[Putters] How long did it take you to find your favorite putter?

[Static Fiction]

The Prodigy Pa4 is non-beaded but otherwise like the Pa3 in its flight. I think it comes in 350g plastic, also.

I wouldn't call the PA4 the non-beaded version of the PA3, that's the PA2. PA2s and PA3s have the same flight patterns, just one is beaded and the other isn't. All of their putters are available in 350g. I have all four in 350g.

 

[captain jack]

29 years

 

[Johnny_Mars]

I'm not sure if I've found my putting putter yet but holy crap I love the jb/rubber blend of the Luna. I have never been happy with putter plastics (prodigy 350g is close and probably would be good for putters I do like by other companies) but Discraft and Mcbeth nailed it on this one.

 

[SD86]

I wouldn't call the PA4 the non-beaded version of the PA3, that's the PA2. PA2s and PA3s have the same flight patterns, just one is beaded and the other isn't. All of their putters are available in 350g. I have all four in 350g.

I have one Pa2 in 300 plastic, which I found on my home course, and it didn't have a name or number so that i could return it to its owner. It is unbeaded, but the bottom rim looks more like a Mako3 or Anubis, and the edge is not "squared off". The Pa2 I found flies straight-to-overstable, and it wasn't fresh out of the box when I found it.

The Pa3 and Pa4 have 'squared off' ends, with the Pa3 being beaded and the Pa4 unbeaded. Both putt straight, and both fly straight...and a bit understable if I crank down on them.

I haven't tried a Pa1, and I don't remember what it looked like if and when i saw one in the store, but I think it's relatively overstable.

 

[BenHaavisto]

I started with an Aviar (go figure) when I started playing. Pretty quickly after that I won a Gateway Magic in a raffle and that was the go to for about three years. During that period of time I messed around with the Wizard as well but wasn't a big fan. In 2016 went to a trilogy challenge where I got my hands on a DD Marshal haven't looked back since!


Curious about the Discraft Luna though...

 

[Johnny_Mars]

I started with an Aviar (go figure) when I started playing. Pretty quickly after that I won a Gateway Magic in a raffle and that was the go to for about three years. During that period of time I messed around with the Wizard as well but wasn't a big fan. In 2016 went to a trilogy challenge where I got my hands on a DD Marshal haven't looked back since!


Curious about the Discraft Luna though...

From my very limited time practice putting with the Luna, it reminds me of a shallower / beadless Marshal (granted the Marshal barely has a bead). I liked the Marshal but Luna fits my hand better so I'm excited.

I really can't stress enough how nice the blend of plastic is for the Luna. I got back into disc golf in 2008 and my putters were a magnet and Challenger in pro-d which was firmer than recent pro-d and jawbreaker is just not firm enough for my putting preference.

 

[Grogden]

wanted to put the ryno out there..
i use aviar pa for putting and throwing..and ryno for windier puts...approachs...and somd regular puts if i want that left finish...have been driving with ryno again actually...find it will go laser straight with small finish if you throw it hard.. Distances only fractionally less than the aviar but much less likely to drift off right on the long throw..

 

[VictorB]

I still have no idea what the right putter is for me. After 15 years. I gravitate to certain discs, but I'm such an inconsistent putter that even if I find a "favorite" then I will lose confidence in it.

As for throwing putters, pretty sure the banger gt is my favorite throwing putter ever. I don't always use it, but it's just a very true flyer

Edit:. I didn't see that this was a necro, but point still stands at this time.

 

[eyewreck]

It took me a year and a half to try out BB Aviars, and at this point I'm digging my heels in with them bc I know that for me they check every box for feel, stability, and glide, they're just right for every duty off the tee to up in the circle. If KCs feel too slick I'll go to JKs and if those are too floppy I'll go back again. I know me and I know I'm liable to switch up my bag at any point, so I'm settling on BB Aviars bc they are 100% capable and 100% available. In a year a half I went through the Bullfrog, Link, P2, Shield, Guard, Pilot, Challenger OS, as well as brief flings with the Marshal, Dagger, Sinus, Wizard, and Rhyno, and typing that out gave me indigestion and furthered my resolve to just stick with the putters I have and get consistent with them.

 

[MaxFlight]

I started with a light weight Aviar, which was fine for a beginner but quickly outgrew it. Next I went with a Star Aviar 3, because I didn't have any idea what plastic was best for putting... Turned out to be a great driving putter though!
Then I tried Daggers, which were fine but I found they were really difficult to use in the wind.
PA3 came next, which I actually REALLY liked. I ended up losing the one I had, and instead of picking up several new ones, a friend of mine let me borrow his K3 Reko. I've never looked back since, and now have a stack of Rekos and also use the K1 Rekos for throwing. Best putter out there.

 

[ArtemisClydFr0g]

It took me about 4 or 5 years. I went SS Wizard > Plasma Envy > X-line P2 > P-line P2 > Nexus Firefly. I was happy with the P2, but Nexus plastic just ended up being the best for my constantly sweaty hands.

 

[Grogden]

bb aviars

It took me a year and a half to try out BB Aviars, and at this point I'm digging my heels in with them bc I know that for me they check every box for feel, stability, and glide, they're just right for every duty off the tee to up in the circle. If KCs feel too slick I'll go to JKs and if those are too floppy I'll go back again. I know me and I know I'm liable to switch up my bag at any point, so I'm settling on BB Aviars bc they are 100% capable and 100% available. In a year a half I went through the Bullfrog, Link, P2, Shield, Guard, Pilot, Challenger OS, as well as brief flings with the Marshal, Dagger, Sinus, Wizard, and Rhyno, and typing that out gave me indigestion and furthered my resolve to just stick with the putters I have and get consistent with them.

I am curious about the BB Aviars what are they like

 

[twistedraven]

Every putter I've been through has been my favorite putter. First it was a warden, then a reko, then a warden again, and now a Pilot.

 

[hgranger27]

My putter journey has been a long one.

1. Pro D Banger GT
2. Pro D Magnet
3. Hard/soft Banger GT
4. Pro D Challenger
5. Jawbreaker Magnet
6. Classic Deputy
7. Prime Deputy
8. Prime Marshal
9. Prime Deputy
10. Prime Warden
11. Prime Marshal
12. Pro D Challenger
13. Pro D Challenger OS


A fairly long list, with a lot of switching back to something I've previously used, over about 14 years.

I disliked the Warden the most and the Magnet the 2nd most out of all of them. I prefer beaded putters.

 

[hendryxdisc]

I love putters and tried so many that I feel like it's not worth listing haha, but like many started with an aviar and ran the gamut of brands and plastics. I found that what got me was the shape, began preferring a deep beaded putter that is neutral to OS so I can drive it into all but big winds. I bounce around on occasion for fun still, and depending on which plastics I can get, but the Wizard has lived in the bag the longest and the Ion would be number two in the bag most frequently. Probably took about 1.5-2 years of serious trial and error before I stopped switching.

 

[Stable]

Been playing since 2004. I'll try to recall all the putting putters I've committed to here. First to most recent.
DX Rhyno
KC Aviar
Pro-D Banger
PA4
PA1
McPro Aviar
Roach

I'm sure there have been others but these are the ones that stuck for the longest. The Roach is my favorite of the group. Of course, Discraft doesn't make a putting plastic that I'm crazy about. I'm using Jawbreaker right now but it's too soft & has an odd texture to it. I prefer a stiffer flight plate for putting & am hoping Discraft comes out with a KC Pro Roach. It would be amazing.

A little over two years later & I've got the Rubber Blend Roach. Took a little while but they nailed it.

 

[aphilso1]

About 6 months.
I started with a Polecat, next I bought a Champ Aviar. I hated the shape of the Polecat and plastic feel of Champion for putting, so then I bought a handful of putters at the same time to compare. I believe that trip to the Disc Store resulted in me coming home with a soft Judge, SSS Magic, Wizard (don't remember plastic type, but it was firm), soft Crown, and probably another one or two that I'm forgetting about. I've either sold, traded, or given away all of those except the soft Crown, which was the putter that had the best combo of hand feel, glide, speed, and stability for me. Judge was a close second. I kind of wish I had liked the Judge more just because they're easier to buy in a preferred weight/plastic combo, but whatever. Not going to switch just for that. At this point I have 2 soft Crowns, 4 medium crowns, and a hard Crown. I strongly prefer medium Crowns. I do sometimes use a soft neutron Envy for headwind or C2 putts, but Crowns are where it's at for me.

I'm glad this thread got bumped, because it made me go back and look at my answer from 2+ years ago. Interestingly enough I did indeed switch to my "close second" favorite putter, the Judge, about a year after this post. Hand feel is very similar between the two molds, and they are still the two that feel the best in my hand for putting. The differences that made me go with Judges instead of Crowns:

1. Availability. I switched pre-COVID, but this pandemic has made me very glad that I switched to a more popular putter that is always available.
2. Plastic types. A lot more Judge options, including my preferred summer blend (Prime).
3. Versatility. I prefer to carry two putting putters, one relatively fresh for in the circle and one beat for C2 and floaty upshots. The Crown was always just a hair too stable and fast to be a workable approach disc for me. A Judge once beat up can easily hold those touchy anny approach lines.

It's worth noting that stability difference is noticeable in the circle also, but I don't feel a benefit one way or the other. With Crowns I putted kind of Coda Hatfield style with a flat to even slight flex release, while with Judges I putt with a slight hyzer. Both end up in the basket at roughly the same rate once adjusting for how that individual disc wants to fly.

 

[Lemur]

Ahh the putter journey. I will list out my progression. I have felt most comfortable with the Jawbreaker Challenger, DGA Stone Steady, and Classic Judge for the record.

1. Star Rhyno
2. Pro-Line Rhyno
3. Lightning Discs Rubber Putter
4. Special Edition XD (super gummy)
5. Pro D Ringer
6. Jawbreaker Challenger
7. Gateway Wizard
8. Jawbreaker Challenger
9. DGA Stone Steady
10. Classic Burst Judge

I've learned I like deeper beaded putters. I think I'm at the point where I could go to any brand and use their putter as long as it has a nice bead and isn't too shallow.

 

[Emoney]

1yr.

First putter was a found "chains" aviar. Used that for a month or so. Then got a kc pro big bead aviar. Used that for a few months but wasnt vibing.
Then had a sponsored gateway player give me a "cape" Wizard.
I was in Love.
Have tried some other putters since but keep coming back to the Wizard.

 

[BuzzzChief]

I started as a 2- or 3-disc chucker back in 2002 without a putter at all. Tried a whole bunch of putters in the first few years. XD, Aviar P&A, APX, Challenger, Putt'r, Omega, Wizard, probably a Lightning disc or two.

Mainly in the early years I used the XD because I liked the low profile for easier releases. I was always trying other things because I felt like I "should" using something more traditional/deep.

At some point in 2005-2006 I got a deal on a box of 10 Wizards in a bunch of plastics, and found a couple that I really liked. I started practicing with that stack and I've been a Wizard putter ever since. I've always got a handful of other ones I mess around with from time to time, but the Wizard always has the main spot locked up.