Tuning the epic

[mark12b]

I'd like clarification on this too. The rule states:

802.01 Discs Used in Play
C. Players may not make post-production modification of discs which alter their original flight characteristics. This rule does not forbid inevitable wear and tear from usage during play or the moderate sanding of discs to smooth molding imperfections or scrape marks. Discs excessively sanded or painted with a material of detectable thickness are illegal.

Since tuning is intended to alter flight characteristics, I read it as illegal. However, if you hit a tree, then bend your disc back to the way it was, isn't that just returning it to its original characteristics? Paging Chuck...

the way i see it, there's not a single pure ideal flight for any given disc. each mold has a whole range of flights that fall within "original flight characteristics" -- and tuning doesn't generally make a disc go outside of that range. the rule doesn't forbid all alterations, it just forbids those that would make a disc fly abnormally.

[Smoke]

I'd like clarification on this too. The rule states:

802.01 Discs Used in Play
C. Players may not make post-production modification of discs which alter their original flight characteristics. This rule does not forbid inevitable wear and tear from usage during play or the moderate sanding of discs to smooth molding imperfections or scrape marks. Discs excessively sanded or painted with a material of detectable thickness are illegal.

Since tuning is intended to alter flight characteristics, I read it as illegal. However, if you hit a tree, then bend your disc back to the way it was, isn't that just returning it to its original characteristics? Paging Chuck...

the way i see it, there's not a single pure ideal flight for any given disc. each mold has a whole range of flights that fall within "original flight characteristics" -- and tuning doesn't generally make a disc go outside of that range. the rule doesn't forbid all alterations, it just forbids those that would make a disc fly abnormally.

Couldn't it also be argued that the "original flight characteristics" for The Epic call for the disc to be in the same shape as when you bought it?

You go to the store and buy an epic, when you get it it's flat. Just like any other disc, no bends, curves nothing, it's flat. That would be my interpretation of "unaltered". Then you take it to the course and bend the shit out of it, altering it away from it's original shape and form, to make it fly a different way. Seems pretty straight forward there. There would be no argument if I bought a Champ Beast and bent it in half and threw it. That would be altering the beasts flight pattern, I don't see how it's any different.

As for the abnormal flight part. I have not seen a single disc be able to come close to mimicking the flight pattern of an Epic. No where have I seen or heard of a disc that is capable of doing a barrel-roll in mid air, flipping flat and then gliding 600+ feet. That seems to clearly define abnormal. Also giving more back up to the previous statement. That being the barrel-roll and 600ft glide is achieved by altering or "tuning" the epic.

[Jesse B 707]

I'd like clarification on this too. The rule states:

802.01 Discs Used in Play
C. Players may not make post-production modification of discs which alter their original flight characteristics. This rule does not forbid inevitable wear and tear from usage during play or the moderate sanding of discs to smooth molding imperfections or scrape marks. Discs excessively sanded or painted with a material of detectable thickness are illegal.

Since tuning is intended to alter flight characteristics, I read it as illegal. However, if you hit a tree, then bend your disc back to the way it was, isn't that just returning it to its original characteristics? Paging Chuck...

the way i see it, there's not a single pure ideal flight for any given disc. each mold has a whole range of flights that fall within "original flight characteristics" -- and tuning doesn't generally make a disc go outside of that range. the rule doesn't forbid all alterations, it just forbids those that would make a disc fly abnormally.

Couldn't it also be argued that the "original flight characteristics" for The Epic call for the disc to be in the same shape as when you bought it?

You go to the store and buy an epic, when you get it it's flat. Just like any other disc, no bends, curves nothing, it's flat. That would be my interpretation of "unaltered". Then you take it to the course and bend the shit out of it, altering it away from it's original shape and form, to make it fly a different way. Seems pretty straight forward there. There would be no argument if I bought a Champ Beast and bent it in half and threw it. That would be altering the beasts flight pattern, I don't see how it's any different.

As for the abnormal flight part. I have not seen a single disc be able to come close to mimicking the flight pattern of an Epic. No where have I seen or heard of a disc that is capable of doing a barrel-roll in mid air, flipping flat and then gliding 600+ feet. That seems to clearly define abnormal. Also giving more back up to the previous statement. That being the barrel-roll and 600ft glide is achieved by altering or "tuning" the epic.

ive seen a guy who throws the epic shot with a beat ass 9x firebird, that being said i dont think anyone in the world is throwing an epic 600 feet, 500 sounds unrealistic

[JHern]

There are certain discs I throw that come out of the factory flat with some runs and domey with others. I don't really care for the flat ones, so if I happen to get my hands on some I just pour boiling water inside them while they're upside down and let the water cool. It brings the dome back out just how I like it. That's clearly in violation of that PDGA rule, but they can eat it for all I care. I'm just making sure all my molds are uniform and fly the same.

Interesting stuff. Does this work for all plastics or just certain kinds? I know a lot has been said about flat vs. domey Wraiths, and it would be good to know a technique for getting the dome back.

Also, I have a few discs whose domes are a bit beat up and now a tad lumpy (it is very slight, but you can see it when viewed in profile). Would this technique work to cure the lumps too?

[MR. WICK]

ive seen a guy who throws the epic shot with a beat ass 9x firebird, that being said i dont think anyone in the world is throwing an epic 600 feet, 500 sounds unrealistic

I have never thrown one 600 feet, 500 yes....once....maybee twice, 400+ yes. I have personally seen one thrown well over 600 feet. From hole 7's basket at Wickham Park, all the way to Burnside ave. and this guy was just playing around to see if he could get it to roll and glide. The farthest i have seen any disc fly. Never seen it done on a regular basis.

[kern9787]

Does this work for all plastics or just certain kinds? I know a lot has been said about flat vs. domey Wraiths, and it would be good to know a technique for getting the dome back.

That's exactly what I was thinking of.

[Parks]

ive seen a guy who throws the epic shot with a beat ass 9x firebird, that being said i dont think anyone in the world is throwing an epic 600 feet, 500 sounds unrealistic

You don't know may outfielders that also golf, then. I know a couple people locally that can throw Epics near 500 feet, and these aren't world class overhanders.

[LaForce]

Bear Dunn throws bombs with the Epic. Fun to watch.

[readysetstab]

i threw one about 500ft the other day on my first attempt with an epic ever (i'm a regular thumber thrower). i didn't even get it to flip over all the way for the glide. needless to say, its in the bag now. just for fun, though.

[Frank Delicious]

If bending a disc is illegal then there is a guy around here who would get disqualified. He bends his discs all the time before he throws them, not to tune them but because it is his nervous habit.

[MR. WICK]

If bending a disc is illegal then there is a guy around here who would get disqualified. He bends his discs all the time before he throws them, not to tune them but because it is his nervous habit.

if you see it this way Bending = tuning, tuning = illegal. If I can't bend my epic he can't do this.

[Frank Delicious]

If bending a disc is illegal then there is a guy around here who would get disqualified. He bends his discs all the time before he throws them, not to tune them but because it is his nervous habit.

if you see it this way Bending = tuning, tuning = illegal. If I can't bend my epic he can't do this.

That would be a problem for him, he has already cracked a few discs during tourneys because of this.

[some call me...tim?]

If bending a disc is illegal then there is a guy around here who would get disqualified. He bends his discs all the time before he throws them, not to tune them but because it is his nervous habit.

if you see it this way Bending = tuning, tuning = illegal. If I can't bend my epic he can't do this.

That would be a problem for him, he has already cracked a few discs during tourneys because of this.

Would this happen to be a very well known, very highly rated player?

[Frank Delicious]

It would not be. I don't even actually know who you might be referencing.

[some call me...tim?]

Ahh, I thought you might have been talking about Schwebby. I think I've seen him tweaking his disc in some videos before throwing out some sort of crazy thumber.