<DG> Aerobie Superdisc -- Legal?
S.A.
Superdisc? I bought one yesterday and was wondering if I can carry it
on the course without being struck by lightning. For those who have
not seen one, it is made of two different types of plastic; a clear
plastic flight plate with a rim made of a softer, rubbery type of
plastic. It looks pretty cool and even has a nice feel to it. I have
not had a chance to throw it yet, so I'll reserve comment on that. It
seems to meet all of the requirements of WFDF 107.01 with the possible
exception of 107.01.B, which says the disc must "be made of SOLID
plastic material..."
I can see arguments for both sides -- the disc IS solid according to my
dictionary (as in NOT HOLLOW), but the rule also refers to the singular
"material", whereas this disc has, according to the manufacturer,
"...unique two-piece construction..."
There may be some conflict with the rim configuration rule (107.01.D),
but I, like everyone else I know, cannot seem to find my ST142 contour
gauge. Comments welcome on this rule, too.
Thanks.
Fortunat_Mueller
says...
Is is stable and leaves your hand looking like it is about to fly 200
yards and then it promptly stops after about 20.
~FOrtunat
ZUMA
played a round with old 45's. However, in leauges and turnaments, you
be out of luck. I don't think the disc was brought up for approval
from the PDGA. Judging from the other post here, the disc is not
worth a hoot. I don't know, it might be fun just to have one for
catch or something...
Paul
Sandbagger 004 & GLDGC.
Thomas F. Monroe
Do youself a favor and give it to someone who needs help with learning
how to throw.
S.A.
>how to throw.
Ok, so I should have waited to try it out before wasting my time (and
yours) on a <DG> question about this disc. Now that I've tried it on
the course, I agree that it's hardly worth a discussion. It is so
light and the soft rim has so much bite that it bounces or spins off of
the chains like crazy. It seems to have no place outside of a friendly
game of toss. It flies about as far as a bowling ball and, because of
the weird rim, is tough to trick unless you just enjoy tips and
nail-delays (which it does pretty well, actually.) My kids seem to
like it, but they're too young to know much about ANYTHING. :)
Thomas F. Monroe
and the way they were throwing it around looked pretty good. They were
only about 30 yards apart. All the Seniors received one in their players
paks at the overall last summer. They quickly came to your conclusions.
It's great for newbees and kids. Thats about all.!
Hilarie Orman
The various disparaging words about the Aerobie Superdisc make me
curious about the exact problem. Having first seen "flying flat thing
golf" played with an Aerobie (actually with the predecessor to the
Aerobie, the yellow thing) I always thought that it must be an ideal
throwing object (the "baskets" were small tree trunks, all you had to
do was hit it). If it bounces out of the basket, why not use a
different basket, more like a net? Or is the objection that the Superdisc
doesn't get much distance? Surely that's not true ... I can throw an
ordinary Aerobie about 3 times further than I can throw a Frisbee-like
object, and I thought the Superdisc was designed for greater
stability ... how does it fail to satisfy?
S.A.
Orman) writes:
>
>First, I'm not a golfer, just an ulty player with a question.
>
>The various disparaging words about the Aerobie Superdisc make me
>curious about the exact problem.
> If it bounces out of the basket, why not use a
>different basket, more like a net?
For the non-golfer: Many (most?) of the standardized courses use "pole
holes" which require the golfer to tangle the disc in hanging chains
and come to rest in a basket in order for the hole to be completed.
Obviously, if you are playing call-your-hole or playing on an "object"
course where the idea is merely to HIT the target (such as a specific
tree) the SuperDisc would probably be a great disc for short :) putts.
It is VERY stable and it flies VERY straight with no wobble. However,
it is also VERY light (in relation to its diameter) and can be blown
off target in winds that your average golf disc can handle with ease.
>Or is the objection that the Superdisc
>doesn't get much distance? Surely that's not true ... I can throw an
>ordinary Aerobie about 3 times further than I can throw a Frisbee-like
>object, and I thought the Superdisc was designed for greater
>stability ... how does it fail to satisfy?
Sad, but true. When you throw the SuperDisc, it looks like a new world
record. It sails and floats and sails some more and then drops to the
ground disappointingly close to your feet. Similar effort on a golf
disc will result in a throw which is easily TWICE as long as that of
the SuperDisc (at least this has been my experience.) It can in no way
compare to the distances possible with a normal Aerobie. Neither can
it compare with distances possible with a normal golf disc.
I have not thrown the SuperDisc side-by-side with a classic
Frisbee-type disc, but I would guess the SuperDisc would be in the same
range -- not MUCH LONGER (as advertised.) Maybe less for a good ulty
player.
Rodney
I think there is a misconception about the SuperDisc. I don't think
(and you'll correct me if I'm wrong) it has ever been claimed that the
SuperDisc is a distance disc.
I saw one at the store and read both sides of the packaging. I didn't
see a single reference to the SuperDisc being capable of long distance
flight. Now, there were several references to the Aerobie and its
remarkable accomplishments, and references to the fact that the SuperDisc
was made by the same people using the same technology, but it never
actually says that the SuperDisc goes far.
It may even say something about revolutionizing the sport, but still no
reference to distance.
From what I have heard (I haven't tried one), the SuperDisc is an
extremely straight flyer that would be wonderful for a game of catch
(except for the rim shape which some people seem to have trouble with).
I would be interested to see any direct quote of a claim that was made
of super long distance by the SuperDisc, because I don't think they
actually made one. If I'm right, then perhaps it's a lesson in
advertising.
Thanks,
rodney
dudley
->Good description of the Suoer Disc. Isaw the inventor on TV last spring
->and the way they were throwing it around looked pretty good.
Was that Alan Adler? Alan was the one who invented the Skyro, which was
produced by Parker Bros. but which was later refined and marketed by
Alder's own copmpany as the Aerobie. Adler is an inventor with a background
in physics. He has designed, among other things, the Fast 40 (a 40 foot
racing sailboat), the Slapsee (a toy marked by Wham-O), and a couple of
boomerangs (one, I believe, marketed by Wham-O).
It is important to remember that he is not a frisbee expert. He's just an
average guy who happens to like to develop toys by studying CFD and wind
tunnel results. When he was developing the Skyro, he'd make the calculations
on a computer, create the prototypes from solid plastic with the use of a
lathe, and then ask us to test-throw them because his throw was so poor that
he couldn't get them to fly very far (Yes, collectors, I've still got one of
the solid plastic prototypes).
So, when Tom says:
> All the Seniors received one in their players
> paks at the overall last summer. They quickly came to your conclusions.
> It's great for newbees and kids. Thats about all.!
You've got to remember that Alan is a very average thrower (kind of like most
people who play frisbee). I haven't seen him in a while, but I'll bet that
the Superdisc helps him (and tens of thousands of others with average frisbee
skills). I'm sure he wouldn't be happy with one of those abominations folfers
seem to love.
dudley
.
Hilarie Orman
|> You've got to remember that Alan is a very average thrower (kind of like most
|> people who play frisbee). I haven't seen him in a while, but I'll bet that
|> the Superdisc helps him (and tens of thousands of others with average frisbee
|> skills).
There is an elite coterie of fanatic throwers who test Adler's flying objects.
These people are about as far from average as you can get while still
staying within the probably-not-a-space-alien profile. Arm like a god
and brain the size of a small planet sorta people. Now, if I hear one
of them vouch for the Superdisc, then I'll believe that it's all in the
arm of the be-thrower; if not, maybe it's just a toy.
Adler's quest for absolute stability has guided his designs over the
years. I had thought that stability would be equivalent to distance,
but maybe that's not true for discs ... they don't approach infinite
thinness.
S.A.
writes:
>I think there is a misconception about the SuperDisc. I don't think
>(and you'll correct me if I'm wrong) it has ever been claimed that the
>SuperDisc is a distance disc.
>
>I saw one at the store and read both sides of the packaging. I didn't
>see a single reference to the SuperDisc being capable of long distance
>flight. Now, there were several references to the Aerobie and its
>remarkable accomplishments, and references to the fact that the
SuperDisc
>was made by the same people using the same technology, but it never
>actually says that the SuperDisc goes far.
>
>It may even say something about revolutionizing the sport, but still
no
>reference to distance.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
You're right. I will correct you. :^) I have the packaging right here
on my desk and I'll give you a quote:
"The AEROBIE Superdisc flies farther and more accurately than any other
disc."
That's a pretty strong statement. It does not say it flies farther
than "MOST" discs or "MANY" discs -- it says "ANY OTHER DISC", and it's
just not true.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>From what I have heard (I haven't tried one), the SuperDisc is an
>extremely straight flyer that would be wonderful for a game of catch
>(except for the rim shape which some people seem to have trouble
with).
>I would be interested to see any direct quote of a claim that was made
>of super long distance by the SuperDisc, because I don't think they
>actually made one. If I'm right, then perhaps it's a lesson in
>advertising.
>
>Thanks,
>rodney
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Don't get me wrong, Rodney. I've tried it, and it IS a straight flyer.
It doesn't wobble at all. Heck, I even like the feel of the grip.
It's great for toss games -- especially if you are throwing with
someone who doesn't play much. The inexperienced throwers I've tossed
with seem to catch on to it pretty quickly. My comments have been
strictly <DISC GOLF> from the start. I just don't like it much as a
golf disc. However, as I said in a previous note, I think it would
make a good putter on an object course on a calm day. It is probably
the straightest flyer I've seen!
dudley
->maybe it's just a toy.
I thought all frisbees were toys, or are you using them to perform brain
surgery?
Just toyin' around,
dudley
.
Thomas F. Monroe
did not stress throwing for distance just the ability for anyone to make
a "good" throw. That is exactly what the disc does. It flies good. It's
hard to throw it bad. And yes I'm sure any World Class Frisbee will fly
further. Seems the marketing hype has consumers thinking this two pieced
membrane will go far. Not true. Its just fun to throw. That's all...
Hilarie Orman
|> In article 2...@optima.cs.arizona.edu, h...@uncial.CS.Arizona.EDU (Hilarie Orman) writes:
|>
|> ->maybe it's just a toy.
|>
|> I thought all frisbees were toys, or are you using them to perform brain
|> surgery?
I hadn't wanted to reveal the details of the research before all
experiments were complete, but you may be relieved to know that the
surgical frisbee was a failure, proving useful only for flatworm
trimming. However, on the military side, the stealth disc shows
promise as a ordnance delivery vehicle. Throwers must be trained
to release quickly, well before the ten count.