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Launches: Rolling or Standing Start?

What kind of launch do you prefer?

  • The 'rolling' launch.

    Votes: 14 35.0%

  • The standing start.

    Votes: 26 65.0%
  • Total voters
    40
Howie

Howie

Donkey in a hat
You know the kind I mean. You've got the standing start launch, often found on the Intamin accelerator coasters like Rita, Stealth, TTD and KK.
"0 - whatever in so many seconds" etc...
And then you've got the rolling, mid course launch that you find on things like Verbolten, Helix and Cheetah Hunt.

So which do you like best?

Me? I like the rollers!
On paper at least, the standing start often looks more impressive, usually because the launch statistics are often used as the rides main selling point. And there's no denying that sitting on a launch pad, waiting to be shot out of a station into all sorts of craziness certainly ramps up the anticipation and the excitement (especially when accompanied by a countdown, or a heartbeat sound effect, or steam jets or sumat).

But in the last few years I've fallen in love with the rolling launch.
When you're already hurtling round a coaster track at a fair old lick, and you get a sudden and unexpected burst of acceleration? Can't beat it! That's when you get those genuine 'WHOA' moments, right there!

The second launch on Volcano at KD? Awesommmme! Until I rode the thing, I didn't even know it had 2 launches. 'WHOA'!
Verbolten too - amazing ride. Again, didn't even know about the second launch. 'WHOA'.
But the best one I've found recently was on Fluch Von Whatsisname at Hansa Park.
One minute you're in a dark ride being bombarded with effects, set pieces, music and lighting and the next, before you even have time to recover from a sneaky pitch black plummet, you're being hurled into the daylight at God knows what speed into an airtime hill.
'WHOAAAA, where the **** did that come from!?'

So that's my thing now. Formula Rossa can go spit. My mission is to seek out multi-launch coasters now.

Discuss:
 
Standing launch obviously! It's the thing that makes TTD so great- you are waiting at the start of the launch track. Engines revving, crowds watching, the out-of-date speakers giving an out-of-date spiel on how to be safe on the ride, all while you're anxiously waiting for that Christmas Tree to light up green. You feel the train rollback to meet the launch cable, and see the rollback brakes lower as you anticipate the moment of launch. Adrenaline is pumping, anxiety is at a maximum, and you're just waiting. And then just like that- BAM! You're hurtling down the track at 120 mph in just a matter of seconds. You barely have any time to react. Before you know it, you're at the top of that massive 420 foot tall tower, looking over the park, Lake Erie, and everything you can see. Then you are freefalling as the train spirals down towards the ground, reaching 120 again. And then it's over. You just did THAT. The most intense and adrenaline-filled 15 seconds of your life. And that's why standing launches are so great- the adrenaline and anxiety building up before the launch. It makes the experience 1000x better.

Multi-launch coasters can still be good, Helix is probably better than TTD any day, but the actual launches themselves, standing win any day. Standing launches build up your adrenaline and anxiety before you launch. Rolling launches just, go. You're already moving when you get there, so the launch feeling isn't as intense or feels as fast then. Standing launches always go from 0-whatever, whereas rolling launches always go from 15/20-usually around 65 mph now.

Sorry if this post doesn't make sense, I just woke up and I'm quite tired.
 
GuyWithAStick said:
Standing launch obviously! It's the thing that makes TTD so great- you are waiting at the start of the launch track. Engines revving, crowds watching, the out-of-date speakers giving an out-of-date spiel on how to be safe on the ride, all while you're anxiously waiting for that Christmas Tree to light up green. You feel the train rollback to meet the launch cable, and see the rollback brakes lower as you anticipate the moment of launch. Adrenaline is pumping, anxiety is at a maximum, and you're just waiting. And then just like that- BAM! You're hurtling down the track at 120 mph in just a matter of seconds. You barely have any time to react. Before you know it, you're at the top of that massive 420 foot tall tower, looking over the park, Lake Erie, and everything you can see. Then you are freefalling as the train spirals down towards the ground, reaching 120 again. And then it's over. You just did THAT. The most intense and adrenaline-filled 15 seconds of your life. And that's why standing launches are so great- the adrenaline and anxiety building up before the launch. It makes the experience 1000x better.
Click to expand...

Ha - the almost pornographic way you described that makes me question my own choice. Not ridden TTD myself, but yeah... sitting on the launch track of Kingda Ka was one of the most anxious, nerve-wracking things I've ever done. I was terrified! No matter how rough it turned out to be... the anticipation beforehand was immense.
However, I'm standing by my original statement. That moment when a sneaky mid-course launch takes you by complete surprise - love it! It doesn't have to be ridiculously fast, if it catches you off guard then it's done its job.
 
Really hard, but I went with rolling launch.

Standing start is amazing, don't get me wrong. They're a complete adrenaline rush, and nothing makes my heart beat like sitting there waiting for it to go. But there's only 1 coaster which ever really takes my breath away and that's Stealth. The others i've ridden have all just been a bit, meh. I do need TTD in my life though.

With rolling launches, I completely agree with what you said Howie, the launch just takes you by surprise in a "woah WTF" way. Like I almost anticipate the standing launch too much to really appreciate it.

I love anything with any kind of launch really.
 
Done a fair few standing launches, whereas the only multi launcher I've done is Taron (May have done some others that weren't as memorable), but I'm still gonna go for rolling launch.

Before the second launch it feels like you are still traveling at a pretty significant speed, so suddenly being propelled even faster really catches you off guard! Not sure if this is the same of all multi launchers, but for me it was more of a thrill than the standing launches I've done.
 
Hmmm, while the standing start for a hydraulic launch is quite good, so is the rolling magnetic launch, such as on Maverick.

I'll go standing start as you feel the acceleration all the more so.
 
I'm quite basic when it comes to launch coasters, but I'd have to go with rolling. The ones I've done (in particular, Anubis and Taron) just pack such a punch in their launch which simply isn't as enjoyable as any standing launch I've done. Don't get me wrong, standing launches can be great with the right atmosphere, but I've just enjoyed the rolling ones more.
 
I like it when they have both (=Multi Launch Coasters). Starting with a standing launch but a rolling launch inbetween. I like the epicness of the standing launch, but I also like the feeling of a rolling launch.
 
Standing start all the way!

I like the way the tension and anticipation builds, while you wait.

The standing start launch on Dodonpa, is the best launch I have ever done!
 
Definitely standing start.

Rides like Maverick and Verbolten are awesome, and I'm sure Helix and Taron are no different, but what Hyde said about the acceleration on standing launches give it the edge for me. Not only do they have much more nerve-racking anticipation, but the launches themselves (when it comes to accelerators like TTD, Stealth, Storm Runner, and Rita) are more intense.
 
I'd say standing, on the rolling launches you feel like you're picking up speed but I only feel a true sense of acceleration from a standing launch. Not to mention the tension from waiting to be launched!
 
First off I am not a massive fan of launches in general.

I went for rolling going by my experiences of Cheetah Hunt vs Stealth/Rita/Rn'RC just because it's less violent and nice to gain some extra speed as you go around.
 
I enjoy a good rolling launch but one thing I don't get is on Icon and Red Force (not sure what other rides do this) where at the start of the ride you sort of start moving slowly for a second or 2 before the launch kicks in - it gives none of the thrill of a proper mid-ride rolling launch, but none of the anticipation and sudden acceleration of a standing launch.
 
^I quite liked Red Force for that, was more of a surprise to me that it kicked in while in motion. Was expecting it to hang around.

Rolling for me obviously. I've said it before, but with all rides inherently slowing from start to finish, nothing beats that feeling of suddenly gaining speed again and thinking "oh yes, this ride ain't done with me yet".
Similar feelings can be produced on a good terrain coaster really, if it can chuck another big drop or burst of speed at you out of nowhere, no launch required (but why not have both ;)). I just love the pacing of things that haven't used up their max potential in the first few seconds.


Supposedly do-done THE standing launch now. I did absolutely love the fear and anticipation it brought to the table, but then it didn't deliver.
And because of that now I'll probably never feel it again.:(
 
Rolling. That second launch on Taron is possibly one of my favourite coaster moments EVER.

INSANE.
 
Standing. I've been on all of the above and my favorite launches are all on accelerators. Yeah, you can get a good interesting kick (Mavericks tunnel is a great example especially when youre moving) but still doesn't get the suspense, surprise.. pure bliss of getting rocketed a billion miles an hour. Hell I get tense just WATCHING POVs of intamin accelerators. :p
 
SilverArrow said:
First off I am not a massive fan of launches in general.

I went for rolling going by my experiences of Cheetah Hunt vs Stealth/Rita/Rn'RC just because it's less violent and nice to gain some extra speed as you go around.
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Hahaha just found this reponse. Think this was before even Taron.

So erm since then I got over my fear and I've done: TTD, KingdaKa, Taron, Red Force, Maverick and lots of others.....

I think the standing launches are scarier because you're getting such a sudden change but there are some really great rolling launches like on Taron, so I'm not sure I have a favourite. I think there's a place for both.
 
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