I really want to try an Illusion, but I don't know much about the Gateway plastics. The website helped some, but I would like some personal opinions. I would like some general info on the variation of durability, grip, and stability between the 3 plastics (S, H, and E). Also what would you recommend, and why.

I mostly prefer the more durable plastics because my discs like to find trees, but I've heard that even the "S" plastic is very durable for a low-end plastic.

Most Gateway discs are considered to be their best after being broken in, so I'd say to start out with the "S" plastic so you can get it broken in that much faster. That way you won't have to wait an eternity to find out if you like the disc or not. I've only thrown an Illusion a couple of times and haven't hit anything yet but I can tell just by feeling it that it's going to be more durable than DX or Pro-D plastic. I'm not all that familiar with older plastics so there's probably a better analogy, but to me it feels like a stiffer, slightly waxy version of Innova's newer "Pro" plastic (the mid-grade stuff).

I used to have an "S" Saber that felt different than the Illusion I have now, but held up really well when I'd hit trees. I never got those big gouges like I would from DX plastic, just little dents. The breaking in process seems very gradual. I have a "Soft" Wizard that took a major hit from a grill at a park (took off thin a strip about a quarter inch wide by an inch long) and it may have taken a bit of the edge off of the overstability, it still flew like a Wizard. I threw it the other day off of a big hill with a gusty wind and it flew straight as an arrow.

I love gateways S plastic. I have found it to be the most resilient of the low end plastics. My wizards are primarily S and I love them. I also use an S Sabre for some straight drives and learning the S Illusion for late fade shots. Personally I feel comfortable enough in Gateway's S plastic that I don't even look at the higher end plastics they make. The S is durable enough and feels great in my hand. The feel can be a little more gritty than some of the other plastics, but that's why I love it. With plastics like Discraft's Elite Z, I sometimes feel as if I am having to grip an oiled pig.

Go to the Gateway Site (http://www.gdstour.com) and hunt around. There are good descriptions of the plastics on there, and the Message Board is Gateway Specific.


All Gateway plastics are very durrable and have unmatched bad weather performance. They retain their charachteristics in very hot and extremely cold temperatures!


S plastic is very hard and very long lasting. The grip on these discs is better than almost any other disc. The disc will break in eventually but never wear out like DX or D.

H plastic discs are very domey. The plastic is about as durrable as S but has different feel and wears differently. One good thing about H discs is that they remain soft and flexible in even the coldest conditions (sub -30). You can put them in the freezer, then take them out and throw them directly into trees and they wont break.

E plastic is very grippy and extremely durrable. The discs are slightly more domey than the S plastic, and will take a very long time to break in!

Thanks for the replies. I am torn between the "S" and the "E" plastic (I'll probably get both). I think I would like the grip of the S plastic, but for a stable disc like the Illusion, maybe the E plastic would be best so it doesn't get too flippy as it wears.

Woodsman,
If you call the shop and ask for some misprints, you can get 5 discs for $30 total( including shipping)
Just tell Justin David mac said hook me up with some discs to test fly!You can get a prototype element too in the 5 for $30, we have a few mistamped already. Just tell him a weight preference and we will get you a set out to try!
314 429-3472

Is this a deal that some others of us can get in on? I'd love to try out a couple of the Gateway discs (like the Spirit and Speed Demon) but nobody around here sells them so it would be nice to at least see some before investing. I've been throwing Wizards for the past month and have been nothing but impressed and am very curious about the rest of the line. If that offer is open to others, I'll be on the phone tomorrow.

hear hear, if anyone is allowed to get in on 5 for $30 ill drop a call too. no local retailers sell gateway here either and it'd be a great way to check out more of their plastic

Woodsman,
If you call the shop and ask for some misprints, you can get 5 discs for $30 total( including shipping)
Just tell Justin David mac said hook me up with some discs to test fly!You can get a prototype element too in the 5 for $30, we have a few mistamped already. Just tell him a weight preference and we will get you a set out to try!
314 429-3472



Now why you gotta go tellin' me that? I have a hard enough time walking by a disc shop without implulse buying something. I was already tempted enough when you said proto Elements were available and good for beginners (my Proline Gremlins are dropping like flies), now I'm all but forced to take that offer. ;)

~Here You Go~

Polymers:

Our "S-series" or matted version of our discs is a high end version of the "dx" or "d" plastic of our competitors. This type of polymer offers a firm solid feel, grippy surface, and is great in the rain or extreme heat. The "S-series" allows the disc to break in slowly without changing the flight characteristics after just a few hits.

The new "H-series" is a smooth shiny blend of polyesters formulated by DuPont engineers for our discs golf discs. Its characteristics included awesome abrasion resistance, resiliency, memory, and bright vivid colors. The smooth surface allows for greater speed as well as a longer glide. The polymer is very grippy and flexible even I extremely cold weather.

Our pro-line polymer is called the "Evolution series". Gateway Golf Discs have evolved into the front runner in polymer technology with these new polymers. The Evolution series polymer, a TPU from BASF, has a surface durometer of 60 D-shore. It is almost scratch, scuff, dent, crack, and chip proof. The durability is as good as any plastic on the market. The smooth surface and low profiles make each model a little faster than the "H-series" while still very comfortable in your hand.

Woodsman,
If you call the shop and ask for some misprints, you can get 5 discs for $30 total( including shipping)



Thanks, I'm on it.

It's 30 dollars for 5 discs plus 5 for shipping, but unfortunatly no Elements are for sale since they are prototypes. But hey, 6 dollars a disc is kind of hard to pass up! Ordered some today, so we will see.

Chris

I just put in an order. I may be converting to Gateway if I like what I get. The service was excellent and the fact that the owner is on here talking with the customers about his product really goes a long way with me.

So can you get the Element in the X-out deal or not? Dave said yes, but then someone said they weren't allowing it. I saw on the gdstour.com website an offer for 6 x-out wizards, is this the same deal with just substituting other discs?

Hey Brain, you should realize that both Dave Dunipace (owner of Innova) and Keith Murray (head honcho at Discraft) have threads on here devoted to answering questions about their products. You can also find a lot of questions answered by John Houck about Millennium discs.
Not that you shouldn't try Gateway discs - you should because they are good discs and good people to deal with.
What you'll find is that all of the major companies are willing to talk with their customers about their discs. It's one of the great things about the sport.

Thanks, I have been reading the posts from Dave and Keith with great interest over the past couple of weeks. I am actually pretty loyal to Discraft, but since throwing a Wizard and loving it I wanted to give Gateway's other stuff a try. It is great that the heads of these companies are so willing to spend time with their customers...not something you see a whole lot of.

Thanks, I have been reading the posts from Dave and Keith with great interest over the past couple of weeks. I am actually pretty loyal to Discraft, but since throwing a Wizard and loving it I wanted to give Gateway's other stuff a try. It is great that the heads of these companies are so willing to spend time with their customers...not something you see a whole lot of.



Good to see another follower of the Wizard. Try the Sabre out if you like straight drivers or if you want a big overstable one try a Speed Demon or Spirit. Once the Element finally hits shelves, my bag can go completely Gateway. :cool:

My friend has a Sabre, but it's just not overstable enough for me. I ordered misprints of a Wizard, Soft Wizard, Blaze, Speed Demon and Spirit. They aren't allowing you to add Elements in the misprint packages or I would have taken one of those.

What discs of Gateway's are still awaiting PDGA approval? It seems to me that the Spirit and Blaze are not yet approved, but I haven't seen anything concrete yet. Any estimate on when the available discs that aren't yet approved will become so?

I just put in an order. I may be converting to Gateway if I like what I get. The service was excellent and the fact that the owner is on here talking with the customers about his product really goes a long way with me.



If great customer service is what you are looking for, then Gateway fits the bill perfectly. I have never had anything but outstanding service when I have placed an order (and it's not like I call all the time or order in massive quantities).

I just wish I got to play more so I could order more stuff. :(

I just put in an order. I may be converting to Gateway if I like what I get. The service was excellent and the fact that the owner is on here talking with the customers about his product really goes a long way with me.



I second that.

Brian,
All of our discs are PDGA approved except the Element.
We will be sending them out for approval the 1st of next week.
We do have a few Elements that are missed stamped and will throw 1 in the 5 for $30 deal as long as they are available!

Thanks, I have been reading the posts from Dave and Keith with great interest over the past couple of weeks. I am actually pretty loyal to Discraft, but since throwing a Wizard and loving it I wanted to give Gateway's other stuff a try. It is great that the heads of these companies are so willing to spend time with their customers...not something you see a whole lot of.



Good to see another follower of the Wizard. Try the Sabre out if you like straight drivers or if you want a big overstable one try a Speed Demon or Spirit. Once the Element finally hits shelves, my bag can go completely Gateway. :cool:



Mine has been since March, and I have never regreted it! And now with a SLOW midrange...Look Out!!

Brian,
All of our discs are PDGA approved except the Element.
We will be sending them out for approval the 1st of next week.
We do have a few Elements that are missed stamped and will throw 1 in the 5 for $30 deal as long as they are available!



When I called them yesterday and placed an order, they said there were no more mis-stamped elements :(

Brian,
All of our discs are PDGA approved except the Element.
We will be sending them out for approval the 1st of next week.
We do have a few Elements that are missed stamped and will throw 1 in the 5 for $30 deal as long as they are available!



When I called them yesterday and placed an order, they said there were no more mis-stamped elements :(



Too many people have already snatched 'em up!!!