This is the first second round match of the Envy region in the Disc Golf Reviewer World Series of Putters! We are searching for the best putter in the world and hoping to provide the disc golf community with a plethora of information along the way to help everyone decide what putter is right for them. This is an NCAA basketball style tournament and project where every day I test two putter molds against each other on the putting green in a head-to-head competition before posting here about my experience and the results.
Today’s match features the 1 seed Axiom Envy taking on the 9 seed Latitude 64 Dagger. In the first round, the Axiom Envy held off the Millennium Omega with a score of 43 to 40, and the Latitude 64 Dagger was able to take down the Innova Yeti Pro Aviar 54 to 36.
In the first round matchups I gave an overview of each disc (you can find links to every first round match at our main World Series of Putters post). For the second round, I’m sharing what surprised me the most about each disc the first time I threw it.
Axiom Envy
When the Axiom Envy was first released back in 2014, I thought it would fly more like an overstable approach putter like a Prodiscus Jokeri or a Westside Harp. The Envy is overstable and is often used as an approach or driving putter, but it is not as overstable as those other putters. I think it is less used as a putting putter, but it has still proven to be a viable putting putter option as well–which was a surprise for me.
For the World Series of Putters we are using a pair of James Conrad stamped Electron Envys. Electron is the middle option in softness between the three Electron plastic blends.
Latitude 64 Dagger
When the Latitude 64 Dagger was first released in 2014 as well, I was surprised by just how tall the disc felt in the hand. I often use the term “deep dish” when describing the Dagger because of how tall the rim is and how it resembles a deep dish pizza pan when flipped upside down. The tall, deep design aims to generate maximum glide to make the Dagger a great option for disc golfers who use a push putt form.
In today’s match we used the Zero Medium Latitude 64 Dagger. Like the Electron plastic for the Envy, it is the middle option in flexibility and softness in Latitude 64’s putter plastic lineup.
Specifications and Flight Numbers
Let’s take a look at some of the specs courtesy of the PDGA and break down the major differences between these two putter molds.
Envy
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Dagger
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| Flight Numbers: 3/3/-1/2
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Flight Numbers: 2/5/0/1
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Max Weight: 174.3gr
Diameter: 21.0cm
Height: 1.8cm
Rim Depth: 1.4cm
Rim Thickness: 1.1cm
Inside Rim Diameter: 18.8cm
Rim Depth / Diameter Ratio: 6.7%
Rim Configuration: 52.00
Flexibility: 8.73kg
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Max Weight: 175.1gr
Diameter: 21.1cm
Height: 2.1cm
Rim Depth: 1.5cm
Rim Thickness: 1.0cm
Inside Rim Diameter: 19.1cm
Rim Depth / Diameter Ratio: 7.1%
Rim Configuration: 75.25
Flexibility: 4.65kg
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These two discs are different from each other in a variety of ways, and most of them are differences we’ve seen quite a bit during this match. The Envy is a shallow, flat top beadless putter while the Dagger is a tall, beaded putter with lots of glide.
A somewhat unique difference that comes into play with this match is that these discs have two very different rim shapes despite the two discs being pretty similar in terms of stability. The Envy is a touch more overstable, and it gets that overstability in a different way than the Dagger does.
The Envy has a low profile and a rim that features a prominent concave shape on the bottom half that bends in toward the center of the disc. This helps to create a prominent lip along the bottom that functions similarly to a bead.
The Dagger on the other hand has a very tall profile along the rim. The outer edge of the rim is blunt. The Dagger kind of looks like if a beaded putter like the
Gateway Wizard or
Innova KC Pro Aviar got stretched out to be a bit taller. The bottom half of the rim also rounds in an opposite direction from the Envy before connecting to the relatively large bead around the bottom of the disc.
These differences in rim shape make the two discs feel very different in the hand. Some might prefer the smaller feel of the Envy or the taller feel of the Dagger.
The Match
I conducted this match on a quiet and windless evening at my local disc golf course on a permanent Innova Discatcher basket that sits right under a streetlight. After warming up, I flipped a coin to see which putter would be thrown first for the first round of putts, and it was the Axiom Envy. Here is how it all played out:
(1) Envy Scorecard
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(9) Dagger Scorecard
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| 20ft: Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y (10/10 putts made)=30 points |
20ft: Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N Y N (8/10)=24 points
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| 30ft: N N Y Y Y Y N N Y Y (6/10)=24 points |
30ft: N Y N N N N N Y N Y (3/10)=12 points
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| 40ft: N N N N Y N Y N N N (2/10)=10 points |
40ft: N Y Y N Y N N N Y Y (5/10)=25 points
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| Total: 64 points |
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The Winner
The Envy put up 21 more points than it did in the first round, and just like in the first round, it was just enough to score a 3-point victory over its opponent. The 1 seed Axiom Envy is moving on to the round of 16 after defeating the 9 seed Dagger 64 to 61.
Notes from the Match
This is another one that isn’t an upset, but it might kind of feel like one. The Dagger is considered one of the top putters for my “spush” style of putting, and it fits more of my personal preferences than the Envy does.
So why did the Envy score better? I think the difference maker was the way each disc feels in the hand. As I explained above, these two discs have very different rim shapes, and you might be surprised to hear that I like the way the Envy feels more. I’ve tried out the Dagger before, and I don’t love the tall deep dish feel of the disc. It is a handful–literally. The blunt edge just makes it feel so much bigger than other similarly tall beaded putters.
I think the scorecards back this up. I did much better at 20 and 30ft with the Envy. I’ve said here before that I think grip and feel comes into play more for me on the close range putts. Another factor in this is that the Electron Envy is a bit stiffer (which I prefer) than the Zero Medium Dagger. I actually wonder if a
Zero Hard or Retro Dagger would have been enough to change the outcome of this match.
The Dagger performed much better at 40ft, and I think that is because of the additional glide the Dagger provides. The grip is still important for long range putts obviously, but the floatier flight of the Dagger was more important to me from that range apparently.
Both of these discs put up a great number, but only one can move on, and today it is the Axiom Envy.
My Recommendation
If I’m picking one of these for my putting putter, I’m probably still going to choose the Dagger, but I’d get a
Retro Dagger that is a bit stiffer than the Zero Medium. But the Axiom Envy is out to prove that it is more than an approach putter, and it gets to move on to the round of 16.
The Envy will face the winner of tomorrow’s match in the Envy region between the 12 seed Discmania Sensei and the 13 seed Clash Butter. Be sure to check back tomorrow for that match’s results!
