Thunderbird

[bnrstnkr]

I have started to use a newer run Champion Thunderbird, replacing my Walker Woodpecker TS Glow. That has become too rare and irreplaceable, and I almost lost it after working it in for 6 months, so it's going to hang out. It was also incredibly overstable, it was near identical in flight to a Sexton Firebird. I'd rank it at 9/4/0/3 and that's at its current stage of wear.

The new Champ one is an X out, but I think just for being double stamped. There are those tiny hazy bubbles in the very center of the rim, and it is certainly domier than the Walker TS. I got my friend a used Champ Thunderbird for Christmas, and I think they are from the same run. They are the UV reactive champ, and it has the same bubbles, and has a similar dome. Very stiff, and the used one less so. The used one is not F2/X-Out and I don't think the "micro-blizzarding" in the rim is really an issue that should be X-ed out.

I am really loving this replacement as it feels much truer to the 9/5/0/2 flight which is what I am looking for in this slot. Faster Teebird3 with better wind resistance and more action on the fade.

[seedlings]

So are the newer JK Thunderbirds anything special from a collector OR throwers perspective?

[strunk flugget]

Originally Posted by seedlings

So are the newer JK Thunderbirds anything special from a collector OR throwers perspective?

I have one that I was using as a thrower. I’m
not into collection all that much but my impression is that it was widely run and is probably not going to end up as lucrative to collect as some of the sexy firebirds.

As a thrower I found it slightly more overstable than normal thunderbirds. Not a firebird by any means, but still noticeably more stable. At least for me.

[seedlings]

Originally Posted by strunk flugget

I have one that I was using as a thrower. I’m
not into collection all that much but my impression is that it was widely run and is probably not going to end up as lucrative to collect as some of the sexy firebirds.

As a thrower I found it slightly more overstable than normal thunderbirds. Not a firebird by any means, but still noticeably more stable. At least for me.

Thank you. I picked one up for almost nothing and remember not liking a Champ Thunderbird. I’ll go ahead and throw it a little to see if my feels have changed. I throw a Getaway in that spot.

[strunk flugget]

I’ve been throwing the eclipse insanity in that spot. It flies about how I was expecting the thunderbird to fly. That said the thunderbird is star and could break in if I gave it more throws. Which I might, just haven’t given it the time yet.

[auzcar]

I have a Champ Thunderbird that I really love, it goes far and is workable with decent glide but still a reliable fade. Not understable by any means but at least flies straight for a long while before fading. I then have three other Champ Thunderbirds that is legit almost as overstable as my Champ Firebirds. They start fading right out of my hand, doesn't fly anywhere and just dump out of the air even on a decent anhyzer. I've been trying to find a backup for my good Thunderbird and have been looking to move over to another mold just because the three backups that I've got have been duds.

How can I tell which ones are the straighter ones? The only thing I've seemed to notice is that the good one is a bit softer while the other ones are stiff and pop toppy.

For reference I throw my Destroyers ~140m and get the good Thunderbird out to ~130m, the OS ones I need to flex hard to maybe reach 110-115m.

[ian.w]

Originally Posted by auzcar

How can I tell which ones are the straighter ones? The only thing I've seemed to notice is that the good one is a bit softer while the other ones are stiff and pop toppy.

Try g star if you are ok with the feel. Pro is really good but impossible to find. Dx are great off the shelf but don’t last as long obviously. Or get a thrashed star/champ from the used bin.

[ian.w]

Pro thunderbirds are available at disc golf center. It’s been a while since I’ve seen them anywhere. Also they have base M OLFs if you prefer that flavor.

[ManU]

After a windy round a month or two ago I decided I needed to pair my CD2s (flat S lines) with something a bit more HSS

I traded for a '22 Koling and a regular Champ.

The Koling is near Firebird for me. Very HSS, very LSS. Really needs me to get on it.
The Champ is quite nice. Flat. Good flight. Straight to fade. HSS but not like the Koling (and definitely better than the CD2).

In chatting with a player who also used Thunderbirds I got an impression that there was quite a bit of variability. For example he thought his Halo Thunderbird was less HSS than his stock Star.

At a tournament this weekend at much less altitude than my home (down by 700m) there was distinctly less HSS on all discs. Turns held for a lot longer. Fades were not as heavy.

That made throwing the CD2 (in low wind) more difficult (certainly on some lines that were needed).

Which got me to thinking if there is a range of Thunderbird that could cover Thunderbird and CD2 duties.

I do have some GStar Thunderbirds that I use as a winter disc for grip.

I've thought about Pro and DX

Thoughts on (sort of) replacing CD2s with Thundies?
Suggestions? Plastics?

I'm looking for some turn but not quite as easily as my CD2s turn and just a bit more bite at the end.

CD2s are great for hyzerflips and turn and fade and I'd want to replicate that with, as noted above, a bit less turn and a bit more fade than a CD2

and then I can use the Champ and Koling Thunderbird for more HSS

[EllEstar]

Originally Posted by ManU

After a windy round a month or two ago I decided I needed to pair my CD2s (flat S lines) with something a bit more HSS

I traded for a '22 Koling and a regular Champ.

The Koling is near Firebird for me. Very HSS, very LSS. Really needs me to get on it.
The Champ is quite nice. Flat. Good flight. Straight to fade. HSS but not like the Koling (and definitely better than the CD2).

In chatting with a player who also used Thunderbirds I got an impression that there was quite a bit of variability. For example he thought his Halo Thunderbird was less HSS than his stock Star.

At a tournament this weekend at much less altitude than my home (down by 700m) there was distinctly less HSS on all discs. Turns held for a lot longer. Fades were not as heavy.

That made throwing the CD2 (in low wind) more difficult (certainly on some lines that were needed).

Which got me to thinking if there is a range of Thunderbird that could cover Thunderbird and CD2 duties.

I do have some GStar Thunderbirds that I use as a winter disc for grip.

I've thought about Pro and DX

Thoughts on (sort of) replacing CD2s with Thundies?
Suggestions? Plastics?

I'm looking for some turn but not quite as easily as my CD2s turn and just a bit more bite at the end.

CD2s are great for hyzerflips and turn and fade and I'd want to replicate that with, as noted above, a bit less turn and a bit more fade than a CD2

and then I can use the Champ and Koling Thunderbird for more HSS

I've thrown 3 CD2s in the past (2x S-line and a CG C-line) and I bag an I-blend Dynasty (pro/star blend cd2) and a GStar Thunderbird.

For me the stability is *CD2 > G*ThB > I Dyn > beat *CD2 > beat CGC CD2. The two beat in CD2s are the most understable by some margin.

I'd say that out of the box a beefy *CD2 and a G*ThB are quite similar, the G* probably beats in a little faster and gets to where a regular *CD2 is out of the box in a few weeks/months. From my experience with pro discs in general it will likely be more understable out of the box and beat in quicker, getting to where a flippy s- or c-line is in a month or two of heavy use.