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Disc Review: MVP Servo

When you need a straight fairway shot with a reliable fade, the MVP Servo is your disc. Part of MVP’s 16.5mm fairway lineup, a group of discs with a 6.5 speed rating, the Servo is a disc you can count on for straight and true power shots. You can force it to turnover, but given enough height it will fight out, making it great for flex shots. On the forehand it does basically the same as the backhand, giving a straight to fade flight, with potential for a flex shot if you force it.

The Servo has a touch more stability and fade than the Crave, which is often helpful for shots where you need to finish left (RHBH), or you need to fight out of the turnover. Like all the 16.5mm discs, it feels great in the hand as the wing is not that big, but big enough for a nice grip.

The flight ratings 6.5/5/-1/2 are accurate. Out of the hand the Servo flies straight with a bit of high speed turn, and then settles into a long straight line, until it fades out at the end. It is important to commit to the shot with the Servo, as it is not a finesse disc and if you go soft on power, it will fade out early. It can handle the power and you need to trust it to do its job.

I would like to see more players throwing the Servo as it is the type of disc you can build your bag around, and there are many times when you need more fade than the Crave will give. If you like the Crave, then you should give the Servo a try. It will feel familiar but offer some new possibilities in your game.

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Why I Throw MVP, Axiom, and Streamline

I started playing disc golf seriously in 2014. I bought a Discraft starter pack and soon discovered other brands and their affiliates: Innova, Latitude 64, DGA, and MVP.  All of them make some great discs like the Tern, Wraith, Leopard, Truth, Trespass, Squall, Undertow, and Buzzz. I’ve carried all these discs, and many (many) more, but I now throw MVP, Axiom, and Streamline discs. Why is that?

I’ve thought about it and the answer comes down to three “C’s”: Consistency, Control, and Colours. 

1a. Consistency of molds: When buying discs, I like being able to get basically the same disc each time. That way if you lose one, or want one that is a little more or less stable (based on weight and plastic), you can buy it without having to wonder whether it will be the disc it is advertised to be. I’ve found MVP’s molds to be fairly consistent – not perfect, but very good.

1b. Consistency of flight characteristics: I find the flight of MVP discs to be predictable according to their numbers. Generally, what you buy is what you get. An Atom is a straight flying putt and approach disc, as advertised. A Matrix is straight to fade midrange with a bit of turn.  A Crave is a straight fairway driver and a Mayhem is a straight bomber with turn and fade. All of these fly just as advertised, and when you throw them they rarely do anything different, apart from user error.

2. Control: With consistency of flight comes control of landing. I know my Matrix will fly straight and fade at about 250-275′. I know my Tangent will hold a nice 220′ anhyzer. My Atom will fly any direction I point it with a fade at the end. My Wrath will hold a straight line without turning over and fade at about 275-300′. You get the idea. I’m never worried that one of my gyro discs will do something other than what it always does. It gives me confidence throwing them! I found that many of the discs I threw previously flew as advertised about 66% of the time, and the other 33% anything could happen. No doubt this was due to my far-from-perfect form – but that’s the point: I’m an intermediate disc golfer with mediocre form, and I need discs that make up for that!  And MVP delivers.

3. Colours: Looks are subjective, but it’s hard to argue that MVP makes some nice-looking discs. The black overmold surrounding the coloured plastic, combined with the black font, makes for a sleek looking disc. I’m partial to red and blue, but there are other great combos as well. The Axiom brand with the coloured rims provides some beautiful two-tone colour combos, and some great stock art. Streamline discs have taken a mid-20th century (1930s-50s?) look with some beautiful stock art. The Plasma Trace with it’s striking metallic flying saucer is among my favourites.

So that’s why I play with discs from MVP, Axiom and Streamline. Other manufacturers make some great discs, but in my view, MVP outshines them all.

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Axiom Alias Review

The Alias is a straight workhouse mid with flight ratings 4/4-1/1. It is not super-long, but it is accurate and has enough stability to be reliable. It is a point-and-shoot disc in that it goes wherever you throw it. It flies like a cross between an Innova Roc and a Discraft Buzzz, with the Roc’s amazing hover-glide and Buzzz’s straight-and-dump at the end.

I use my Alias for a few different shots:

  • 100-200ft upshots: There are times when I could use a putter to lay up, but I find it easier to throw the Alias on a low hyzer line, or straight line with predictable fade at the end. The slightly below average glide makes it very controllable.
  • Straight shots: The Alias excels at going straight. Sometimes I throw it with a hyzer-flip and it goes straight and true. If you throw it hard enough it will turn some, but if you give it enough height it will fight the turn and stay fairly straight. It’s a slow, beautiful shot to watch.
  • Anhyzer shots: The Alias can be forced into a turnover shot and will hold the line if given enough power. It’s point-and-shoot ability shines on this shot.

Like all Axiom discs it comes in a great variety of beautiful colours. I have red on red combo in proton plastic, and a blue on light blue in Neutron. I really like the look of both of these and find their stabilities to similar, with the neutron being perhaps a bit less stable.

The Alias fits in my midrange line up in increasing stability as follows: Tangent/Alias/Matrix/Deflector.  It has more stability than a Tangent, and a more predictable fade also. 

I tried out an Axis for a bit to compete with the Alias, but it didn’t last long. The Axis is a good disc, but a couple things kept it from replacing the Alias:

  • The Axis felt too close to being a faster Tangent. 
  • The Alias was more controllable due to more stability, less speed and less glide.

I recommend the Alias as a solid, reliable, point-and-shoot midrange. You can find one here on Faithful Flight.

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Axiom Mayhem Review

When I need max distance, I pull out my Axiom Mayhem, because it bombs. Axiom gives it flight ratings 13/5/-1.5/2, which sounds about right to me.

I throw it on a slight hyzer release and watch it go fast and far. It will hold a line for a long run, with great glide and  a bit of turn, and then it fights back with a solid fade. It is consistently my furthest flying disc. I’ve thrown Terns, Shrykes, and DDX’s, but the Mayhem is the one I finally settled on. It flies with a line like a Shryke and more stability than a DDX, but not so much that it fades out too soon.

In a medium headwind, the Mayhem will turn and burn, but it can handle some wind if you give more hyzer and/or height. It also works well for a high standstill hyzer bomb at shorter range, due to it’s great fade and fast speed.

Another thing I like about it is the great variety of colour combos offered by Axiom.

Then there’s the name itself – I like telling fellow disc golfers the name before I throw it – “Time for a little Mayhem!” and watching their reactions. It sounds like something crazy might happen when I throw it, and it gives me confidence to go for it.

I’ve thrown it in both Neutron and Proton plastic, and while I like both, the Neutron wins for me. I haven’t tried Plasma but can only imagine the bonus glide that it would give.

If you’re looking for fast distance driver that holds a line, then you need some Mayhem in your life.

You can pick one out right here at Faithful Flight.

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Faithful Flight is about to launch

As I write this post I’m putting the final touches on the Faithful Flight online store. The discs are inventoried, the descriptions are written, and with a few more adjustments the site will be ready to go.

Here’s a description of Faithful Flight from the About Us page:

“Faithful Flight is a Canadian Disc Golf Store specializing in MVP, Axiom, and Streamline Discs. Founded in 2018, the company’s purpose is to provide reliable premium discs to Canadians and help grow the game in Canada.

Faithful Flight specializes in MVP, Axiom, and Streamline discs because we’ve found that they are exceptionally reliable. The discs do what the numbers say they’ll do, and if you need to replace a lost disc, the new one generally flies like the old one. In addition, MVP’s overmold technology and emphasis on aesthetics makes their discs among the most beautiful in the industry.

So check out the Faithful Flight store and see if there’s something you like. We look forward to serving you.”