In the game of ball golf, a player has several clubs to choose from, and will try to pick the best club to suit the shot at hand. Similarly, in disc golf, there are many different types of discs, each with it’s own flight characteristics, and a key to scoring well is choosing the right disc for the shot at hand. A player will want a variety of discs in the bag to match the variety of shots encountered during a round. While there are many discs, each can easily be understood by knowing about the few key ways in which discs are different. A player that understands these key flight variables will easily be able to construct a bag that has a disc for every situation out on the course.
4 Types of Discs
- Putter & Approach – 1-3 speed. For putting and shorter approach shots, typically used for distances of 1-200 feet, although may be used by advanced players for shots as long as 300 feet. Lower glide is good for windy conditions and for increased accuracy on approach shots. Higher glide is good for long putts and approach shots. Usually players have one type of disc that is always used for putting, and then may have additional discs for different approach shots.
- Mid-range – 4-5 speed. Despite the small speed range, mid-ranges are versatile discs that can be used for approach shots of all shapes and sizes, shorter to mid distance drives, and even for putting in a pinch. Mid-range variety comes from the differences in glide and stability. These discs are often preferred in the 100-300 foot range, although advanced players may throw them as far as 400 feet. Many players favorite disc is some type of mid-range, and will be the go-to disc when a player needs to really trust the shot they’re throwing. For players starting out, on a budget, or traveling with limited luggage, a mid-range is the perfect disc to have when you’ve got just one disc in the bag.
- Fairway Driver – 6-9 speed. Great discs to use on drives for most players on most courses. Often used for distances of 200-400 feet, these are the best discs to use for drives on most holes of most courses. A beginner to intermediate player is usually better off getting a variety of fairway drivers rather than getting the higher speed distance drivers. With a good range of speeds, glides, and stabilities, there’s a fairway driver for almost any hole.
- Distance Driver – 9-10+ speed. Some discs with 9 or 10 speed may be listed as fairway drivers, but for the most part discs with a speed of 9-10+ are going to be considered distance drivers. The most noticeable difference between fairway and distance drivers is that distance drivers have a wider rim to hold on to when throwing. The wider rim increases the efficiency of the disc as it flies through the air giving the player more distance. However, the disc has to be thrown at a very high speed to take advantage of these characteristics, and so only intermediate to advanced players can truly throw distance drivers (but that won’t stop beginners from trying and dreaming). These discs are ideal for long shots, usually 400+ feet. These discs are often overstable and can be used for more predictable shots in the wind and for shaping shots around obstacles.
3 Types of Stability
- Understable – discs that have a high turn and low fade. Best for shaping shots. Will hold a good shot shape when thrown at lower speeds, ideal for beginners and for approach shots. Great for straight 100 foot shots.
- Stable – discs that have similar turn and fade. The turn and the fade balance each other out, and the disc ends up going mostly straight. Stable discs tend to hold the angle they are thrown on and can provide consistency on approach shots and shorter drives. Great for straight 200 foot shots.
- Overstable – discs that have low turn and high fade. The high fade tends to make these shots more predictable and consistent. Overstable discs will want to fade quickly if not thrown at the appropriate speed. Great for straight 300 foot shots.
4 flight numbers
- Speed (1 to 14) – the first number is speed, the higher the speed the further the disc should go. However, higher speed discs must be thrown faster to get the full flight path out of the disc. A high speed disc thrown slowly will not fly as designed.
- Glide (1 to 7) – the second number is the glide, how much the disc will naturally float. Higher glide discs are easier to throw further, but can be harder to control, especially in windy conditions. Low glide discs can be ideal for predictable approach shots
- Turn (+1 to -5) – The third number is turn, the tendency for the disc to tail off to the right (for right hand back hand (RHBH) shots) during the first part of the shot. Understable discs have high turn, and are easier for beginners with slower arm speed to get the S-shape shot that maximizes distance. High turn can be good for hyzer flips and for shaping shots (especially helpful in the trees).
- Fade (0 to 5) – The fourth number is fade, the tendency for the disc to come back to the left (for RHBH shots) at the end of the shot. Overstable discs tend to have high fade. High fade creates a predictable flight path for drives and full powered shots, where the disc always finishes by banking hard to the left. Beginners will struggle to get high fade drivers to fly as designed, as lots of speed is required to keep the disc flying straight and not have it fade out right away.
- Other numbers – Some manufacturers, such as Discraft, will include other numbers on their discs. The 5th number on a Discraft disc is for the stability of the disc. A higher number is more stable, a negative number will be understable.
Plastics
Depends on manufacturer, most will offer at least 2 types of plastic, baseline and premium
- Baseline plastic – Cheaper and gets beat up easier. Baseline plastic is good for beginners who want to try new discs without spending a lot of money. The baseline plastics tend to be more understable than a similar disc in a premium plastic. This plastic can also be more favorable in certain conditions, like when it is cold or wet outside. More advanced players might intentionally want a cheaper plastic they can beat up for a roller disc or for a specific shot shape.
- Premium plastic – More expensive and more durable, and also will be more overstable than a similar disc in a baseline plastic. Premium plastics will last longer for players who know what discs they like and want to keep around for a long time. The durability and natural overstability of premium plastics makes them the preferred choice for more advanced players with a higher arm speed.
- Specialty plastics – manufacturers may also offer a variety of specialty plastics for players to experiment with. There are putters with very bendy plastic, which some players prefer for putting and can reduce roll aways. There is plastic that floats, and plastic that glows in the dark. There will also be a variety of plastics for certain characteristics that advanced players may seek out, such as more/less durability, or more/less tackiness (grip).
Disc Weights
Usually between 130-180 grams. Disc weight is largely a personal preference, some players will like lighter discs, while others will feel better with heavier discs. Disc weight is less important to consider when choosing a disc than the other variables. For most players a mid-weight disc will be best, something in the 150-175 range. Feel and comfort matter most, choose whatever weight feels best to you and gives you the most confidence in your shot.
- Lighter discs tend to go further, but the difference is minimal. Lighter discs tend to be less accurate and more susceptible to the wind. Lighter discs will be best for distance drives and for beginners who have a slower arm speed.
- Heavier discs tend to be more accurate. Some players report they can feel the heavier disc better in their hand when throwing, increasing their comfort and confidence in the shot. Heavier discs are better for putters and mid-ranges, or any shot where accuracy is more important than distance (basically all shots). Heavier discs are also good for players who throw harder and can easily throw the disc at its intended speed.