche market is right on here.

I don't think DGCR represents the front lines of product awareness (except to the small segment that uses the site). Retail is where most people learn about new stuff. Not forums, not YouTube... Google is built to push retail sources in front of people, especially when it comes to brand and product keywords. Lat and MVP are tied for 3rd best-selling brands at the biggest retailer.

 

[Halcón]

^^ You're pretty much just adding to what I said. We're in agreement. I've mentioned in previous threads the impact that DGCR has on MVP, for example.

And yes, I am a nice guy.

 

[Halcón]

Zam, I think you would admit that this place was at least influential, especially in the earlier days, in driving MVP's sales.

 

[Dude]

This place is very influential, in so far as, we're a bunch of disc buying junkies, surrounded by other junkies, who just further enable our addiction.

And while I sort of agree that retail newsletters, and the like, may inform the majority of the buying public, places like this are much more ahead of the curve. I remember going into Disc Nation when Prodiscus was first talked about here and asked about the Jokeri and no one knew what I was talking about because it just wasn't in this region yet. And trust me, I think DN staff is very informed and knowledgeable.

But I'd say without hesitation that the average DGCR user is much more likely to try newer discs than the average player who stumbles into a retail site through google. There is a reason why disc companies choose to buy banner ads here and have a forums presence. Most discs are talked about here before or the second after the discs are looked at for PDGA approval. That's as front line as you can get.

In any case, I'm going to agree with BigSky. Most of us could fill a bag with any company and figure out what to do with that company's discs. It's just a matter of subtle preferences. That's why my bag is as mixed as it is, and constantly changing. There is no magic disc...but that doesn't stop us from looking for it.

 

[jswoods1984]

Bonus - Companies I will never deal with because of the way they have portrayed themselves on the forums.

1. Salient

I'm seeing a lot of hate on here towards Salient, and I feel like a lot of it is unwarranted. There was one person who was attempting to represent the company that may have put his foot in his mouth a few times, but I feel that Kilgus did what he could to rectify that. Have you ever thrown a Prometheus? Not just once, but really gone out to a field and thrown it? I personally broke my forehand distance record with it, and have seen 3 other people at least match their max distance with it as well, and I haven't even gotten into rollers yet, they go all day. This disc was a very innovative design, their bags are solid and very affordable, and I'm not sure about their shoes yet, but I'm excited to hear what people have to say. The plastic is the best I've felt in a long time, and I honestly can't wait to see the midrange disc that they are planning to release next!!!

 

[brandocommando9]

Do you have one of their bags?

 

[jswoods1984]

Do you have one of their bags?

I personally do not, but that is because I am not in the market for a bag right now. I bought a Prodiscus bag shortly after they came out, and I spent MORE than enough money on that one, so I'd say I'm pretty well set for now. Had the Salient bag been out when I purchased my Prodiscus bag, you're damn right I would have saved myself almost $200 and gone with the pre-order.

 

[brandocommando9]

I was just asking cuz you said its a solid bag I just don't see how you can make that claim.
Sure it has nice features and materials but only time will tell how they hold up and what issues might arise.

 

[ZAMson]

JSW your protos will be worth more when they tank, just ride it out

 

[jswoods1984]

Fair enough, that is to be determined... I suppose I could have worded that differently, solid wasn't meant to be taken literally, but I am confident that people will be happy with them, call me crazy/optomistic. I just feel like people on this site are a little trigger happy when it comes to throwing a company under the bus based off the way one person attempted to represent them. As a company, I would say that Salient themselves has done two things wrong, set deadlines that they couldn't meet, and got too involved with this site too early on, we've got witchhunters on here.

 

[Horsman]

I'm seeing a lot of hate on here towards Salient, and I feel like a lot of it is unwarranted. There was one person who was attempting to represent the company that may have put his foot in his mouth a few times, but I feel that Kilgus did what he could to rectify that. Have you ever thrown a Prometheus? Not just once, but really gone out to a field and thrown it? I personally broke my forehand distance record with it, and have seen 3 other people at least match their max distance with it as well, and I haven't even gotten into rollers yet, they go all day. This disc was a very innovative design, their bags are solid and very affordable, and I'm not sure about their shoes yet, but I'm excited to hear what people have to say. The plastic is the best I've felt in a long time, and I honestly can't wait to see the midrange disc that they are planning to release next!!!

There is no denying that they have some great plastic, but thats about the only positive thing I can say about the company.

All of the Hate is very warranted. The couple people that were on here representing the company early on did nothing but bash every single person that didnt love them. Its not the worst marketing tatic Ive ever heard but its right up there.

I have taken the prometheus in the 180's and 170's and did some pretty extensive work with them and to be blunt they were nothing special. The disc with suppose to be revolutionary and to me it was nothing more than a gimmcky disc. With that being said im not a forehand or roller thrower so maybe thats why the disc doesnt work for me.

I cannot speak to the bags yet since they are not out yet, nor can I speak to the shoes. But for the shoes I think they are going to be loosing a lot of money. To me the aesthetics of the shoes are horrible. I know that the point of the shoes is to perform well but for a lot of people they are looking for something that also looks good. With that and the limited sizes available, I would have a hard time believing that they will be a success. Just look at Keen, they are discontinuing the DeLaveaga and have siad that there is going to be nothing to replace it in the near future. If a big brand like Keen is going to stop making a DG shoe, that shoudl be your first sign that maybe its not a great idea. But if the shoes are truely great then the product will speak for itself and I will be proven wrong, and a lot of other people will be as well.

 

[ElementZ]

This place is very influential, in so far as, we're a bunch of disc buying junkies, surrounded by other junkies, who just further enable our addiction.

And while I sort of agree that retail newsletters, and the like, may inform the majority of the buying public, places like this are much more ahead of the curve. I remember going into Disc Nation when Prodiscus was first talked about here and asked about the Jokeri and no one knew what I was talking about because it just wasn't in this region yet. And trust me, I think DN staff is very informed and knowledgeable.

But I'd say without hesitation that the average DGCR user is much more likely to try newer discs than the average player who stumbles into a retail site through google. There is a reason why disc companies choose to buy banner ads here and have a forums presence. Most discs are talked about here before or the second after the discs are looked at for PDGA approval. That's as front line as you can get.

In any case, I'm going to agree with BigSky. Most of us could fill a bag with any company and figure out what to do with that company's discs. It's just a matter of subtle preferences. That's why my bag is as mixed as it is, and constantly changing. There is no magic disc...but that doesn't stop us from looking for it.

Absolutely. This is the only site on the entire web I talk about Crosslap. As the only American member, I can totally vouch for this comment. It's hard as hell to promote a company no one's heard of. But I feel like because of all the posting I do here, many of you have now at least heard of the company and maybe know the discs. :thmbup:

 

[Stardoggy]

I cannot speak to the bags yet since they are not out yet, nor can I speak to the shoes. But for the shoes I think they are going to be loosing a lot of money. To me the aesthetics of the shoes are horrible. I know that the point of the shoes is to perform well but for a lot of people they are looking for something that also looks good. With that and the limited sizes available, I would have a hard time believing that they will be a success. Just look at Keen, they are discontinuing the DeLaveaga and have siad that there is going to be nothing to replace it in the near future. If a big brand like Keen is going to stop making a DG shoe, that shoudl be your first sign that maybe its not a great idea. But if the shoes are truely great then the product will speak for itself and I will be proven wrong, and a lot of other people will be as well.

Very true statement, although I'll add that the Del's are exactly Picasso's either. It's very telling that they're now on the discount sites (I just got a pair for $65 on theclymb, in 11, which is probably the most popular size). Do we really NEED a DG specific shoe? To me, they're kind of like putters...everyone feels comfortable with something different. I was wearing lightweight offbrand hiking shoes...but I see people in everything from running shoes to heavy boots.

Moral of the story: it's probably not great business practice to jump into a dying/dead market.

 

[ZAMson]

Ah, shoulda known that'd be offensive. We're talking about different things here.

DGCR = the bleeding edge of new releases and obscure (unknown) gear

Retail = goal is to reach disc buyers and inform them, including putting newer or boutique brands front and center, as most players have no access to variety.

Get Crosslap into DN / DiscGolfWholesale and see what that does for US throwership and promotion