Got a 176 and a 166 Wave in the mail today and got some time in with them this evening.
I agree with those who have seen significant differences in stability depending on weight. One thing I've noticed about this speed class in general is that there's much more variance in stability across the weight spectrum than other MVP/Axiom molds. Not a bad thing by any means, just something new.
With that in mind, the 166 I have is very, very understable at my 375' power. It's basically unthrowable for distance; I'd have to really tone it down to aim for D with it. Maybe in a monster tail wind, but nothing more. This one will be making it up on the Marketplace soon.
The 176 is very intriguing to me. It has a very smooth and easy turn at my distance without wanting to not come back. I have to throw it on a sizable hyzer release, but given that it is very controllable. I had a few throws with it that were perhaps my farthest ever, in the 400' range, and even more ordinary throws flew nice turn-and-fade distance lines that were really predictable. It doesn't require monster room to work and net distance, which is very nice. There's something about the balance between turn and fade that seems to have a lot of potential for reproduceability in hitting the "sweet spot" release, and working those laterally sweeping distance lines. Like I said, I'm very intrigued, and eager to spend more time with it.
I would say that, for me anyway, it's very much a niche max D disc. But it has some of the most predictable turn I've ever seen from a disc in that category. The glide isn't mondo, but it's good; lots of distance potential here.
The main thing I'm wondering is, do I need this and a light Fission Photon? The heavier weight is reassuring and makes me feel comfortable laying into it, but at the same time as I gain comfort with my 140 class Photon I can get similar lines and D. They're clearly different discs given the dramatically different weights needed to fly similar lines, but I'm just wondering what the Wave adds given the flexibility that Photons have given their availability across such a spectrum of weights.
Just throwing that thought out there, as it will be my main consideration as I shake out my distance drivers this summer. The Wave is definitely an intriguing disc; I think the longer Inertia description is spot on.
Throwing the Wave also has me curious for the eventual release that falls between it and the Photon.