[Innova] Thunderbird

[adb83]

Have you heard of my lord and savior, the Orion LF? They're an awesome comparable mold. Same bottom rim (Firebird) but a different top...and not that stupid Anhyzer top PDs and a lot of Discmania uses

OLFs use the Wraith top.

Glad someone said this disc as a Thundy replacement. Such an underappreciated mold.

 

[Kenny53691]

I had a Thunderbird in storage since I got it in a tournament shortly after the mold was released. I just finally broke down this year and started throwing it, and I must say that I am a huge fan of this disc for sure. It seems to fly so straight with just the perfect amount of fade at the end. I've also have never thrown a Teebird3, so I feel like I may have to try one out as well.

 

[Jay Dub]

I mean if you have to have Champ just get a champ Valkyrie. The recent run champs seem to fly like a Thunderbird should and the hand feel is pretty close.

I bought a star lite Valk and it flies like a star lite Thunderbird.

 

[Alexplz]

My 160s champ valk had firebird stability with thundie glide. Not real useful to me I suppose but interesting.

 

[R-Ogre]

My 160s champ valk had firebird stability with thundie glide. Not real useful to me I suppose but interesting.

Everything molded in champ lately seems to be beefy AF. I bought a champ Valkyrie that was the same.

 

[GripEnemy]

Everyone keeps talking about beefy new Champ Valks. I bought two Xouts with Sierra Nevada stamps and I can't find them. I swore they were sitting in my closed the last 6 months...

Been throwing the Valk more (hyzerflips) and the Thundies less, dang.

 

[twistedraven]

I ordered a nice seafoam colored champ valk 170g from dzdiscs a couple days ago. I've never thrown any variant of a Valkyrie before, but I have thrown Sidewinders and Thunderbirds. Guess I'll find out how beefy it is.

 

[Kenny53691]

I finally decided to buy at TB3 to bag with my Thunderbird, and I feel like they are a great compliment to each other for sure!

 

[jro_your_boat]

2021 Jermbird report:

feel - this swirly star is unlike what we've gotten the past few years, most of mine have more of a champy-star type feel. slightly stiffer than previous runs, but still some good grip. I'm a big fan of this plastic.

profile - slight dome/pop to all of the discs I received.

flight - got in a few throws and stability seems to be close to 2020s, maybe slightly more stable. jury is still out on stability for sure.

looks - I got some unique lookers and good swirls in the batch I ordered.

 

[Stable]

That 80's stamp on the JermBird is really cool. My Thunderbird stock is just too strong right now to keep adding.

 

[Kenny53691]

I've had a Thunderbird from a players pack from a few years ago and I just put it in the bag for the first time this year. Needless to say, The more that I throw this disc, the more that I'm in love with it! The one that I have is a glow champ, so how do the other plastics compare with stability?

 

[R-Ogre]

I've had a Thunderbird from a players pack from a few years ago and I just put it in the bag for the first time this year. Needless to say, The more that I throw this disc, the more that I'm in love with it! The one that I have is a glow champ, so how do the other plastics compare with stability?

Star-more stable, GStar-similar but beats in maybe a bit quicker, Pro-similar but beats in much quicker, DX-less stable. At least for my noodle arm. People that throw harder might see a little more separation when new. Haven't tried a pure champ because every plain champ disc I've bought lately has been an unusably overstable brick

 

[GripEnemy]

Never thrown a glow. To echo Ogre, typical Innova:

Champ>Star>Gstar>Pro>DX.

 

[flatflip]

The one that I have is a glow champ, so how do the other plastics compare with stability?

I have a couple flatish champ glows from 2017 tournaments. -- best flat-to-hyzer thundys that I've thrown. I love them for a low forehand line.

My plain champs (McBeths) started out more overstable and have gotten straighter as they've aged; the glows seem to hold their fade as they beat a little better, kinda like an OLF. I have a newer champ with a 2019 tournament stamp that is more domey and slots in closer to my Firebirds.

The stars I have thrown have been more stable than champs; never threw one enough to see how it beat in. The pro has a shot shape like my beat glow champ when new, maybe a tick more turn.

Early DX thundys were nice -- stiff and stable. The newer ones I have thrown have been softer and don't handle my torque very well.

 

[Hank Scorpio]

The star thundies, prior to them being embossed, were beef. Probably 17 or 18. Mcbeth 3x Champs were straight with a little finish.

 

[dekdo]

whats closest to the first run star teebirds these days?

 

[pjhayes7]

whats closest to the first run star teebirds these days?

Super beat Star Firebird. Sorry, i know you were asking for a real answer not a semi smart ass one. Although, despite not really being the answer you were looking for, it does not mean it is not true.

 

[auzcar]

I have a factory second Champion Thunderbird that is absolute money, it's probably my favourite disc in my bag. Max weight and it can take all the power I have while still being quite workable. I can work it on a lot of different angles and it's not too much work to throw it straight. It goes almost as far as my distance drivers and a full power shot will consistently land me on the 120m mark. (it's not beat up, it flew like this out of the box)

Now to the problem... I own three more Champion Thunderbirds that I got as backups and all of them are A LOT more overstable and dumpy. They're very close to firebird stable, definitely a notch more stable than my Felons and my PDs. They start fading much sooner than the money one, the fade is a lot dumpier and I need to really crank them over to flex them into a straight shot. The plastic on these seems firmer and more pop top, maybe a touch more domey.

What gives? Any insight to what is the normal? I used to throw Vultures and the money one is just a touch more stable compared to those, which is what I wanted, but the rest of the Thunderbirds.... yeez.

 

[@CD-]

What gives? Any insight to what is the normal?

Champs have become more OS than Star at this point. Originally, they were more neutral and like a stretched out TeeBird and the early stiff Star ones were OS. If you want a neutral one, seek out the older penned runs that have a slight dome. Could also look at the Savant/OLF for a current run stock disc.

 

[auzcar]

Champs have become more OS than Star at this point. Originally, they were more neutral and like a stretched out TeeBird and the early stiff Star ones were OS. If you want a neutral one, seek out the older penned runs that have a slight dome. Could also look at the Savant/OLF for a current run stock disc.

I'm not interested in chasing a certain run, that feels like a frustrating ordeal. I might just return to Getaways or Vultures.