MVP Proton Octane

love it, great stable driver that I use in the wind

There's already an extensive video review of the Octane by Down Under Disc Golf here (https://youtu.be/QSz8k36mWyU) which puts the Octane on a bit of a pedestal as a Destroyer for the Gyronauts. That's a pretty exciting proposition, because MVP isn't exactly overflowing with Destroyer clones. For whatever reason, they tend to dance around the 12-speed category, preferring to go 11 or 13-speed (don't ask me why) and I was excited when Olli asked me to try out some samples for a review, so here goes the first one ...

In numbers, the Octane seems more like a Boss than a Destroyer, and compares pretty closely with the Nitro. But let me just say that the Nitro is FAR more overstable than the Octane, and I wouldn't even consider it for your bag unless you have Bazooka levels of arm speed.

It has one of the chunkiest rims in the MVP line, so there is no issue getting a strong power grip on the BH side, but you may have comfort issues on the FH side if you have small hands. For me, the depth allowed a lot of contact and control with my fingers against inside rim.

Across the plastic types there is quite a bit of variability in the dome, with some being quite flat (Boss-like) and others being noticeably domier (Wraith-like). This Proton version was on the flatter side and so felt much nicer on the FH grip.

So, the first thing I wanted to work out is whether it deserved the hype as the farthest-flying high-speed overstable driver in the MVP range. I took a few months to beat them in to a point where I could make a fair comparison to my Destroyers and Rives. I won't draw any distance comparisons to understable/netutral high-speed drivers (Wraiths, Traces and Graces) as they aren't alternatives to the flight numbers on the Octane.

The result? In medium-to-strong winds (which are the conditions you wouldn't chance your understable drivers on distance lines) my Destroyers averaged at 120m, my Rives at 125m and the Octanes ... 135m!

There are some videos of Octanes being flip-ups at 120m, but those must be from a completely different run to the ones I had. Mine really enjoyed getting forced over into a headwind to catch a long turn before looping to the ground on an exaggerated hyzer. Being max distance throws, there is a generous amount of lateral movement on the S-line flight, and you need to be careful not to nose it up on your high anhyzers, or else watch it slam on the handbrakes and hit a sudden J-turn in the sky.

So yes, I can confirm that it is a long bomb that fades reliably into headwinds. But then, why only 4 stars?

Well, I like some workability in my discs, which is to say I like them amenable to being shaped on different release angles and flight lines. The Octane just felt like it only had one job it was designed to do, and for anything else you'd be better off with another disc.

For example, with my Rive (also a 13 speed) I can throw a big S-line, or just change my release point and fire off a flat laser to hit a gap 70m away. For the Octane, anything other than a forced turnover requires genius levels of angle control to accurately shape the lateral movement of its distance.

The domier Plasma is somehow both glidier yet more overstable than the flatter Proton, making it the touchier option, which is why I am reviewing the Proton it first.

As for normal flat or hyzer golf lines, it's pretty much a standard-issue overstable 13-speed that carves a very wide curve and is usually good for a multi-skip ground action on anything short of the stickiest, muddiest fairways. Standing it up on a baby-hyzer requires a full rip that only goes 100m forwards, and about 30m sideways.

Apparently, the tastiest and most magical version of the Octane is the Fission, but I haven't tested that one yet. I can sort of guess that it would be the straightest version (there is no Electron, I don't think) and probably the most workable. That would just maybe draw a 5th star if it accessed more flight shapes, but I will have to wait for one to fall into my bag to find out!