Why Roc vs Buzzz?

[SSquirrel]

Now I'm sure part of this comes down to the Ford/Chevy debate that is Innova vs Discraft, but as someone who is still a newer player (about a year), I just don't see why. I could understand if out of the box both discs had the same sort of throw, but a Roc is pretty strongly overstable compared to a Buzzz (Inbounds map comparison). So why not carry both (blasphemy I'm sure) and let Buzzz be your straight disc and Roc for the left side of the fairway?

Yes, I'm sure the Roc breaks in very nicely and becomes more understable, but I just don't see these 2 discs occupying the same space. So, from the people who have been playing longer, what is the root of this hardline debate? A lot of people act like putting both discs in their bag at the same time would cause the universe to implode

I'm not asking for which is better here (and I would rather not have it become a Roc/Buzzz member waving fest), I'm just trying to see why those 2 discs seem to be the focal point.



**I should note, I don't own a Roc at all and I do own a Z Buzzz, but that was from a friend of mine who is a Discraft fanatic telling me that was what I needed for a mid. I actually don't throw my Buzzz a ton, but I probably should throw it more.

 

[thePiRaTE]

As you point out, they are different discs, but they were (are) the flagship mids for Innova & Discraft, thus the comparisons are drawn. The rest is subjective opinion.

 

[JTacoma03]

No good reason other than popularity. I have both in my bag. I use them for very different shots.

 

[Central Scrutinizer]

I have both in my bag. A Z-buzzz is slightly left for me, where my beaten-up DX Roc works great for slightly right.

 

[notapro]

That's why the responses are usually:

25% - Roc
25% - Buzzz
25% - It should be Roc vs. Wasp
25% - Landfill HOOOOOOO!!!!!!

 

[Jukeshoe]

As you point out, they are different discs, but they were (are) the flagship mids for Innova & Discraft, thus the comparisons are drawn. The rest is subjective opinion.

This is my (albeit probably poor) understanding of it as well.

 

[Lewis]

They are both good discs, and both are very popular. Since they fill different roles in your bag of shots, there is no particular reason why you can't use both. As it turns out, though, there aren't many people who are happy with how both discs "feel" in their hands. I don't know what it is, but people who love the Buzzz tend to have trouble throwing the Roc, and vice versa. Add brand loyalty into the mix, and you have the recipe for a classic Ford/Chevy argument. :thmbup:

 

[bradharris]

Simply put, they're the two most popular discs in the game, and they rarely occupy a spot in the same bag.

 

[kinger]

Carried both in my bag during my 1st year or so, Buzzz was more consistent for me so I dropped the Roc......both are great mids.

 

[Reginald]

I carry both

 

[pfpro]

They are different. When I started, I primarily threw Innova so I picked up a Roc, because everyone said that I had to. I found a buZzz FLX (which I called on, but the owner had moved, and didn't want it back). The buzzz must fit/feel better in my hand because I throw it much better then my Roc. I carry both the buzzz to throw and the roc to loan out if I'm introducing someone to the game.

Why the focal point? My take is that they are both great discs that have been around for a long time. They are fairly similar - I know there are nuances, but a mid-range is a mid-range (although the explosion of brands with good drivers may or may not dilute this discussion). There are different drivers for different speeds, wind conditions, fairway vs not, etc. so you have a more difficult time singling out an innova driver to compare to a discraft driver.

Plus it gives people something to argue about!

 

[Alcuin]

There's one more reason on top of what everybody else has said that pretty much sews this one up.

There are different philosophies attached to the different discs. Rocs wear particularly well, and are typically used in base plastic. Buzzzes don't wear that well, and are typically used in premium plastic. Since a DX or KC Pro Roc can wear into a complete turnover disc, you can have several Rocs from overstable to stable to understable. A Buzzz doesn't really wear into a turnover, it just gets a little straighter: they don't want to hyzer flip and finish right. So people typically carry multiple discs instead of one Buzzz in various stages of wear. For instance, I use a Buzzz, Comet, and Hornet for the range of shots Roc throwers would use multiple Rocs for.

So if you like cycling base plastic and are into mold minimalism, you throw the Roc. If you like premium plastic for your mids and you like the consistency of having a disc that doesn't change much for each of your midrange slots, you might throw a Buzzz combined with an understable and overstable disc.

 

[slickwheels]

^^^ this man sums it all up from a throwing point of view.

Roc throwers will have 3 dif rocs ranging in stability and a gator for super overstable duties.

I personally carry esp meteor, z buzz, z wasp, in place of the 3 rocs and use a drone for super overstable duties. I prefer the way they feel in my hand better than rocs. Rocs have a slightly thicker rim than the dc molds i mention. I have no brand preferrence. I just prefer what works best and feels more comfortable.
With all that said I could still play a very strong round with a roc throwers setup, they aren't that much different. I personally believe the new champ roc 3 is a z wasp and can swap them out for exactly the same flight lines with no noticeable difference. I have shown others this on the course.
Throw what works for you. The stamp on the disc does not effect it's flight whatsoever.
Enjoy the game, don't get caught up in the hype.

 

[elmexdela]

The stamp on the disc does not effect it's flight whatsoever.
Enjoy the game, don't get caught up in the hype.

and thats why i wont spend more money on anything that isnt stock

 

[ru4por]

There are so many variations of each, it can be oversimplifying by stating ROC are more stable than Buzzz. Midrange slots are limited in my bag, Status, Comet, Underworld, Stag, XL, Core and Wasp currently holding those spots. That changes from time to time, some of the Swedish plastic is new and might go, but the combo of Buzzz/Wasp covers the ground the ROC would fill. A great disc and I suppose I have some regional bias, being from Michigan and benefitting from all the great work Jim Kenner has done for disc golf, particularly in this area.

 

[flip_hyzer]

Roc throwers will have 3 dif rocs ranging in stability and a gator for super overstable duties.

Dude you just described my exact midrange set-up haha. Is the 3 roc & gator the most widely used midrange combo out there?

I threw a buzzz for a few months, but it didn't do anything my DX/KC rocs couldn't do. So for the sake of minimizing molds, it didn't make my bag. It's a great midrange and I understand the obsession many golfers have with it, but it wasn't right for me.

I agree with the OP though; a fresh roc and a fresh buzzz will not fly the same.

 

[loki993]

I carry both......

 

[Future_Primitive]

Carry a Z Buzzz, Z Buzzz SS and Champion Roc3 for mids, with the Stratus X covering the understable shots. Others above have done a great job breaking down the differences so no need for me to rehash them. No reason we can't love them both.

 

[NOStheBOSS]

It's not even that much of an argument anymore. 5 years ago every player either had a roc or buzzz in the bag. Now, a great deal of people through axes, vectors, warships, pains, tangents, etc. The market is flooded with great midranges

 

[bhadella]

It's ok to carry both (and they do fill different slots). I carry a large variety of mids for all kinds of uses. My midranges distance hovers around 300ft which cover 60-70% of my drives. I carry a understable mid (Axis or Prodigy M4), 3 KC Rocs (1 x very understable, 1 x slightly understable and 1 x slightly overstable all for anhyzer or flex shots), Roc3 (stable), Z Buzzz (fade at end) and a Drone (very overstable).