Soft/gummy putter vs. standard plastic putter

[Moedawg]

Last year i made the switch from star aviars to the R-pro, not really sure if that was a good decision. Seems that the R-pro is alot less consistant in the wind. I am half tempted to switch back. Anyone have much success on a similar switch ?

[captain jack]

I switched to rubber.
My VP has a great feel, better than the soft JK Aviar X I was using.
Plastic putters are so Eighties. :rolleyes:

[sillybizz]

I like my FLX and Soft X Challengers for putting but I also throw a Turbo.

[Kris C]

A few months ago I switched from a Champ Aero to a Soft Magnet and I love it! I've had a lot less spin outs.

[Burge]

My main two putters are a 'soft' Warlock, which is as hard as DX but has a chalky feel, and a 'Super Stupid Soft' Warlock which is kind of like firm taffy and, when it was brand new, was downright sticky--almost like weak post-it adhesive. If you want floppy soft, try a Gumbputt or a Woodchuck. I still carry a Gumbputt for those times that I want an approach to hit the ground and STOP!:cop:

[Tim]

My philosophy about soft putters is that they'll help a sloppy putt stay in, but a firm putter will give you a more consistent release so you can have more good putts. There's a reason most top pros use medium (DX/D) to firm (KC Pro) putters.

The Vibram putters Captain Jack talks about seem interesting--they have the rubbery texture, yet are firm enough to keep a consistent shape. I wouldn't mind trying one out.

[Ol' Bob]

Funny, my floppiest putter, my Four Times JK A-X, is my goto approach and long putter, its main problem being it's too long, too often. If I'm afraid of going long, I use my Ringer. My short putters, yellow and orange Rattlers, are stiff like plastic, but their surfaces are grippy like rubber. When I turbo putt, I use a driver like my FLX Surge. I can't turbo putters anywhere as accurately as I can drivers. I never see anyone else turboing drivers, but I find the difference in results huge.

[emmarose]

...i love my r-pro aviar, but agree it is not the most consistent in the wind... because of that i carry a standard aviar with me, too... also, the heavier the better for the r-pro has been my experience... oh, and don't leave it in the front "putter" pocket of your bag in your car on a hot day... now i have an r-pro canoe...

peace,
em

[Cajun]

I like my gummy Supreme JuJu but I may try a Gumbputt soon. I rational that a really floppy disc actually flaps almost like the wings of a bird and straight too. We'll see.

[Wyman Gast]

In an effort to force more grab of the chains, would it be taboo to scrub a little violin rosin around the outer edge of the disc? :whistler: I mean that would be 'gummy'. Discs are rubber, rubber is tree pitch and rosin is tree pitch..

[Uhlman]

In an effort to force more grab of the chains, would it be taboo to scrub a little violin rosin around the outer edge of the disc? :whistler: I mean that would be 'gummy'. Discs are rubber, rubber is tree pitch and rosin is tree pitch..

While that is not outright taboo, you may get some strange looks as you rosin up you disc. Heck you may just want to carry a violin case as your disc bag if you do that. I use Climbers chalk on my hands to help with grip and I guess you could say the same thing about the Rosin.

[Moedawg]

I like my gummy Supreme JuJu but I may try a Gumbputt soon. I rational that a really floppy disc actually flaps almost like the wings of a bird and straight too. We'll see.

lol the wounded duck putt ?

[Chad_from_BC]

About 6 months ago I switched to the KC Pro Aviar and it's the best disc decision I ever made. They're great for 275 feet and closer approach shots and the firm putter means it's going to fly the same on every release. Granted, they can spit out off the chains a little too easy sometimes, but you just have to make sure you hit it right. I have 4 of them in my bag from really beat up to fairly new.

[Jonesy]

back when i putted with an aviar i tried out an r-pro for a round. same everything. i found that it was just rubbery enough to flop out somehow on every birdie putt for nine holes. was on the wsu practice course so they were all birdie putts. never touched r-pro again.
________
Babe tubes (http://www.fucktube.com/categories/6/babe/videos/1)

[mrDROCK]

I have been enjoying my ION putter. It puts two different plastics together. The flight plate is like a Champion plastic and the edge has a very rubbery feel. I was practicing the other day and had a horrible putt, but it glanced the last chain on the outside and pulled itself in to the basket. Problem is I found this putter in the used section at NA and now I would like to find another.

[bthoma1]

soft banger gt is my weapon of choice, it feels so good

[Burge]

I have been enjoying my ION putter. It puts two different plastics together. The flight plate is like a Champion plastic and the edge has a very rubbery feel. I was practicing the other day and had a horrible putt, but it glanced the last chain on the outside and pulled itself in to the basket. Problem is I found this putter in the used section at NA and now I would like to find another.

Marshall Street has them in stock...

http://www.marshallstreetdiscgolf.com/product/ST-19206/MVP-Soft-Ion/

I've got one in the bag and it is a cool disc...but I still wouldn't call it my number one choice to throw. It's weird and almost seems too light. The plastic in the middle almost seems kinda cheap--like dollar kid toys, but it's remarkably flexible. The rubber on the outside is nice and grippy and makes the whole thing look a little wheel--like you should have four of them on a little wagon:) I will sat that it is a good disc for long putts, but not in a situation where you don't want it to roll because that disc will get up and leave:seeya:!

The cool thing about them is that the plastic that the disc is made out of has a positive charge and the rubber on the rim has a negative charge. I wonder if it generates electricity?:chinscratch:

However, my soft putter of choice still has to be the UBER-FLOPPY Blowfly. "Fip Flat Fly Straight"

...but I think it should also say "And Sit The F*** Down".

[mrDROCK]

I will sat that it is a good disc for long putts, but not in a situation where you don't want it to roll because that disc will get up and leave:seeya:!

You got that part right. Too many times I will miss my long putt and it starts rolling down the hill. First time I used it at Leverich it got up and almost rolled from the basket at 1 down to the tee at 2. I guess it was ready to move on. It also doesnt help that I sharpied the X-Men logo on it, which make it definitely look like a wheel.

I am still feeling it out, but I think it is making me want to putt Aviars or XDs in the future. :chinscratch:

[zombie41]

I think everyone needs to try an R-pro Dart. It's my most used disc, It flies super straight and it doesn't catch the wind like my Dx avairs. It also seems to grab the chains better.

[Rakoz]

I utilize the aforementioned "chalky" warlocks for longer putts and windy days. I have a super super stupid soft wizard for anything under 20. The bounce out potential is so much less with the super super stupid soft wiz and it doesn't roll away at all. I'll be playing with the VP soon as well though so we'll see what happens.

[Uhlman]

I have found it easier to putt with a more flexible putter. I recently (this past weekend) picked up a 175 R-PRO Avair and after one round of play I fell in love with it. This is now my go to with-in 10m. I have putted with a DX and Champ plastic putters and I have found that a more flexible plastic works better with my putting style.

[Ol' Bob]

The new R-Pro Aviars have a similar feel to the 4X JK Pro Aviar-Xs. I think that's what they may have been going for. I love my X for 40 to 150 feet. I'm thinking of trying to see how close the R-Pros come for shots like that.

[Sagillarious]

I use a Banger gt for all my puts 35 ft and in. It has that thumb trac which makes my grip and release really consistent and I love that. I wanted to buy another one and saw a single at the store but couldn't bring myself to buy it due to it being HOT PINK! I mean, don't get me wrong, I can rock pink all day but hot pink is a whole other level. Not to mention it would make a little sense on a driver but on a putter? Anyways, for everything 250 ft and in I use my R pro Dart and it's my favorite disc. I got my first and only ace with it due to how straight it flies and I'm definitely getting another (non-hot pink) one.

[White Buffalo]

Organic wizards (prototype) are my favorite. There must be something in the plastic that makes them hit chains!!!

[another85]

i've found that the r-pro plastic is way too floppy in temps over like 45-55 degrees but it works great when all your dx/jk pro is frozen solid in those winter months here in the NW

[another85]

i've found that r-pro is too floppy in temps over 45-55 degrees but works great when your dx/jk pro plastic is frozen solid in the winter months up here in the NW. but my weapon of choice is a 4 year old 165 champion aviar never thrown anything else like it

[another85]

oops i'm a message board newb i posted once and hadnt refreshed it. my bad:D

[Ol' Bob]

If you click "Edit" on one of the posts, you'll have the option of deleting it.

Welcome aboard.

[whalekillah]

I use both a Soft Banger GT, and a Pro-D. Soft Banger is the go-to, unless "stiff" chains exist(Lunchtime DGC) then I break out the Pro-D

[captain jack]

I switched from the VP to the Ridge for the versatility, but I'm still very happy with Vibram X Link rubber for putting. Never been more happy with a disc.

I gotta say though, the R-Pro Aviar seems to me like the perfect putter for most people. I held one last week at Chainbangers and almost bought it just because it felt so at home in my hand, and the R-Pro formula seems like the perfect blend, not too soft or too hard.

If I wasnt so settled into the Ridge I think I would go with one of these for my next putter.

Oh, and those ultra floppy " Vomit" VP's from Vibram are sick !
Chainbangers has some in interesting colors. I cant putt with them, but if you like floppy, you should try them.

[General Scales]

It seems that putting style has a lot to do with putter stiffnesss preference. Which makes a lot of sense when you think about it.

Push putters tend to like stiffer plastics. With the way that the thumb does 70 percent of the gripping, a soft top plate will cause a lot more wobbly nose down style shots. A harder plastic will stop that. Since there is very little spin in a push putt, the stiffness also helps push the chains apart so the disc drops in.

On the opposite spectrum of putting, spin putters need the tacky, soft plastics to slow down the spin ratio on their putts. The soft flight plate doesn't effect the putt so much as spin putts are thrown with more grip on the rim then the top. The plastic is what makes those single link hit and in throws possible.

Now that I've thoroughly explained the theory behind this I can talk bout my preferences. Pro-D is my putting plastic. Focus's and Ringer's are my putters. Gripline Spikes are my upshot and driving putters and I keep a Soft Challenger for the occasion of having to sidearm putt.