[Innova] Discing down from the Wraith

[Can'tPutt]

I lost both my Wraiths today so I'm looking to pick up a couple new drivers. I could throw the Wraiths a little over 300' on a good today but I get the feeling they're a little too much disc for me and that I have to give it a little OAT to get a full flight.

I just discovered the Teebird which I love but I can't throw as far. Am I better off trying to work on my mechanics with a Teebird, or a slower driver like a beast? Any other driver recommendations?

 

[SirRaph]

Disc Mania's new PD, is my newest purchase. It's not as controllable as my Teebirds, but not as squirrely as my Wraith was.

Personally, I'll be keeping both my PD and my Katana. PD for long control shots, and Katana for long shots on forgiving holes.

 

[coolhand]

try the beast. probably adds distance to your drives. i still carry one for long turnovers and hyzer flips. maybe a beat up surge, surge ss, orion ls, flash, avenger ss, valkyrie, sidewinder, or ... we could go on and on.

 

[Dave242]

Starfires are really good. I like the Proline ones although they beat in quickly and get too flippy.....but early on they have a great flight line (Wraiths are too much for me too - I get maybe 350' with them). I also recently found a Star Valk that I really like, but Starfires feel just a little faster to me.

 

[Jody Mitchell]

Champion Orc

 

[keltik]

If you could barely hit 300 with a Wraith you might want to check out a Cyclone. it has the same flight path as a Wraith but it is less nose angle sensitive, more glidey and more controllable. It also requires less power to fly far. Any plastic is fine except Z. It's just not that good for a Cyclone.

 

[volmed10]

I just discovered the Teebird which I love but I can't throw as far. Am I better off trying to work on my mechanics with a Teebird, or a slower driver like a beast? Any other driver recommendations?

A Teebird is perfect depending on how long you have been playing. Personally, since you aren't throwing extremely long distance yet, I'd have to recommend something along the lines of a Leopard or Cheetah, which is a bit less stable than the Teebird, but both can still be thrown for well over 300' with the proper technique. The reason you should invest in those two fairway drivers over the Teebird is that the Teebird is still a pretty stable disc, and will mask certain bad habits (OAT, etc) that you may have. And because it hides these problems, you'll continue throwing with the same technique as you currently have, and subsequently not increase your distance much in the mean time.

The Leopard and Cheetah be able to give you more insight into what you can change/improve upon to make your drives longer and more consistent since they are more responsive to bad technique than a more stable/overstable disc. Throw these instead of your Teebird, and learn how to throw them well. Then, once you are consistent with them (good accuracy and precision; 300' or greater drives; little to no "whoops" pop-fly shots, etc.), break out the faster discs such as a Teebird, Sidewinder, Valkyrie, or other slightly faster drivers.

One of the best things that you can do though, and this may sound strange, is learn how to drive with a putter. A putter will be the most responsive disc (except for insanely overstable putters such as the Pig and Zone) you can drive with that can help visualize your flaws and aid you in improve your game. Find a Wizard, Magic, Aviar, or whatever you use to putt, go out to a field and start driving with them. If they turn and burn hard right, you've got OAT issues, etc. They are the master of diagnosing driving illnesses.

Last but not least (actually, do this prior to throwing another drive).... watch some of the YouTube videos of driving technique. There are a couple that I recommend to everyone; More Snap 1 and 2, and the Dan Beto Driving Tips and Technique. These will help your drives more than anything else, especially when paired with a fairway driver that you can adequately handle.

 

[Locum51]

You should be able to reach 300'-350' with a Teebird with proper form and such or at least i've been told so. I've always been under the impression that Wraiths are for people who can throw in the 400's for long straight drives.

 

[Lithicon]

If you could barely hit 300 with a Wraith you might want to check out a Cyclone. it has the same flight path as a Wraith but it is less nose angle sensitive, more glidey and more controllable. It also requires less power to fly far. Any plastic is fine except Z. It's just not that good for a Cyclone.

+1!!

You might try a light Valkyrie But, I highly suggest a Cyclone as well. The Wraith was way too much disc for you.

 

[volmed10]

I forgot to add this....

What I was describing earlier is the Speed 7 Challenge. Don't throw anything faster than a Speed 7 disc (or an equivalent speed disc from a manufacturer other than Innova) until you can reliably and accurately throw a Teebird 325-350' every time you step up to the teebox. You don't need anything faster than a Teebird to reach that distance. Once you can do that, break out the faster drivers gradually.

 

[valkyrie]

Keep trying the TeeBird, it will work for ya!

 

[keltik]

volmed10 I like yer style.

 

[valkyrie]

We had a Very good discussion on this exact same topic.....but it's gone now

 

[BrotherDave]

We had a Very good discussion on this exact same topic.....but it's gone now

That's what happens when I get a compliment,*sigh*

If I was going to disc down from a Wraith, considering your D level, I'd be busting out the Teechickens or the Eagles, maybe a Cyclone or Gazelle.

 

[OcDiscGolf]

I'd go for a Star Valkyrie or a Star Beast in 170 to 172.

 

[Jay dot Humps]

I know not many people are using this disc in the States, but I REALLY like the Latitude 64 Striker. It's kind of like a Teebird, but I think it's actually longer. I get great distance + control with the Striker. Highly recommended, at my local course (Pier Park, Portland) I use it on almost every hole!

 

[nocalkind]

+1 for the Striker as a tee-bird alternative.

 

[Posey Ching]

I know not many people are using this disc in the States, but I REALLY like the Latitude 64 Striker. It's kind of like a Teebird, but I think it's actually longer. I get great distance + control with the Striker. Highly recommended, at my local course (Pier Park, Portland) I use it on almost every hole!

just bought a striker yesterday (1st lat purchase). and it's going to get its first throw at..you guessed it..pier park.

 

[Jay dot Humps]

That's awesome! I'll be there on Saturday. You're gonna love that Striker. I can throw it 300 ft. on a frozen rope. I have 2 and I must say that they are pretty different. One has a domey top and is 174. The other has a flat top and is 168. The flat top one is actually more stable even though it's lighter. I like the flat top one a lot better. Don't know what the norm is for the Striker, hopefully your works for you!

 

[Posey Ching]

That's awesome! I'll be there on Saturday. You're gonna love that Striker. I can throw it 300 ft. on a frozen rope. I have 2 and I must say that they are pretty different. One has a domey top and is 174. The other has a flat top and is 168. The flat top one is actually more stable even though it's lighter. I like the flat top one a lot better. Don't know what the norm is for the Striker, hopefully your works for you!

do you have a GL or opto? I couldn't decide which one to get. Actually paid for the opto and then exchanged for the GL before I left haha.

mine is a GL 174 flat top. the guy I bought it from was saying that Lat64 is just now starting to take a hold of some market share. they sure are purty. really like the feel of the plastic.