JohnE has given the Shield some exposure lately. Maybe that'll translate into better sales going forward.
I have a (BT Hard) Shield; mine seems to be less overstable than most comments I've read about it would suggest.
My two Westside Shields are both BT Hard also. I like to carry a brand new one, and a beat in one.
For me, a new Shield is slightly to the overstable side of things when thrown at about 50-70% effort. It is pretty reliable, but can be affected by head winds, so, although I use it on most shorter throws, there are certain situations where I choose a disc with more overstability or less glide. Hard Harps fill all duties when I need the extra reliability in wind, or when the Shield may not be overstable enough.
I have been throwing Shields for about 2 years, and have probably gone through 5-6 in that time. Shields lose a bit of stability after a few months of use. It is hard to describe, but it's flight will lose just a bit of its crispness, and I find myself longing for that new Shield stability. So, I take the slightly beat Shield out of the bag, and put a new one in. The somewhat used disc is added to my bag of discs for field practice.
I do enjoy going to a ball field to throw. I always start all field practice sessions by throwing slower discs first. This means Shields and Harps. I "cycle" Harps much like I do Shields. It's not much of a cycle actually - from new disc to field practice disc.
The other Shield in my bag has been in use for two years, and is extremely beat in. It has been thrown on all the local rocky, wooded courses in my area, and has all the marks and wear one would expect from a much loved disc. It's stamp is now mostly gone, and it looks pretty terrible, but I use it several times every round, and love it. Sometimes, I will putt with it. It is the only understable throwing putter that remains in my bag consistently. I suppose my beat in Shield now flies something like a Warden. It isn't extremely flippy at all, but has a certain amount of turn when thrown with 50-60% effort. I would never choose to throw the beat in Shield extremely fast, because it would most likely turn over two much. Perhaps this qualifies it as flippy in some peoples eyes. If I lose this Shield, then a disc from my practice bag will have to replace it.
I have tried Shields and Harps in premium plastics, but always end up going back to BT Hard plastic. And, I have tried lots of other putter molds, but, after the novelty of throwing the new mold wears off, I end up just wanting to throw a Shield or Harp.
Anyways, do I like Shields? Yes, I do. :thmbup:
