Aviars vs Wizards

Eric Kevorkian · Post by **Eric Kevorkian** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 11:24 am

I've been putting with the KC Pro Aviars since I started playing (Dec 07).

My putting is not all that great, but has gotten better over time. I have a basket and practice when I can, but I just can't seem to step up to the next level.

At the Finale, I decided to give the Supersoft Wizards a try.

I've heard great things about them, but not exactly sure what the major difference is between them. I've only thrown them a few times but they seem to be less stable.

I guess my main question is....what should I expect from the Wizard???

Any advice/tips are much appreciated!

Shawn Mullen · Post by **Shawn Mullen** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 11:30 am

I use a D Challenger which flies a lot like a wizard. IMO these three discs are all in the same family, stable putters (I don't include the p and a version in this). They really are pretty similar in flight, the main difference is the feel of the disc.
I actually started with a wizard but them I couldn't replace it with another one that felt the same (I'm wicked picky about my putters). The gateway plastic is pretty much as inconsistent as it gets. If you find one you like you better buy ten of them because the chances of you finding another like it are slim to none.

Mark Verrochi · Post by **Mark Verrochi** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 11:31 am

I really like my beat up JK Pro Aviar-X.

I use it for pretty much everything under 250 feet.

Jeff Wiechowski · Post by **Jeff Wiechowski** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 11:33 am

I switched from Aviars years ago when the Omega Supersoft came out. I was searching for something to improve my putting and the softer material seemed to stick in the chains better. Replaced the Omega with a SSS Wizard in 2008. I think all 3(Aviar, Omega & Wizard) fly very similar.

I got a couple JK Aviar-X's recently and i'm still experimenting with those....... they seem to hold a line longer than the Wizard.

Rob Tatro · Post by **Rob Tatro** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 12:30 pm

I carry 4 aviars in my bag.

2 big bead beat ones. One of them is bottom stamped and is understable, I use it for just about all of my short to medium turnover approaches. The other is my go to putter - which I got in '04 at the Vinyard Social ... the Tick.

The other two I use strictly for approaching/driving ... a KC Pro Aviar which is overstable and a very seasoned JK Aviar which will hold just about any line I put it on.

Aviars all the way baby!

Ben Parker · Post by **Ben Parker** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 12:33 pm

Pick one that you like (feel, plastic, weight), get a stack of them and learn them inside and out. They are very similar and will both produce the desired result if used properly. I like Wizards but players far better than I have had a lot of success with the Aviar.

Eric Kevorkian · Post by **Eric Kevorkian** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 12:35 pm

I will still use my Aviars for approaches, and probably some longer distance putts (60+ft)

I figure it's a low risk, high reward situation. I used b'land bucks to get the wizards, so they didn't cost me anything. If they don't work, I go back to the Aviars (or try something new) and maybe improve with more practice and time.

If the wizards do work for me....watch out :twisted:

Mike Murphy · Post by **Mike Murphy** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 3:02 pm

Wizzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzards!

Bobby Direnzo · Post by **Bobby Direnzo** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 3:03 pm

Learn from the best putter in New England. I use the Wizard. :lol:

Shawn Mullen · Post by **Shawn Mullen** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 3:07 pm

Bobby D wrote:Learn from the best putter in New England. I use the Wizard.

I'm surprised you didn't throw your tag line in there.

Alan MacLean · Post by **Alan MacLean** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 3:31 pm

I carry 4 Rhynos in my bag because I really like how it feels in my hand. However this summer I picked up a regular Classic Aviar and tried it in my yard. I found it's great for any Annie approaches and those 30' putts when you're forced to bend it 1' around a tree. But overall as a disc I don't like how it feels because the profile is so tall I feel like I'm holding two discs.

At the Fall Finale over the weekend, my buddy and I were playing catch and we used his Wizard. Though it felt slightly less bulky in my hand, I did get a feel for this disc quickly and would consider trying one of these for a round. Very straight with a touch of predictable fade at the end. He swears by it, and can hit some extremely long putts.

Shawn Mullen · Post by **Shawn Mullen** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 3:49 pm

Alan MacLean wrote:I carry 4 Rhynos in my bag because I really like how it feels in my hand. However this summer I picked up a regular Classic Aviar and tried it in my yard. I found it's great for any Annie approaches and those 30' putts when you're forced to bend it 1' around a tree. But overall as a disc I don't like how it feels because the profile is so tall I feel like I'm holding two discs.

At the Fall Finale over the weekend, my buddy and I were playing catch and we used his Wizard. Though it felt slightly less bulky in my hand, I did get a feel for this disc quickly and would consider trying one of these for a round. Very straight with a touch of predictable fade at the end. He swears by it, and can hit some extremely long putts.

Weird that the aviar felt taller. The Rhyno is an aviar bottom with a thumb track top on it, I would think that one would feel taller, because it is. The classic aviar is the "small bead" version of the aviar, so it's slightly less "tall". The wizard is actually deeper or "taller" than all of the aviars. (I'm a plastic nerd). So it feels a little different in the hand.

For me the putter is all about confidence, you have to be able to grab that disc and know it's going in. So you really need to be comfortable with it and know it better than any other disc in your bag. Thats why its a wise choice to pick one putter and stick with it through the good and bad.

Mark Valis · Post by **Mark Valis** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 4:33 pm

Bobby D wrote:Learn from the best putter in New England. I use the Wizard.

I will take that challenge any day of the week!

If you look at the post above yours' it looks like the worst Putter in NE uses them too.

Todd Lapham · Post by **Todd Lapham** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 5:05 pm

I hear Wizards get stuck in hollow trees better than any other disc out there. Too soon? :lol:

Jesse Carrieri · Post by **Jesse Carrieri** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 5:44 pm

R-pro avair.......flys straight.....has same feel in all weather

I use a r-pro pig for stability and a beat glow avair for understability

Dennis Parslow · Post by **Dennis Parslow** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 9:22 pm

I used the SS Wizards for a couple years and liked them, but I now use the KC Pro Aviar and I am putting better than ever. I switched because the SS Wizard is less stable and every now and then I would inexplicably miss on the right side and was starting to over-correct for it. At the time I was putting with the disc almost perfectly flat.

Now I putt with the disc on a hyzer angle, but not straight line like Rob T., who can amazingly hit line drives from 50 feet like nobody I've seen. Mine has more of a loft to it so I don't fly by.

So, I guess it really depends on what feels comfortable and fits your style of putting.

If you do go with the SS Wizard I have 8-10 you could have for a Borderland Team special price, so just PM me.

I am looking forward to trying that R-Pro for the winter since they have even better grip.

Steve Solbo · Post by **Steve Solbo** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 9:27 pm

Kovo, depending on your putting style, you may be using the wrong Aviar...

if you are a hyzer putter, like Dennis mentioned, then you are using the right one. They sure area stable. I'd switch if you are more of a straight on putter. Classic, P&A, DX. Etc.

Alan MacLean · Post by **Alan MacLean** » Thu Oct 15, 2009 9:29 am

Alan MacLean wrote:
I carry 4 Rhynos in my bag because I really like how it feels in my hand. However this summer I picked up a regular Classic Aviar and tried it in my yard. I found it's great for any Annie approaches and those 30' putts when you're forced to bend it 1' around a tree. But overall as a disc I don't like how it feels because the profile is so tall I feel like I'm holding two discs.

At the Fall Finale over the weekend, my buddy and I were playing catch and we used his Wizard. Though it felt slightly less bulky in my hand, I did get a feel for this disc quickly and would consider trying one of these for a round. Very straight with a touch of predictable fade at the end. He swears by it, and can hit some extremely long putts.

Weird that the aviar felt taller. The Rhyno is an aviar bottom with a thumb track top on it, I would think that one would feel taller, because it is. The classic aviar is the "small bead" version of the aviar, so it's slightly less "tall". The wizard is actually deeper or "taller" than all of the aviars. (I'm a plastic nerd). So it feels a little different in the hand.

I too am a nerd by nature as an Engineer, so last night I pulled out my digital calipers and measured the heights of all my Rhynos vs. my Classic Aviar.
Rhynos: 0.61" - 0.7"
Aviar: 0.8"

The Rhynos varied as some are warped since I left them outside on my basket's top and have a larger "dome" as a result. However, my newest ones and my Pro (soft) Rhyno was around the 0.65" in height. This is substantially less than the Aviar (~20%) and thus why I think the Aviar feels like a lot of disc when in my hand.

Even if the Rhyno is built off the aviar edge, it has a much flatter profile and the thumbtrack even recesses the top plate a little bit.

Shawn Mullen · Post by **Shawn Mullen** » Thu Oct 15, 2009 9:56 am

you are correct sir, my bad, the rhyno is actually .1cm shorter. All the info is here on just about every disc ever created. Fellow plastic nerds will like this site. Put in what you are lookin for and find all kinds of tech specs on it. New discs that are coming out are also posted on here first before many of us even hear about them. http://www.discgolfsweden.se/discar/discar_english2.aspx

Charlie Holmgren · Post by **Charlie Holmgren** » Thu Oct 15, 2009 7:50 pm

Neither.
The Magic gets it done.

Eric Kevorkian · Post by **Eric Kevorkian** » Fri Oct 16, 2009 6:43 pm

So I played my first round using the SS wizard.

It took a little getting used to (heavier than aviar), but I liked it a lot.

I liked the soft feel to it, and it flew much straighter than my aviar, with much less fade. The putts I missed either splashed the chains, or missed low, but dead center.

It was really windy, but could still control it.

David Gipson · Post by **David Gipson** » Fri Oct 16, 2009 7:53 pm

Voodoos for me

Aaron Ala · Post by **Aaron Ala** » Fri Oct 16, 2009 8:50 pm

I like the Vibram Putter

Tim_Griskus · Post by **Tim_Griskus** » Fri Oct 16, 2009 10:41 pm

Mullen wrote:For me the putter is all about confidence, you have to be able to grab that disc and know it's going in. So you really need to be comfortable with it and know it better than any other disc in your bag. Thats why its a wise choice to pick one putter and stick with it through the good and bad.

I have to say if there is one piece of advice that I have gotten since I started what Mullen states above is VERY true. I was the king of having a different putter every week. I finally found one that I liked the feel and grip of and have stuck with it. Since then and I have no doubt in my putting ability with it.

JK Pro Aviar-X, I keep two in my bag one for approach shots and one for purely putting. I also have a Pro Pig for when I need something stupid overstable.

Bobby Direnzo · Post by **Bobby Direnzo** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 3:10 pm

Todd Lapham wrote:I hear Wizards get stuck in hollow trees better than any other disc out there. Too soon?

FYF!!

Bobby Direnzo · Post by **Bobby Direnzo** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 3:15 pm

Mullen wrote:
Bobby D wrote:Learn from the best putter in New England. I use the Wizard.

I'm surprised you didn't throw your tag line in there.

That was Marks tag line then he took it off when he got a GF. :lol:

Jeni Desrosiers · Post by **Jeni Desrosiers** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 3:26 pm

AKA turned into a :cat:

Raymond W. Parrish · Post by **Raymond W. Parrish** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 4:05 pm

Floppy VP. Very similar to Wizard/BB Aviar, but the "rubber vomit" plastic just feels so perfect in my hand. Guarantee I make 20-30% more from 20-40 feet with this compared to my previous putter, the 3x JK Aviar-x.

Aaron, a brutha needs some Summits in this plastic! :-)

Bobby Direnzo · Post by **Bobby Direnzo** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 8:23 am

Jeni wrote:AKA turned into a

2X's

Aaron Ala · Post by **Aaron Ala** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 9:48 am

veganray wrote:Aaron, a brutha needs some Summits in this plastic!

It's rubber not plastic! :wink:

We'll have to talk to Steve about getting some made up.

BTW we took out the first pressings of the Ridge yesterday to Maple Hill. All of us that were throwing them were impressed, well except for Jon who threw his in the water on hole 8. The Idea was to make a putter that was "Stable" right in between the VP and Summit, and I think we did it. They hold any line nicely with out rolling over like the Summit or diving like the VP. Approval forthcoming.

NEFA DISCussion

Aviars vs Wizards

What do you putt with?

Aviars vs Wizards

Wizards vs. Aviars