Trilogy Challenge 2016 Disc Review

I recently participated in the 2016 Trilogy Challenge event put on by Dynamic Discs, Latitude 64, and Westside Discs.  If you haven’t played in this event yet, I strongly recommend you find a local event and sign up.  Read on to get some insight on the three unreleased discs you’ll be using.

The Event

The format for each Trilogy Challenge event is up to the tournament director, so your experience will likely vary based on the event you choose to play.  For this event, we played two 18 hole rounds at the same course with the lowest total score winning the event.  Several chances at closest to the pin (CTP) were available during the round and a separate prize for those lucky enough to get an ace.  We played a fairly open course layout in very high winds (50 mph gusts!).

I encourage you to visit http://trilogychallenge.com/ to find an event and answer any questions you may have.

The big equalizer for the Trilogy Challenge is the fact that everyone plays with three unreleased discs from the Trilogy manufacturers.  Let’s take a look at each disc, starting with the putter of course.

The Discs

Dynamic Discs Prime Marshal

“To bead or not to bead. This is one of the most fundamental questions in disc golf. While the Judge and Warden from Dynamic Discs each have their own opinion, the Marshal comes to establish peace in this fight. The microbead and slim profile of the Marshal makes for a disc that feels and releases great. With more stability than one would expect from this profile, the Marshal will usher in a new era of confidence and comfort inside the circle.”

As described by Dynamic Discs, the Marshal has a very small bead on a mold that feels similar to the Warden or Judge.  The rim feels just a little deeper than either of those discs, but not enough to cause any release issues for me.

Ratings – Speed: 3 Glide: 4 Turn: 0 Fade: 1

I agree with these numbers entirely.  In fact, I think the Marshal putts and throws a lot like the Westside Discs Shield.

Inside the circle you’ll get a consistent putt with spin or push putting.  The Marshal fades out just a little earlier than the Judge, which I was able to adjust for quite nicely.  Some other players in my group had some trouble with the putter rolling away after a missed putt.

Approaching and driving with the Marshal was fun.  Of the three discs in the Trilogy Challenge, this was the most consistent and also the most stable in the wind for me.  I could get a nice straight line or a nice hyzer line out of the putter from almost anywhere.  Several times I attempted to get an anhyzer line out of the Marshal and didn’t succeed.  A light anhyzer flexes back very nicely but a hard anhyzer will turn down in the dirt.

Overall, I really like the Marshal and it has a chance to make my normal bag.

Westside Discs Tournament Sling

“This will become the go to disc for many players. In the same way that a sling propels a rock without much effort, this disc will give easy distance for any arm speed. In testing, the Sling has a very smooth flight on all angles. It won’t matter the midrange shot that you need to execute. Draw the Sling back and confidently execute the shot.”

That’s a bold statement, Westside Discs!  Especially with the Truth, Evidence, Claymore, and Compass in our bags already.  I haven’t been able to throw a Compass or Claymore yet, but the Sling does feel and throw a lot like the current Truth mold (not the newer EMac Truth).

Ratings – Speed: 5 Glide: 5 Turn: 0 Fade: 1

Again these numbers seem spot on.  I found a lot of success throwing the Sling like I would the Truth, however the Truth seems to handle extra power a little better.  The Sling didn’t treat me well with a headwind or as a hard forehand, but an effortless throw with a tailwind would glide for a long way with minimal lateral movement.

After 36 holes in the Trilogy Challenge, I was starting to get the hang of using the Sling as a light turnover disc and I’ll continue working on that to determine if this plastic stays in my bag.  I’m excited to see the artwork for the Sling.

Latitude 64 Opto Falchion

“Scary fairways where you need perfect accuracy and a good amount of distance? Cut through the air with Falchion! For drives around 300 ft it will hold a soft anhyzer and slowly fight its way back to a small fade. When you need a disc to slice thru the tight fairway Falchion is an excellent choice of weapon. This disc is a great step up for beginners who have gained drive power and think that discs like Diamond, Jade and Fury are too understable.”

First, I must say that I really love Opto plastic and the colors that Latitude 64 can produce.  I chose this awesome neon pink disc with the USA foil, but the dayglo yellow would’ve been mine had I arrived a little earlier.  This disc feels a lot like the Escape or even a Thief.

Ratings – Speed: 9 Glide: 6 Turn: -1 Fade: 2

My immediate comparison, however, is to the control driver from Discraft we recently reviewed.  The Falchion feels and throws a lot like the Undertaker.  It handles a power throw for me rather well and didn’t get destroyed by the high winds we played.

With a heavy tailwind, I applied a little extra power and was able to get the Falchion to stand up just a touch.  For this specific event, the Sling went just as far with a tailwind and much less effort, so keep that in mind if you play a Trilogy Challenge in heavy winds.

Into a headwind, I was able to add a little extra hyzer and reduce power.  This disc never turned and burned for me in 36 holes.

Crosswinds – those were tough for anyone and it is so important to understand the physics of flight.  That’s something for another article, but just remember that the wind will push or lift based on the visible portion of the disc.  Don’t throw an anhyzer at a right to left wind and expect it to glide.

I did something I don’t generally recommend in a round, let alone at an event.  I tried a few shots I don’t normally throw, and especially not with a new disc.  First, I was able to execute a lot of successful hyzer bomb shots with the Falchion, especially with the tough right to left wind.  The inconsistency of the gusty wind was mitigated by aiming further right than expected.

Also, I executed my first, second, and third turnover rollers.  I parked a 410′ hole rather luckily with my first turnover roller.  The shot helped manage the wind and the Falchion rolled very well.

Just like the other two discs, the Falchion is fighting for a spot in my bag.  I was able to drive so consistently with it that I may take out several higher speed drivers and throw the big 9 speed.

Conclusion

I really encourage you to get out and play a Trilogy Challenge.  Take a beginner, take a child, or just go with your normal disc golf crew.  These discs are solid and would make for a great starter set.  Or maybe you’ll find, just as I have, that these discs might find a permanent home in your bag.

I’d be interested to hear your Trilogy Challenge experiences, or if this review helped you at your event.

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