[Question] Naming system for discs - your opinions

[dashiellx]

the Booger: Floppy gooey putter that sticks where it lands

Isn't that the Vibram VP

 

[ThomasOrion]

Isn't that the Vibram VP

Its either the BLOWFLY or a Soft Summit

 

[Alexplz]

For the most part I've liked the names MVP has come up with - the physics theme seems to go nicely, and I think they do a good job of matching the type of disc to the feeling one gets from hearing the word. "Tangent" makes me think of geometry and getting some lateral movement, for example.

I think Prodigy and Discmania have the wrong idea combining alphanumeric names for both disc mold and plastic type. The way I understand it, Prodigy will take a letter that corresponds with distance and pair it with a number which indicates the disc's relative stability as it relates to the rest of their discs in that category - so the M1 might be the most stable mid whereas the M4 might be the 4th most stable mid. But combine that with the numbers for their plastics and who knows. At least with Discmania I know that the plastic letters are for the most part shortened versions of the same Innova plastic I'm familiar with.

The absolute worst offender now that I think of it is Legacy. The names of the discs are super cringy and extra, and the plastic descriptions they give aren't very clear on the site.

 

[F. Howl]

.....I think Prodigy and Discmania have the wrong idea combining alphanumeric names for both disc mold and plastic type. The way I understand it, Prodigy will take a letter that corresponds with distance and pair it with a number which indicates the disc's relative stability as it relates to the rest of their discs in that category - so the M1 might be the most stable mid whereas the M4 might be the 4th most stable mid. But combine that with the numbers for their plastics and who knows. At least with Discmania I know that the plastic letters are for the most part shortened versions of the same Innova plastic I'm familiar with.

The absolute worst offender now that I think of it is Legacy. The names of the discs are super cringy and extra, and the plastic descriptions they give aren't very clear on the site.

Objectively though, Discmania's system isn't better than Prodigy's. You may have prior experience, but for the newcomer it's all the same. And for them, Prodigy has the most logical naming convention. Star, Champion, Neutron, Z, Goldline, etc, are all arbitrary. Prodigy's 350-->750 progression follows the quality of the plastic, and the number and letter system is easy to follow.

Anyway, does anyone rely on the name to tell them what their disc does? Wouldn't you kind of just...remember? Online stores provide flight numbers, or if you're in a shop or out on the course "OK,Google/Siri/Bixbi" will give you the flight numbers in five seconds.

As far as Legacy's Bandit, Fighter, Outlaw, Nemesis, Enemy... I really like this romanticized antagonist/anti hero naming convention. I think it's leaps and bounds better than Felon, Criminal, Convict, etc.

 

[XC_Eddy]

For those of you who care about what the disc does for you more than what is it is called, most of us on this forum would agree with you. We're in the huge minority of people that play disc golf/purchase discs that are serious enough about it to seek out an online forum to talk about it. I'd guess that we're less than 5% of the population of disc golf players. I would love to know what percentage of disc golf sales DGCR forum members account for. I'd bet that it's marginal.

We care enough about disc golf to have taken the time to learn the "four number" system that Innova and others use to describe how a disc flies. That alone separates us from over half the people I run into on the course. We have tried various molds to perfect our bag and fill all the "slots." Most people out there throwing a couple discs that they bought at Wal Mart or wherever don't know how the molds they are throwing are supposed to fly and they probably don't care. They're out there to have fun, and that's great. I can't tell you how many times I've asked an inexperienced player what disc they just threw and they had NO IDEA.

Casual players, chuckers, whatever you want to call them, likely account for more new disc sales than the kind of person who find on DGCR who owns hundreds of discs. Heck, I own a hundred or so discs, but I've only purchased 3 of them new this year. Most of the discs I've procured I either bought used from other players or traded for. When I buy used discs, I am adding nothing to Innova/Discraft/Trilogy's disc sales for the year. Most casual players aren't buying their frisbees off of r/discexchange, facebook, or the marketplace on these forums. They are actually going to a brick and mortar store to buy their Champion Colossus and DX Beast, and they're buying them new, which means money in the disc manufactures' pockets.

If the casual player doesn't know or care what the disc they're buying is supposed to do, then what are they going to base their purchasing decision on? Appearance including color and stamp, cost, and name. So no, what the disc is called doesn't matter much to the experienced player because they are more concerned with how a disc flies, so much so that we'll pay top dollar to the secondhand market for a specific run, a specific feel of plastic, a specific pen marking on the disc indicating that it's the exact disc that meets our preference, etc. But the casual player demographic that accounts for a larger share of new disc sales isn't concerned with that. They just want a cool disc for when they go out and play frolf. Marketing matters for sales and disc name plays a huge role in that.

P.S., If someone does have any sort of data on what kind of player accounts for the most disc sales, I'd love to see it, as that sort of thing is interesting. It is worth mentioning that molds that experienced players consider good (Buzzz, Roc, Destroyer, Wizard, etc.) tend to sell well at least for online vendors. I'm curious if that's the same for big box retailers like Dick's and Wal Mart or even small brick and mortar retailers that mostly sell discs.

 

[wolfmandragon]

I am a software developer/database architect by trade. I hate Prodigy's numbering system. I have ranted on this site elsewhere, but designating a grid system to hold all the discs that will be made in the future would require perfect foresight to do properly.

Having built as many systems as I have, I can promise that either:

1. The names will NOT live up to what the discs do
2. Needed discs will never be made due to a naming clash
3. The molds will be drastically changed to make a slot.

Either way one slices it, it is a stupid decision to build such a system, except for marketing purposes.

I like to leave work at work. If I have one in my bag, I feel like it distracts me to the point of throwing other discs poorly.

 

[asc349]

I used to love a lot of Discraft discs, but I have moved away from supporting them due to their naming system which supports illegal drugs. I would really love our sport to get past that stigma and they are not helping, so I won't support them anymore.

As far as other names go, the cool names usually are what get people playing, and while they aren't as "grown up" or professional sounding, I think they do better for the sport than PA4 does. Granted, as the market gets saturated, we are also seeing some pretty dumb names out there too.

My personal favorite names are probably the 7 deadly sins Axiom went with. If only they made all 7 to make a complete bag around.

I don't understand why you would be so critical about a plant that our government keeps illegal (excluding a growing number of states) because more money is made on it that way and it would make the pharmaceutical companies take a dent in sales of terrible, but legal drugs.

Then you support the 7 deadly sins? If you really think about it which one is worse. IMO that viewpoint doesn't jive or make any moral sense.

Disclaimer: I don't smoke and I throw MVP/Axiom

Sorry Zendragon. I am usually a fan of your posts.

 

[armiller]

As far as naming goes, the old names strike me as the best ones. I don't think it gets much better than Aviar, Teebird, or Firebird. As a Discraft fan, I like the Buzzz/Wasp/Drone/Zombee/Hornet names. The issue is that even the classics like Innova and Discraft now have so many molds that naming just becomes a marketing thing. Ultimately, nowadays I'll try a disc because I either hear good things about it, someone lets me throw theirs, or it somehow strikes my fancy in a store. After trying it, the name will stick.

Brief rants:
-Sorry, Discmania, but I still can't figure out the numbered names. I still don't understand why the PD and PD2 have any similar naming convention, and even though the MD4 flies well, the name is confusing to remember. Stick with Freak, Chaos, and whatever the MD4's name is...
-MVP/Axiom: a lot of your nouns are hard for me to distinguish. I really like the Relay, yet I remember telling tons of people I was throwing a Theory for the first few weeks. As an engineer, some of the names are cool, I suppose, but they don't lend themselves to being distinctly remembered

 

[zontar]

animal names. my only aces have been with cat-named discs so I guess I'll always bag one....

 

[McCready]

For those of you who care about what the disc does for you more than what is it is called, most of us on this forum would agree with you. We're in the huge minority of people that play disc golf/purchase discs that are serious enough about it to seek out an online forum to talk about it. I'd guess that we're less than 5% of the population of disc golf players. I would love to know what percentage of disc golf sales DGCR forum members account for. I'd bet that it's marginal.

We care enough about disc golf to have taken the time to learn the "four number" system that Innova and others use to describe how a disc flies. That alone separates us from over half the people I run into on the course. We have tried various molds to perfect our bag and fill all the "slots." Most people out there throwing a couple discs that they bought at Wal Mart or wherever don't know how the molds they are throwing are supposed to fly and they probably don't care. They're out there to have fun, and that's great. I can't tell you how many times I've asked an inexperienced player what disc they just threw and they had NO IDEA.

Casual players, chuckers, whatever you want to call them, likely account for more new disc sales than the kind of person who find on DGCR who owns hundreds of discs. Heck, I own a hundred or so discs, but I've only purchased 3 of them new this year. Most of the discs I've procured I either bought used from other players or traded for. When I buy used discs, I am adding nothing to Innova/Discraft/Trilogy's disc sales for the year. Most casual players aren't buying their frisbees off of r/discexchange, facebook, or the marketplace on these forums. They are actually going to a brick and mortar store to buy their Champion Colossus and DX Beast, and they're buying them new, which means money in the disc manufactures' pockets.

If the casual player doesn't know or care what the disc they're buying is supposed to do, then what are they going to base their purchasing decision on? Appearance including color and stamp, cost, and name. So no, what the disc is called doesn't matter much to the experienced player because they are more concerned with how a disc flies, so much so that we'll pay top dollar to the secondhand market for a specific run, a specific feel of plastic, a specific pen marking on the disc indicating that it's the exact disc that meets our preference, etc. But the casual player demographic that accounts for a larger share of new disc sales isn't concerned with that. They just want a cool disc for when they go out and play frolf. Marketing matters for sales and disc name plays a huge role in that.

P.S., If someone does have any sort of data on what kind of player accounts for the most disc sales, I'd love to see it, as that sort of thing is interesting. It is worth mentioning that molds that experienced players consider good (Buzzz, Roc, Destroyer, Wizard, etc.) tend to sell well at least for online vendors. I'm curious if that's the same for big box retailers like Dick's and Wal Mart or even small brick and mortar retailers that mostly sell discs.

Seems like you're correct about the chuckers out there and their relative knowledge of flight numbers and how discs are supposed to fly. I typically play at my local course 2-3 weekday afternoons per week, and half of them have no idea what they're doing. Throw it way up in the air, watch it spike-hyzer back to earth 60 feet max, go get it and do it again. Maybe they're just doing it for fun, but I'm guessing they must give it up pretty quickly after a few outings like that. It might take 20 minutes of basic instruction and a few beginner friendly discs to set them on a path to maybe getting hooked and taking it more seriously.

 

[zendragon]

I don't understand why you would be so critical about a plant that our government keeps illegal (excluding a growing number of states) because more money is made on it that way and it would make the pharmaceutical companies take a dent in sales of terrible, but legal drugs.

Then you support the 7 deadly sins? If you really think about it which one is worse. IMO that viewpoint doesn't jive or make any moral sense.

Disclaimer: I don't smoke and I throw MVP/Axiom

Sorry Zendragon. I am usually a fan of your posts.

I recognize the hypocrisy of the statement. The 7 sins are all emotions, driving forces, that lead to damage, destruction, whatnot. Probably not great that I Envy great throws, Crave to hit the chains, and want to take Wrath on a course that beat me down the last time I played it.

Drugs in general are an agent of destruction to an individual and society when abused, regardless of legality. I've lost a friend to alcohol, seen the damage of some drugs in some of my family's lives. I suppose for me, the difference is, with Discraft, they are focusing on the potentially destructive agent, whereas with Axiom, they are using a play on words to bring in the emotions of playing this game. It's a little less direct to me, and yes, I do get there are still holes in my argument, but it is where I am.

 

[asc349]

I agree with you Zen, drugs are bad Mkay (Mr. Mackey) I've lost more friends than I care to count from heroin because they first became addicted to opioids prescribed to them by doctors. Alcohol has also taken some of my family and friends.

Marijuana is a weed, it doesn't need man's involvement or manipulation. All of the others do. For me that's the difference. It also doesn't kill people. Many high level professional athletes are using it in lue of pain medication. The stigma is what needs to be overcome.

Even though I no longer use it myself (retired) I am pro usage as it is the safest pain / anxiety medicine on the planet.

Just my opinion and thoughts. Apologies for the thread drift

 

[disctildeath]

the Rick - a dope-ass putter that always wins
The Morty - A flippy putter that sometimes gets used, works when you need it
Jerry - a Super flippy fairway driver that has little uses
Max Power - a super distance driver (homer's alter ego...he got it from a hair-dryer)
the Kenny - a control driver that always ends up in water
Peter - S Shaping Driver
Brian - Buzzz clone, but not quite as good
Meg - a mini marker that everybody hates

The Meg should totally be a mini with a Groove/Monarch style rim.

 

[Nenja]

I think there should be a theme and if the individual names can make some kind of sense I find it genius. Innovas animal names are cool, at least they can give you an idea of how the designers emagine the disc to act.

Discmania are the worst, FD, MD, CD, DD... At least add a number for all of them so that people doesn't get confused and grumpy when you use the short for the different categories.

 

[Moose33]

What about Characters from the office?

Michael- really understable distance driver that is suprisingly long(that's what she said) but hard to control
Dwight- super predictable control driver
Stanley- Slow OS approach disc
Jim- straight to fade control driver, super overrated but still pretty good.
Kelly- really understable putter, only comes in pink

 

[SD86]

What about Characters from the office?

Or your favorite bar, a'la "Cheers"...

"Where everybody knows your name..."

 

[Dubbsy]

I don't care what each company calls it as long as it's a word. I don't like the names being letters or numbers that don't make a word. Same with the plastic types, I don't care what they call the plastic so long as it's a word or has a word in it.

Thinking about this, it really is silly. I'm not sure if it's an extension of my OCD or what.

 

[recurve99]

Or custom dye it with stencils of Nancy Reagan and Tipper Gore.

Found the old fart like me.

That said, I don't buy obvious drug named discs or the Legacy's with the bikini babes. Maybe it's because I play with my 14yr old son. Maybe it's because I am over 25 and don't feel restricted by the man. Maybe it's because I have dignity. (Shrug).

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[GoobyPls]

I've liked the Lat64 discs I've thrown and still bag a River, but some of their names are confusing.

Maul sounds like a fast overstable driver, but is a super-flippy fairway instead.
Bryce sounds more like a frat brother's name than a disc. No idea from the name alone what that's supposed to be.
Diamond sounds more like a plastic than a mold.

 

[ThomasOrion]

What about Characters from the office?

Michael- really understable distance driver that is suprisingly long(that's what she said) but hard to control
Dwight- super predictable control driver
Stanley- Slow OS approach disc
Jim- straight to fade control driver, super overrated but still pretty good.
Kelly- really understable putter, only comes in pink

All those discs would suck because the Office is a terrible show. Yeah lets just the camera angle every 8 seconds then zoom. balh blah blah blah blah New camera angle.....slight zoom in....blah blah blah blah dry humor that's not funny blah blah camera 3, slight zoom, catch that one guy looking right into the camera with a frumpy smirk....blah blah....I'm sorry, I DO get the humor they are using, its just a bad show...F A C T