[Vibram] Vibram Disc Golf Thread (Part II)

[Brodysseus]

It should be any day now for the OS Lace. Despite my initial misgivings about an OS distance disc, I can't wait for the day I can stand up to a teepad with a huge headwind in my face and be completely confident throwing a rubber disc. I do love my beefy Ascent, but when the wind really gets howling here in flatland Illinois, I have to take some off and throw that Ascent completely clean on a hyzer.

Absolutely can not wait for a Vibram disc I can grip and rip into the wind. (Edit: Other than a VP of course!)

 

[drblam]

A question for the testers: are you allowed to loan your vibram prototype discs to others for testing. Like, if I run into a tester on the course, is it against the rules for me to throw their rubber?

Obviously with the tester's permission...unless they are reluctant and they look slower than me.

 

[Brodysseus]

^Totally fine.

In fact, it's probably encouraged; 1. To get more feedback and 2. To get even more people excited about the eventual production run.

 

[drblam]

Word! Now the hunt begins for a tester!

 

[Brodysseus]

Well I am one now (this will be the first disc I test for Vibram!) and although I am not in your area, my girlfriend's parents live in Newark, OH. We have been talking about a trip that way in Early June and I really want to try some of the area courses, so maybe we could meet up for a round.

 

[TalbotTrojan]

Just curious with all this talk of the testers getting an OS Lace soon, but Mr. Dodge, how much turnover do you get with your testers? Will you ever reach a point where you will have to stop adding new testers? Similarly, how would you answer the same questions for team Vibram? What are you really looking for in a player before you add them to team Vibram? What do you expect of players on your team and what would cause someone to no longer be on team Vibram?

 

[StevenDodge]

very true.. anyone tried rollers with a lace? Lost my FR at blue ribbon this winter and just been holding off for the OS version to come out... MR.DODGE comeeeeeee onnnnn mannnnnnn!!!!

I am on it. And I am trying to get caught up in this thread. My apologies, I've been buried since Bowling Green. Lots of cool new stuff!

 

[StevenDodge]

I received a cool postcard advertising Vibram Discs in the mail today, and I was wondering if anyone else had received one? I think it's a cool way for Vibram to continue to garner more and more exposure.

I got one too!

 

[StevenDodge]

Saw a picture on Instagram of a proto "float" Obex. Floating Vibram sounds pretty cool.

X-Link Float. Hmm.... has a nice ring to it. I wonder if they could make them in really light weights?

 

[StevenDodge]

I'm playing in a Birdie Bash soon, I think. But I have no clue what to pick.

My favorite disc is a Cobra. A non-Ontario Cobra, for those who know about Cobras. I like how it turns, but also has enough LSS to come out of most things (when fresh) I can do most anything with the disc, from hyzer flips that go to flat, without turning over at all, with a largeish fade, to nice long turnovers that don't come back. I can also put it out about as far as my drivers, on a big swoopy flippy max D line. I'm sure I described that wrong.

From what I've heard about the Ibex and Trak, they both sound like lasers, with good HSS, and not alot of LSS. But that's not my kind of disc. Then I thought about the Summit, but I'm not sure quite how flippy that is.

I was thinking heavy Summit + not heavy Obex. My power isn't so hot. I'd like to hear more about the Summit's stabilities.

Ibex Summit. Nice and easy.

 

[StevenDodge]

It should be any day now for the OS Lace. Despite my initial misgivings about an OS distance disc, I can't wait for the day I can stand up to a teepad with a huge headwind in my face and be completely confident throwing a rubber disc. I do love my beefy Ascent, but when the wind really gets howling here in flatland Illinois, I have to take some off and throw that Ascent completely clean on a hyzer.

Absolutely can not wait for a Vibram disc I can grip and rip into the wind. (Edit: Other than a VP of course!)

Sorry for the lack of updates, luckily we are working on many projects. Of the four for this year, one of them is currently bearing fruit. I expect to have packages going out within two weeks, although as you all know, I am consistently an optimist.

 

[StevenDodge]

Kind of curious if the manufacturing process for soft makes it difficult or impossible to make them multi-colored.

Softs are difficult to make, which is why we make them once a year (dial in the machine and let it go). I made the decision this year to minimize variables by making the softs solid colors this year. One side project (not one of the four mentioned above) that has been ongoing is attempting to improve soft so that it runs better. With success, I would approve multicolor softs. Otherwise, I want to make sure they run well so solids it will be.

 

[drblam]

Well I am one now (this will be the first disc I test for Vibram!) and although I am not in your area, my girlfriend's parents live in Newark, OH. We have been talking about a trip that way in Early June and I really want to try some of the area courses, so maybe we could meet up for a round.

Sounds awesome, but I am also taking a journey in early june (first two weeks) but I am headed west. If you do come, hit Hoover (Blendon also, just because it is so close) and Simsbury in Pickerington. Hoover may even have the temporary course open for the Brent Hambrick memorial and I have heard it is a beast!

 

[StevenDodge]

Just curious with all this talk of the testers getting an OS Lace soon, but Mr. Dodge, how much turnover do you get with your testers? Will you ever reach a point where you will have to stop adding new testers? Similarly, how would you answer the same questions for team Vibram? What are you really looking for in a player before you add them to team Vibram? What do you expect of players on your team and what would cause someone to no longer be on team Vibram?

1. Tester turnover is about 30% per product. If testers do not give us feedback, they drop off the tester team. It's pretty simple. My target is 100 folks on the tester team. I was shooting for 30 birdie bashes to add 30 more people, but we ended up with 90, so I am currently overstocked on the testing team. By year's end, I expect to be back down to 100 or so.

2. See 1. Mid next year, I'll probably be able to add some more.

3. Team Vibram players need to be quality people that give to the sport and are great ambassadors for the sport and Vibram. The fact that they throw well is important too. We've had four players leave the team due to playing less, not quite fitting, or (gasp) we had one player (Zack Newhouse) leave to be on Team Dynamic Discs. We filled his spot with Nolan Grider, and I think everyone made out - including disc golf as a whole!

 

[scunham]

Sounds pretty good Steve and thanks for the updates.

 

[cjrogus]

Any one who has thrown the lace care to compare it to any other putters that you think fly the same?

 

[Hlasianguy06]

Any one who has thrown the lace care to compare it to any other putters that you think fly the same?

Care to word that a little differently? drivers to putters, that's like apples to oranges

 

[All Day]

Well I am one now (this will be the first disc I test for Vibram!) and although I am not in your area, my girlfriend's parents live in Newark, OH. We have been talking about a trip that way in Early June and I really want to try some of the area courses, so maybe we could meet up for a round.

There is actually a pretty cool course in Newark, Horn's Hill. Lots of trees, so it's a pretty good place to have Vibram in your bag.

 

[captain jack]

On a side note, NOTE TO MR. DODGE:

WE (or at least I) WANT MULTICOLORED SOFTS.

Kind of curious if the manufacturing process for soft makes it difficult or impossible to make them that way. I bought a real nice looking hard summit, but I just don't like putting with it. Mediums are just a touch harder than I like to putt with (at least in spring) as well. Guess I can still throw it on approaches.

Count me in for multicolored softs as well. I bet Vibram is working on it, among many other projects

Softs are difficult to make, which is why we make them once a year (dial in the machine and let it go). I made the decision this year to minimize variables by making the softs solid colors this year. One side project (not one of the four mentioned above) that has been ongoing is attempting to improve soft so that it runs better. With success, I would approve multicolor softs. Otherwise, I want to make sure they run well so solids it will be.

Well, thats all I need to read. :hfive:
My swirly, 3 color, soft VP is going on the wall.
I smell another Vibram collectible.

 

[Monkeypaws]

The Summit has become my favorite putter; I like the low profile and the speed and slightly under-stable quality of it. Starting to get the feel for it. The pars are becoming a constant, thanks to the Summit's flight qualities along with the stick factor of the rubber. It's a very nice tailwind driver as well.

Aviar PnA is like an old glove, love it, but Summit can do things it can't.

Also, recently picked up a VP from the Marketplace (thanks dehaas). Did some field practice with it, and it was about the straightest flying disc I've ever thrown, a real truck of a disc. I am looking forward to trying it on some of the tunnel holes at St. Mary's this summer.