2015 Pros and Their Manufacturers

[sidewinder22]

From the infamous 2014 Worlds thread:

He was playing 1050+ the last half of 2012.

Been too long since I did the math, I did say it was 1050+ then.

 

[Pbmercil]

Prodigy losing Wysocki? Whoa. Is that company falling apart?

Eh. Falling apart as in not meeting the players expectations? Absolutely. Falling apart as in failing as a business? To soon to really say, but probably not.

It seems to me the original prodigy gang thought by just forming a super team they would move buku discs and all get filthy rich together because people would buy whatever they throw, "we're sick of these crappy contracts when we sell all the discs! " kind of deal. That attitude ignores basic business realities: most business loose money for a couple years, breaking into a crowded market is hard, manufacturing isn't all that simple, ect.

Add into all the above the fact that the lat64 brand (s) have really taken off in the US market over the same time prodigy is trying to establish itself, so now they can offer a good (great?) contract, and its a tough sell to retain all of that talent.

I think its fair to say prodigy is in a decent spot business wise 2 years in. The discs are out their in a lot of retailers, which is a heck of a lot better then most of these recent start ups can say. Some of the branding stuff mentioned earlier was on point. I dont hate the naming system, but it could use improvement. For whatever reason Discmania's naming system resonated in the market while prodigy's fell pretty flat

 

[klmdg]

The question becomes, did Prodigy get enough out of its couple years of sponsoring a large portion of the best players? They certainly built a brand quickly from nothing, but did they build a sustainable company?

In my opinion, the answer is no, but there may be some hope.

I started playing in 1984 and am now in my mid 40s. For various reasons, I completely stopped playing on several occasions. My last sabbatical lasted from the late 90s through 2012. Upon my return, the one thing that stood out to me is that disc golf is still a grass roots sport. A majority of disc golfers are recreational players who do not follow the sport in any way, shape or form beyond what occurs locally.

Case in point: I had never even heard of Ken Climo until a year ago, but I knew who Ed Headrick, Ken Westerfield and Jim Kenner were because I met them back in the day in a recreational setting on my home course and that made an impression on me. It sure didn't hurt that they gave a kid a free black Phantom. I only bought about a dozen more after that. :thmbup:

If I were to attempt to build a successful brand, I would want my plastic in the hands of highly talented, outgoing local players. Those are the people most players will encounter. However, since that is an enormously expensive proposition, the only realistic approach would be to recruit top players in every region, those players who hit up every event within a 50-100 miles of where they live. That seems to be a step Prodigy is now taking, so there may be some hope for a future.

 

[spinachd]

In all of these situations I wonder "what is he going to putt?". It's the one part of the bag I don't see as interchangeable.

I was shocked that McCray is putting mainly Harps. What will Wysocki choose?

 

[booter]

Mccray is using shields now,id imagine ricky prob will too since its the closest in stability and feel to a wizard/kc aviar

 

[spinachd]

I thought it was mostly Harps still, but Shields for turbos. That's how it looks in the final 9 of TDTMIII. I do recall one straddle putt with the a Shield but the other non-turbo putts were Harps.

I'd guess the Shield for Ricky as well. We shall see.

 

[Shooter14]

Ricky doesn't seem to be struggling with new plastic at the Aussie.

 

[JedV]

Big props to Ricky for his showing thus far.

 

[Timeetyo]

Wow, Simon shaving 9 strokes off his first round score to move up to tie doss @ 2nd.

 

[steinkecm]

I thought it was mostly Harps still, but Shields for turbos. That's how it looks in the final 9 of TDTMIII. I do recall one straddle putt with the a Shield but the other non-turbo putts were Harps.

I'd guess the Shield for Ricky as well. We shall see.

Is the Shield more KC/Wizard like than the Dagger?

 

[Streets]

Is the Shield more KC/Wizard like than the Dagger?

If you want KC/Wizard overstability putt the Shield

If you want KC/Wizard bead, Judge or Dagger.

 

[Pwingles]

I bet ricky gets his own putter. Shield and mercy are too much like Pa1 and he hated them.
If not a new putter, soft judge would be my guess. He putted JKs before right?

 

[AndyJB]

Wow, Simon shaving 9 strokes off his first round score to move up to tie doss @ 2nd.

I understand the those of us in the know are concentrated on the Ricky switch, but Simons charge is the real story so far of this event.

But I am also interested in what Ricky is throwing now. Whatever it is, its working!

 

[Magicweed]

I understand the those of us in the know are concentrated on the Ricky switch, but Simons charge is the real story so far of this event.

But I am also interested in what Ricky is throwing now. Whatever it is, its working!

I don't think Simons charge is as interesting as what happens for the last two rounds. The mental game is what has really separated Paul from the rest of the field at Worlds and a few other events. Simon has talent in spades, but having everything come together for a win at a Major would be something completely different.

 

[Mocheez]

I understand the those of us in the know are concentrated on the Ricky switch, but Simons charge is the real story so far of this event.

I wouldn't call it a charge, he didn't pick up any strokes on the leader. Kind of unfair to say that Lizotte is the real story when McBeth had the exact same score.

 

[spinachd]

I don't think Simons charge is as interesting as what happens for the last two rounds. The mental game is what has really separated Paul from the rest of the field at Worlds and a few other events. Simon has talent in spades, but having everything come together for a win at a Major would be something completely different.

His putting is also just a touch better than the rest of the top tier. It's unreal.

 

[spinachd]

Is the Shield more KC/Wizard like than the Dagger?

The Shield, IMO, is most like the Discraft Challenger.

 

[blackcatsmith]

I'd like to go out on a pretty formidable limb right now and predict Paul McBeth will win the Aussie Open. I wonder what the odds are on Paul McBeth going undefeated this season? How spectacular would that be? Rhetorical.... very.

 

[Mixed Bag Madness]

The Shield, IMO, is most like the Discraft Challenger.

I putt PA1's exclusively and when I played the Trilogy challenge at Lemon Lake I scored well because the Shield held the same putting lines as my PA1's. I putted Challengers for the first 6 years that I played and switched to the PA1 for a number of reasons. IMO opinion if Ricky didn't like PA1's he won't like the Shield. Judge maybe?

 

[Streets]

I'd like to go out on a pretty formidable limb right now and predict Paul McBeth will win the Aussie Open. I wonder what the odds are on Paul McBeth going undefeated this season? How spectacular would that be? Rhetorical.... very.

I'd like to see him finally get the USDGC.