What putter and why?

[WkeBrd3]

I've been using a 175 Supersoft Wizard for a while now, and was wondering what other putters are similar? Are there any that are softer? What putters do you all use and why?

[Bruce Brakel]

I've gone back to the Soft Magnet.  I think soft plastic catches the chains better than stiff plastic.  I like an understable putter because it flies straighter, longer.  I want to try Quest's center weighted putter, but I did not have any left at the end of the last tournament.  That seemed really straight when I was tossing it around tournament central. 

[Mike S]

I think Omega SS's beat in to be softer than the Wizard SS's.  Some runs of the JK Aviar are really soft too.  Probably the softest is the DGA Blunt Gumbputt, or the Ching Juju Supreme.  Both of those discs feel like silly putty, they are so soft.

I dont like really soft putters.  I use soft S Wizards, which are hardly soft at all.  I like to use my putters as much as possible for any drives and upshots under 250' or so.  So I like some firmness to them for when I want to put a little more power into the throw.  I also think I get a more consistent release when the disc isnt flopping around in my hand.

[Working Stiff]

I don't like the supersoft putters, they feel too sticky to me.  I use a softer putter when it gets cold because they do have a better grip when they get cold.  I have a buddy who throws SS Wizards...he leaves them out in the sun for a few weeks after he gets them and swears it makes them a gooey bundle of supersoft goodness beyond anything on the market.  However he also thinks Foreigner is the greatest rock band ever, so his sanity is in question.

I like the putters to be a tad bit overstable because I put a little anhyzer on it.  My favorites are the Magnet in D or Wizard in S, it depends on which one I missed a bunch of putts with last weekend.  I've been using the Wizard for awhile, so eventually I'll decide the Wizard is my problem and go back to the Magnet. 

I also recommend max weight in putters around here because of the wind.  In some other places you can get away with a light putter, but I can't control a low-speed throw with anything but max weight in the wind.  Max weight...aim low...pray if it works for you...listen for chains. 

BTW-I just noticed I said I like a slightly overstable putter and throw Magnets and Bruce likes understable putters and likes Magnets.  Oh, well...I guess I don't like slightly overstable putters.  When your arm speed is as slow as mine, everything seems overstable...

[Bruce Brakel]

By understable, I mean when you really throw it, off the tee or on a long upshot.  A wizard is stable when thrown as a driver as are Aviars and Challengers.  A Magnet is usually going to fly understable off the tee. 

[Mike S]

Also I should say - I dont like new putters either.  They need some character before I like to putt with them.  I use new Soft Wizards as driving and wind putters until they are beat enough to start flipping, and then I use them to putt.  I like the grip better on a worn putter, and i think they putt straighter.  I try to have 3 in the bag at different levels of beatness at all times.

[Working Stiff]

By understable, I mean when you really throw it, off the tee or on a long upshot.  A wizard is stable when thrown as a driver as are Aviars and Challengers.  A Magnet is usually going to fly understable off the tee. 

I understood that we meant different things...It just struck me as funny when I re-read the thread.   

Speaking of understable...did they switch the Aviar P&A to beadless?  That would take a little of the over out of the overstable in the Aviar.

[stpitner]

the Aviar P&A is beadless, but they just came out with the "Aviar Driver" in star plastic that has the bead.

[Working Stiff]

Also I should say - I dont like new putters either.  They need some character before I like to putt with them.  I use new Soft Wizards as driving and wind putters until they are beat enough to start flipping, and then I use them to putt.  I like the grip better on a worn putter, and i think they putt straighter.  I try to have 3 in the bag at different levels of beatness at all times.

Here is the dumbest thing I do (and for me that is saying something!)  My bag has two side putter pockets and a zipper pocket on the end for yet another disc.  So I keep my putter & my backup putter in the side pockets, and in the end I have an Aviar putter with the World's Biggest '97 stamp.  I call it my "Billy Baroo."  Sometimes when I messing with somebody on a long putt I pull out the Aviar and give it my best Ted Knight impersonation.  The last time I did this I actually hit from 80 ft going downhill with a 15 ft dropoff right behind the basket.  The other guys on my card were laughing so hard that they all tanked the next hole.

Of course, you have to be playing in a Masters Division for this to be funny.  No one under 40 understands what I'm doing.

[Working Stiff]

the Aviar P&A is beadless, but they just came out with the "Aviar Driver" in star plastic that has the bead.

Yeah, I heard that Innova was switching everything to beadless & big bead.  The small bead would only be used for the Omega.  That was the rumor, don't know if it is true or not.  I'm nothing if not a warehouse of unsubstantiated rumors.

[J.R.]

the Aviar P&A is beadless, but they just came out with the "Aviar Driver" in star plastic that has the bead.

I have a Champion Aviar P&A with a distinct bead and two DXs with a hint of a bead.  Maybe they're old.  I don't know.

[Bruce Brakel]

Changing what kinds of plastic they run which Aviars in is new this year.  Changing the disc but keeping the same name is a longstanding Innova tradition!   

[Dan Michler]

I throw Rattlers because I like the picture on the disc.

[Jon Brakel]

I throw Rattlers because I like the picture on the disc.

That is extremely funny just on its own but to also know how good of a putter Dan can be makes it even funnier.

[discmonkey]

I dont like really soft putters.  I use soft S Wizards, which are hardly soft at all.  I like to use my putters as much as possible for any drives and upshots under 250' or so.  So I like some firmness to them for when I want to put a little more power into the throw.  I also think I get a more consistent release when the disc isnt flopping around in my hand.

Yes and yes.  My putter is a 2 year old, black s wizard.  It's my baby and I use it as much in a round as all my other discs combined.  It's almost beat to perfect.  Grabs chains as well as any soft putter I've tried.

[ChiBlender36]

I'm probably one of the few here that putts with an Innova XD...it's by far my favorite disc and have had it since I started to play.  There's just something about it, i use it off the tees occasionally also...i can control it great for putts and it cuts through the wind nicely...also carry an Aviar in the bag too....but love my XD baby!

[Mukey]

I love the 1st run SE Rhynos, the ones with the eraser feel & the dimple in the middle of the top. But I use a Champion Rhyno for long putt/upshots. I like the Thumbtrac, gives your thumb something to push against without it being overstated.

[skipache]

11X KC Aviar
Best ever made.

[Moog_playa]

I'm a Rhyno fan myself as well...Pro Line Rhynos, 175's...the Thumtrac™ helps a bit.  I just like the feel of the plastic- not too floppy, not too stiff (that's what she said?).  And soft enough to grip the chains when it hits on the right side, and soft enough to fall dead when I miss.

And they cut through the wind pretty nicely.

[WkeBrd3]

11X KC Aviar
Best ever made.

The JK is softer and more flexible than the KC, right?