[Innova] Pro Thunderbird, flying past all others

[jtowneagle]

I have been messing with Pro Thunderbirds recently and I have to say that this is an extremely underrated disc for distance. I throw 400' consistently on flat to hyzer golf lines. My Star Wraith ends up between 390-420 depending on how clean my release is and I get only another 10 feet out of a Destroyer, but this Pro Thunderbird. It has so much more consistency and is longer than the Wraith on 8 out 10 shots (it doesn't get the short drives, but doesn't exceed the potential good wraith throws. In addition, there is less fade and very little fear of any unwanted drifting, it lands closer to my target. I know that I have good power, but I got to imagine the Pro Thunderbird would be even better for say a 320-350 driver. I like the Thunderbird in general and have a Star for slight headwinds or stronger hyzers, but is anyone else rocking these Pros?

 

[elmexdela]

so is it a longer teebird

 

[jtowneagle]

There is no comparison for on the course distance between a Thunderbird and a Teebird and the Pro Thunderbird seems more versatile on lines while not being anymore stable than a used Teebird. Plus all the Star/Champ Teebirds are a little too beef and never get to that magical stability anymore, the Pro Thunderbird is what a Teebird wants to be when it grows up.

 

[SaROCaM]

very little fear of any unwanted drifting

How long have you been throwing the Pro Thunderbird? I like them for a while, but once they get beat a bit they can drift, at least the ones I have bagged and thrown. Personally don't really want any turn from a Thunderbird; just straight to fade.

I prefer a Champ Thunderbird; still goes pretty far but doesn't show that turn, just stays straight on that line until the fade kicks in. Agree that the Pros do go far though, especially once they start to turn a bit or flip up from hyzer.

 

[jtowneagle]

Mine are fresh, I know they will beat in after a month, but I think it may cycle well. As I said, if it is a dedicated hyzer, I throw star.

 

[Twmccoy]

Pro and G* Thunderbirds are long, but they can be erratic. They have high speed turn. Star and champion Thunderbirds don't.

When I throw a Thunderbird I'm looking for straight-fade with no high speed turn. It isn't a disc I'm trying to achieve max distance with. I bag a champion because its very consistent/accurate. Top distance is a hair shy of 400'. G* flies probably 20' further.

That said, I agree Thunderbirds can be long if they start turning.

 

[GripEnemy]

Worn Pro/Gstar compared to any plastic of Valkyries?

 

[Stable]

I'm going to give this a go. I think I'll get one Pro Thunderbird & give it some play in the woods to see how quickly it beats up. Then decide if I want to get a handful & cycle. I've found that Stars stay so OS even in lighter weights (low 160g's in my experience). My BH distance game has never been a strong point. I think beating up a Pro Thunderbird could change that. The plastic feel, extra glide of Pro & slower speed from my Wraiths might help my BH distance.

 

[crd 81]

I have heard good things about the Thunderbird in Pro plastic, what about DX?

 

[crd 81]

I have heard good things about the Thunderbird in Pro plastic, what about DX?

I am thinking about ordering a Thunderbird. I want to compare it to the Vulture (Ti) and Getaway (Fuzion) that I have. Trying to figure out what to get.

 

[SaROCaM]

Worn Pro/Gstar compared to any plastic of Valkyries?

I think of worn Pro Thunderbirds as being Valkyrie-like. I've thrown Valkyries in DX, (my first distance driver) Pro, and Champ.

My Pro Thunderbirds seemed to develop turn before the fade went away. Contrast from Champ Thunderbirds where the fade lessens first.

 

[Alexplz]

Hey can anyone else comment on the wear pattern of DX thundies? I am thinking of picking up a couple to break in quick as an early in the season distance driver, bookended by some premium plastic thundies and a sidewinder.

I am considering something like this as opposed to say, a valk or escape, because I have found that I get very little extra distance from most premium plastic 9-speed offerings compared to my FDs. Thinking the DX plastic could get me a little boost, as I remember my old beat DX teebs flying very similarly to TLs or FDs.

 

[SaROCaM]

Hey can anyone else comment on the wear pattern of DX thundies? I am thinking of picking up a couple to break in quick as an early in the season distance driver, bookended by some premium plastic thundies and a sidewinder.

I am considering something like this as opposed to say, a valk or escape, because I have found that I get very little extra distance from most premium plastic 9-speed offerings compared to my FDs. Thinking the DX plastic could get me a little boost, as I remember my old beat DX teebs flying very similarly to TLs or FDs.

What kind of flight do you want from them? Looking for DX glide but with a stable flight? IIRC there was the earlier "good" DX Thunderbird that people liked. Otherwise I'd just get a Pro Thunderbird; they break in quickly enough to fly in between premium plastic Thunderbirds and something like a SW/RR. The ones I have bagged developed some turn but still glide out and finish.

I have a lot of seasoned Champ Thunderbirds but if I were building from scratch for 9 speed I'd go Barsby RR->Pro Thunderbird->Champ Thunderbird->Champ FB

 

[Monkeypaws]

Pro Thunderbird was my second ace disc. Thunderbirds are probably the best Innova driver for messing around in lower grade plastic.

Oddly, I used to hate the old Pro, found it chalky and hard. New Pro is silky, grippy, and ages pretty well for what it is. Poor man's Star.

 

[R-Ogre]

Pro Thunderbird was my second ace disc. Thunderbirds are probably the best Innova driver for messing around in lower grade plastic.

Oddly, I used to hate the old Pro, found it chalky and hard. New Pro is silky, grippy, and ages pretty well for what it is. Poor man's Star.

It's surprisingly durable too.

 

[todvan]

Where does the g star thunderbird fit?

 

[R-Ogre]

Where does the g star thunderbird fit?

My gstar flies pretty much exactly the same as my star.

 

[LateWesternSky]

Where does the g star thunderbird fit?

My max weight gstar flied similarly to my champ at first, but broke in to be more glidey with a mellower finish. My 170 gstar broke in to having turn, basically never fading out when thrown hard and not nose up. It's great for hyzer flips.

I see enough difference between the max weight champ and max weight g star to bag both, but I have a zuca cart and carry quite a few discs. Most people would probably just pick one and be fine.

I think the gstar thunderbird is a great disc for most arms. Slower arms will enjoy the extra bit of glide, and faster arms get a shop-shaping disc that has some turn but a reliable fade. People love to hate on gstar though, probably because it isn't popular at the pro level.

For reference, I put down the teebirds and start reaching for a thunderbird on holes around 320-350ft.

 

[SaROCaM]

People love to hate on gstar though, probably because it isn't popular at the pro level.

What makes you say this? I see a lot of love for GStar all around. Personally I don't throw GStar because it feels too floppy to me but it is a great option to have if needed.

 

[LateWesternSky]

What makes you say this? I see a lot of love for GStar all around. Personally I don't throw GStar because it feels too floppy to me but it is a great option to have if needed.

I can't recall anything specific, but I've seen posts where people claim it makes discs too understable. It doesn't seem to sell well either. Didn't Discmania stop producing discs in G-line? Or am I not remembering that correctly?

Either way, I rarely see people bagging gstar discs.