The Prodigy A1 500 is the same very overstable approach disc as the rest of the A1 line, now in Prodigy's firmer 500 plastic for players who want that meathook fade to hold up through years of tree strikes.

Flight Numbers: 4 / 2 / 0 / 5

500 is Prodigy's pearlescent premium blend, stiffer and less gummy than 300 or 400. It keeps the A1's overstability the longest of the three grades and does not soften or start turning over the way a base plastic eventually will. The stiffer flight plate also gives a slightly more confident grip in cold weather.

It fades hard to the ground once the spin drops off, which makes it a reliable choice on upshots onto slopes where you need the disc to stop, not roll. In real conditions it plays closer to a 3.9 fade than the full 5 on the box, but it is still not turning over on anyone, even in a stiff headwind.

Power throwers who lean on this disc for forced turnovers, short-range approaches, and tricky outs around trees will get the most life out of the 500 version before it ever softens. It is not a beginner disc, the overstability needs real speed to unlock.

Need it to hold up longer? Good, this is the grade for it. The Prodigy A1 300 is the same mold in the base plastic if you want it cheaper and do not mind it beating in faster, and the Prodigy A1 400 splits the difference in grip. Shop the rest of the overstable putters.

Speed 4, glide 2, turn 0, fade 5. Diameter 21.0 cm, rim width 1.4 cm, max weight 174 g.