This was one of my go-to sidearm discs when I was first starting out, then I threw it into a pond. A month later I got a text that some scuba divers fished it out, and I was so stoked to get it back. Now I'm more experienced and used a backhand a lot, and this disc is great for massive hyzerflips that glide for days or big turnovers and anhyzers. It's amazing for shot-shaping through the woods and feels so nice in my hand. This disc has gotten me so many beautiful drives, I don't know what I would do without it.

Flight wise, the Z Crank SS is very similar to my understable Westside King. I would also describe the Crank SS as a faster Heat. If you're looking for a distance driver that will help push you past 300 feet, the Crank SS is definitely one worth trying. While this is a great disc for intermediate moderate power throwers, I wouldn't recommend the particular disc that I have for beginners. The 167g disc I have is too fast and not understable enough for the recreational player that is just starting to play.

The crank ss is my go to distance driver as long as there is not a ton of wind at my face. This think flies so nice on a hyzer flip up at max power for me. I can get the full s shape flight for maximum distance whenever I need it. I also can put this thing on a nice long panning anhyzer turnover if I have to get something to fade far right with a slow fade. I think this would be an absolutely great first distance driver for a beginner who is starting to develop some good technique and has a slightly faster armspeed than most beginners. The rim is the perfect size for my hands, which might be on the bigger side, so I love when I can pull out this disc and rip on it.

Discrafts widest rim and very understable too. This disc bombs. but is very touchy. The only time I'm throwing this is when I have a LONG way to go and placement matters not one bit, just wide open BOMBS. I'm not sure if its just the rim width, or this speed 13-14 but it is tuff to control for myself. Maybe a bigger arm would have better control, but I cannot fathom a new player having any success with the disc. As much as I want to bag it, is is a liability to my scores outside of casual rounds.

A nice high speed driver for those that are in between beginner and intermediate/advance. It is understable enough to fly straight for somewhat intermediate players or less powerful arms, but is not a flippy disc. The highlighter green color is actually pretty easy to see in the grass or woods. 

The glide on this is pushing 6, but I'll leave it at 5.  Pretty true to the flight numbers otherwise. I'm conflicted about Elite Z plastic - some days i like it and some days meh. It is very durable though. This has been in and out of my bag for the past couple of months. It's a really good disc, but I usually find myself reaching for a Pharaoh or a Shryke instead. One thing that it's got over those molds though is that it's not as touchy.

This is a fun disc to throw. It's quite fast. It isn't going to be anybody's workhorse distance driver. But if you aren't throwing over 400 feet, it's not going to be overly flippy either. It's a great hyzer flip disc if you throw it nice and smooth. I think it's great for people who are in that 350-400 range that want a little extra distance. It works well as a turnover disc too without burning too hard. If you're throwing further than 400 though it's probably a bit less reliable. I also wouldn't trust it much in the wind. I kind of compare it to a Shryke, but I like the Crank SS a little more. 

I was excited to give the Crank SS a try, as I really like throwing regualr Cranks, but I really didn't click with this disc at all. Anytime I really put some power behind it, I felt a real lack of control. It is a disc that can really give you some added distance if you can dial it in. I had some of my longest drives I've ever thrown with this disc, but for me consistency and accuracy is more important. 

Great disc for a hyzer flip. Ended up getting this in a mystery box and very happy with it so far. Reminds me of a maul with a lot more speed and a little less turn. Can throw on a hyzer to flip about 350-400 feet with it ending relatively straight. Can't seem to get it to do much with a forehand besides a roller however. 

I really dig this disc. I'm not the best thrower, so a bit more understable discs work well for me as they seem to hang out in the air a bit longer for me, helping with distance. The lower speed flip to flat or a slight anhyzer S curve helps me put some distance down.

I was throwing a Nuke SS for a while, and it let me get some notable distance, but nearly always stayed on a slight hyzer line for me. This disc gives me the little bit of flip that I need and helps me cover a fair bit of ground!

RHBH thrower - 350' max.  I bought (prototype plastic 170 g) this as a turning driver but all it wants to do is turn and burn. Flat release - immediately dives to the right likes it's ducking for cover.  Hyzer flip - turns into a roller. Heavy hyzer - it might just turn but it usually rolls. At least it's consistent as a roller so I'll give it 3 stars overall. A beginner could probably throw this thing straight.

Well, this might be my least favorite disc I've ever thrown.

The rim is bulky, the flashing is sharp, and the flight is inconsistent. Way more understable than suggested!

I tried multiple different powers, multiple hyzer angles, and it just wanted to turn and knife to the ground. Didn't matter what I did, run up, standstill, power grip fan grip, whatever. Couldn't get it out past 250 without it flipping forever.

Big sky anhyzers and rollers were really all I found it useful for. 

I love Discraft, but this one seems to be a dud. 

Yuck.

As a beginner, the first run Crank ss is very understable for being speed 12 or 13? I could not believe how easy this disc was to flip and turnover! This was the first disc that was too understable for me (having thrown sidewinder, roadrunner, heat, avenger ss) and I find myself throwing backhand rollers on accident!?

I gave this disc a throw because my buddy bags one to help gain a little distance since he doesn't have the most power in his game. I can see how it fits into his bag for that reason, but I had a lot of trouble controlling this disc because it was just so understable for me. I felt like I couldn't put anything on this disc without it completely flipping over on me. I guess it could be used as a roller, but it doesn't feel like it has enough control to set up a good line on it. Power throwers beware, just get a Crank.

I'm not a big arm.  I can see that a big arm would flip this disc, but for a weenie arm like mine, this disc is a savior.  I have thrown some of my longest drives ever with this disc.  It's important to throw this disc level or with a bit of hyzer to get maximum distance with it.  It has one of the longest glides of any driver I have ever thrown. I've gotten a few drives over 350, which is huge for me.  

I got this disc straight from Discraft from one of their mystery boxes last summer, and boy have I got to tell you something, it is massively understable! First off, my experience. I got this when I was struggling with my driving and such. I just couldn't get a disc out there far enough. That's when this disc stepped in. With a bit of driving instruction, I was able to bomb this out to my new record of 413 feet, one I haven't topped yet, but I have made goals this year to. The reason I can't hit that distance with this disc anymore? It is way too understable for consistent driving for me. I will hyzer this disc like there is no tomorrow, but it will always turn over. My Crank SS may have been a lemon, but I've got to tell you: I use a Nuke now.

I hated this disc when I first threw it but as time went on, I have come to really enjoy this disc. I have to put a lot of spin on it to get it to fly straight, but when I do it goes as straight as an arrow. I can throw this disc further than any others I have. Awesome disc once I figured out how it liked to be thrown.

I hated this disc when I first threw it but as time went on, I have come to really enjoy it. I have to put a lot of spin on it and solid speed to get it to fly straight, but when I do it goes as straight as an arrow. I can throw this disc further than any others I have. Awesome disc once I figured out how it liked to be thrown. This disc is not a fan of the wind when it picks up.

I bought this because I had some success with the Avenger SS but started to overpower it consistently. On my second round I overthrew holes I'd never made it to before--but with so much turn I was way past the hole. Then I tried to do something I've never done before: hyzer flip.

For me, this was a game changer. Laser straight hyzer flips all day long. If you're looking for your first high speed driver, this is a good choice.  

I am a fairly newer player with an arm that is developing every day. Starting out, i couldnt get this disc to turn at all. As my skill progressed, and arm speed increased, this disc has quickly become my distance driver of choice. I can consistently hit 300ft when thrown properly, and even hit 420ft on a couple occasions. My trick for the Crank SS is to release on a steep hyzer angle and give it all i got. This thing will quickly flip up, turn for awhile, straighten out and glide for DAYS. with slight fade towards the end of its flight. I rate this somewhat beginner friendly due to the fact that it can be turned over alot easier than discs with similar flight ratings. I love this disc, and look forward to taking it out of the bag every round.

I'm a big fan of the Prototype Discraft Crank SS. While the previous reviewer describes this disc as too understable, for my power this disc is the perfect stability for a fast driver to get max open field distance. Flight wise, the Elite Z Crank SS is very similar to my understable Westside King. I would also describe the Crank SS as a faster Heat. If you're looking for a distance driver that will help push you past 300 feet, the Crank SS is definitely one worth trying. 

While this is a great disc for intermediate moderate power throwers, I wouldn't recommend the particular disc that I have for beginners. The 167g disc I have is too fast and not understable enough for the recreational player that is just starting to play.

Background first: I'm an Intermediate player that throws from a standstill due to arthritic knees. Several years ago I could throw 380-400 feet, but now am down to about 340 or so as a max distance on flat ground. I generally use lighter, flippier discs for distance shots (150-class baseline Nukes, Cranks, Forces, Bosses or Destroyers and also Bolts in various plastics in the low 160s) 

Review: 160 gram Proto Crank SS. At about 50% power it flew straight with a gentle fade. With 85% power and slightly uphill the Crank SS flipped up from a hyzer, tracked right and had a slow fade finishing just right of center gaining about 325-330 feet in distance. I'm tempted to say in its current molding it will be lower on Discraft's Flight Chart than the Nuke SS, maybe somewhere in the 0.0 to 0.5 range. The Proto Crank SS feels more like a Crank than the Nuke SS feels like a Nuke. It seems to fly most similarly to my Opto Air Bolt.

not for big arms in any way, thrown on a spike hyzer for me on a distance drive would flip and roll. definitely more like a 12,4,-3, 1 or a -4. could potentially be a great beginner disc