I love Factory Second discs.
Thank you, Innova.
Factory Second discs are discs Innova manufactures that, for one reason or another, come off the assembly line with some sort of cosmetic flaw. Nine times out of 10, you have to deliberately look for the “flaw” in question, it’s so unnoticeable. And ten 10 times out of 10, the aforementioned flaw has no impact on the flight of the disc – so that’s a bonus.
Innova refers to these discs as “Factory Second” frisbees, but most manufacturers offer something similar under a different name. However, in disc golf, “Factory Second” is as universally used as “Kleenex,” so if you prefer the plastic companies outside of Rancho Cucamonga offer, you’re in luck: You’ll undoubtedly find what you’re looking for.
Oh, yeah …
And they’re dirt-cheap.
That’s the best part.
To distinguish these discs from their pureblood counterparts, they’re slapped with a Factory Second stamp like this one. For this reason, the short-hand abbreviation for Factory Second discs is “F2,” as it mimics the oft-used stamp. That, or Factory Second discs are quickly double-, triple- or even quadruple-stamped right on the spot with whatever design is available.
Noticeably ugly, there’s no mistaking the disc is a Factory Second.
It’s priced as such.
However, there’s a type of Factory Second flier that I’ve coveted for as long as I can remember. I even know a few people on the inside at Innova. And no matter how many times I’ve attempted to phone in a favor on this thing, the answer’s been speedily and resoundingly the same …
“No.”
I want a Factory Second disc, but with a single stock stamp from a totally different mold – and plastic type, to boot. If that makes zero sense to you, these examples should clear things up:
- An F2 KC Pro Aviar with a stock DX Birdie stamp.
- An F2 Champion Roc3 with a stock DX Skeeter stamp.
- An F2 Champion Monarch with a stock R-Pro Dart stamp.
- An F2 Quantum Scorpius with a stock Champion Rollo stamp.
Cool, right?
The combinations are endless.
Allegedly, the reasoning behind this impossibility is driven by market confusion – I’ve asked. In and of themselves, discs – along with their flight-plate branding – are mini adverts. When a disc is advertised as one thing, yet performs in the exact opposite way, the belief is that this doesn’t reflect positively on the manufacturer. Produced in mass quantities, sure – I get it.
But the occasional one-off?
Give me a break.
To clarify, these discs DO exist …
They’re just few and far between.
Some pros have ‘em in their bags. Drew Gibson threw a Legacy-stamped Teebird for years – he still might, in fact. And though not technically a Factory Second, Paul McBeth was known for hucking McPro Aviar-stamped Swirly Star Destroyers during his final years with Innova.
This is the part where you drool …
McBeth’s wife sold one from his personal stash in an online auction for $3,000 five or so years back. Regardless, this is as close as I’ve gotten to fulfilling this random pipe dream of mine:
That’s a Factory Second gummy Champion Rhyno with a stock DX Teebird stamp …
Double stamp, that is.
Close, but no cigar.
Rarely do I ask for comments – I think it’s cheesy. But do YOU have something like this in Factory-Second form? And more importantly, are YOU willing to part with it for a fair price?
Drop the dirty deets below.
Thanks in advance.
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Oh this exists. I have one. Or I had one. I had a burnt orange Shyrke….with an Aviar stamp. Got it from dgu. I guess I lied, there is one stamp I think is fun. That’s a putter stamp on a driver.
Sad story. I lost this disc. And I’m pretty sure the pedestrian who it landed near grabbed it and stole it and probably tossed it in a trash can. It wasn’t even that close to him! And i screamed fore.
I’m still pissed.
Oh, that’s the best of the lot …
High-speed driver with a putter stamp.
Love the guys at DGU, by the way …
You don’t know what the F2 disc will look like, so it’s always a surprise!
And in this case, a good one, at that.
(BTW, sorry for your loss – I’m sure this one stings)
I mean I could buy another one, but I already own 3 shrykes (Champ, Star, Halo). I don’t need another just for a stamp.
https://discgolfunited.com/f2-star-shryke-modern-grid-aviar-other-stamps.html
Ah, makes sense …
This is another multi-stamp F2.
Not as “pure” as I thought it’d be.
Still cool-looking, though.
I have an Innova Firebird with a Simon Lizotte Doom Bird 2 stamp on it. Not sure that is what you are looking for though. This is an interesting article. Are you a disc collector?
Very coo, Jake!
I’m not, no.
If I see something I love, I’ll nab it.
Not as much anymore, though.
This was more me probably three or four years back.
These days, I have enough discs to last two or three lifetimes, so I don’t buy much anymore.
Where did you get your wacky Firebird, if you don’t mind me asking?
I was playing a course in Oregon, there was this guy who was giving away discs for free. All he asked was that if there was a disc in your bag that you don’t really use, that you toss it in the bin. I was looking through there when I saw the Doom Bird. I was like cool. Then later I saw it etched on the back that it was a firebird.
You could’ve given me a 1,000 guesses as to where you got that disc …
And I never would’ve arrived at “random guy in the park giving discs away for free.”
Cool idea, though.
Can’t lose that one!
I do have two factory stamped infinite discs that have the wrong stamp for the disc. They are not seconds. One of them is a Aztec stamped like a Maya and I forget what the other one is I would have to look when I get home. It’s basically a TeeBird with like a putter stamp or something. Do you not find factory seconds to be more stable than their counterparts? For whatever reason all of my factory seconds seem to be a decent amount more stable than others. Maybe coincidence but one of my brothers experiences this as well
Woah, nice find – that’s awesome!
And it’s just a coincidence …
I’ve had plenty of experiences the other way with mine.
So, yeah – just a luck-of-the-draw kind of thing.
What F2 discs were giving you more beef than you’d anticipated?
Which molds, I mean?
I have several on the innova side. A star valkyrie, star boss, star roadrunner and a star teebird. All of them drastically more overstable then what I normally encounter. Also have a I blend Maya and a sheriff. Don’t remember the plastic on the sheriff but super overstable also. I do have an x out I blend Sphinx that is a little bit Flippy. I believe that color affects stability though
Man, sounds like you’ve just been unlucky …
Time to break ’em in – that’s half the fun, at least!
I would say F2s are consistently inconsistent. Example: I have 3 champion Roc3 F2s, that all fly like sidewinders (I did order all 3 at the same time, so same run???).
This is why I don’t bag any Roc3s. I’m now scared to spend anymore cash on a Roc3 that might not be the overstable mid I want. So instead I stick with my Jay and my Gators as those Roc3s gather dust in my garage.
What Fletch said 🙂
Reptilian Disc Golf has the Stego stamp on champion Teebirds, in stock right now in fact. Not F2s either: https://reptiliandiscgolf.com/collections/drivers/products/champion-teeturds
Love it – thanks for sharing, John!
I can’t imagine Innova would be too pumped about this …
Reptilian Discs literally wiped off Innova’s stamps, slapped their own on ’em and listed ’em on their site.
That’s nuts. Haha.
But hey, this is awesome – thanks for sharing!
This has to be illegal right?
Yeah, that’s what I’m thinking …
The disc’s description straight-up mentions buying them, wiping them and then stamping them.
That’s no bueno.
https://reptiliandiscgolf.com/collections/newest-products/products/champion-teeturds
Thanks for sharing this link, Rich!
It was shared by someone else, as well.
I mean, this HAS to be illegal, right?
What Reptilian Disc Golf is doing?
That’s a bold move … haha.
I have a couple of champion wraiths that are stamped like DX Sharks. Always cool to look at.
Oh, man …
That’s awesome.
And with just the SINGLE stamp?
Where’d you get ’em?