Why the PA-3 is the Perfect-ish Putter

When getting into the sport of disc golf, most new players often find themselves struggling to nail their putts. Finding the perfect putter can be confusing, frustrating, and expensive with many options available from every disc manufacturer. Whether you’ve been playing disc golf for years, or you’re just getting into the sport, a putter is one of the most important disc selections you can make when it comes to building your bag and improving your game.

What Makes a Perfect Putter?

To find the perfect putter, it should feel comfortable in your hand, be easy to release, and give you the confidence you need to nail your shots. You should be able to aim straight at the basket, release your putter with conviction, and sink your putts and approaches with your desired arch. Consistency is also an important factor in finding the perfect putter. When putting from both inside the circle and further out into the approach zone, your shots should be consistent every time the disc is thrown regardless of the condition and age of the disc.

The final component in finding the perfect putter is versatility. Often when setting up for a putt or an approach, you can be faced with a couple of potential flight paths to throw from. Having a versatile putter that will hold any line you throw will help keep your options open without having to pack your bag with multiple discs.

Personally, while trying to find the perfect putter for me, I look for a disc that not only feels great to grip and is versatile, but a disc that inspires confidence and consistency. From using various putters from brands such as Dynamic Discs, Innova, MVP, and Prodigy, I have developed a feeling for which discs I like and do not like, some even within the first few throws. Some discs will either feel uncomfortable or unpredictable when putting from more than a few feet out, while other discs feel more natural. I have spent countless hours, like most disc golf players, throwing the same putter over and over again at the basket trying to get a confident and consistent putt, only to find out that I don’t even like the putter. One of the most important elements that allow you to feel confident and consistent is picking a putter that will give you the confidence you need to achieve a good feeling putt every time.

Picking the Perfect Putter

With so many great putter options available like the Judge, Envy, and Luna, picking just one putter to be considered “perfect” is a subjective matter, and usually differs from person to person. Preferences on what makes the perfect putter can depend on various factors such as player skill, environmental conditions, plastic-type, and throw type, just to name a few.

If you ask Eagle McMahon, he would probably consider his Discmania P2 the perfect putter, as he carries it in his bag every round. He states that he primarily only uses the P2 and has throughout his entire Discmania career. If you ask Paul McBeth what would be his perfect putter, he would probably consider the Luna, while James Conrad, who bags an assortment of different MVP putters, would most likely not even be able to pick his perfect putter.

Although no putter can ever be truly considered perfect, by considering the criteria on what makes a perfect putter, there is one putter that can be considered “perfect-ish” by both professional and recreational disc golf players alike.

The Perfect-ish Putter

To recap, the criteria for what makes a perfect putter are comfort, confidence, consistency, and versatility. One putter, above all, fulfills and potentially exceeds the perfect putter criteria. That putter is the PA-3 from Prodigy. The PA-3 is Prodigy’s top-selling stable putt and approach disc that features a beaded rim and provides a straight neutral flight path, and therefore, is a favorite for disc golfers of all skill levels.

The PA-3 comes in a variety of plastics that allows players to choose the grippiness and stiffness of their disc. Developed for optimum feel and grip, the beaded rim sits perfectly in your hands so that you can curl your fingers around the rim with comfort. Deeper than an Aviar, but slightly more shallow than a Judge, the depth and flat top ensure the confidence that you will sink every putt, and nail all your approaches when throwing the PA-3. 

According to Prodigy, they developed the PA-3 to break in perfectly over time to ensure consistency. From the time you first use a PA-3, through wear and tear, players will have confidence that the PA-3 will stand consistent throughout time. The PA-3 is like a fine wine, it gets better with age. The more you use it, the more confidence you will have throwing the same consistent shot every time.

This disc truly holds whatever line you put it on and is a very versatile disc from throwing straight and accurate putts to straight, dependable drives with just the right touch of fade at the end. With its excellent glide and a predictable fade, the PA-3 is an adaptable disc that can be used for a variety of forehand and backhand shots that can be thrown on any flight path that you set.

No Putter is Truly Perfect

Though no putter is ever truly perfect, the PA-3 can be considered the “perfect-ish” putter by professionals and recreational players alike. Professionals like Kevin Jones bags two PA-3s as his primary putters. Similarly, Chris Dickerson also bags two PA-3s as well as three other throwing PA-3s in addition to having his own signature PA-3.

Countless reviews on Youtube, disc retailers’ websites, and online articles have noted the PA-3 as one of the best putters available. J.J. Fierro, a 5-star reviewer of the disc on Rogue Discs, said it best, “This disc is a legend, and used by legends for a reason.” As an amateur recreational disc golfer, the PA-3 has been my go-to putter for a little over 6 months after a year-long search for the “perfect” putter. With the PA-3 giving the comfort, confidence, consistency, and versatility I need out of a disc, the Prodigy PA-3 is my “perfect-ish” putter.

Don’t believe me? Pick up the Prodigy PA-3 at Rogue Discs and try it for yourself!