Are Prodigy Discs That Bad?!? Are They in Trouble?? | Beginner Disc Golf Tips
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 4 ก.ค. 2024
- If there has been one company that is near the top of folks AVOID list over the last two years, Prodigy Discs has to be up there. With two recent contract losses, their stock only appears to be plummeting in the public eye. In today’s video we will discuss five key criticisms that I hear about most often. Are they all warranted or are folks perhaps being too harsh? What does Robbie C think about the situation? You’ll have to watch to find out!!
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Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:30 Setting the Table
1:50 The Pros
6:41 The Baskets
10:07 The Powder
14:10 The Flashing
17:30 The Overseas
22:14 Final Thoughts - กีฬา
I don't believe any single issue is a deal breaker, but they do compound. Additionally, I think their presentation could be improved. When a new player walks into a store to buy discs, they are drawn to flashy stamps and cool names, neither of which Prodigy excels at. As these new players progress from beginners to intermediates, they start hearing about issues like flashing, chalking, and poor basket quality from other players. This discourages them from giving Prodigy a fair chance. Once someone has established a preference for one or two manufacturers, overcoming that brand loyalty becomes very challenging, especially if there's already a negative perception attached. Ideally, brand loyalty shouldn't dictate choices, but humans tend to fall into one of two camps those who try everything under the sun, and "Ill take a chicken finger basket, it was good last time and i know it will be good this time."
Not gonna lie, I'm a new player and the discs I have been gravitating towards the most have been Westside, because I love their branding. I am not at the point where I could tell you how different brands and plastics fly yet, so I'm just getting cool. Even in researching how disks fly if Westside has one that flies close enough to another brand, and I can find it, I'll probably buy that instead. Maybe a few years down the road I'll know enough to tell the difference, but Prodigy is definitely missing the opportunity to lock people in among their first dozen discs or so.
@@DarkenSeyrethone big thing with westside is their flight numbers aren’t accurate but all around good plastic latitude is also a very good company for beginners
I just started playing disc golf around 3 months ago and have only tried one Prodigy disc (A PA3 was my first putter, but is no longer in my bag). As a new player, the biggest reason I haven’t picked up more Prodigy discs is how boring and unexciting they are. To me the naming scheme and disc designs just have not excited me to pick up a disc like other brands. This may seem like a petty critique, but I like to like what I’m throwing. Of all the brands a new player can see when they walk into their local shop or browse online, Prodigy, in my opinion, is one of the most boring brands. I think this has a significant impact overtime, as establishing a brand loyalty early on can help long term sales.
On the five critiques your presented, the pros they sponsor is the most impactful to me. As I’ve been a new consumer of pro disc golf, I’ve been drawn to players based upon their personalities as well as their performances. Off the top of my head the only Prodigy players I could name were Issac and Ezra Robinson. I can’t name a single FPO player, despite often watching FPO content. I also can’t think of the last time I came across a piece of content featuring a Prodigy player on TH-cam. I think this feeds into my first issue of the brand being unappealing. I personally do not like Dynamic Discs naming scheme, but the fact that I like Ricky has made me curious about picking up some of their discs. Prodigy’s lack of exciting pros to cheer for compounds with the utilitarian names and bland designs for me.
For the other critiques, I’m going to loop powder, flashing, and production into one. I’m 100% okay if a brand moves production overseas, if it delivers value to the consumer either on price or quality. It seems this move has allowed Prodigy to improve their quality which is a positive. It’s just a fact, that not all goods can be American-made and while it’s unfortunate that Prodigy had that aspect and moved on from it, it’s not a deal breaker for me. Quality goods can be made anywhere and maybe relocating production will help grow disc golf in those areas. For the baskets, honestly this doesn’t impact me at all. I’m new enough that I only experience this issue when watching the professionals. The discussion around the pros and cons of basket designs is interesting, but ultimately does not affect my opinion on Prodigy as a brand.
I just started playing DG spring of last year. After my initial starter sets i went almost 100% Prodigy during last year's black friday Christmas sale on the Prodigy website. I essentially upgraded to an all premium plastic bag for such an affordable price it was a no brainer for me. I enjoy all of the discs. Some are better than others. I think I agree totally with all of your sentiments on the critiques. None of them are deal breakers for me. The A2, M4, and F2 in 400 plastic are go to discs for me and of course i putt with the Pa3. I have the imported D3 and D2 in 400 and they are nice enough but the D2 is too fast and stable for me to get a good flight out of. I do also have an F5 in 400 plastic that is kind of chalky but it doesn't bother me. I didn't know that was unusual or the norm though to be honest so i didn't think much of it.
Love that you drop a name in your intro. Was having a rough day a while ago, was watching your video on my work break and you just happened to say "how you doin', Adam?" Made me smile. Thanks for that :)
I think the very public basket issue shows two things: (1) not every company needs their own basket and (2) we need more standardization that eliminates the variation in basket performance. Both of these things stem from the impact that patents have on the function of a vital piece of equipment to the sport. Every company making a basket has to do it a little different to avoid infringement and that often results in over-engineering the damn thing when in reality Company XYZ could just NOT make a basket. It's tricky because I would really hesitate to say the PDGA should just pick one manufacturer or that they should make their own baskets (the latter idea would have the exact same issue: they're behind the ball in terms of what's already been patented so their universal basket might suck as a result). And choosing one is essentially condemning all others which affects a lot more than just the pro tour.
My background is in two sports where equipment varies a great deal: hockey and lacrosse. However, the fundamental parts of those games do NOT differ significantly. The goals and goalposts are the same size and the ball/puck are completely standardized. The only things that really differ are equipment the player chooses; this is just like the difference in discs. Imagine if the boards in hockey were significantly different between manufacturers or the goals sometimes didn't receive pucks (i.e. allow goals) as well as others. Or if some hoops in basketball or holes in golf or nets in soccer were slightly different shape due to patent restrictions. It just doesn't make sense because those are fundamental to the game: this is why it feels so bad when you encounter baskets that aren't up to others' standard.
I started disc golf and fell in love with prodigy discs. I’m still a supporter of prodigy.
I’ve always liked their naming convention. Just easy to understand. It’s simple.
I always loved their 400 plastic I’m a big supporter of the FX line. Mainly FX-3 as well as their D1, D3, H2, H3 as notable favorites for me.
I honestly didn’t get a lot of flashing discs and never noticed till one of my friends had one on an FX-2 like you mentioned but easy fix.
Their baskets are definitely not my favorite. But I also extremely dislike Discatcher baskets. They spit out soft putts a lot too and if the chain is caught on the bottom screw it’s a guaranteed spit out.
Prodigy suing Gannon was a terrible move for the company definitely understand the breach of contract. They were stuck between a rock and hard place with that.
But over all, I still throw prodigy and love em
You're asking if the internet is reasonable. You know the answer man. Logic and sense isnt exactly a common thing online these days.
I didn’t really know about the prodigy controversy when I bought an FX-3 and H4 V2 last month. I’m pretty new to the ins and outs of pro-level disc golf. I love both of those discs, the 400 FX3 I got might be the straightest fairway in my bag.
I'm a newbie, i don't follow anything about the pro tour, just a casual player. So all points concerning paying players more/less don't matter to me. Those are business decisions based on market, player appeal (to those that care or know), market saturation. Concerning going to court, if it was a valid contract situation, them it was on the 17 year old and their parents/agent/whomever to abide by the contract. Can't set a bad precedent. As for manufacturing, if people really pay attention to where their stuff is made and try really hard to only buy products made in their country, them that matters. I don't know where any discs are made, never looked, except for Stokley and i only know that because i watched his video and read the comments right before this one. Do i like manufacturing to be in the US because I live here? Of course. Is that my end all, be all decision point, never. My main point here is that casual players barely get different discs to fly differently. We are inundated with so many choices and have no clue why to pick disc A or B from disc company 1 or 2? And since everyone throws differently, it makes it even harder. Misconception that every person is teaching arm speed, disc velocity, filming themselves, etc. I watch these videos to try to find my flaws in throwing, tips for fixing my body position, arm position, etc. But, when i go play today, it's about being outside, with my friends, socializing over whatever subjects, and having fun. Good throws, bad throws, doesn't matter.
Prodigy H5 all the way for a forehand roller for me !!!! I concur that nothing is a deal breaker for me. I love how objectively you are looking at this dilemma. I would recommend to all give prodigy a chance and gain your own experience before you make a decision for yourself.
Valid points. 80% of my bag still prodigy. 400g (not made anymore) new 400 and 500 is some of the best plastic on the market i think. Also A series is very unique and prodigy was ahead of the game before others there. A2 is one of the best approach disc…sorry pig. Also M4 is one of the best workable mid ranges. That Cale run you have is actually very sought after by collectors as you might know lol. Gonna take some time to get prodigy back on the map but the Robinson will help and the product is much better now. Also be kool to see you do a review on their new fairway driver, got a bad rep for awhile. But the shadowfax, feedback, and fx2 are all great molds.
I have a couple of prodigy discs that I got as a starter set -- I think they are fine -- but I do think they suffer from having a letter number naming scheme for their discs instead of the creative names other manufacturers use. It makes thinking about the name of the disc less fun and asks for me to remember a code or pattern instead of a clever name. This makes using the disc a TINY bit more mental work than using named discs ... for me. Others may completely disagree with me.
Yeah for me personally it’s really nice to have a quick frame of reference for how the disc will fly based on the name instead of worrying about flight numbers. I definitely understand how it could be confusing if you dont autistically fixate on it like I do though
Literally same.
Agree. This also goes for their plastics, in the video Robbie had to check to see if one of his discs was 400 or 500 plastic by reading the disc because he didn't know the difference. I wouldn't know the difference either.
I have a similar problem but for me it’s compounded by the fact that discmania does the same thing. They have similar but different names for so many of their discs and it’s just too much to keep track of
That never stopped Discmania from going off the rails with crazy names for different runs of their regular lineup. lol
The ole prodigy shuffle on the teepad when I get a new one is really a head turner. M2 has 2 different molds now depending where they are made, pretty upset with it but I can just switch to another mold I guess. Number system can get confusing, pa-3 vs pa-4 is radically different (the one i have is like a -3 turn). Prodigy plastic can feel great, some of the molds are amazing, maybe its Cale that I gravitate towards because of the MN background. I would love to see a turnaround, some of the new discs they are trying suggest it. Business is hard, hopefully they can figure out a way to get through this.
I have had no flashing or chalk problems with Prodigy discs.
Until the internet told me that my Prodigy discs had flashing, I didn’t realize that my Prodigy discs had flashing. Same with the chalk thing.
i throw all prodigy. the fx2 does have a bad rep for a reason. there's alot from like 2020-2021 that had bad flashing. easy to remove with light sandpaper. everyone needs an a2 in 300 soft. best approach disc ever!
I just played a tournament and I did ok. 900 rated over two rounds. Never played the course. First round was like 850 rated and 2nd round was 950. I would have had a hard time shooting this shorter wooded course without the A1 and A5. I putt with PA-3 as well but it was my approach discs that really helped me that round. I really like the distortion, archive, F3, H1 and H3v2. Imo if they can finally fix their flashing issues then they should be good. And some discs, mostly 400 plastic gets cloudy too. I don't know... I still throw their stuff in a mixed bag because I don't give a crap about what everyone else is doing.
I've had very little experience with Prodigy discs. I tried putting with a PA-5 in 200 plastic for a bit just because I wanted to try a more understable putter. I had mixed results with it and ended up staying with my Proxy, but I don't think it was a bad disc at all. It's just wasn't for me. I'm currently bagging an F7 in 500 plastic in my flippy fairway slot. The 500 plastic seems to be quite durable and it's taking a while to get this disc beat into the flippiness that I want. So while I do wish it was just a touch flippier, I know it'll get there. And I have to say, I LOVE everything else about the disc. It flies so well, and I have hit some absolutely amazing lines (for me anyway...lol!) with it! It honestly feels great to me and has no flashing to speak of. Hard to judge a company off of only two discs, but I definitely can say I would try more Prodigy discs out in the future.
Great way to discuss the topic with some hands-on testing. Thanks!
Hey Robbie, the very first discs I had from my local 9 hole before it closed were Prodigy M-Models. I did not realise it at the time since I was only a few months into my DG journey but the flashing on those discs kept cutting my middle finger, especially RHFH. It wasn't until a few months later, after watching countless YT videos & browsing Reddit threads, that I realised what it was exactly that was messing my finger up. I made the switch to Trilogy Discs and have had no issues since.
I don't have too much experience with other branded baskets but having completed a Master's degree in Marketing & doing an assessment about starting my own DG brand here in the UK, I would have to say that Prodigy's brand recognition & public awareness is not as good as it could be. I think one important factor to consider regarding Prodigy's branding is that they've let players go who are great ambassadors for their brand & the sport overall, for example, Matty O, Chris Dickerson & Kevin Jones. I also understand from Reddit, that Vaino was a huge influence in shifting Prodigy discs across Scandinavia/Nordic countries. Players such as these leaving, especially mid-season, is never a good look. What happens if Isaac or Ezra decide to leave?
Lastly, you know as well as anyone that content creation & a player's individual personalities is what sells discs more than anything these days. No doubt MVP saw a perfect opportunity to reunite Simon & Eagle while Discmania are loaded up with Alden, Gannon, Gavin. All of whom produce quality content. I think Prodigy need to address moving forward to improve their visibility & awareness in consumer's minds.
Lesson time.
Finger printy discs (chalky, etc) are actually the oils in the plastic itself leeching itself from the finished product.
There are tons of reasons why this happens. Age of the source material, quality of the source material, exposure to elements like he and uv light, improper curing times in finished product. I could go on and on.
When you see this happening, the real issue is in the durability of the disc itself. You can slow its progress through a few various methods but you can't stop it.
A little bit concerning to see it in discs that aren't a couple decades old
Is it a fair comparison to compare basket design to bowling lanes and how different places grease them differently or sloped greens in golf?
I really enjoy throwing the M4 and F3 from Prodigy. Flashing issues, whack baskets, and legal issues are not on my mind when I'm playing disc golf. I only care about the flight of the disc and how the plastic/mold feels in my hand. I hope every disc golf company is successful because I love this game. Great video Robbie! How ya' doing today?
Great video Robbie. I never found a Prodigy disc that I truly liked…had a couple of early Prodigy discs that had the chalkiness issue and it was a major turn off.
the biggest issue for me personally with flashing, in this case on an f5, was that it seemed very much like the mold they were using was misaligned or poorly made. No matter how much sanding was done, the flashing never went away. This turned me off from their products as even though I don't mind getting rid of a little bit of flashing, if I had to do this to every disc I bought from them.
I had some Prodigy Discs given to me by a friend 7 years ago. (2)D4 750, (2)F7 750, M3 Proto 750, M4 Proto 750, (5) P3. I played a handful of rounds back then and just picked up playing again about 6 weeks ago. They sat in a storage unit for a while and then in totes in a closet. They are as good today as when they were given to me. I'm enjoying playing them and haven't encountered to chalk issues at all. I'll have to go look for the extra plastic, but I haven't noticed it yet. I've not played on the Prodigy baskets but have seen videos of the putter ejections... I'd definitely hate that, but know there are so many ways i could improve my own putting.
The only reason I've stayed away from Prodigy is my local shop still has the old plastic on the shelf that's chalking with flashing.
The critiques are valid and I can't speak to the baskets (luckily I think) but I will say I fell in love with the A2 and have a variety of Prodigy discs in my bag. Partly because they had a huge sale a couple of years ago and I bought a bunch of discs just to try them out. I fell like I haven't experienced the flashing issue that so many people complain about and as someone who leans more casual, I don't really have a vested interest in players and payouts and that side of the sport.
I got what I think is a prototype M1 as one of my first discs 10 years ago and it's still my go-to forehand approach disc. It never got chalky, there's no flashing whatsoever, and it's my favorite plastic in the bag.
That being said, I've never bought another Prodigy disc because I don't like how most of their plastic feels now and most have pretty bad flashing. I did however just get a 400 D1 in a mystery box and it feels pretty good and the flashing isn't any more than other brands have. I'd totally throw it if I had the arm for it.
They need some help with their image but i've found nothing better than my f7 and pa-5 - they make good flippy stuff!! Hate the 400 plastic and the 300 honestly. Love the 500
I understand some of the discs from prodigy have issues but I hope they stick around. The M4 and A5 are some of my most thrown molds and would be sad if I had to replace them.
I bag an F7 and M4 in 300 and an A5 in 500 Glimmer. I find Prodigy's 300 plastic to be a great value in that it is their equivalent of Innova Pro plastic, offering good grip and pliability, while balancing cost with durability. I can often find them for $9-10.
I go hunting for the chalky ones. No need for a grip bag.
I haven't tried a ton of Prodigy in the last year or so outside of the A2 and A3's but everyone I know that ahs thrown a Prodigy disc seems to like it. Flashing was something we all saw a lot of for a good bit there but it seemingly happens less often from what I hear other guys saying locally. Also, the new fractal plastic is gorgeous, so there's that.
I do always wonder why soo many top pros left and that seems like a big reflection of mismanagement or poor culture. I do really love a lot of molds you listed, pa3 great thrower and putter, a3 feels amazing flys even better, m4 is a solid butter mid, and the h5 I found to be incredibly fun to throw but I could not figure out how much Hyzer was needed and it had this beautiful but unpredictable late flip to turn for me, I couldn’t get that one figured out. The more you learn the more the naming convention makes sense, but then you hit the H series, Hv2, mx , fx, and pro series disc names and questions start up again. add in the plastic confusion (though it is getting better , 300, 400, 500, 700 easy enough) and it feels like you are constantly trying to remember was that a 7, 8, 9 speed disc ? Never had a flashing or a chalk issue, and love seeing the “made in USA”. Recently picked up some pa5 great feeling disc great flying disc , returned them when I realized they were no longer the USA discs I have loved. Lots of solid companies are making great discs in the states soo other good options to look at to support our economy and our work force. Just my opinion.
I am a casual player only, and I play for relaxation, fun, fresh air, and exercise. Everyone on a course is using the same baskets, so different baskets are just a course feature I have to navigate. Flashing - I hand-picked each disc out of the box at the store and feel for it. If I have to buy one with a little flashing to get the weight and color I want, I just rub it on the driveway for a few seconds when I get home. I prefer American-made, but I more strongly prefer quality at a fair price. It changes the subject, but higher tariffs would resolve some of this problem. I say that Prodigy should do what they need to do to be profitable without doing anything illegal.
Completele agree on baskets: Variations are naturally included in this game. Wind, the leaf cycle of the trees between spring and fall, quality of tee's etc. Why is it not ok for baskets to be different as well? When playing on these old Prodigy baskets, a few hours practicing the optimal put will pull you ahead of the pack. This issue should be a known thing. They might be practicing and it still is not enough, but I am fine with puts not being gimme from 30 and in. It adds flavour.
A3 has been my go to overstable approach disc. I tried a Zone and it seemed to fly exactly the same. I prefer the shallow rim of the A3 and haven't looked at anything else for that slot.
Point 1. I'll be honest I don't pay attention to the pro seen when I'm picking discs for my bag its irrelevant.
Point 2. Baskets are baskets I personally believe there are pros and cons to each basket
Point 3 and 4. When I buy Prodigy which is a decent amout (A2's, A5's MX-1's and feedback's) I make sure to buy the newer stuff because I do love there newer plastics.
Point 5 it is annoying to have to buy discs from China instead of the US but i understand the business side of things.
At the end of the day yes Prodigy has there issues like all disc manufacturers but I will still buy from them if they continue to have molds I like to throw and that fit my game.
Robbie, it is an interesting dilema and like most things in life... complex. You did a great job of trying to discuss the issues without clobbering or pandering... great job! I have very mixed emotions about the company... I really like Schusterick and the group of amazing talent with great hearts that play for the company, but I also know some history that sours my opinion of the company that goes beyond the plastics, the naming system, the flashing and the baskets. l really want all disc golf companies to grow and thrive because I want disc golf as a whole to thrive, but I can't endorse the company due to personal loyalty. And yet, I really like the A3 :D
The only Prodigy disc I currently throw is the PA-5. With that said, I have only seen it in premium plastic in a good color once, and it's the one I got. Prodigy isn't always the easiest to find.
Personally, I don't hate Prodigy, but I do with they had stayed within the US. Flashing may have gotten better, but they shouldn't have to ship over the ocean to fix that.
So many great and underrated molds from prodigy. But manufacturing quality is VERY hit or miss.
Dynamic discs has had pretty bad flashing from my experience.
Great points Robbie C!
Almost bought a shadowfax at the local shop today just because it's a cool name for a disc. Havent used any prodigy discs since I stopped putting with PA3s a year ago
You forgot to mention that they are the only manufacturer that supports a Veteran team (Battalion Team). I am a proud member of the team and my game has gone through the roof since I joined them.
To be honest I’ve only thrown an FX-7. The main detractor for me (as petty as it is) is that the naming system doesn’t make sense to me. It also doesn’t feel cool to say you’re throwing their disc names. Compared to throwing a Shark, Wraith, Raptor, Insanity, Hex, Crave, Mamba, Candy, Spice, or literally anything else (maybe not Discmania). Thats really it for me. Yes I know it’s petty.
I used to really like prodigy. I bagged a bunch of their molds. But the chalking is really what turned me away. I've done the pil, but it's temporary. I don't want to need to oil up my frisbees - that's dumb - especially when you consider that I don't have to oil up any other discs from any other company.
However, living in MN, I do like buying Cale Leiviska's molds so I can support him. The Shadowfax is a great disc IMO... I will say I was disappointed when the brand new one showed up with chalking on it.
I love my PA-3 in 750 plastic, I even aced with it this year. That being said, if I am buying a disc for full price there are tons of better competition out there. I have yet to feel a bad Kastaplast, Clash, MVP or Discraft mold. I just bought the new Gorgon from Innova and they are perfect. Regardless of their business decisions there product are inferior to many other manufacturers.
I started playing last fall and bought prodigy discs due to I found a few online stores here in Finland that sold them really cheap :D In away, I cannot complain that the discs would be bad but honestly the flashing has been irritating. Not every disc has it and little sandpaper action and the problem was gone but still... Prodigy has here somewhat a "bad reputation" that their discs would be trash/bad but I doubt that using another brands discs would make a big difference in most players game..
Found an F5 once and texted the owner, he hadn't seen the disc in years and told me to keep it. It's the only Prodigy disc that's ever made my bag, it's such an easy disc to hyzer flip. Full power it turns over and holds the turn the entire flight, mid power it'll flip to flat with a nice straight fade, low power will still flip to flat but with a very slight fade. Haven't given any other Prodigy discs a chance yet though lol
I think Prodigy is so underrated. I several Prodigy discs in my bag. I love the 500 F9
When I started out I got some prodigy stuff and didn't know any better about flashing or other things. What I did notice is that nothing flew as expected when compared to other manufacturers with same numbers. I know, numbers are made up... but when your "understable" fairway comes out and flies like a Thunderbird, you hurt your trust with a player. That hurts sales today and future sales as the player moves to another brand and doesn't look back.
I have only thrown a P Model S. I have felt a number of their discs and just havent been impressed with their plastic and the way the disc feels in the hand. I throw a mixture of so many brands, I wanted to like them, but sadly hated the feel before I even considered buying.
Additionally, I absolutely hate their baskets.
I believe that there are so many issues, albeit smaller issues, that they tend to stack up.
F5 was my favorite disc ever but lost it. Sold out everywhere here for over a month. Love the plastic 400.
I throw mostly Prodigy because they are easy and cheap to get here. Seem fine to me. The approach discs and the FX series in particular are great. So are all their distance drivers.
Can confirm on the innova CE chalkiness. I've got an older sidewinder and panther that makes it look like I've been up writing equations in front of class when I grab em.
also, DD premium plastic has had some of the worst flashing I've come across.
I am on the Prodigy Street team and I have a vlog in which I only throw Prodigy. So, I am biased. I love their discs, and even before I joined the street team my bag was 90% Prodigy. I am surprised that you did not discuss their naming system in your video. I like the idea of their naming system, but my problem is their naming system does not convey the information that it is supposed to for many discs. For example, the A1 is super stable, like the name suggests (lower numbers = over stability), however, the A5 (which should be under stable as the high number 5 indicates) is not under stable at all. As matter of fact, their entire line of A approach discs are overstable. To that end, most of Prodigy's discs are overstable, which I have also heard as a fair critique. But I guess you could criticize flight numbers in general, but if you are going to name your discs based on their flight, it should be more accurate. On a different note, you are the one that taught me how to play disc golf. Although I don't watch your channel as much as I used to, I wanted to say thank you for your videos that helped me tremendously as a beginner. I am not an expert, but I also started my own vlog in large part because of enjoying your vlog. Thanks man!
As a player just getting back into the sport after like 6 years of not playing, I realized my bag was really unbalanced and only had Innova and Discraft so I recently bought a few discs all from different brands including an F9 for something really understable and to try to throw rollers for the first time. I lost it after about a month following two compounding bad attempts at rolling it so I didn't get enough time with it to fully develop an opinion on the disc itself, but I wasn't a huge fan of their marketing and purchasing process. I understand what they are trying to do with their naming scheme, but I had to watch their video explaining it for it (or at least the number part) to make sense and I unfortunately didn't find that video on their website until I had already spent a decent amount of time researching each "F" series disc. I feel like they either need to make that information really up front, or choose to go with more memorable albeit less meaningful names like other companies (I understand that rebranding all of their discs is not feasible at this point so I am mostly suggesting the first option since they chose to go against the 2nd). I also was very disappointed with the color of the disc when it arrived as the purple on the website was far more vibrant than what I got, and I had trouble clearly seeing my disc even when sitting in the short fairway grass when I purposely buy purple or pink because those stand out against most of nature. Obviously if I bought my disc in a local store both of those issues could be avoided by talking to someone who understands their system and being able to see the disc in person (I ordered from their website because of the Father's day sale), but that purchasing experience was enough to put me off buying any more of their discs unless a specific mold fits a niche in my bag.
From 2020 through 2022 felons always had the worst flashing of any disc I ever felt. I didn’t buy a new felon for 3 years and thought I was about to replace the mold as a whole because of it. Luckily the original it ones that came out when Rick signed fixed it. But it drove me bonkers
A big thing for me is how basic the branding is. I'd much rather throw a Firebird with a sick stamp than a boring looking/sounding FX2
I haven’t thrown Prodigy so I have no knowledge. Wouldn’t the powder help improve grip?
Removing plastic flashing is tedious, variable, and expensive if done manually in production. Most production engineers will try to develop some automated version of flash removal like tumbling in an abrasive medium or automated scraping/sanding in the flash areas. That process will also have variability and why you see flashing to different degrees on all discs. I've had to remove flashing from several manufacturers on my discs.
Yes. I worked for Prodigy in the warehouse for a bit in 2016. Whole operation was horrible
is there a warehouse job that isn't horrible?
@@shamanschlong he specified the "whole operation," not just his job. Meaning it was not well managed.
Elaborate
Prodigy suffers from just bad marketing...really bad marketing. Their naming scheme seems simple and great but their plastic names are just bad and confusing. They don't have discs that sell really well due to bad marketing and not having a great names. Their bad PR with the lawsuit, flashing and powder has just added to people not wanting to even give them a shot. Their baskets are well known for not catching well and it doesn't matter if it's a old basket or not. I do know back 10 years or so ago when I was first trying out disc golf their discs were priced at least $3-4 more than everyone else. That is like 25% more. That just made me not even want to give them a shot. Not sure their pricing now but as a new player I stuck with the Innova, Discraft and Trilogy discs since their pricing was better and they had "cool" names.
If Im gonna be honest, I havent bought more than like 5 prodigy discs, but theyve all been let downs to a degree.
A 500 D3, a 400g X3, 400g F3, 300 PA3 and a 400 M1. The D3 was more OS than my halo destroyes and chalked like crazy. The X3 chalked a ton but flew ok, didnt stay in the bag though. The M1 had insane flashing and I prefer my buzzz os, and the F3 flew good but I chucked it into a pond and also it had a lot of chalk issues.
I can live with the chalk and flashing bit and I honestly dont care about how they treat pros, but when there are 5-6 other brands that have a way better track record just with me personally why take a chance on prodigy again when Ive mostly been let down.
I know I would probably dig a A2 or an FX2/3/4 but Ive already got zones and FD3s in my bag that I really like, why take the chance.
golf holes are not always the same. If they aren't changed and moved regularly they get worn on a side and becomes easier to make, almost like a funnel.
My only issue with them is that the stamps and names are boring , like the Ripit ones and archive are the step in the right direction . I feel like I could be fine with all the other points . Shit discmania has a similar naming, but i dont get many of their stock runs, and their tourseries at least have a change of more fun marketing
I definitely dislike their baskets. It doesn't help them either when their own pros are verbal about their dislike of their baskets too.
Flashing happens no matter the brand. It's an easy fix. You're allowed to lightly sand your discs.
As an American business owner, I definitely prefer made in America.
I know people who die by prodigy and they are great players who make the company’s disc look great. However, the company seems to be a company that just can’t catch a break, every move they make is a “bad” move in the eyes of the public. Also I feel like they get drowned out by other big name companies, in a worlds of Cokes they are Pepsi. I unfortunately see a future where quite a few of these lower level companies just disappear.
Prodigy definitely gets a bad rep for some silly reasons and others completely valid. My first experiences with their discs were very negative. I didn't even want to try any other molds initially. After two years I did and have found some of my favorite molds in their lineup. The F3 will probably never leave my bag. They have some sleepers in there for sure. Overall, it's hard to get people to try something different when they've already had good experiences elsewhere and with other brands.
Not a prodigy disc fan but they make a good value bag
I used to be one of those Prodigy haters. Then I started throwing the A2. Aced twice with them. Now I bag a PA-3, MX-1,FX-2,F1,F3,& D1. Aced with the MX-1 as well. Great molds.
Aces build loyalty.
I’ve never got a discraft disc with flashing. I don’t know maybe it’s just me.
Personally I don’t like the naming system, and discmania partly to blame. There’s M3 and MD3 and MX3 and so many other repeat names that it’s just kind of hard to keep track of what belongs to which manufacturer and what disc does what. I’m sure that if I had it in my bag I’d figure it out, but I don’t know what to buy. It’s for this reason that I don’t buy either of their discs. Maybe that’s a bad reason but I’m put off by their naming systems
7:27 I'm pretty sure I remember hearing people whine and complain about Mach X baskets when I was first getting into watching disc golf.
Saying Väinö and KJ aren't selling discs is pretty dumb. They are the only ones in prodigy camp actually moving discs :D
I don't think this molds or the plastic is the issue. As a newer player I see the similarity in the names and think "screw that. Too confusing while I'm trying to learn everything else already."
like seriously, I'm a little over a year in now and I still hold that mindset.
If you tell me something about a pig (something I've never thrown... Sry😅) I know what the disc will do despite never putting hands on it.
Now someone tells me they threw a DD3 and I think "Flippy? No that's the PD5? Wait isn't that a mid? Or is that a putter?".
Regardless, I avoid the naming systems that don't draw a hard line between the disc's.
I just got my first prodigy disc. Love it. Was thinking of becoming a prodigy guy. Now I here they are trouble
@@davismorehead2494 yeah man I hear you. I agree the disc's are nice once you get past the initial naming confusion. But with everything else going on you have to wonder how long the company will be around.
@@davismorehead2494Don't let rumors get to you. If you like a disc then keep throwing it. But at the same time, don't be necessarily loyal to one manufacturer (unless they sponsor you of course) because there are a lot of great discs from different companies that could have a place in your bag.
I absolutely agree about the name thing by the way. To a beginner the disc nomenclature is really weird to begin with mostly because of the different plastic names -- I remember thinking it was weird that there were multiple discs with the same name when it turns out that was the plastic (e.g. Star Destroyer is a Destroyer in Star plastic but I thought it was just called a Star Destroyer). On top of that I saw Prodigy discs with like 400g plastic and I thought "there's no way it weighs 400 grams wtf." I think the Discmania naming conventions make more sense but they're still hard to figure out as a beginner. On the other hand it could be more approachable to figure out that a DD is a distance driver and a FD is a fairway driver than it is to hear "Rive" and "Saint" and know which is which.
9:41 That's not true! An indoor hoop will be different than a outdoor hoop, a hoop in Minnesota is going to behave different than one in Arizona. No two locations are exactly the same(Even on the same course!), so no two baskets are going to have the same histories. Are these differences going to be extreme, no they will not be, but the DO still exist. When you play a game where so many things affect your result it's easy to blame the thing you can't control.
Now, I am NOT saying that Isaac's spit-outs weren't crazy, what I'm saying is that for every Isaac there was dozens of players that had no issue at all.
The discs really are oozing the chalk themselves indeed. As far as I have studied, it's the plastics components literally separating from each others. Some sources claim the substance in question is something called "plasticizer" with the purpose of making the plastic softer/more bendy. I've got a 400 pa-3 that in addition to the oozing residue is also forming these small cracks akin to dried crumbling paint. In short: the discs are "drying up" and turning more stiff and brittle.
The same can happen to old discs from other companies like old champion plastic innova discs, but way later and in way smaller amounts than even relatively new prodigy plastics(not all of them do this). Whether it means the plastic is cheap(I mean they usually *are* more affordable than most) and hence of poor quality or someone higher up simply considers it being a feature instead of a fault is up to ones own opinion. (it does add more grip and some people claim to like it).
I have a prototype M1 that's over 10 years old and still feels brand new
Robbie put together a Robbie endorced starter kit. Please 😉
I throw alot of prodigy, h7, f2, f7, pa5, distortion, a2, on there site in canada can get 400 plastic discs at 19$, 500 a bit more which is 15$ american. The only hic i have is there made in China… but i guess thats why there very cheap.H7 is my bomber disc mega dome great for my noodle arm
I live 2 miles away from USDGC and play disc golf with about 15 people on rotation. Not one of them is interested in going to USDGC with me and only 2 of them know who Simon Lizotte is. None of them could name another pro.
I don’t like the disc names, I don’t like the disc stamps, I’ve heard bad things about the discs, I’ve seen bad things from the baskets, and there’s SO many other great choices for discs with great reputations that there’s just no reason to take a chance on prodigy. That’s my current feeling whenever I think about prodigy and ask myself why I don’t bag them.
I like prodigy Discs I been playing with them since started playing regular I play every week now when first started playing when I had time but playing weekly I’m getting better throw them
My first good disc was Prodigy. I really like their bar stamp discs. In the South, i feel their decline in popularity started when they sponsored Natalie Ryan. People felt as if they weren't supporting the female protected division. Catrina left, and hardly any FPO players joined.
Then you have flashing issues, losing MattyO, Chris, and Gannon, the lawsuit, and it becomes easy to pile on
You didn't even mention that prodigy player won worlds last year. Andni believe the year before that and on a few other occasions.its kinda crazy.
Made in China: Discmania active line is was and/or is made in China. Pretty sure I heard there are other companies having some of their discs made in China.
All of my prodigy discs have gotten really bad for wear...i didnt even throw them that much...
Ill never buy prodigy again.
I have a weird name so I always feel left out of the "How are you doin' today?" lol
Ugly and horrible names. That is what I thought when I first started in disc golf and I still believe it today. When I started that was enough for me to not even try Prodigy. A couple years in I touched a Prodigy disc and felt like I cut my hand. I grabbed a few more on the shelf and they ALL felt that way. I owned over 200 discs at the time and never felt flashing like that. Fast forward to today and nothing has changed to get me to try it again.
When they were all "Made in the USA" where do you think they got the plastic from? I believe the plastic is making the trip to the USA as a disc now instead of piles of plastic. (I don't think it is all 100% China, yet....)
One problem with the Gannon situation. In other sports we know how much money people are making so we know when a team is not paying a player enough and they can use that for leverage. But since this isnt teams and its a sponsorship thing where no one knows how much he was making we dont know if they were paying him like 15k a year and obviously they should have renegotiated early but they were greedy and wanted him for pennies on the dollar, but we just dont know.
My bag is 90% prodigy and I welcome the hate cause it means I can find good discs for cheap. Lots of haters haven’t tried new stuff from them and they have improved plastic quality tremendously
While that is true, if Prodigy keeps getting all this hate and it is actually hurting their bottom line, they are going to end up out of business and you're going to have to find new discs to throw!
They're good
Young bucks like to talk trash
I am that guy. They lost me with number 5. Once they started manufacturing overseas I chose not to support. I am a US manufacturing snob. When it comes to plastic I buy from US manufacturing companies.
Definitely in the minority here but prodigy baskets catch my putts super well (nose down any) and for me the chalky discs are great in rain. But ya flashing sucks lol
I just took a bunch of gummies, this should be good.
What about companies that sell discs discs made in China like Infinite and others?
Most companies, and not just disc golf ones, have their products(or parts of their products) made in China. It's the generally the cheapest option, unfortunately.
I'm not the biggest fan of their baskets
#580 that is all.