2014 Discraft Ace Race

[ru4por]

That's Innova April Fool's Quiver is at least a couple of years old.
I just pulled it outta my @$$ in response to this Ace Race Speculation thread.

Looking at what they've done thus far:
• 2003: Breeze ...US mid
• 2004: Glide ...slightly faster US mid
• 2005: Slipstream ...I believe it was a mildly OS fairway w/thumb groove
• 2006: Meteor ...US mid
• 2007: Impact ...slower US fairway
• 2008: Nebula ...OS mid (Buzzz OS Jr)
• 2009: Focus ...OS putter
• 2010: Hornet ...OS mid
• 2011: Zeppelin ...oversize P/A
• 2012: Zombee ...stable fairway
• 2013: Mantis ...OS fairway in Ti Ace Race garb, significantly less stability when released for production in Big Z plastic (supposedly they tweaked the mold after feedback from Ace Races because the OS discs weren't what they were shooting for).*

I see no real pattern... seems like they'll try anything. The only thing they haven't tried yet is a true distance driver (kinda doubt they'd throw one out there as an Ace Race prototype).

* That's what a Discraft representative (didn't catch his name) told me when we got to chatting at Am Nats. Has anyone measured and compared? Kinda makes me wonder: Ace Race discs have always been OK for sanctioned events after the production discs were PDGA approved. The Mantis has been approved, but if they tweaked the mold as he told me, I wouldn't think the Ti discs would necessarily be PDGA apparoved, unless they spcifically submitted them to the PDGA. If they did, wouldn't they have to submit under a different name (maybe 2013 Ace Race)??.


Does anyone have actual facts on that?

Slipstream was an understable fairway/mid.

 

[burdphil]

I think Discraft needs to scrap all of their mids except the Buzzz. Release the Buzzz OS and rework the SS to be more understable. So all you have is the Buzzzes.

You gotta be joking. Drone. Hornet. Wasp. Meteor. Comet. All awesome mids.

 

[BogeyNoMore]

Well theoretically the buzzz is a WaspSS.

I see your point good sir! ...which makes the "Buzzz SS" an "SS Wasp SS"

I think Discraft needs to scrap all of their mids except the Buzzz. Release the Buzzz OS and rework the Buzzz SS to be more understable. So all you have is the Buzzzes.

I was going to say "No comment" and let that speak for itself, but in pondering what they might release I realized the one thing I don't expect this year is another mid, specifically because Discraft has such a solid line of mids ranging from the Stratus to the Drone and filling pretty much every slot along the way with staples like the Meteor, Comet, Buzzz, Wasp, and Hornet.

Go to any reasonably busy course on a Sat or Sunday - you won't find just one or two of those molds on the course... you'll find all of them.

Slipstream was an understable fairway/mid.

Thanks for helping out with that!

 

[HeavyCritters]

You gotta be joking. Drone. Hornet. Wasp. Meteor. Comet. All awesome mids.

I bag all of these except the Meteor.

I also had a Glide in my bag for about 13 seconds.

 

[elmexdela]

I bag all of these except the Meteor.

I also had a Glide in my bag for about 13 seconds.

not what your signature says

 

[thrembo]

We don't need a new mold every year. Do something cool, like Ti Challengers maybe? Can you here me Discraft?

 

[BogeyNoMore]

We don't need a new mold every year. Do something cool, like Ti Challengers maybe? Can you here me Discraft?

That'd be nice, but that's never been what their Ace Race is about.
As far as they're concerned it's about two things:

1) They specifically want to create a new disc that no one's ever thrown before and see what players think about it.
2) They want to give people who've hardly (or never) played before an event that's geared to them to solicit new players into the sport.

It's never remotely been about releasing staple molds in new plastics for limited runs, nor do I think it's likely to go that way in the foreseeable future..

 

[sidewinder22]

Slipstream was an understable fairway/mid.

Definitely understable fairwayish driver. I'd compare it a sidewinder or roadrunner speed 9ish.

I'd also say the Focus is just stable or neutral, it's not overstable.

 

[notapro]

The Buzzz OS would fit the gap between a Wasp and Buzzz. Roc3 knockoff?

 

[General Scales]

Perhaps they will release an Ace Race disc this year that I give a damn about . The Zombee was garbage, the Mantis was garbage, the Zeppelin is a fun disc to mess around with but no practical uses for it in my bag, the Hornet was great, the Focus was great.

I would personally like to see a new putter.

 

[elmexdela]

banger gt os

 

[Streets]

banger gt os

That would be bad***. :thmbup:

 

[Monkeypaws]

I'd be happy with a disc I could reasonable make an ace with - seems like Discraft tries their best to do that. All is well with the world.

 

[thrembo]

Perhaps they will release an Ace Race disc this year that I give a damn about . The Zombee was garbage, the Mantis was garbage, the Zeppelin is a fun disc to mess around with but no practical uses for it in my bag, the Hornet was great, the Focus was great.

I would personally like to see a new putter.

One mans trash is another mans treasure. The Meteor is the best Ace Race disc IMO.

 

[Darth Anovin]

The Buzzz OS would fit the gap between a Wasp and Buzzz. Roc3 knockoff?

You find a noticeable gap between a Wasp and Buzzz that needs to be filled? Hmm....

 

[scarpfish]

That'd be nice, but that's never been what their Ace Race is about.
As far as they're concerned it's about two things:

1) They specifically want to create a new disc that no one's ever thrown before and see what players think about it.
2) They want to give people who've hardly (or never) played before an event that's geared to them to solicit new players into the sport.

3) Wasting a perfectly good mold name on a mold nobody is going to care about once the Ace Races are over. Pretty much all of the AR discs except the Meteor (and maybe to a lesser extent the Hornet) have been flops.

It's never remotely been about releasing staple molds in new plastics for limited runs, nor do I think it's likely to go that way in the foreseeable future..

Considering they aren't the only manufacturer putting on these types of events anymore, they may want to start rethinking that philosophy. But I guess as long as they have enough people willing to pay for a couple of useless discs every Summer and Fall, they'll stay the course.

 

[Halcón]

But I guess as long as they have enough people willing to pay for a couple of useless discs...

You should read this:

One mans trash is another mans treasure.

The Zeppelin, Zombee, and Mantis are all great discs. Especially the Zombee. In my opinion, of course.

Besides that...the AR is about fun. Bottom line. When I go it's not for any discs or players pack. Those are just the perks of having a good time.

 

[Hampstead]

I have never participated in an AR, but I do get regular use from my Zombee. It's quickly becoming one of my most commonly used discs.

 

[scarpfish]

The Zeppelin, Zombee, and Mantis are all great discs. Especially the Zombee. In my opinion, of course.

I'm sure some people out there like Grooves too. I just don't see any buzz (pun not intended) about these discs on here once they become production run molds, and don't see anyone in the real world throwing them.

But due to the promotion of the Ace Race itself, I'm sure Discraft made some money off of them.

 

[Hampstead]

I'm sure some people out there like Grooves too. I just don't see any buzz (pun not intended) about these discs on here once they become production run molds, and don't see anyone in the real world throwing them.

But due to the promotion of the Ace Race itself, I'm sure Discraft made some money off of them.

This place is about as far removed as you can be from the everyday world of disc golf.