My experience with Latitude 64 is very unique, more so than I feel it is with other manufacturers, including my pet favorites. It seems as though the discs I like are efficient, with an almost boring sense of reliability turned predictability that echoes the rest of the manufactured goods who call northern Europe home. The discs I don't care for seem as though they're super specialized for no good reason, and have as much merit as a spin off of a sit com that wasn't any good in the first place. The worst, in my opinion, is the River Pro. In the beginning of that review I asked "why?" was that disc. I'll stop myself there, I have said more than enough about it. Their best disc so far, in my opinion, is the Explorer.
It's a staple control driver that I prefer to the Tee Bird but drop for the Barbarian. At least, it was. This review was a long time coming. This disc is phenomenal, a total freak in the world of suspiciously similar molds, and a pioneer in the sport. If this disc is a freak, it warrants one of my famous comparisons. I would compare it to Randy Moss. Sure, there aren't really any expectations. The basis and theory of what it can provide to it's sport is unique, but surely it has been done before, no? In reality the River, like Randy, does it's best impression of a jet engine without any sign of an afterburner or intake. They both slow down when they need to, simple as that. Normally, that's long after there's a touchdown scored, or the drive has been parked.
As it turns out, I sincerely believe that this sort of disc can absolutely modify your game in a way you not only didn't expect, but didn't know you wanted so bad. I'm sure when the manufacturer set out to design this disc, they had a dead straight, long gliding disc in mind. Perhaps you're getting the feeling reading this that they absolutely outdid themselves. You would be correct. But now, I get to talk about my favorite thing about this disc. The glide. Wow, that glide. God between us and all harm, that beautiful, endless glide. Have you ever experienced something so good it didn't make sense? This is where my Randy Moss comparison comes in again.
The River's glide is three catches for one hundred sixty three yards and three touchdowns. It's just brilliant, and worth the cost of expedited shipping. Another thing, as well, this is the first disc I've thrown from Latitude 64 that's actually . . . kind of . . . fun. Yes, it's a great time playing disc golf. I never said it wasn't. But we all love a unique disc with a bit of personality, and this disc is full of it. It holds lines well, as well, and for that the glide comes into play again to really stretch you limits with the disc.
It's not a one trick pony, you can mold this thing to do whatever you want, and it will go as far or farther then you wanted on that line of your choosing. I mean it when I say that each company has their golden boy, the disc that's won over the fans and pros alike. For Prodigy, the PA4. For Innova, the Destroyer. For Discraft, the Buzzz. My humble nomination for Latitude 64 is the River. I promise you, this disc is incredible. Thank you for bearing with me if you're not a football fan.
PROS: Terrific, game changing, and obvious glide. Perhaps not as obviously, a terrific platform to shape shots.
CONS: Exponentially handicapped in the wind. Really does require a calmer day to shape shots, but that glide does hold up in head or tailwinds.