Ask Steve Dodge about Vibram Disc Golf

[StevenDodge]

Hello All,

The US arm of Vibram has asked me to consult with them to determine their viability in the disc golf market. As you may or may not know, Vibram makes shoe soles and is world renowned for their quality and craftsmanship. Their goals in entering the disc golf market are three fold.

1. Expand the appreciation for and knowledge of the Vibram brand
2. Utilize their ability to create innovative, quality products for the disc golf market
3. Grow and support the sport

We are currently testing the first disc that is planned to be released, a stable to overstable putter named the V.P. (Vibram Putter).

In addition to our lab testing, we are looking for ten to fifteen folks that would be interested in seriously testing the V.P. We will provide a handful of discs (in your desired weight and stiffness) as well as a "Vibram Tester" t-shirt. All that we require is an honest assessment of the disc.

If you would be interested in helping us, please send me an email or PM with your disc golf resume and why you would be a good Vibram disc tester.

[johnrock]

Steve,

Let me be the first to reply here that I have been a VIBRAM fan for many, many years. I have golf shoes with their soles, work boots, and other footwear products. They have been intertwined with Disc Golf more than they could have ever imagined. To hear that they are interested in taking that relationship another step farther is FABULOUS!!!
Way to go STEVE!
I would love to help with any testing, but I am kind of partial to my 86 mold Softie.

[keithjohnson]

Hey Steve, could you ask Steve the TD to possibly check the Vibram Open Tournament thread once in a while please?

Thanks!

Keith Johnson
Hopeful Vibram Putter tester.

[StevenDodge]

Hey Steve, could you ask Steve the TD to possibly check the Vibram Open Tournament thread once in a while please?

Thanks!

Keith Johnson
Hopeful Vibram Putter tester.

I've got hotel RFPs out that I should be collecting back in the next two weeks.

Steve.

[keithjohnson]

I've got hotel RFPs out that I should be collecting back in the next two weeks.

Steve.

Thanks Steve!

I plan on spending MOST of my time at the course, but like when I visit the Grange in Virginia, it's nice to have someplace quiet to go to when I'm done having fun.

Keith

[maikyle]

steve, any updates on the "dubs" vibram dvd? i heard early 2009. thanks

[shteev]

not that i am one...but when can people expect to hear about being a tester for your putter or have the "select few" already been chosen? thanks steve

Steven

[StevenDodge]

Hopefully late March will still count as early 2009.

[keithjohnson]

Thanks Steve!

I plan on spending MOST of my time at the course, but like when I visit the Grange in Virginia, it's nice to have someplace quiet to go to when I'm done having fun.

Keith

Any news on your hotel RFP's yet?
Visions of sleeping in the rental are creeping into my head.

[mf100forever]

Steve, do you have any info about the latest Vibram putter, the Summit, supersoft plastic, how does it perform?

[shteev]

Steve,

I sent you a pm but also wanted to add and can't believe i forgot to mention my love for the shoes i have with the best treads made by, none other than Vibram. As I said i am very interested in testing the V.P. and have good local players who can help me do the same. thanls.

from a steven to a steve

[Karma Police]

I would love to help! Love my Vibram '5 fingers' and the comments I get about them all of the time are priceless. Even got another person in my office to buy two pair! I'm not playing a lot of tournaments this spring so using a different putter for a while would not be a problem at all... especially if they were black! If you need me to test just let me know!

[StevenDodge]

Steve, do you have any info about the latest Vibram putter, the Summit, supersoft plastic, how does it perform?

The Summit is planned to be a stable putter at lower speeds (and/or less wind) than the V.P. Current thoughts are to design it in two firmnesses, but everything beyond the concept is still in initial testing. If the disc is released for general consumption, it would probably be in the late summer, early fall.

One thing the Vibram folks have impressed me with is their desire to get a product right rather than getting it to market quickly. (Their slogan is "Tested where it matters" and so far, they really live up to it. I will see if I can get approval to show off some of the testing that these folks do.)

[MattyInRR]

Hey Steve!
Just wondering how things are going with the summit? Is Vibram impressed? I was also wondering if you've run any stiffer VP's yet? So far the VP meets 2 of the 3 criteria I look for in a putter. The VP is by far the most durable piece of plastic Ive ever seen. Ive played well over 100 rounds with my VP's and only one of them has a tiny nick on it where plastic is missing... other than that there still isnt even a mark on them. Secondly the VP has lived up to its stability, still as stable as the first day! The only other thing I look for in a putter is the firm/stiffness of the disc and in my opinion thats all the VP is lacking. IM LOVIN THESE THINGS! Cant wait for an update on the summit and VP.

Thank you Steve for puTTing the best puTTer in the world into my hands :-D

Matt Robidas

[veganray]

Per Aaron Ala (Vibram honcho) on the NEFA board:

Steve and I were out testing the first pressings of the Summit today. First impression is that it is a prefect compliment to the V.P. If the V.P. was Mr. Hyde, the Summit is Dr. Jekyll or something like that. Holds a nice straight line, with a little bit of gas it hyzer flips beautifully, lots more float than the V.P. Taking the feeback from the last round of testing, we have a new X-link formula that we are running them out of. A little firmer and more grip out of the box.

The only bad news is that I will be in Europe next week so test samples wont be ready for a few weeks.

Stay Tuned...

[StevenDodge]

Ditto on what VeganRay said Aaron said. The Summit is my kind of putter. The VP is my kind of putter off the tee. Stiffer is being tweaked. Look for us to be able to get tester samples out in a couple weeks (and don't quote me on that, maybe I should say a few weeks. - )

Also, I may be able to make an announcement one way or the other about a release date for the VP in the coming weeks too.

[shteev]

all exciting info! thanks for the updates and glad to hear that the reg production is happening. had a bunch of wonderers asking me that.

[MattyInRR]

any updates on the Summits?

[StevenDodge]

The first Summits in its first X-Link (which is a firmer version of the B material that the testers got) were run on Tuesday and were a tad heavy (176-177 grams). Aaron and the press fellas are working on a few tweaks and they believe we will be able to get the weight down to the legal 175g limit. We'll find out tomorrow.

[gippy]

Originally Posted by StevenDodge

The first Summits in its first X-Link (which is a firmer version of the B material that the testers got) were run on Tuesday and were a tad heavy (176-177 grams). Aaron and the press fellas are working on a few tweaks and they believe we will be able to get the weight down to the legal 175g limit. We'll find out tomorrow.

AAWWW a gram or 2 why muss I weigh discs before I throw em and have found some of Innovas stuff to be off by as much as 4 grams I had a USDGC SB ROC from 06 said weighed 180 the thing was such a pig I'd throw it with an anny and it would flex out of it pretty quick put it on a scale and it weighed 190 My frist Star Destroyer 178 the 1st run ones and have weighed some 170s and they where 165-168

[StevenDodge]

No official word on a release date yet, but a hint would be that it is about a month and a half away (or at least that is the tentative plan).

Vibram discs will be within tolerance or they won't go out. The QC guy is pretty on the ball - and he seems to always be smiling (which I think is odd for QC guys).

If I did not say it before, the plan is to release the VP in two firmnesses and in three or four weight ranges (167-169, 170-172, 173-175, and 164-166 if we can get that low).

[keithjohnson]

Originally Posted by StevenDodge

No official word on a release date yet, but a hint would be that it is about a month and a half away (or at least that is the tentative plan).

That will be right arond the time of a huge Event in MA. I think.

Maybe I can save you shipping costs if I'm still worthy enough to be a tester.

[MattyInRR]

sweeet

[dgdave]

Has anyone beaten a VP to straight yet? I've tried for the last 3-4 months with no luck

[MattyInRR]

mine are going straight now... have to give them a touch of hyzer to get them to hyzer... still love them. i need more!

[dgdave]

I use an A for drives and its definitly fading later in flight, but it still needs a pop for it to not just hyzer out.

[gippy]

When will these go into production? I love mine. So predictable. I use it for up shots. It got rid of my fly by the basket shot when apporaching and short holes.

[shteev]

update por favor good sir if at all possible. been a minute since the almost ready post. just figured i would ask. THANKS! hope the prep for the VO is going well also. wish i could be there.

[dgdave]

He said on DGR that the VPs look like they will be out mid August.

[shteev]

thank you dave. speaking of the summit's progress as well.