Forward Momentum (Day 7 of 365)
Day 7. January 7. Salamanders at 7.
Huh. Not planned, but cool.
Let's talk about the Salamanders
This 1st run was available in 4 plastics: Sublime, Apex, Nocturnal Glow and now Eternal Flex. All 4 are showing some noticeable differences in flight, but nothing that is unexpected. All good flights still.
Today I measured each plastic(and each weight range) with our trusty tabletop calipers. We measure two things: the Parting Line Height(PLH) & the Dome.
You can learn more about this disc measuring process here.
Truthfully? It's likely not the best way to measure all of this. My eyesight has to be spot on. I am not a scientist or mathematician. A lot of this also relies on you believing that our Flight Numbers are correct.
Here's what we measured: (WORKING ON FIXING)
That is every plastic by weight range. We did not go in deep on colors this time.
I used the calipers to measure PLH and Dome. We then compare how those change compared to the "expected flight numbers". Those expected flight numbers are our baseline whether they are subjective marketing or not.
To be very clear, this disc data also represents what I literally "grabbed off the shelf". We did not go find the max/min within each plastic. We found the average disc on the average shelf and sent it.
So let's break it down.
The Dome measures the Glide.
The PLH measures the Turn + Fade(Resistance) as it impacts both.
We do this to help magnify the impact of a lower nose on the overall resistance(turn + fade) offered by the disc.
This chart visually helps me now confirm the things that are easy to feel and see in person:
- Sublime Plastic has more dome to it. So it's going to have a higher glide.
- Eternal Plastic has a higher nose so it's going to resist you more.
- Eternal Plastic has the least glide of all, meaning it can provide more range control.
- Apex Plastic is all over the place in glide. That's what happens when you have 3 big weight ranges. What this chart doesn't represent well is that Apex Plastic at 150g will be the least resistant of all plastics here.
What do you see?
What can we capture better?
Do you agree with these numbers?
Tell us.
Upcoming Blog Topics:
- 1/8: The Eternal Bullet...
- 1/9: Thoughts on 2025 PDGA Rule Changes
- 1/10: 2025 Heart of Texas Tour (HOTT)
- 1/11: Sprinkle Valley Work Days
- 1/12: Team Tryout 2025 Recap & 2026 Plans
- 1/13: Community Hero
Very cool information. I am new to Mint discs and trying to figure out what discs I will bag. Information like this is very helpful. Is the plastic stability pretty consistent on other molds/runs of dics you have released? Do you have any of this data published for other molds/runs?
Thank you,
Having thrown both the Nocturnal for FF and R1 of the tryout and Pink Eternal Flex for R2d, I have to at least agree with the numbers for those plastics. They held the same stability, but the Nocturnal had a tendency to finish a little long of expectations. I’ll need to get another Nocturnal once since I wasn’t planning on throwing my team-stamped one after last weekend, and some field work with both would be fun to do.
I’m curious as to the intention behind flex eternal vs usual eternal on this disc specifically.
I’m no scientist or mathematician either…..all I know is that this disc rules.
Love the data! I’ve only thrown the nocturnal but I feel like it fits the data. I’d love to hear about how y’all come to initial flight numbers (do y’all throw them on 18 at SV and make a judgement call? Send them to the team?) I agree with the numbers, from what I’ve seen it fits as a good indicator for if you pick up a salamander and throw it out of the box. Obviously there are some discrepancies (as with anything) but the main thing is plastic, weight and arm speed. Love it, keep it coming!