Got 2 Photons in yesterday (thanks Justin) and got some field time with them. 163 and 153. Both red. First impressions:
They aren't a D miracle for me either, but that's at least partly the limits of my arm speed/form. Right at the end of the session, I did about 12 throws side by side with these 2 and my 2 go to P Teslas, all 12 were past 375 range (with both molds) and maybe a couple each were tickling 400.' I'd say, end of the day, maybe I'm getting an average of like 10' more from the Photon. (This could expand as I get more used to them. I've really, really gelled with the P Tesla.)
Agreed with others that this Fission is very nice feeling/gripping, better than on the Volt even. I'm not too wild about the mushy flight plate, but I guess it doesn't really come into play much with a power grip. Like, I didn't care for it standing in my driveway just fondling, but I didn't have any issues throwing the things.
There was some breeze, nothing gusty really, and I thought these held up pretty well stability wise, but there's a noticeable lack of penetration into a head wind, to be expected probably from lighter discs.
Even without adding 100' of D or whatever, these are still pretty cool discs. The "enhanced" gyro seems legit to me, not for raw D necessarily, but for the ability to control the disc at the 400' range like a mid, almost. Once I started getting the feel of the stability difference between the 2 weights, I was able to put these pretty much where I wanted at 375+. I thought the fade was quite muted for a 'speed 11' rimmed disc. Once dialed in, the HS turn on the 153 is very smooth transitioning, totally trustworthy and workable.
For me, on these throws, I don't think I'd describe the Photon as a longer Tesla. The lines they fly are just too different...primarily in the finish (besides not really being that much longer for me.) The photon, I can get out past 350 about 5' off the ground pretty easily, and with very little fade and almost no skip. Tesla's a lot harder to do that sort of shot with, takes some precise angling (and luck, really) not to get that fade out/skip/flair.
On taller hyzer-type throws, looking for a steeper fade into the target area, sometimes the Photons were sort of banking and dropping out of the air somewhat, rather than fading on the angle into the target aggressively the way my Teslas do. There's a place for both, in other words.
Can't wait to get my hands on some Photon in other plastics. Plasma?