I don’t care about the mold or manufacturer …
The overstable midrange is an underappreciated disc.
My brain can’t make sense of why more disc golfers aren’t addicted to ‘em.
Hands down, the overstable approach putter is disc golf’s most enticing purchase. Due to the frequent use it sees, disc golfers are passionate about this slot, as well as the specific disc they feel is best for getting the job done. So passionate, in fact, they’re eager to onboard fresh converts to their approach-putter of choice: the A2, Berg, Harp, Zone, Distortion, etc.
Ever heard of ‘em?
Exactly.
The infatuation is understandable:
Slow beef makes for easier, hit-and-stick approaches.
But overstable putters aren’t the ONLY slice of the mega-beef family with impassioned fans …
Their fairway-driver cousins get the same treatment.
What disc golfer doesn’t have a Firebird or Firebird clone in the bag they throw at every opportunity? Again, it’s the exact same level of over-the-top enthusiasm. In addition to the Firebird, the Felon, Splice, Raptor, Fireball, Criminal and other like-minded discs are beloved.
Use-wise, the benefits are similar to what you’ll get from an overstable putter, but naturally, from a greater distance: The beef is reliable enough to account for wind, wrist-rolls and dirty flicks.
Here’s the problem, though …
Both on the flight chart, as well as in the real world, there’s a BIG gap between the distance an overstable putter and an overstable fairway driver provide. This applies to hybrid-fast putters like Zones and hybrid-slow fairways like Whippets, as well. Welcome to no man’s land in your bag.
The result is having to overcompensate with one to account for it. You either attempt to stretch out a beefy putter farther than comfort allows or “fluff” an overstable fairway to dial things back a notch or two. Depending on the disc golfer in question, distance parameters for this will vary.
Regardless, in both instances, the easiest approach is to mildly power-up or power-down on an overstable midrange. Why else do you think Innova dropped the Toro, and Calvin Heimburg instantly took to it? The guy spent years making a Rhyno and flat-top Firebird do what ONE Toro is capable of in most situations. These days, his Rhyno is seldom called upon …
I rest my case.
If you’re not yet gaga over an overstable midrange, test-drive the popular ones. Outside of my putting putters, the Gator is the single-most thrown disc in my bag – and by a LONG way. The same can be said for the Croc, which – assuming I’ve found the right one – sees heavy action.
I know guys who swear by the Pyro, Justice, Mutant and Caiman.
Furthermore, the Buzzz OS is (finally) gaining traction with golfers.
Instead of blowing cash on another 12-speed you don’t need, focus on this.
Mark my words: Find the right one, and it’ll lower your scores – overnight.
You (and your scorecard) can thank me later for the newfound workhorse.
I look forward to it.
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You didn’t even mention the roc3 once!
Yeah, but that’s more of a stable-to-overstable midrange …
We’re talking BEEF.
Trust me, I’m not trying to start internet argument but isn’t a roc3 more beefy than the Vinny toro?
5/4/0/3?
Never thrown the Toro but based on flight numbers….
No worries!
So the Toro is regularly thought of as a Zone equivalent – at least Innova’s version.
Flight numbers are flight numbers, which – depending on the golfer – means the world or nothing.
In my opinion, the Toro is WAY more overstable the a Roc3 …
And for what it’s worth, Vinny bags both.
Try a Toro.
Then, throw your Roc3.
You’ll experience the difference first-hand 🙂
Toro is more beefy. I was a Roc 3 faithful. Toro is money. But then again, I also bag a Caiman, a Pyro, AND the Toro. I just think they’re neat. Caiman has been in my bag the longest.
I use my Caiman for forehand and backhand drives, depending on what the hole calls for. Ones Star and newer and the other is very beat in Champion. Pyro exclusively for backhand drives and the Toro for short forehand approaches.
Doesn’t the Roc3 boast a 5 glide? O know that’s not a HUGE difference but, IME the 5 glide (classic mid range glide) does way more straight flying before the OS kicks in. I don’t throw a Roc anymore but my old Star Sannys were much more OS than any Roc3 I ever threw. Just my $0.02
Or the Wasp which is just slighty faster beef with the glide! I rock both a Roc and a Wasp complimented by a Banshee and a Raptor–spike hyzers for days!!!
I recently picked up a quake and have been loving it for this slot. I’ve tried other os mids like the justice and runway, but I rarely found myself using them. They didn’t have the glide to get further than my A5s or zones, so they never filled the straight to stable forehand midrange slot that I’ve been looking for. The quake is still reliability over stable, but is workable and has the glide to get midrange distance on forehand throws.
I also don’t bag a fairway more over stable than a Terra or an approach disc more over stable than a zone, so the mega beefy mids never really fit my game.
The Quake is a REALLY good disc …
Man, if that’s working for you, don’t break from it.
It’s a croc and firebird for me. The firebird for me is the best disc in disc golf and the most used in my bag but the croc certainly has its moments
How the Croc is not more popular is anybody’s guess …
Madness.
(they’re hard to find, so that’s probably part of it)
Dang, I thought the Drone or Stego were gonna make an appearance. I have almost all the other ones mentioned. The most diverse spots in my bag are the beefy mids and overstable fairways. Drone, Stego, EXP, Sentinal, Gila, Justice, Mutant, Obex, Demon, Whippet, Viper, Moab, all have a place for me, since I essentially settled on Orions as my main drivers. Great article.
RPM KEA, this has been a Godsend. Was gifted one, it fits perfectly between my Toro and Roc3. Toro is my super beef and just short on preference distance.
Never even tried one out – thanks for the tip!
My Zone used to be my most used disc (other than a putter), but I’ve become pretty infatuated with a K1 Soft Berg and the fact that it has even less groundplay than my Zone. I still carry the Zone, for when I need more beef, but maybe I’m experimenting with not depending on it?
If it’s working, let it work, my man!
Don’t change a thing.
Your example of Calvin dropping the rhyno for a toro is redundant as everyone knows the toro is innova’s zone. The toro for forehands is much more comfortable then the rhyno he doesn’t throw it at all for firebird shots. If you count a zone as a putter, then this whole argument is thrown out a window.
The Rhyno and Zone are VERY different discs …
Like, WAY different discs.
The Newb representative…
I feel as if OS is like a cringe, stay away from it, thing for newer players bc we are told we “can’t handle it” and that our arm speed can’t get it to do what it’s meant for etc.
I am actually a yr in, so not brand new and I have just recently stepped into the OS world. I was finally also given the knowledge that OS is more predictable and works way better than US’s flippy nature.
I currently have a (beautiful) Hex that I thought would never get bagged bc it’s more stable than I was used to and hooked for me which felt unnaturally what I felt I should be trying to achieve…straight’ish and right toward the target. Now I throw it way more than most discs bc I’ve gotten to know the flight pattern of that hook. Is knowing that flight pattern what people mean by the predictability of OS discs? Do more experienced players go this route bc flippy or more straight fliers have more ability to go astray if you’re accuracy waivers on the shot?
Welcome to the sport, Tony!
More experienced players TEND to lean on stable-to-overstable discs for two reasons:
* Predictability
* They have more power.
As your arm speed increases, you’ll start to do the same thing.
In fact, it sounds like you’re ALREADY doing just that.
Can’t agree more, flicking my Pyro is my favorite shot and the one I have the most confidence in. Even if it leaves my hand suboptimaly it finds its way home. Also the only disc I have multiple aces with.
Don’t bag the Pyro, but reviewed it once …
It’s a “wowsers” disc.
Totally underrated.
Fletch mentioned the Roc3, which is my go to backhand mid. They have really good glide for a midrange and, in Champion, are pretty overstable. I personally use a Caiman for all of my forehand mid duties as I do not have a forked grip. They have got to be the best mid ever made. But tho I want to try the Croc. That article about them has got me thinking.
You will LOVE the Croc …
Right now, the only place you can get ’em is at The Innova Factory Store.
It’s a game-changing disc.
Ive been throwing an innova wombat
Man
Its great
Great disc!
Definitely NOT a “beefy” midrange, but hey …
It takes an army, right?
The Stego is prime beef. Whippet X getting a lot of action lately too.
And that Whippet-X will skip for dayzzz …
Great disc.
I love my 174 gram justice for hyzer spikes over trees in front of me
Overhands, too.
Great disc!
The Deflector is my go to in this slot, just a touch more beef than the Pyro
OH, need to give that one a (literal) spin …
The Pyro is dynamite.
Good intel 🙂
Recently picked up a Malts myself to handle that weird middle area where my Zone can’t get there, but my Raptor is a bit too much.
I know it’s not pure beef but for my arm, it’s been pretty dang predictable in a short amount of time.
Glad it’s working for you, Gabe!
I use 3 different types of whippets actually that is my go to disc never from the drive but to get me out of situations
It’s a fairway driver, though!
You’re right, though …
Brilliant disc.
(no argument there)
Have to come back to this to share. Was gifted a $25 gift card to Dynamic Discs. Bought a Justice. Holy poop you were right. Just aim right of the basket, and you’ll have tap in putt. Every time.
My average score at my home course improved by 6 strokes over the last 8 rounds since i bagged that Justice. And i want to walk back my Roc3 comment. The glide is the difference. The Justice falls so hard out of the sky. Thanks Green Splatter!
No problem, Fletch!
Do you have much of a forehand?
Because if you do, that thing will be BUTTER in your hand …
And even if you don’t, it still does it’s thing – great disc!
Been working on improving the forehand recently. Flicked the Justice twice today and you’re right. Totally different flight than my backhand. It went very straight. And longer than anticipated. Blew past basket by good 50 feet!
Congrats!
That thing’ll see even MORE action once you dial in your flick-approach …
(and it’ll save you even more strokes, too)