Discraft Elite-Z Avenger Review

This month we’re adding another review of discs supplied by the good folks at discgolfstation.com.

For the first review, check out Otis’ write-up of the Gateway Supersoft Wizard.

For those new to the site, we’re (Otis, Pauly, and I) given a disc each month to test out and review here in exchange for a link back to the discgolfstation site.  They’ve been very generous with us and I hope any reader here who sees a disc they’re interested in will check out the prices and stock there before they buy.

That’s said, here are my thoughts on the Discraft Elite-Z Avenger :

The Discraft Elite-Z Avenger

Otis and Pauly are in Los Angeles this week covering some esoteric poker-related phenomenon, so I’m here frolfing by myself.

I’ve tried the Avenger several times now and used it at both Timmons and at Century Park in Greer.  I’d sum it up like this, I LOVE IT and will keep it in my bag.  I suspect Otis will find special situations in which this disc is quite useful but he’ll use it pretty rarely.

New players or those without much arm speed and snap will have some difficulty controlling this very overstable disc.

So far I’ve had the best luck with my Avenger as a forehand disc.  That isn’t a surprise.  In fact, here’s how it’s described on the discgolfstation.com site :

“The Avenger, when thrown hard and released flat, will follow a straight line; when thrown with anhyzer, will slowly “come back” and finish with hyzer. The Elite-Z plastic is very durable and will keep your disc in great condition round after round!”

Normally, I expect my forehand to have a good S-curve.  I snap, left-handed, and let it go to the right before it’s stability pulls it back to the left.  This one is as predictable as an Otis triple bogey.

On the other hand, I do think I throw pretty “hard” and release pretty “flat”, but have had some difficulty controlling the hyzer with this disc.   The Z plastic version of the Avenger IS more stable than the others (a 1.8 turn rating from Discraft) and this one needs a VERY strong toss to get the maximum distance.

I also tried the Avenger as a forehand and backhand roller.  That may actually be what this disc does best.   I’ve had great success so far with rollers and have found them reliable at the least.

Here’s what I tell people about a new disc :  What the disc is designed to do is really less important than what it does when YOU throw it.  If it does the same thing each time you toss it a particular way, and if you can count on it to perform in that fashion, it is useful.

So my conclustion, more advanced players will find this disc, or one like it, essential.  Think of it as being somewhat similar to the INNOVA BOSS.  Great distance if you have the arm and a reliable fade at the end.  Newer players may also find some use in have a disc in their bag that can reliably come back this much.  Think of a good spike hyzer or a hyzer flip.

Unlike the Wizard, this one will stay in my bag for now.