Tsunami, Rogue, Riptide, Squall, Titanic, Blowfly

[Bruce Brakel]

DGA is stepping up as an IOSeries sponsor.  In addition to the DGA line of discs, in 2007 I'll also be able to have a full weight Mach III basket on a wheel stand available to the first player [or club!] to offer me a cool 400 brass for it.  This is actually a deal because they retail for $412.  http://www.discgolfassociation.com/phmach3.html

Those of you who are Top 10 players in Advanced, think about saving up for the Mach III.  When the basket sells, there'll be another announcement. 

If there is anyone out there wanting Sparkle Tsunamis, I can get them with my order.  Be sure to holler.  Otherwise, I'll be stocked with the non-sparkle variety. 

[discmonkey]

Tsunami = Predator???  Other comparisons?

[Bruce Brakel]

The Tsunami is similar to the Predator but not equal.  Probably better, a little more glide but all the stability.  A lot of the Discraft sponsored pros throw Tsunamis.  Discraft is cool with their pros also throwing DGA because of the cross-pollenization between those two companies.  The first Ice Bowl ace of 2007 was scored with a Tsunami.  I threw it. 

The Rogue is similar to the Wraith or the Surge.  It is new this year. 

The Riptide is the driver that will be understable for power throwers but maybe just right for newer players.  I had a few Riptides a while back, can't remember why.  I dyed them and sold them so fast I never threw them.  I just remember the dye turned out like crap and someone loved it.  I think maybe I sold them to a guy who sells stuff on-line. 

The Squall was probably one of the Buzzz prototypes.  Back when they were trying to make the Buzzz, we threw a lot of proto-types around at Kensington.  One was a little more overstable than the one that would become the Buzzz.  Someone on the inside told me that they were not going to produce that one as a Discraft disc but they thought someone would license it.  A little while later DGA came out with the Squall.  I've never actually touched a Squall but I once saw one. 

The Titanic is basically the Z-APX.  And the APX is somewhere between a Magnet and a Challenger.  If you like to putt with Champion/Z, but would like something less overstable than a Cryztal Challenger or Champ Aviar, here you go.  Don't throw it near water.    

The Blowfly is its own thing.  It is a super soft, true-flying, short mid-range and putter.  It is the best discs made for playing warm-up disc golf catch and throw.  You can chuck the thing as far as you can chuck a putter, but you'll never get a stinger off one of these.  If you like to play catch but don't want to mess up your disc golf form by hucking lids, these are the best.  Some people use them on the course too.  I messed around with them in 2000 and 2002, but them sold my stack in 2002 when other people wanted them more than I did.  I get more requests for Blowflies than any other DGA disc, but last year I was also getting requests for Tsunamis and Riptides. 

The Mach III is what you got out at Bevier, but on a wheeled stand.  It is going to have the number 4 on the number plate, unless I sell it this weekend and the buyer wants something else.  Derek was like, "4? Not 1?"  And I said, "If no one saves up for it, hole 4 on my home course could use a Mach III."  So, if no one buys it by the end of the season, I'm keeping it. 

[Bruce Brakel]

That's Chinese for Oh My God. 

I was throwing the Rogue today diagonally across a football field with a similar weight ESP Surge for comparison.  It is Surge-like but it is a little fatter on the under side of the rim.  This makes the Rogue is a little less overstable than the Surge. 

Throwing controlled shots with a little hyzer the Rogue was getting out there ten or twenty feet further.  When I was warmed up I went for the fence, knowing I couldn't get anything out that far.  The Surge came up 20 feet short.  The Rogue was over the fence and 80 feet beyond.   

Into a headwind it was flippy.  It might be flippy for big power throwers too.  Downwind, it was awesome.   

If I only had one I would not sell it.

[Dan Michler]

so how would this rogue compare to the Z flash or crush.

[Bruce Brakel]

I'll throw it side by side with a Flash tomorrow.  It was a long walk from the car to the field because the park gate was closed, and I did not bring a Flash with me.  I think the bottom line is that it is a little longer than a Surge because it doesn't hyzer out as fast. 

[Jon Brakel]

Put me down for 2 Rogues and 1 Blowfly. I like the Blowfly for warm up catch and I'm all about understable discs!

[Bruce Brakel]

I was throwing the Rogue in medium breezy winds today, and also throwing the ESP Surge and the Z Flash.  [The Rogue is an ESP type of plastic, btw]

Cross-wind, right to left, once I was warmed up, the Rogue went 40 feet further for me.  I was on an unmarked field but it felt like it was going 370 to the other two discs' 330.  Cross-wind, left to right, as soon as the Surge or Flash would start to hyzer out or fade, the wind would beat it down.  The Surge was going 315, Flash 345 and Rogue 375 based on pacing it off.

So then I picked up Kiralyn from dance and we went to the football field.  Here I was just throwing downwind.  I was getting the Surge about 330.  My best Flash throw was 360, but mostly I was getting it out about 330.  My best Rogue throw was 384, a full eight paces past the back of the other end zone. 

It is about the same stability as last year's Flash. 

This is a great disc for players who don't overpower their plastic.  And it is an awesome downwind driver for probably anyone. 

[Bruce Brakel]

Today I was throwing the Rogue and the Avenger SS on an unmarked field.  The Avenger SS is a little understable for someone throwing with my power and form.  It probably compares to the TL.  It would flip up to flat and then coast to the right some.  It will be a really straight driver for someone with medium power. 

On my last down wind throw the Avenger got out there about 320 which was as long as I could get it to go, and about as far as I throw anything.  The Rogue looked like it went 450, but it paced off to 396.  Into the wind I got a Rogue to go 340.  I can't throw anything that far into the wind. 

Also, I griplocked one and skipped it off a brick building.  The plastic got a little ding from the brick but the disc didn't change how it flew any.  The DGA pro plastic is very much like ESP. 

...

O.k., so I just opened up the new DGA.  Wow.  I have a lot of stuff to throw tomorrow.  The Squall is nothing like what I thought it was.  I don't even know what to compare it to.  The Reef looks like a chubby Magnet.  The Riptide is not what I remembered either. 

[Bruce Brakel]

The Squall has a beveled rim like a Stingray but it is domey and flies more stable.  It is not quite as stable as a Buzzz but pretty close. 

The Reef is a putter that is not quite as stable as Challenger but is more stable than a Magnet or APX.  I picked up just a few Reefs.

The Riptide is another distance driver.  We were test throwing in a windy, swampy field so I'm not sure whether it is ultra long range or what.  I'm going to throw this one some more when the wind calms down. 

[damonshort]

I bought a Riptide maybe 3 yrs ago, haven't thrown it lately. At the time they advertised what mold it was based on, but I don't remember. I should pull it out again but the way I've been throwing lately I'm not a good judge. it's probably been 'retooled' since then, but I remember it was kinda like a Talon and seemed really 'fast'.

[Bruce Brakel]

The weather here has been really windy and shows no sign of letting up for a few days.  The Riptide looks fast.  It has the wide rim of the faster drivers.  It is not a clone of anything Discraft is already producing. 

[damonshort]

OK, but I just looked and it seems a lot like the Wildcat. Are they still making Wildcats?

[Bruce Brakel]

They still sell Wildcats.  I don't know if they are making them.

It is not the same mold as a Wildcat.  The Wildcat has a fairly conventional concave underwing.  The Riptide underwing has a slight S-curve in it like a Surge, only more so. 

[Dan Michler]

i have been trying a Rogue for awhile now and i guess i don't really see it being a longer disc than any of the other high speed drivers.  in the field it compared similarly in distance to an ESP Surge (although less stable) or Champ Orc.  the CFR Wraith seemed to be consistently longer though.   its possible i just don't throw the Rogue good, but i definitely didn't notice anything that makes it stand out from other discs.

[Bruce Brakel]

These days my best distance is football field distance, and my normal good football field distance is 330 to 350 feet.  I often underperform in tournaments because one has to avoid trees and adjust for wind and all. 

On the 390 foot hole 17 in the morning, with Tom McManus and seven others as witnesses, I parked the basket for an easy birdie.  On the 425 foot hole [long tee] that plays away from the ball fields, is that #10 or 11?, the three intermediates I played with in the afternoon can confirm that I threw the disc 425 feet.  That is the hole that has a narrow look at the basket but a wider look if you play well to the right of the basket. I took the wide route and had an easy pitch up for three.  I had two great drives on Hole 19 but both times I missed the putt for three after an o.k. upshot.  Both times I overthrew the basket with a midrange for my second throw because I'm never that far down field on my drive.

I'm talking about the Rogue here.  Are oh gee you eee!  ROGUE!  Hopefully I'm out of them so i can get more, because I only grabbed one. 

Might not be anything special for Danimal, but all you Rec and Intermediates should try one. 

I'm looking forward to seeing how Rogues fly uphill at the USADGC!   

[discmonkey]

I was in your group, Bruce, when you bombed it 425.  We were even debating that it was a little longer than that.  Really nice, smooth S shot with about a 20' apex.  You even wrote it on the disc it was such a pretty shot.  Thanks for another great tournament, by the way. 

[damonshort]

Today I was throwing the Rogue and the Avenger SS on an unmarked field.  The Avenger SS is a little understable for someone throwing with my power and form.  It probably compares to the TL.  It would flip up to flat and then coast to the right some.  It will be a really straight driver for someone with medium power.   

I've been testing out the ones I got in the Am Worlds player pack. I've got a 173 Avenger SS and it's really weird how understable it is, esp. considering how heavy it is; it's a lot less stable than a 170 Z-Avenger I've got.

Haven't figured out how to get anything out of the Rogue yet. I'd probably sell it to anyone who really likes them.

I'm starting to kind of like the Cro though, after hating it the first few times I threw it. Good for big hyzer upshots and short drives on an S-curve. Not sure I'd run out & buy one, but I'll keep the one I have.

I'd be interested in other opinions from World participants, especially about the Avenger; maybe mine's a fluke.

[Bruce Brakel]

The Avenger SSs Ive thrown have been about as understable as a Sidewinder.  Yours sounds about right.  Keep your Rogue looking fresh and I'll buy it for 12 Brass.  Goes for anyone who got a Worlds Rogue.  For new looking Rogues I'll pay 12 Brass. 

[tacimala]

There was nothing special about the worlds rogues was there?