Thumber durability

[maynes32]

This is an issue I haven't really seen addressed in other "thumber/tomahawk" threads, so I'm starting a new one.

I currently have a very well-loved DX Cheetah that I use as a thumber disc. Thrown low(-ish), it behaves like a normal thumber, plummeting and sticking. Thrown higher, or from an elevated tee, it will eventually level out into normal flight. It's great.

The problem is, it is becoming VERY well-loved, and it is approaching time to replace it before long. The question is, what to do about the durability issue? Does anyone have any experience with, specifically, whether the thumber/tomahawk landing is so violent that it chews up Champion/Elite Z plastic only minimally slower than DX/Pro D? Or do these plastics wear significantly more slowly not withstanding the more violent landing?

I don't really want to spend the extra money on a disc designed to be beat up, unless it truly is going to become beat up much more slowly.

Thanks for any help,

BLM

[mashnut]

In my experience, my champion discs beat extremely slowly, even when thrown overhand. I've had tomahawks land on concrete and asphalt without affecting the flight of the disc or leaving any real dings in the edge.

[maynes32]

That's exactly my question. Thanks!

[ChaseTheAce]

Discraft plastic tends to be a bit harder in my opinion and I have a Z XS that I have been using for huge thumber shots over a year and it is still showing minimal signs of wear.

[zenbot]

I have used the same Star Teebird and Star Firebird for 2 years as my accuracy and distance thumber discs. One of our holes has a 150-200 foot drop onto hard packed dirt. They both have the same flight characteristics when I throw them backhand as they did 2 years ago.

[Roc1Time]

I use champ plastic

[Disc Chainy]

I specifically use DX discs for my tommy/thumber shots because they wear. When they are sufficiently beat in, they become less prone to roll. I can throw my beat DX Firebird a few hundred feet- it will hit the ground and sit. If I try the same shot with my champ Firebird, it's much more prone to hit, bounce up, and roll anywhere from 8-20 feet, sometimes more. When I throw those shots, I need them to be accurate and sit where they are placed. DX does that for me. The more beat up, the better:)
BTW- I use a DX Firebird for tommys, and a DX Eagle for thumbers

[TalbotTrojan]

After talking with some top flight Ams, Champion plastic is the way to go. It will last longer than even Star plastic. I would guess that the Discraft plastics would behave similarly as well.

[nunez23]

I use Discraft Tracker in ESP that is in the same shape as when I first started using it as my thumber disc. a few dings here and there but the same flight as before and it works great for me. I was also using a really old champion beast until I lost it, that wasn't showing too much wear either. The higher grade plastics are the way to go if you ask me.

[SpringDgLover]

I currently have a very well-loved DX Cheetah that I use as a thumber disc. Thrown low(-ish), it behaves like a normal thumber, plummeting and sticking. Thrown higher, or from an elevated tee, it will eventually level out into normal flight. It's great. BLM

You can get a thumber to level out and fly flat without using an Epic? Wow and I thought I was good at throwing overhand, Im impressed.

[solomon.trenton]

In my experience, my champion discs beat extremely slowly, even when thrown overhand. I've had tomahawks land on concrete and asphalt without affecting the flight of the disc or leaving any real dings in the edge.

agreed, but i find star is more resilent for wooded shots.

[Marty McFly]

Never use DX plastic for a tomahawk. It is just a waste for a disc, the wear way toooo fast.

[tomjulio]

I use Discraft Tracker in ESP that is in the same shape as when I first started using it as my thumber disc. a few dings here and there but the same flight as before and it works great for me. I was also using a really old champion beast until I lost it, that wasn't showing too much wear either. The higher grade plastics are the way to go if you ask me.

Same two discs, coincidentally, I use for my thumbers. My tracker is from 2005 and has hit every type of material imaginable, dinged on the edges, but still flies like a jet.

[mashnut]

agreed, but i find star is more resilent for wooded shots.

I agree, and I think the star discs tend to bounce less when they hit. My worst tree hits that end up way off the fairway are usually with champion.

[sidewinder22]

Anyone use FLX plastic for tommies or thumbers? I would think they would sit and not roll and last a long time.

[solomon.trenton]

I agree, and I think the star discs tend to bounce less when they hit. My worst tree hits that end up way off the fairway are usually with champion.

that and pro (which i dont use anymore)

[Fore]

I prefer champ or star plastic from Innova or elite z from Discraft. My main disc for overhands is the same disc I use for spike hyzers. It's champion plastic and takes alot of very hard hits. It is still in great condition and the only real wear on it is some of the stamp is scratched.

[Rameka]

Whatever you do, don't get ESP or Star. I don't get why everyone thinks they are the most durable. Z and Champion are the most durable. ESP and Star are blends of Z/Champion and the lower end plastics, so they are sort of an "in-between" disc which is moderately durable, moderately grippy, and not excellent at either. Now, I love my ESP Crush, but that thing got beat pretty fast. It flies dead straight now, and I used it for thumbers quite a bit. I now use a 165 LS Polaris for thumbers, and it's EXCELLENT...just the regular millennium plastic as well. It's a bit too light for me now, so I'm going to need to upgrade, but the plastic has held out against the worst overhand landings for a long time now.