[Prodigy] Prodigy Market Survey

[kw83028]

I'm just wondering how many Prodigy discs you carry in your bag. The reason I'm wondering this is because I've carried Prodigy's full line of discs for 18 months and have barely sold any. I've sold thousands of Trilogy, Innova, Discraft, MVP/Axiom, but Prodigy does not sell at all. It just sits here. So far Salient and Yikun are outselling them in my store. It seems crazy to me. It makes me not want to stock their full line any more. I haven't placed an order for them in 6 months and still have at least 40 of them sitting here.

 

[BuzzzChief]

None so far. I'll be honest that the naming convention initially kept me away, I don't really know why. It's easy and logical, it just doesn't resonate with me. It's kind of funny to watch an "in the bag" video with their pros, they're just rattling off numbers and letters.

Now that I've been reading more about them, I'm interested in trying a couple molds. The problem is that my core bag is pretty set at this point, so it's really only competing for a couple specialty slots in the bag.

 

[tbird888]

H1 here. Used to carry the PA2 also, but they just didn't fill a unique enough role to stay in the bag.

 

[bradharris]

I tried a few out when they were new. Nothing ever really came close to making the bag.

 

[ejvogie]

I've owned 2 (a D3 and an F7) but no longer have them. Neither flew for me as understable as I thought they would.

I was initially put off by their hype-fueled launch, and possibly still am, but nothing they release excites me.

 

[Broken Shoulder]

I voted 1-2 because I sometimes bag an M5. I did like the baseline PA4 as a turnover putter option off the tee or for approaches, but I moved on. (It's pretty much a Magic anyway.)
I've pretty much filled my slots with other stuff that works, so I'm not rushing out to try anything really. The premium plastic does feel nice though.

 

[Um...]

I have many Prodigy discs, but none currently in the bag.

FWIW, I like Prodigy's plastic a lot, especially their 400g plastic. The issue I have with their discs is consistency. I think they shot themselves in the foot a bit pushing large volumes of their Proto/First Run plastics out to market and not having those discs be consistent with the standard run stuff. I have a standard run D2 that I absolutely love, but have yet to find another one that really flies like it (which sucks). At that point, when I effectively have 6 different molds of the same disc that just doesn't fly the same, it's about time to cut bait.

However, I'm not a Prodigy hater and don't mind or get upset at their rather simplified naming convention. I do see these as potential reasons their discs may not sell well though.

 

[jcassidy1990]

Prodigy is just one of those companies that don't have the "it" factor IMO. RDG has done a batch of custom stamped Prodigy and I couldn't hardly give them away even though they looked incredible.

I used to use a few D1's and a D4 but the inconsistency that I found with those molds were some of the worst that I had even seen.

That said, Prodigy does have great molds, amazing plastic & top notch pro's. It just goes to show you that once you leave your mark as an overhyped dud...its hard to break the opinion despite rolling out some really unique molds.

 

[Cgkdisc]

I think Prodigy may have missed the artistic aesthetic that seems to be widespread among disc golfers from course and hole design, landscaping, terrain beauty and extending to disc artwork and clothing. While the logical numbering may make sense for higher level players and likely Europeans (Discmania names), it may not be as fun or appealing to many U.S. players below pro level. Steady Ed tried the same idea using numbers for names in the 90s when there was much less disc competition and it never got much traction.

 

[jcassidy1990]

I think Prodigy may have missed the artistic aesthetic that seems to be widespread among disc golfers from course and hole design, landscaping, terrain beauty and extending to disc artwork and clothing. While the logical numbering may make sense for higher level players and likely Europeans (Discmania names), it may not be as fun or appealing to many U.S. players below pro level. Steady Ed tried the same idea using numbers for names in the 90s when there was much less disc competition and it never got much traction.

Good Point. Boring stamps are a sure fire way to a disc/company to have a disadvantage.

 

[burdphil]

I carry 9 Prodigy discs, but they're all drivers (5 D1s and 4 D4s) that I'm cycling. Their drivers work better for me than any other drivers I've tried, but the rest of the lineup that I tested couldn't sniff my Discraft mids/fairways.

I'm honestly stockpiling the runs of the Prodigy drivers that I really like (i.e. first run D1s) because I am concerned about the future viability of the brand.

 

[EXTRAMONTANA]

D2 has been somewhat irreplaceable and m4 is still bagged also. M3 is also a great disc but got edged out by beefy lucid truth.
Agreed that prodigy could benefit from names/better art.

 

[ejvogie]

I understand the naming convention, but if the D4 is an understable distance driver, shouldn't an F7 be a super flippy fairway?

 

[Tjamesd]

I gave them a shot, throwing the M3, F3, D1 and D4. Of all of them, I liked the M3 the best, but it was eventually pushed out. The D1 was flippier than I wanted, and the D4 was just a temporary replacement for a Katana, which didn't stick.

I want to like their stuff, but I feel like I would just be trying to match/replace stuff that already works, so why bother?

 

[Halcón]

I have a 3X Will stamp H1. But it's brand new and to be honest, I haven't thrown it yet on the course. It may or may not stay in the bag.

 

[heartman]

currently in the bag:

X1
D1
D2
D3 x 2

H1

M2
M4

Pa3 x 4

... I wonder how many Prodigy discs Dana or mfcastillo17 carry

_____________________

Prodigy seems to be more popular in the South (based out of GA) and wherever a sponsored pro's home territory is (although that would probably be true for most companies) ... which seems to be, at least part of, the reason why they went out and increased number of overall sponsorships in varied regions for 2015

I like the 350g and 300 plastic for putters, 400 for mids and drivers, and 750 for utility discs (X1/H1) although the 750 mids have some nice give to them and aren't super stiff

 

[smyith]

i tried to sell prodigy as well....just doesnt sell. i still have loads of SEs and FRs. i can barely sell them for what i paid for them. was a waste of money and effort tbh. oh well live and learn.

 

[DiscDraft]

I tried a D2, and it was squirrely. Went real far, but needed room. I lost it at my local course, and it visited me in the form of a guy trying to sell it back to me for $5. I'm curious about the M4 though, especially after seeing Jerm throw smooth flick turnovers with one. 0 in the bag.

 

[Spike Hyzer]

I love the D1, D2, M4, and PA4. These all made the bag instantly. I love the prodigy plastic. The only disc I tried that didn't make the bag was the D3. I just found it very touchy. Could be os or flippy depending on release. I am intrigued by the H1 and H2 but those spots are filled in my bag. Never had any desire to try the F series because I love my FDs. Would like to try the PA1 eventually but I love throwing the P2.

 

[simpletwist]

:doh:

My bad, I voted 9+. But I jumped the gun. I carry 9+, but 0, none, zilch, nada,nil Prodigy.

In part it's the naming system, in part I'm pretty happy with what I already bag so I'm not all that enthusiastic to try Prodigy or most any new kids on the block.