[Innova] Beast X ... what is this?

[PMantle]

I bought a Dx old mold just to see how it flew for me. If I ever decided to not throw 12/11 speed stuff as my max distance drivers, this would be my main driver. I really don't have a use for it, but it's fun to throw. I like it way more than the new mold.

 

[Pbmercil]

Innova started using the -L designation for several discs to denote they were (L)onger and (L)ess stable. They outright advertised this for the Teebird-L, now well known as the TL. Other discs they tried this with were the Starfire-L (SL) and Firebird-L (FL).

Then they began doing this for the Eagle. I am not sure where "X" came from ( "X"-tra stable?) but the -L designation became known for the less-stable variant of a mold.

Close, but you are missing the real history of X vs L.

The Original L molds appeared in the first CE drivers. Eagle, Firebird, and Teebird. The thought at the time was that nobody wanted the more stable verisions of this discs in premium plastic, because they would take far too long to break in. So they tweaked the molds to be slightly less stable, so this new fangled "premium" plastic would start closer to the sweet spot people were used to getting their DX discs to relatively quickly. These were not advertised as new molds by Innova, They still just said Eagle, Firebird, or Teebird, on them. Later down the line they started running CE in both versions of the molds, because it turns out people really did want discs that stable that stayed there for a long time (seems obvious now but this was a different era). If I recall correctly Teebirds were the only molds that actually got a stamp change in the later CE runs (saying Teebird-L on them) but I'm not 100% on that.

It wasn't until years later that innova actually got the name changes approved (TL and FL) and started marketing these discs as actual unique molds. They have yet to get around to it with the Eagle.

Ever since then X vs L has been shorthand disc-speak for a more stable or less stable tweak on a mold. Its even been used by other manufactures as well (gateway). Generally speaking an X mold has a notch in the wing and and L mold does not.

 

[SD86]

Close, but you are missing the real history of X vs L

.....

It wasn't until years later that innova actually got the name changes approved (TL and FL) and started marketing these discs as actual unique molds. They have yet to get around to it with the Eagle.

Thanks for the info.

I wonder why they haven't gotten around to distinguishing the Eagles... it would help us casual golfers to know which is which....

 

[SonicGuy]

The X wing has a concave curve so the air flowing under it has to travel a longer distance in effect raising the PLH.

Impressive Bro-science there, really top notch BS.

 

[THUGNIFICENT763]

I used my 175 Champion Beast-X as my primary driver today. It is nice. Quite stable. I would say it flew like a fresh Champion Wraith but a tick slower. They really need to adjust the numbers on this mold, it is definitely not a -2 HSS. I would put it at 10/5/-0.5/2. If you really lean on it, you do not see the fade. There was some wind today, but the Beast-X held its own much better than I thought it would. It was 46° when I was playing, so that makes things fly beefier. I will have to try it on a warmer day an see how it performs. This would pair very nicely with the flippier BST mold, also max weight Champ. I have a few of those, so I just might give that combo a chance.

 

[Mulligan]

I may need to revisit the Beast.... I dumped most of my old Beast stock awhile back cause it was impossible to find a replacement at a reasonable price, but the Beast had always been THE high speed driver I used (my avatar is my dog asleep on an old proline Beast, in fact).
I've now migrated to OLFs, which is maybe a better choice for my over 40 status, but am going to have to give these Xs a spin in the near future.

 

[THUGNIFICENT763]

Yup, I never gave the Beast a chance early on, and had been throwing the redesign without knowing it. I tried some buddies' pre-Barrys and fell in love, but those fetch some ridiculous prices. This Beast-X is beefier, but it is also fresh. I have no real basis for comparison. You should definitely try one though, it is less beefy than an OLF.

 

[Mulligan]

Yup, I never gave the Beast a chance early on, and had been throwing the redesign without knowing it. I tried some buddies' pre-Barrys and fell in love, but those fetch some ridiculous prices. This Beast-X is beefier, but it is also fresh. I have no real basis for comparison. You should definitely try one though, it is less beefy than an OLF.

Well, now, this IS interesting... gonna make this a priority.
Thanks for the heads up.

 

[THUGNIFICENT763]

No problem, I do believe this is the same mold as the original, BTW.

 

[Mulligan]

Well, thats a good sign then.
I've actually been throwing Inertias in its place this year.
MVP calls it a speed 11 but they're wrong, imo.
So, far, its been the closest to the old Beast that I was used to (specifically in neutron, at least).

 

[THUGNIFICENT763]

Definitely a good sign. I chose the Orc over the Beast back in my n00b days. 168 Champ Orc to be exact, too much disc for me initially. I grew into it though. Wraith eventually stole the Orc's thunder for me. Beast never got a fair shot hahaha. Kinda kicking myself now.

Here is the BST-X next to its BST counterpart.

 

[Mulligan]

Yeah, I got my wife into the Beast L, but knowing the difference ahead of time, and super light weight to suit her needs.

I think I once grabbed a Beast after they went L and immediately was like "what the....?"
That was the beginning of the end, for me.

Funny, but I initially chose the Beast over the Orc, myself, way back when, but then also moved on to the Wraith.
Been thinking I was going to head back towards the Wraith, but seems like maybe I need to give the Beast a 2nd look.
In terms of the Beast, they just need to give them different names at this point.
I mean, there are loads of nice looking Beasts to buy online right now, but without the X stamp, or physically having it in hand, theres no way to tell what you are getting. It should be like "Beast", and "Son of a Beast", lol, if you ask me...

 

[THUGNIFICENT763]

Bare minimum, the less stable mold needs to be called Beast-L. And stamped as such. Should be redesignated BST-L. Original mold, aka Beast-X, should keep the BST designation since it was the original. It only makes sense.

 

[THUGNIFICENT763]

Bottom line, Beast-X is a winner hahaha.

 

[THUGNIFICENT763]

Also, you can clearly see where they removed the ol' patent numbers hahahaha.

 

[VictorB]

The original, or "x-mold" Beast was so similar to the Orc, that is what prompted the initial change of the mold. So I have been told, anyways.

Yep, most people won't remember this was back in the day when Innova didn't have a ton of speed 10 drivers. The Beast was their first, and the Orc was the next (or that's what I remember, just barely started playing back then) They changed the beast to be 'more different' from the Orc, to help increase sales of both I'm sure.

The beast(x) was my go-to sidearm driver when I first started playing.

 

[Aim For The Chains]

Well, thats a good sign then.
I've actually been throwing Inertias in its place this year.
MVP calls it a speed 11 but they're wrong, imo.
So, far, its been the closest to the old Beast that I was used to (specifically in neutron, at least).

FWIW.. MVP doesnt "call" any disc a speed. Inertia is part of 20mm class which on innova scale translates to 10 speed.

Beast Dimensions:
Diameter: 21.2 cm
Height: 1.4 cm
Rim Depth: 1.1 cm
Rim Width: 2.0 cm

Inertia Dimensions:
Diameter: 21.1 cm
Height: 1.4 cm
Rim Depth: 1.2 cm
Rim Width: 2.0 cm

 

[Jimb]

It should be like "Beast", and "Son of a Beast", lol, if you ask me...

Kings Island reference? Or maybe not with the "of" in there.

 

[DiscBaltimore]

I was just starting to really like the new mold beast "L". It's flippy for sure, but good distance on hyzer-flip or a flat release for a S.
Not in a headwind. Flew like a faster roadrunner, now it's lost and someone else has it.

My main driver is the orc, I have some PFN and some newer. So is the beast X like a PFN(flat) orc...?

 

[alfonseski]

Kind of like when new coke came out and then they made coke classic which eventually became the standard and New coke died out