Vibram Disc Golf Prototype Test Flights – Vibram Vamp

Vibram Disc Golf has done it again… It has been nearly two months since I last updated the Disc Golf Underground blog, which is strange because these have probably been the two months with the most amount of disc golf activities that I have participated in. I need to catch up on various posts, and share about my experience at the PDGA AM Worlds, the inaugural Vibram Birdie Bash World Championships, the DGU Legacy Battle of the Aces event, and a work trip to Chicago where I was able to play 10 courses in four days while attending a medical conference… Priorities. Today’s post on the other hand, introduces the newest Vibram Disc Golf prototype fairway driver, the Vamp.  

In case you do not want to read anything, and just came here for the video, I will put my newest Vamp video here, includes commentary, for your viewing pleasure.

The story of the Vamp in my life starts at AM Worlds. The first two rounds of AM Worlds were pretty fun, until at the end of the day, having seen multiple people throw discs into water that appeared to be overhead, and suspect at best, I realized that I did not bring any backup discs as replacements in the unforeseen event of losing one. I kind of panicked. Luckily, Steve Dodge, the head honcho as Vibram Disc Golf was still around Kalamazoo, MI since the wildly successful Vibram Birdie Bash World Championships had come to a close only a few days before. He agreed to meet up with me so I could sift through his limited inventory and grab some backup discs, and while we were hanging out talking, he pulled out a stack of unmarked blue discs and asked if I wanted to go throw some prototypes.

A few minutes later we were in an unnamed field in Kalamazoo, MI testing out the Vibram Vamp. While we were driving to the field, Steve asked if I wanted to know anything about the disc, but we decided to hold any inside information about them until I got a chance to throw it around a few times. At first I was having some issues because I was thinking it would be hyzerflip-able from the start, which I was not able to do. I thought it would be a pretty close replacement to the Trak, since the stable to overstable fairway drivers are already PDGA approved (Valley, Arch, Notch), but it did not fly the same way.

When throwing with a flat release, I was able to get it to turn over really well with a nice fade back at the end. It is a great turnover disc when thrown with a flat release, yet when I give it to much nose up, it is stable enough to really let me know that I threw it wrong. I seem to be able to throw this disc really, really well on big anhyzer lines, once again, letting the stability of the disc to flatten it out for a nice landing.

You could technically put it on a hyzer line, and use it for spike hyzers, but I would think that an Arch or Notch would be better suited for that kind of throw. After realizing that it was not a Trak (6-10 attempts throwing it like my 166 soft Trak), I was eventually able to throw it with a hyzerflip and get the disc to go dead straight.  My son was also able to test the Vamp with Steve and me while in Kalamazoo.

One of the last throws of the evening was a huge turnover shot, over the road (looked like I was going to hit a car), and into the woods/brush on the other side. We spent some time looking for the disc, and eventually Steve said it was time to leave it. I am a strong believer of #NoVibramLeftBehind but was willing to call it a night. The next morning before my round at AM Worlds, I went back and found our lost brother. By this time, Steve was on his way back home, and said to hold on to it. Sadly, the disc remained untouched for nearly 4 weeks until I brought it out again.

Nathan, my brother and fellow Vibram-a-holic, came into town from Austin, so we brought out all of the fairway drivers to compare the various flight characteristics. I did not edit the video as much as I edit others, but it was still a good brotherly bonding event as we got to throw some rubber. Here is his video that looks at all of the Vibram fairway drivers, including the Vamp prototype.

Since throwing with Nathan, the Vamp has seen more action. I carry it in my bag for non-sanctioned rounds, and dabble with it in casual rounds. The problem is since I am familiar with the discs in my bag, my first inclination for anhyzer shots and turnovers is to use my soft Trak. (Foreshadowing: there will be a 1 disc round video in the near future…).

I certainly like the disc, and it feels great in my hand. I like the more rounded profile of the Vamp more than the sharper edges of the Ascent and Trak. It is understable enough to do what I need it to, but not crazy understable where it turns into a spontaneous roller. Bottom line is, I am a fan. Vibram Disc Golf did a great job with the Vamp, and I think it goes well with the new fairway drivers.