[Compare] Comet vs. Stingray .... differences

[GLong]

Not really asking which is better, I don't want to start a fanboy argument or anything

I've been throwing the Stingray for a while and love it. Great for a multitude of shots ... roller, straight, turnover, straight flick upshots. Picked up a champ one and slowly learning it, it is quite stable. Lotsa low speed fade. Almost a different disc but...

I also picked up an X comet in a recent trade just for the heck of it. People rave about it, so I figured I would try it. From just a few days of throwing it seems like it can do just about anything the Stingray can do. I also feel like I would have more D potential with the Comet because of the feel of the rim - feels like a Roc to me. With the Stingray I get very clean releases with it but usually throw it with a stacked fan grip, a regular power grip feels awkward sometimes.

So I ask ... has anyone out there thrown both for a decent amount of time and can share the differences? Can one achieve a certain line/shot that the other can't or not as well? What is your preference and why? Thanks.

 

[Ben17]

Nope never tried either of them

 

[sidewinder22]

They fly pretty similar but I prefer the grip on the Comet.

 

[skottyb]

I am a stingray fan in general, never thrown a comet... maybe I need to.

 

[Technohic]

From the times I have thrown a Stingray, it seemed a good bit more understable than a Comet. Of course that would be star to Z and I havent thrown an X Comet.

 

[GLong]

just read the whole comet love thread here ....

paging frank d and marmoset ...

 

[ZBoazMobster]

I'm interested in this as well. I throw a really old Ch.SR that probably shouldn't even be in my bag. Mine has really resilient plastic, much like CE. The flight path is amazing... a looong flat understable glide with near zero fade. I think it may be worth something dollar wise, but it's play value far excededs whatever that may be. It's the last Innova in my bag and I want it out (on my wall). To move on from here, I need to replace it. The Comet may do it. I'm gonna try, since the Buzzz's are getting me nowhere.

 

[SAxDrc]

I think the Stingray is faster and more understable than the comet. I'd bet the Stingray has more potential for distance, though I do love the feel of the comet.

 

[craftsman]

I don't have much sr expierence but I imagine it's better at rollers.

 

[GLong]

yea i would assume the same, i havent tried any rollers with the comet. I'd imagine the stingray's thin rim gives it the edge on the ground.

 

[Marmoset]

Comet (C)- long straight neutral glidey large diameter midrange
Stingray (SR)- long understable glidey large diameter driver

Here's a list of random comparisons that pop into my head:

You can accomplish the same flight patterns between the two. The C will rely on glide to get to 300', the SR will rely more on its speed. To get to 350' with a SR you are going to have to give a lot more initial hyzer. A different way of saying the same thing is that the SR is more speed sensitive than the C although they are both speed sensitive. DX SRs start out pretty beefy like a Z Comet but the SR will lose stability very quickly. Star and Cmap SRs are overstable unless you have lots of power. The Z Comet is in the same boat but not to the same extreme. I said that DX SRs lose their initial beefiness quickly; Champ doesn't break in like DX so Champ SRs retain their beefiness for a really long time. My 150 Champ SR can take a decent headwind. SRs are easier to get a late right turn than Comets because SRs flip more readily. Comets will flip but not usually because they are understable, they flip because you have exceeded the upper boundary or because your form is shtinky. You can throw a SR with more armspeed. SR's profile is a little more conducive to rolling IMO. Comets will roll just fine, too.

What it really boils down to in my mind is that the Comet is a very slow, neutral-stable midrange.
The SR is a very slow understable driver.
Both are workable but both require a decidedly old school influence to get them properly motivated. These 2 discs are largely overlooked today because most golfers want to play with a more power oriented new-school technique and these discs don't respond well to that... unless you like rollers.

 

[Marmoset]

I need to replace it. The Comet may do it

It sounds like it might. The Z Comet sounds like it would fit your requirements.

I'd bet the Stingray has more potential for distance

I think the Comet might edge it out in a pure D competition.
On the record: I am more familiar with Comets than SRs. Naturally, I can work a Comet better than a SR. I honestly believe the Comet is much more versatile regardless of which disc I know better.

I'd imagine the stingray's thin rim gives it the edge on the ground.

yup, that's my assessment. But the understability makes it stand up and roll out faster so the advantage is somewhat negated. Max weight SRs will roll for a very long time, especially after you learn your landing angles.

 

[EL-KABONG]

sounds like the Comet is more like a Cobra than a Stingray...

I know all are out of favor but they are capable of great short to mid lines at low speeds that not many newer, 'hipper' discs can match.

 

[Marmoset]

The Comet thrown at the speed appropriate for a Comet is more stable than a Cobra thrown at the speed appropriate for a Cobra. If you throw a Cobra at the same speed as a Comet it wil fly kind of like a Comet but with much bigger fade.

Discraft doesn't make 150g Comets that I'm aware of. So I keep a 150g DX Cobra or 2 in my bag to replace the Comets. The Cobras take over some of the traditionally Comet-ey shots and the beat DX Roc takes over some of the other Comet-ey shots.

Comets definitely feel closer to Cobras than Stingrays.

If I carry my regular weight bag I have mostly Comets (X, ESP and Z) with 1 or 2 Rocs.

I know all are out of favor but they are capable of great short to mid lines at low speeds that not many newer, 'hipper' discs can match.

Preach it!

 

[bizarbies]

I had a comet and it was just alright, I traded it begining of summer. On the other hand Im a huge stingray fan. I have 2 in my bag at all times, a 180 dx and a 172 dx that is over 10 years old. If you need a disc that goes right and holds that line, the stingray is the disc for you. I cant say enough good things about the stingray.

Biz
Team Bert

 

[Marmoset]

I had a comet and it was just alright, I traded it begining of summer. On the other hand Im a huge stingray fan. I have 2 in my bag at all times, a 180 dx and a 172 dx that is over 10 years old. If you need a disc that goes right and holds that line, the stingray is the disc for you. I cant say enough good things about the stingray.

Biz
Team Bert

What plastic did you try for the Comet?
I bet you'd love my beat Elite X Comet.

Is your 10 year old Stingray an Ontario or San Marino?

 

[bizarbies]

What plastic did you try for the Comet?
I bet you'd love my beat Elite X Comet.

Is your 10 year old Stingray an Ontario or San Marino?

I belive the comet was a Z, but I cant remember, it was a flydye. I traded it for a goblin that I really like and use often. And the stingray is a San Marino, and it closer to 12 years old now that I think about it. Its very understable, but its gotten me out of some jams over the years. I just cant seem to retire it.

Biz
Team Bert

 

[Technohic]

I still cant puit my finger on why my nearly 10 year old Stingray flies more like a driver and newer ones I have thrown fly more like a mid. I know they used to be called drivers and have since been called multi-purpose or whatever but I dont see anything physically different about them.

 

[Marmoset]

Z Comets are not the disc you should have tried; the X Comet is better for the shots you described.

 

[Marmoset]

I still cant puit my finger on why my nearly 10 year old Stingray flies more like a driver and newer ones I have thrown fly more like a mid. I know they used to be called drivers and have since been called multi-purpose or whatever but I dont see anything physically different about them.

3 different molds:
Ontario, San Marino, WWW.

WWW is the current mold.
San Marino is the next newest. The coveted amoeba stamped Stingrays are San Marinos.
Ontario is the original IIRC. They are flat topped and more stable.