We have one more ticket that needs to be punched to the semifinal round of the Disc Golf Reviewer World Series of Putters! In this series, 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, we have our final Regional Championship match, and we are in the Aviar region where the 9 seed Discmania Link is taking on the 10 seed Birdie Marvel.
To get to this quarterfinal round in the World Series of Putters, the Discmania Link defeated the Lone Star Disc Penny Putter in the first round (80 to 58), the 16 seed DGA Steady in the second round (61 to 52), and the 5 seed Dynamic Discs Warden in the round of 16 (58 to 51). The Birdie Marvel took down the 7 seed Discraft Banger GT in the first round (58 to 42), the 15 seed Latitude 64 Faith in the second round (53 to 49), and the 3 seed Prodigy PA-3 in the round of 16 (68 to 58).
You can find the full results of every first and second round match over at our main World Series of Putters post.
In the first round I gave an overview of each disc. In the second round I shared what surprised me about each disc. In the round of 16, I shared what I like best about each disc. This round, I’ll share something I got wrong about each putter–an incorrect assumption I made or something I’ve learned about it after putting with it for four separate rounds.
Discmania Link
Before putting with the Discmania Link, I didn’t realize just how tall this putter is. The Link offers lots of glide and was a natural fit for my putting style, which lead to the Link putting up what is still tied for the highest score in the tournament in the first round at 80 points. I thought the Link was going to be more like another disc made by Latitude 64, the Dynamic Discs Judge, or other similar beaded putters, which it is to an extent, but its additional height and more rounded rim shape offers a floatier flight that I’ve really enjoyed in this event.
I think the Discmania Link is very underrated, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see more and more people putting with it as they give it a shot.
In the World Series of Putters, we are using the EXO Hard Link, which is a stiff, grippy base line plastic that I’ve also really enjoyed so far.
Birdie Marvel
The Marvel has a pretty unique rim shape. It has a blunt edge that then cuts inward back toward the center of the disc on the bottom of the rim at a pretty sharp angle. At first glance, I thought this unique rim was going to cause me fits in my grip and release of this putter, but to my surprise, the rim hasn’t been an issue at all for me. In fact, the Marvel feels really nice in the hand and is a comfortable beadless rim that releases very smooth for me.
I’ve really enjoyed the Base Blend Marvel. I’ve said it before, but it reminds me of Gateway putter plastic blends in that it is a bit chalky feeling and has an excellent feel and grip.
Specifications and Flight Numbers
Like we do in every match, 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.
Link |
Marvel |
Flight Numbers: 3/5/0/2 |
Flight Numbers: 2/3/0/1
|
Max Weight: 176.0gr
Diameter: 21.2cm
Height: 1.9cm
Rim Depth: 1.5cm
Rim Thickness: 1.0cm
Inside Rim Diameter: 19.1cm
Rim Depth / Diameter Ratio: 7.0%
Rim Configuration: 71.00
Flexibility: 7.84kg
|
Max Weight: 175.1gr
Diameter: 21.1cm
Height: 2.0cm
Rim Depth: 1.4cm
Rim Thickness: 1.1cm
Inside Rim Diameter: 18.9cm
Rim Depth / Diameter Ratio: 6.6%
Rim Configuration: 65.75
Flexibility: 11.02kg
|
The Match
(9) Link Scorecard |
(10) Marvel Scorecard |
20ft: Y Y N N Y Y Y Y Y Y (8/10 putts made)=24 points |
20ft: Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y (10/10)=30 points
|
30ft: Y Y N Y Y Y Y Y N N (7/10)=28 points |
30ft: N Y N Y Y Y N Y Y N (6/10)=24 points
|
40ft: N N N Y N N N N Y N (2/10)=10 points |
40ft: Y Y N N N Y N N Y N (4/10)=20 points
|
Total: 62 points |
Total: 74 points
|