The Upshot: Prodigy CEO Will Schusterick, Go Throw Tour

[@TDub777]

I like Will as a person, but I didn't come away from this interview thinking that Prodigy is in a good place or has a bright future ahead of them.

[@DOPES4MAGA]

I think the most interesting thing about the fandom survey is that all three of MVP's brands made the list in the top 10. Then the surprise is trash panda, i haven't ever thrown anything from them but people like the journey Jesse had creating the company and their mission. Prodigy needs a new motto... "Sure nobody likes us, but at least we aren't Lone Star!"

[@rageoid]

The Long and Winding Road...... fact is they have some darn nice molds, quality spotty on my buys at times, hope it shifts on my next purchases, dig the A's and PA's, M4 too.

[@Bigshotdobbs]

I hope Will takes this role and leads Prodigy into a best in class brand! Good luck man!

[@colindowey9267]

The GoThrow tour is an interesting move - I do think they will get more views on lead card coverage on cool courses during dgpt off weeks, than they do on 2nd or 3rd card post produced DGPT events

[@Izz.yG24]

Absolutely insane that people expect because you’re a pro disc golfer you don’t need to abide by any signed contract. In any other circumstance you would be held to the contact

[@o_l_a2373]

What is Charlie referring to at 7:30? Who talked shit about prodigy on DGN?

[@davidy333]

kj during the 2023 all-star event.

[@Chillydall02]

Issac Robinson also said “these baskets suck” on live broadcast when playing on prodigy baskets lol

[@connors83]

Sounds like the NHL/Prodigy deal isn't likely to be extended.

[@pavelklotz22]

Well… That interview gave nothing away. I would even call it pointless. If Prodigy really want to step up their game, they need to clearly address everything regarding the company, discs, etc.

[@alwolschleger7242]

I wish Will well and hope he flourishes as CEO. But, I wasn't encouraged by this interview and I didn't come away feeling like much was going to change. Later in, he basically admitted he was being groomed for the role, and what that tells me is that he's been party to some of these decisions that have weakened Prodigy over the past few years. I didn't hear anything that suggested new direction or preparedness to make tough decisions. Like, with the plastic, he kept leaning on their in-house production. Fine. He begrudgingly admitted that they had and figured out their issues. LEAD WITH THAT and then bang on about how having control of the process allows for faster troubleshooting or finer control of plastic blends or improved ability to catch issues before they're shipped out the door. I don't know if Prodigy is good, bad, or indifferent since I'm in Michigan (Discraft and MVP country), but Will didn't do much to persuade me that I should go find an A5 and throw it or that Prodigy's at the top of their plastic game right now. The "We fixed the issues" got lost in the rest of the blablblah word spit-up. And the future growth question? He has no idea what to do. Why not be targeting Michigan or California and trying to get your plastic into skeptical players' hands? What about the KZbin disc golf subset that could talk up the new plastic? "We're a global brand." Ok, fine. Having a generic global focus ain't getting it done! Bribe some TDs with sponsorships and fill player packs with Prodigy discs. Make a big splash about, well, anything! I will say, he started off well with the Gannon question: "We made a decision that was a tough decision, and lingering on that isn't going to be productive." He could have added that they took lessons from that episode (and left it wide open as to what that meant) that will inform them in the future. But, this was, frankly, the strongest part of Will's interview. AND, this further confirms to be both that Will wasn't part of this decision but that he *has* been part of a lot of the decisions over the past few years as he's been groomed for this role.

[@justbrowsing5279]

Will should have flat out said he supported the lawsuit against Gannon. You can't just let players bail on their legal obligations, which is exactly what Gannon was doing. If that means you will be perceived poorly, then go down like a man. You can't let players bail because you are worried about perception. With regard to the quality control issues, he should have said that he is aware that Prodigy has made garbage discs up until now but that he will work to change that.

[@stephenfrancais]

The whole “don’t know what I would’ve done in that situation” was such a cop out answer. He had to have gone into this interview knowing that it would center around this question

[@nolowputts]

Will seems like a good guy, but for someone who touts himself as having good communication skills, he managed to say essentially nothing for 30 minutes.

[@Chillydall02]

Typical CEO talk lol, saying everything without saying anything.

[@austinthrowsstuff]

I think it’s funny that will references how he was in “uline chairs” when they were first starting. But prodigy is making one step above gateway quality discs. Seems like he’s materialistic, but is too close to the situation to realize prodigy’s plastic is way below player’s expectations.

[@jnewton1119]

I realize that Will is well-liked in the disc golf world. But in the interview he just gave, he sounded just like any corporate suit from the House of Discs. The world could use less corporate double-speak.

[@tillman40]

Will first question. How did your company let go Gannon who is tracking to be the best player this decade? Where are you spending your money instead?

[@mikesurvant6730]

prodigy doesn't have a tour team anymore the only one left is Luke Humphrey and no one wants to throw their plastic sorry Will keeps saying u only can be a pro disc golfer for so long I guess 20 years is not long what is he talking about u can play disc golf a lot longer then any other pro sport

[@aheadbeyond1974]

First, get a new chair Will. Second, this interview didn’t give me any confidence in Prodigy’s future.

[@stephenfrancais]

Prodigy is so cooked lmfao

[@Yamaha_Alpaca]

Kind of a weird look for Will to not even say bye to Josh 😭

[@justbrowsing5279]

Go throw should offer more US based tournaments during the European swing. With less sponsor money out, I'm assuming less players will be making the trip. It sounds like a snake move because we want more US players to make the trip, but they just won't be able to afford it. Also, with regard to US women's...do we even know if the Go Throw tour will include FPO? I said Jomez should have done their own post production tour several years ago. Focus on good courses that have bad cell signal.

[@MA4King]

What a horrible look for Prodigy. They do make some great discs as well as have some huge QC issues. Why not just say that? My personal experience is that they have some absolute crap customer service and have had some PR issues within the local GA disc golf scene over some of their sponsored tournaments. Isaac and Ezra are great guys and I would love to support them but I will not buy another Prodigy disc. Ever.