R-Pro Boss: Breaking it in

[duhtch]

So I guess this will be my first actual question pertaining to the sport, that doesn't seem completely noob. Also there will even be actual terms used that I had no clue as of 2 months ago.

I purchased a 150g R-Pro Boss about 2 months back and really wanted to step up my game. I also purchased an Aviar putter (which I will only use this guy now). After Wright Life, I threw it a couple times forehanded (*edit), which is the way I myself learned with a few buddies just messing around. After watching a lot of people who are much better than me, and reading posts on this forum, I decided that I should learn to throw a backhand throw.

After a few simple tips from Evan, I did decent, not great though. This disc is overstable (when I throw it it fades to the left near the end of the throw). After getting banged and beat up a bit now though by rocks and the ground itself, it seems to be flying a bit of an understable (going to the right) and even turning over completely sideways, then rolls a bit. At hole 5 at Edora usually aim to the right of the tree in the middle, it will go past that and then end up near the hole; however, I ended up throwing it, it flattened out, then sailed across the street into whole 6 fairway. I tried some crazy 45 degree hyzer angels ( disc like this / ) and it still turned over.

I have tried this with a newly purchase 162g disc and it still remains overstable, which I am guessing will take time to break in more. What should I do different, other than don't aim at rocks, to break this in better to be a more reliable driver?

So I guess my other questions are below:

1) Is this new crazy flight path due to me throwing inconsistently?
2) Could it be due to the chips and cuts in the plastic around the edges?
3) Do you think Champion or Star plastics are better to get?
4) Should I just drop the disc since it is so beat up and move onto another disc?
5) Do you have any suggestions?

I will be attaching a photo of the disc soon.

-Duhtch

[BeTheMachine]

Answers:
1)possibly
2)yes
3)depends
4)nope
5)of course!


First off, I assume you meant forehand when you described the way you learned to throw. So you are likely learning to throw backhand (better at throwing forehand) at the moment. The thing about a lightweight disc is that it takes a little more finesse when thrown to fly like you want it to than a heavier disc that you can just rip as hard as you can. The R-pro boss will come back at the end if thrown correctly and with the right speed no matter how beat up it is. I haven't seen you throw, but lets say, for example, you think you released a shot on a hyzer angle, but really you may have thrown it flatter than you wanted. I think this happens more often than most players expect. A few degrees here and there on your release angle can make a world of difference, especially on a super-fast disc like the boss. One thing you might try concentrating on is pointing your thumb down on your follow through (for hyzer angle, anhyzer would be opposite), this will guarantee hyzer angle on your shot and will prevent wrist roll right before release which can cause a shot to turn over more than expected.

As for different plastic types, this is mostly personal preference IMO. Yes, Champion, Star, ESP, etc. will last longer and take more abuse, but as for flying characteristics, the difference is negligible when discussing which is 'better'. The thing about the lower grade plastics is that they will find their 'seasoned' point faster and then be more predictable sooner. The higher grade plastics will take longer to beat in and find this point, so they will fly different longer until they get to this point. It is really more about what you like as opposed to which is 'better' This said, I don't think you should drop this disc because it doesn't do what it used to. Just use it now for shots that require what it does now, and get a heavier disc or more stable disc for shots that need to go more left at the end.
Hope some of this helps!

[aceking]

Don't worry, you are not the only one having problems stabilizing an R-pro boss. I bought one @163g and threw it further than any other disc in my bag...until I broke it in a bit. Now I flip it over too much every time, even with a big hyzer. It has to be the plastic to blame for the inconsistency. This has to be the lowest quality plastic you can buy.

At this point I don't even want the disc in my bag anymore because it is so understable. The problem with the boss is...star and champion plastics seem to be way too stable for lower level players. I would maybe try the lightest star boss you can find because star plastic seems to be easier to throw and it definitely stays stable after breaking it in, even if you can't achieve the same distance as the R-pro. Champion bosses only come in 170's and are too stable if you are looking for pure distance.

Again, this problem is due to a beat up disc, so you don't have to keep trying to correct your throw with it. You will probably end up wearing it in even more.

[duhtch]

bthemachine-you were right, i modified it now in the original post, as to not confuse people.

thanks for your advice and suggestions. i will try them out shortly.

aceking-i'm glad this has been replicated to some degree. i thought it may have been just me. just when i thought i was getting pretty darn good at throwing it, it went crazy on me.

i will take your advice into consideration

[bmastre]

For a beginer, the Boss is a pretty hefty disc....I have played for the past 14 years, and I dont even have the arm for that thing. It is a speed 13 disc, which means that it is VERY hard to get that up to speed and get it to fly correctly (although the R-Pro bosses do beat in really fast I have heard.) Do yourself a favor and get yourself a T-Bird and max that thing out before you move back to the boss. The t-bird is about a speed 7 disc.

[666cruiser]

The Wraith is also a disc you might look into. It has good speed but you can still turn it. I love the Destroyer for forehand drives. I love white star plastic. I love disc golf. Ok sorry sorry. I have had the same star discs in my bag for years. It's such a great plastic.

[duhtch]

Jul 27, 2009 23:45:20 GMT -5 bmastre said:

For a beginer, the Boss is a pretty hefty disc....I have played for the past 14 years, and I dont even have the arm for that thing. It is a speed 13 disc, which means that it is VERY hard to get that up to speed and get it to fly correctly (although the R-Pro bosses do beat in really fast I have heard.) Do yourself a favor and get yourself a T-Bird and max that thing out before you move back to the boss. The t-bird is about a speed 7 disc.

after about 2 weeks of tossing, i was averaging over 300 ft easily on my drives, once i learned and got a solid s-curve in with that 150 r-pro boss. i thought that was pretty good for me at least. i will try the t-bird, in fact my very first disc i bought was a champion t-bird, when my wife and i moved into the apartments right behind edora. i tried throwing it yesterday and got no where near my distance of my boss drives. i will continue to work on it though.

Jul 28, 2009 0:25:00 GMT -5 666cruiser said:

The Wraith is also a disc you might look into. It has good speed but you can still turn it. I love the Destroyer for forehand drives. I love white star plastic. I love disc golf. Ok sorry sorry. I have had the same star discs in my bag for years. It's such a great plastic.

i am purchasing a couple of star wraith's from a guy in denver named mitch sonderfan.

[666cruiser]

I know a lot of guys use the T-bird as a fairway driver because of the control you can get with it. You have to be careful if your going to pump it up. You can always change your wrist angle just slightly to throw stable or overstable drivers. If you get a chance talk to Slish or Brurdick they come out to league and both have BIG sidearms.

[duhtch]

thanks for all the advice guys. i played 2 rounds of 9 in longmont today with a random doubles thing they were doing and got a -4. we used about 90% of my drives with my champion t-bird. i feel that i have lots to work on as far as my form goes, as far as getting more distance. on 17 of 18 holes my disc flew straight, i only had one mishap when i was trying to throw it as hard as i could instead ripping a straight line and ended up throwing to the sun.

i guess practice makes perfect. i feel every time i play i am improving. i will keep watching videos on youtube.com and hopefully get the chance to play with you guys in the future.

i picked up a 175g champion boss disc from the longmont disc club there, primarily to help out the club make another 9 hole. in no way am i discounting your advice on trying easier drivers. i am sure i won't be able to throw it very well.

thanks for everything.

-Duhtch

[bmastre]

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