Product Reviews

Dynamic Discs Ranger Backpack - Review

“I like big bags and I cannot lie.”Something in me believes that the more money I spend to gear up, or the better I look in my disc golf threads, will somehow lead to lower scores on the course. Never has happened to me. Probably never will. But, sometimes an item comes along that can take a day on the course from a grind to a lot more pleasurable (and in this case more comfortable) day of disc golf. This indeed leads to a better overall experience. The more we can relax and enjoy our round allows us to perform better. Our minds are put at ease and we can concentrate on our game and have fun.Screen Shot2 2014-01-20 at 8.13.40 PM

First Impressions: The weight of the Dynamic Discs Ranger Backpack seems to be distributed evenly vertically through the design to avoid the saggy-bag-dead weight-at-the-bottom- syndrome or SBDWATBS. The soft molded back panel seems to relieve most pressure points that many backpacks (disc golf and non disc golf) fail to properly address. This immediately was a win for me. My comfort increased over a few plays with my body feeling accustomed to a new addition. An ergonomic weight distribution is a great feature that disc golf backpacks have over conventional over-the-shoulder or disc golf bag w/back-straps. Too many players suffer fatigue that they might not realize comes from this proverbial sack of rocks hanging over their shoulder and/or back. Even carrying a bag on the non-throwing arm can cause body fatigue. Most players I spoke with that tried or actually own the bag felt very comfortable with the bag’s center of gravity. Just about right. Adjusting the shoulder straps for a player’s height and build optimize the effect. The shoulder straps are comfortable yet not very large or padded compared to most of the quad strap manufacturers. I noticed that it was much easier to place my arm through the straps over my shoulders. Some larger/padded straps require tweaking the arm and, more importantly, shoulder back sometimes too far to wedge the arm in its proper position. Not in this case. The molded back also allows MUCH NEEDED cross ventilation between the player’s back and the surface of the bag (see below). On a hot day, or for big, sweaty dudes (like me), this is a must.This by far is one of the bag’s best features.

Presentation2The "On-Deck" putter pocket is a great take on the putter pocket design. Two putters can be securely placed in the bag's side pouch with ease (once broken in). Some bags/backpacks have convenient putter pocket locations in theory, but when the time comes to remove or place the putter back in the pocket, it comes with force and fidgeting. Not with the "On-Deck's" pouch design. With the Ranger's side putter pocket, the top of the bag now becomes a very large storage compartment. I can easily fit a jacket or hooded sweatshirt, snacks, drinks, etc. in the top storage area. Though the compartment is not insulated or waterproof, storage of chilled can beverages is possible.

One of the backpack’s best compliments lies in the fact that it’s easy to tell that the Ranger Backpack was designed by disc golfers of MANY levels of play. Too many times sports accessory products are designed for either Pro level players who know exactly what they need to be effective or products aimed at entry-level players, designed to be newbie-friendly, but lack the utilitarian features most players soon tend to want/need. One of our favorite features is the Collapsible Stool Holster/2nd Cup Holder. A small feature, yet well thought out. No wasted space. Both options add value to the bag with no loss of space.

More “small” features I appreciated: - The disc compartment cover rolls itself to the top of compartment. Out of the way, but ready to use in a snap. - Reinforced feet on the bottom of the bag lift the bag off of the ground just enough to avoid contact with wet or muddy surfaces. Too many times I have placed a bag over my back with a waterproof bottom only to end up with a wet or muddy back. This is due to the flat surface of the bag’s bottom. It’s a little thing, but it’s well thought out. - A dedicated towel clip. Yes, a tiny, but useful item. I’ve probably spent a total of 18 hours of my life in my decades of playing, untangling my towel that was clipped onto my straps connector hooks. What a pain. Never again! - Don’t laugh at this one, but I love that the water bottle holder is not exactly shaped in the form of a full cylinder attached to the side of the back. It is more of an expanding half circle/slit that uses its tension to hold most any beverage shaped item safely and tightly against the bag. I can bend over with the backpack on and not fear a gust of liquid down my back and I don’t have to tighten/loosen/tighten a drawstring every time I need a drink. Again, a little thing, but well thought out. A small part of the expanding holder is mesh just in case of a spill. It will drain out.

Style: Style is VERY subjective. I personally thought the first run of grey on black bags looked a bit like a large camera pack. The Ranger Backpack now available varies from the stylish Quasar Blue to the more subtle working-class Charcoal. Compared to a few other disc golf backpacks on the market, I did find the Ranger Backpack to look slightly boxy. Not a bad thing per se, just a very subjective opinion. I do believe this design choice offers more storage space than some competitor’s bags, so that’s a fair tradeoff. It works.

Craftsmanship: Without going into fabric or stitching details which make no sense to most of us, let’s just say that every panel, zipper, clip, and pocket seem to be of sturdy design. It is built to hold up much longer than most bags found on any course. In SoCal (our location), weather rarely becomes a factor. Our weather ranges from highs of 85 degrees in the summer, down to a chilly 75 degrees in the winter. Somehow we get by. But, for those living with an actual changing climate, this bag looks to be built for frequent and heavy use. Not rainproof, but built to hold up in rougher conditions. In a few months we will address how the bag holds up for us over greater use. Based on first impressions, I think this design bodes well for heavy use.

Value: With a list price of $174.99, it is VERY easy to say that this bag is a great value. Relative to other disc golf backpacks on the market, the Dynamic Discs Ranger Backpack comes in costing much less than most backpacks with a similar level of quality.

Bottom line: - Well thought out design - Very comfortable (as backpacks go) - Well built - Great price

These all add up to make the Dynamic Discs Ranger Backpack worthy of your next disc golf bag purchase. Highly recommended!

Review by Mark Wilson

Manufacturers Notes:

  • -Limited Lifetime Warranty (Covers defects in materials and workmanship)
  • -Engineered with a low center of gravity to keep your bag upright
  • -"On-Deck" putter pocket holds 2 putters for quick and easy access
  • -Molded back panel minimizes contact points and allows for cross ventilation
  • -Large main disc compartment that holds 18+ discs
  • -Large main storage compartment
  • -Collapsible stool holster, also functions as an optional 2nd water bottle holder
  • -Exterior water bottle holder
  • -Exterior towel clip
  • -Removable lightweight disc divider located inside main disc compartment
  • -Oversized reinforced haul handle for ease of operation
  • -Stretch mesh exterior pocket for scorecard, pencils, mini disc marker, etc.
  • -Water resistant bottom material with reinforced feet to keep your bag off the ground
  • -Velcro opening keeps the over-flap clear of discs for easy access
  • -Internal zippered mesh pocket for a more secure storage solution
  • -Two external accessory pockets for sunglasses, wallet, keys, cell phone, etc.
  • -Designated bag tag attachment loop
  • -Volumes: storage compartment - 500 cubic inches; total - 1600 cubic inches
  • -Rigid construction using 600D Poly and 400D Dobby Nylon Oxford fabric

The Dynamic Discs Ranger Backpack is available at the Morley Field Proshop or online at the Dynamic Discs website.

Dynamic Discs GENEROUSLY supplied a Ranger Disc Golf Backpack for review purposes.

Disc Golf Beeper

Pretty interning idea. From their website...

Disc Beeper is an electronic device that is centrally placed underneath a Disc or Frisbee that allows players to easily find their Disc or Frisbee especially during the sport "Disc Golf."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gS3AUhoBOI&feature=player_embedded

This device only weighs 6 grams and shows absolutely no noticeable effect on disc flight.

Disc Beeper also has a waterproof design. It has 3 distinct modes that allows up to 3 players to play at once. Disc Beeper has a push-button to turn it on requiring 550 grams of force to engage. Once the Disc Beeper is turned on, there is a 45 second delay to allow launch and attempted retrieval, allowing the user to throw it and will beep every 3 seconds until you turn it off.

Disc Beeper is rechargeable via included micro usb cord. It holds up to 7-8 hours under 1 charge of 1 hour.

http://discbeeper.com/index.html

This post is for information only. Product not available in stores or proshop.

(thanks to Ian Funston for the lead)

New Distance Driver: Innova Vulcan

What Innova Says:The Vulcan was designed for less powerful players that want to throw the shots of their dreams. Similar in flight to our Katana with less low speed fade. The Vulcan will be available in lower weights for longer shots. With weights as low as 158 grams, there is a Vulcan for everyone. One of our lightest and longest Distance Drivers available in Star plastic. Makes a great long range roller as well.

(This post is for information purposes and does not constitute a recommendation by Morley Field)

New Innova Distance Driver: The Wahoo

The Wahoo is a fast disc with a lot of glide. This disc has a flight similar to a Dragon with increased speed and range. The Wahoo is a floating distance driver that will give you the confidence to throw over larger bodies of water than ever before. All R-Pro Wahoos are 169 grams.

Outside diameter: 21.0 cm Inside rim diameter: 16.1 cm Height: 2.0 cm Rim depth: 1.2 cm Rim thickness: 2.4 cm Flexibility rating: 10.21 kg Rim configuration rating: 33.25 Maximum weight allowed: 174.3 g" • Floats in water! • Great glide • Great grip

Flight numbers: 12 | 6 | -2 | 2 Weight: 169 grams

Check the Morley Proshop soon for this new disc.

The Best Disc Golf App Ever?

Disc Golf Caddy for the iPhone. Yes, it is!

If your a disc golfer with an iPhone buy it. If you have a disc golf friend with an iPhone gift it to them. If your a disc golfer and are trying to decide between an iPhone and a Droid buy the iPhone and this app.

This is more than expected... choose pictures of your discs for each shot, track ALL your shots during a round using an interactive visual angle of release meter, rate each shot, etc... this thing is freakin' awesome!

no guarantees on phone purchases included in this review  :)

F.A.D.E. Tourney Disc Golf Bag Review (Bonus)

F.A.D.E. (Freaking Awesome Disc Equipment) has obviously been putting in some overtime hours in their R&D wing as evidenced in their new Tourney Bags. Our initial response was "looks nice, kinda like the popular Innova Competition bags". Well... that's not a bad thing but this F.A.D.E. bag more than stands on it's own. Overall we were very impressed with the bag. Aces: - Built-in bag support “Disc-Hugger” internal frame. In our opinion this is THE selling point of the bag. Many bags have you unfold a stiff-ish  internal “frame” or offer no real frame at all. Not much of a problem until the bag gets a little use and then you have some of these issues - a) the bag top/opening sags onto itself making retrieving a disc a chore. This is true especially in large lightweight bags. b) those bags also tend to buckle due to the stress at the four connecting points of quadshocks.. c) many of the lightweight bags also tend to stretch over time resulting in your disc flopping over or sliding around in your bag. The disc hugger system incorporates small sewn-in fiberglass rods at the top of the hard-fabric frame which actually hug or slightly squeeze the disc(s) in place to keep them from sliding, slipping or falling out and the frame itself velcros to the bag. Well thought out.

Birdies: - Value. Both design and construction seem to offer long-term use and durability. Very reasonably priced for what you get. - Two insulated beverage holders with sinch-tie top and grommet hole at bottom for drainage - Heavy duty golf-towel clip

Pars: - Holds 22 discs + two putters - Zippered main compartment cover - Zippered mesh pocket under main cover - Two moveable disc dividers

Bogies: - nada

BONUS - F.A.D.E. has developed their own set of bag straps/shocks/harnesses/etc… We were also very impressed with the design of these babys. The two features that stand out are the built-in rain shield and the removable cross-chest strap. Some “shocks” feature the chest strap but are permanently attached. These become tangled far too often and just plain get in the way. The rain shield is extremely lightweight and rolls very conveniently into a small pouch attached along the top of the rear should strap. The shield was designed to fully cover the players bag during rain but as we found out during a rare recent rain in San Diego, it can be pulled overhead by hand to use as a quick rain cover. Players not wanting to have the added bulk of the cover built in to the bag can remove it completely from its pouch via its Velcro strap.

If our instincts are right, you'll be seeing plenty more F.A.D.E. Disc Golf Bags around SoCal courses soon. You can look them up at http://fadegear.com

Disc Golf For The PS3 - "Hands On" Review!

We are thrilled to bring you a "hands-on" review of the disc golf section of Sports Champions w/ Move controller for the PS3. As an avid discgolfer and gamer, this reviewer can speak from a knowledge of the sport and it's intricacies and fun factor. In our terms...

Aces: - Graphics - Fun factor - Re-playability - multiple skill levels increase realism (putts dont stick like glue, etc...). - Three tee positions on every hole add great variety

 Birdies: - Disc aerodynamics - Gameplay physics - Available throws - hyzers, anhyzers, thumbers, rollers, etc... - Move controller feels at home in disc golfer’s hand - Course design: Fun, varied holes. Elevation shots, water hazards, etc... - Skills challenges (aim, accuracy , distance, etc...) - Ability to add your own personal music during play

 Pars: - In essence only one 18 hole course. Need two or three!  (to be fair the Disc Golf section of Sports Champions for the PS3 in one of six sports included in the package. One course with variations is fine/par, we just wished it had more! Can you say “PSN DG DLC ASAP!”?)

 Overall review: CHAINS!

reviewer update as of 9/21: My seven year old and I have continued to enjoy Sports Champions for the PS3, especially the Disc Golf section. With multiple skill level options players of all abilities can compete together in a round of up to four players. We have hosted a few evenings of virtual disc golf for friends both avid and newer players, ALL commenting positively on the fun and relative accuracy in capturing this wonderful sport of ours. The producers of the disc golf segment obviously went the extra mile to include the culture, from the tee signs to the unlockable fly-dye discs. Very cool. If you have a PS3 Sports Champions is A MUST HAVE!

Link to other reviews of Sports Champions for the PS3 IGN.com Gamespot.com Videogamer.com Gametrailers.com

Latitude 64° Pro Disc Golf Bag

Is this the bag we've all been waiting for? Well,... It just might be! As with other product reviews we will review this bag in three stages 1) initial impressions 2) 10 rounds of use and 3) 90 days of use.

We want to thank the pro shop at the Kit Carson Disc Golf Course for hooking us up with a bag for this review.

First Impression: Wow! Build quality: A Design: A Aesthetics: Design: B+ Value: B+

This bag was OBVIOUSLY very well thought out. From the strong distinct risers on the bottom of the bag to keep the bag dry to the stool/umbrella holder, you can tell that there was a lot of input from disc golfers of ALL levels. Though this bag is designed and priced for the serious disc golfer little things were not overlooked for the weekender.

Here are a few of the features we like the most: - Wide/deep opening on the top of the bag. The zippered disc compartment cover is heavily padded which makes the bag even more comfortable when folded back against the body. - The putter pockets are easily accessible while walking and can ACTUALLY FIT putters. Many of the bags we've seen don't seem to get this right. It feels very good! - Three strong heavy-duty (quad)strap connectors placed on each side in the back, middle and front of the bag give the user many options for balancing the bag properly on the back. - Two spacious side pockets and one over-sized front pocket, suitable for towels, clothes etc. The front pocket is what visually distinguishes this bag from others. It is a very sturdy, quarter-moon shapped design which we have recently seen used as a cooler. It's not sealed or insulated but it can hold more beverages than you can probably drink in one (or two) rounds.

Company line:
- 2 padded dividers for keeping discs organized. - 1.5 litre bottle holder - Putter pocket for 2 discs - Strong metal zippers - Umbrella straps - Water repellant wallet pocket with zipper - Mobile phone pocket - Mini marker pocket - Pencil holders - 2 sidepockets and one front pocket, suitable for towels, clothes etc. - The main storage compartment holds up to 20 discs but the bag has a capacity for at least 10 discs more (if you use side pockets for discs) - Includes a unique, padded, over the shoulders "harness" strap.
- Available in Black/Silver and Red/Gold.
Initial Impression: A

Again our thanks to the pro shop at Kit Carson Disc Golf Course. They have the Latitude 64° Pro Disc Golf Bag in stock and cheaper than online retailers. Stop by next time you play there and "kick the tires" on this great new bag!

A New Disc Golf Bag

This review would have been posted sooner but it took us days to come up with an appropriate title for the article. We thought we’ll leave the jokes up to you, the reader. Good luck with that.

Our new friends over at the Disc Golf Station recently sent us two new Nutsac Disc Golf bags for review. Needless to say, these Nutsacs are very unique!

Nutsac Pros: - Unique - Low profile. Remove discs easily from the bag - Very lightweight but heavy duty Cannonball Canvas - Bag bottom fits curve of the disc - Front pocket with snaps - Weather flap - The small Nutsac holds the perfect number of discs (6) for a casual round. - The large Nutsac hold up to 14 discs in two divided compartments (and bottle holder)

Nutsac Cons: - New ones kinda look like a purse. When they are beat in, they look pretty cool - A little pricey (but Disc Golf Station has a good price on them!) - Only one color

Look for one of our Nutsacs out on the course and see for yourself!

Disc Golf Station - Free shipping w/ no minimum order, ship your order same day if ordered before 3PM CST on weekdays.  They are also close to completion of a Disc Golf Course Locator and are preping for videos that demonstrate how certain discs (should) fly.

Keen Disc Golf Shoe: Final Review

Round 10: 2/21/10 As promised, here is the final review for the Keen Disc Golf Shoe. Sadly it looks like our worst fears have come true.

At round #10 the shoes looked more like one year old than one month old. We do need to applaud Keen for listening to the desires of disc golfers in a shoe but this first effort fell short (especially for the respected Keen brand).

Our shoes (and some others we have seen on local courses) were not holding up too well. The rubber sole edges were beginning to shred. The uppers soles were cracking badly, some rubber seams were separating and lace eyelets were coming off.

"Cut to the chase" - compared to outdoor/trail shoes from Merrill, Salomon and Keen at the $100 price point-

Comfort: B Durabiliy: D Water Resistant: B (actually pretty good) Pad Grip: C Grass/Mud/Dirt Grip: C Toe Box: C Foot Protection: C- Aesthetics: D

Overall C- (less than average compared to other $75-100 shoes) Let's hope there is a Keen Milo 2.0!

Disc Golf...Yeah, There’s Another App For That

Attempts at Disc Golf Video games miss as bad as this writers putts, but every once in a while one actually goes in the basket. This past year saw many Disc Golf video games released for the Wii as well as a few Disc Golf “apps” released for the iPhone/iTouch. Recently a new Disc Golf game, iDiscgolf PRO for these devices was released and to the surprise of many (including myself), it’s actually very fun. Only one course is available at launch, lets hope for more soon. You'll be hard pressed to find a better Disc Golf game at only $1.99. A- [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tFfTLsQLpY&hl=en_US&fs=1&]

On a related note... this editor recently received his long awaited iPhone only to find out that you can not purchase insurance for it through AT&T as you can for other cell phones through your carrier ($5 per month, etc...). Some digging online found that State Farm will insure iPhones / Blackberrys, etc... through a "Personal Articles Policy". $30 per year, replacement cost, no deductible. The only policy that came close was through Safeguard which was $99 per year, no theft or damage replacement (basically an extended warranty). For questions regarding this policy we spoke to State Farm agent Caylyn Kraud at 858 451-0010.

Coming Soon To A Bag Near You

Discraft NukePDGA Approved 10/31/09 A maximum distance with the widest rim legally allowed helps to give NUKE a huge distance advantage, and the 1.6 stability rating makes it more useful to a wider range of players.  The Discraft NUKE will be released spring 2010.    

Maker           Mx wt  Diam   ht   rim    rim    rim   rm dpth     rm config    Discraft Nuke   176.0   21.2   1.5  1.2   16.2   2.5   5.7          28.25        Innova Boss     176.0   21.2   1.5  1.2   16.2   2.5   5.7          26.00        Innova Katana   176.0   21.2   1.8  1.2   16.3   2.5   5.7          26.25

Keen Disc Golf Shoe Review: Round Five

Round Five – 12/15/2009Finished my fifth round of disc golf today with the Keen Milo’s. I find them to be very comfortable. There was no pronounced break-in period for me. We actually had some weather this weekend and they held up nicely. Great grip on the wet cement and rubber tee pads. Decent grip walking up slippery, muddy hills. Kept my feet dry while playing in the rain and walking through many large puddles. Toe box is nice and sturdy, My opinion at this point is very positive. It ‘s hard to compare to other Keens, Merrills, Salomons, etc as these do not seem to be made as a similar hiking or trail shoe. The side and top panels of the shoes are made from a soft nylon-like material. Though this adds to the comfort, I’m not sure how they would prevail in a rougher terrain. I could see heavy brush, jagged sticks or rocks may push the limited protection above the soles. Again this shoe is not a hiking shoe so this is probably intentionally designed.

I believe the true value in these shoes will be determined in the long run in their durability. Will the toe box and sole hold up to their task? At $110 they are above the average price for many disc golfers shoe budget. These shoes are getting some flack online for durability. We will have to keep an eye on that. At this point I give them an B. I wish they came in colors other than Gargoyle/Drizzle though I do give them credit for those creative color names. Much better than Gray/Dark Gray.

See the whole story on these shoes at http://morleyfield.com/2009/12/01/the-milo-disc-golf-shoe-from-keen/

The "Milo" Disc Golf Shoe From Keen

Designed to carry disc golfers through even the most demanding of conditions, the MILO Disc Golf Shoe features KEEN.DRY waterproof barrier, reinforced toe bumpers, asymmetrical lacing and superior grip properties keeping your feet dry, protected and in place. Features:

- KEEN.DRY™ Waterproof Breathable Membrane - Anti-Bunch Asymmetrical Flex Lace System - S3 Heel Support Structure - Multi-Directional 3 MM Lug Outsole for Traction - Removable Metatomical Tri-Density Footbed - KEEN toe protection

S3 Shock, suspension, stability – otherwise known as S3 – is engineered to support the foot on impact, dissipate shock and reduce your odds of twisting an ankle.

KEEN.DRY A proprietary waterproof, breathable membrane that lets vapor out without letting water in.

METATOMICAL FOOTBED DESIGN This internal support mechanism is anatomically engineered to provide excellent arch support and cradle the natural contours of the foot

“By far the Best Disc Golf Shoe that I have ever played in. They are extremely comfortable, provide great traction and keep your feet dry all day long. These shoes are the Real Deal!!!!!” – Avery Jenkins #7495, 2009 Disc Golf World Champion

Only available for sale online at www.KEENFootwear.com - $110

editors "hands-on" review: Day One – very comfortable straight out of the box. Light. Good fit per size ordered, may even be a little extra in the width (which most men need). Not sure what the Anti-Bunch Asymmetrical Flex Lace System is but despite its funny (off-center/wonky) look, it seems to distribute the lacing tightness over the whole length of the top of the shoe. I find it to be very comfortable design feature. It did though draw three strange looks this morning while shopping at Target. It will be a while to report on wear and tear as the harshest conditions we experience in SoCal is when the grounds crew at our course over waters a smidge. We’ll provide you with first round, fifth round and tenth round impressions in the next few weeks.