Here’s how you do it in 6 simple steps.
- Grab a stack of drivers in assorted speeds.
- Go to a practice field.
- Throw drivers.
- Whichever drivers fly like their numbers are at or below your arm speed.
- Drivers that don’t are above your arm speed.
- The highest speed rated disc that flies like it’s supposed to tells you what your current arm speed is.
How do I know which discs work for me?
The first step in finding discs that work for you lies in figuring out the nexus between arm speed and disc speed. To do that, let’s begin by defining the speed rating of a disc. We’ll start by dispelling a myth. A speed 14 disc does NOT travel through the air faster than a speed 10 disc. You can only throw a disc however fast you can throw a disc.
Why can’t I throw a disc golf disc?
Issues with nose angle, release angle, wrist roll, and countless other problems can wreak havoc on a disc’s flight. If you can’t throw with proper form, this arm speed test will be lost on you. Second, your arm speed will fluctuate over time. It can even vary day to day.
Does throwing a disc go farther if it’s faster?
Whether it goes farther or not completely depends on the other much more important thing the speed rating means. There is one critical thing you should know about a disc’s speed rating. It’s a measure of how fast you need to throw the disc to make the other flight numbers come true.
Will a speed 11 arm fly a disc golf disc?
If you only have a speed 11 arm, it will not. If you pick up a speed 11 disc and throw it with your speed 11 arm, that disc should then fly like it’s supposed to. This is what answers our earlier question…
How do I know what speed disc to throw?
What Speed Disc Should I Throw?Putts usually use low speed discs to maximize accuracy.Approaches and midrange shots usually use medium speed discs to balance speed and accuracy.Drives usually use higher speed discs to maximize distance.
How is disc golf speed measured?
How to measure arm speedTake the farthest distance you consistently throw and divide by 35.Radar gun.Find a non beat in disc in non premium plastic, that flies the way the numbers say it should. (Ricky W will not be participating in this one).
How fast do disc golfers throw?
Speeds are usually measured at the release, and the discs gradually lose velocity as they fly. Most people that throw 350-400 release at about 50-55mph. The guys with bigger arms that throw 500+ usually have release speeds of 70-75mph. This is pretty accurate.
What does speed mean on a disc golf disc?
Speed is the rate at which a disc can travel through the air. Speed 14 Distance Drivers are the fastest, having the PDGA maximum legal wing width. Faster discs cut into the wind with less effort and are best when throwing up wind.
How far should a speed 7 disc go?
Speed 6-7 can go much further then 300, 450-500 in top pro power hands.
Do higher speed discs go farther?
You shouldn't take this to mean that because a disc is a higher speed, it will automatically fly farther. Most players need lots of practice and training to throw a high speed disc correctly. In fact, many beginners will find that slower speed discs fly farther for them than higher speed discs.
Can you throw a disc too fast?
If you throw too slowly, you're going to have it fade, if you throw too quickly you'll see it turn. It's not always a bad thing to throw your disc faster than intended. Putters are excellent to throw too fast. These discs will turn over and hold that turn for a long time.
How far should I be able to throw a midrange disc?
300 feetTypical midrange disc golf discs are wide with narrow rims and most amateur players use them to throw distances up to 300 feet/91.5 meters. Pros sometimes use them to throw distances 350 feet/107 meters or more.
How far should a beginner throw a disc golf?
According to the Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA), you can expect beginners to throw disc golf discs at an average distance of around 175 to 250 feet. This is typically approximately 80% of their ultimate throwing distance, becoming farther as they gain more experience in the sport.
What weight discs do pros throw?
Drivers. Drivers start at around 150 grams, but beginners tend to go for something in the range of 165-169 grams because they're easy to get good results with. But it's not so much the case that pros immediately go to the other end of the spectrum and use 175g gram discs because they go further.
Can you throw a disc too hard?
Throwing Too Hard is a disease which can infect good players of the game, but it usually attacks beginners and intermediates, as they struggle to properly understand the game, their discs, and themselves, with an ever-improving but inconsistent ability.
What do the 4 numbers on a disc mean?
These four numbers represent different characteristics of the flight. The four numbers are: speed, glide, turn, fade. For example, let's take the Discmania FD. The FD has flight ratings of 7, 6, -1, 1. That means this disc has a speed rating of 7, glide rating of 6, turn rating of -1, and a fade rating of 1.
Backhand
Backhand throws are the most common type that you’ll see disc golfers do. It’s the most basic of throws and is much easier to learn for most players, especially compared to forehand flicks.
Forehand
The second most used throwing style is a forehand flick or sidearm as many players like to call it. Even though a forehand seems to be the exact opposite of a backhand throw, there are a few differences to note about how the disc will fly.
Overhand
Overhand throws are not used as often and are usually saved for those situations where you don’t have any other option. Most of my overhand throws are when I’m deep in the woods and have no other angle than to go above any obstacles that are in the way.
Roller
One of my favorite shots to throw on wide-open drives is the roller. The basic idea behind the roller is to throw an understable disc with enough force and angle so that it will land on the side of the disc and continue to roll down the fairway.
Disc Golf Throwing Angles
There are three categories that make up the angle a disc is released on; hyzer, flat, and anhyzer. Understanding and getting the right angle for your shot is key to improving your drives and mastering the game of disc golf.
Top 5 Best Discraft Drivers
Besides being one of Discraft’s most popular drivers, the Nuke is one of the most used discs of all time. The Nuke is an overstable high speed driver that features a thick rim compared to other distance drivers.
How to find discs that work for you?
The answer lies in large part with your arm speed. The first step in finding discs that work for you lies in figuring out the nexus between arm speed and disc speed. To do that, let’s begin by defining the speed rating of a disc.
Why does my disc fly differently?
The reason for this is that poor form will always make a disc fly differently than its numbers. Issues with nose angle, release angle, wrist roll, and countless other problems can wreak havoc on a disc’s flight . If you can’t throw with proper form, this arm speed test will be lost on you.
How fast is Quagmire's arm?
Quagmire’s been workin’ on his throwin’ arm. Looks like he’s got about a speed 15 there. Unfortunately you can’t go to your doctor and have an arm speed test done. There is no radar gun used to measure arm speed on a scale of 5 to 15. You can’t ask one of your buddies, “Hey, Frank, check out my disc throwin’ arm.
What happens if you can't throw properly?
If you can’t throw with proper form, this arm speed test will be lost on you. Second, your arm speed will fluctuate over time. It can even vary day to day. One day you could be poking along with a speed 8 arm and the next day everything clicks and you are throwing at speed 12.
What happens when a disc stops doing what the numbers say it should?
When the disc stops doing what the numbers say it should, you might be punching above your weight. There are, however, some caveats to this rather simplistic approach…. If your disc flutters through the air like this butterfly, you should probably work on form before disc speed.
What does speed mean in physics?
Speed means two things, one much more important than the other. The less important is a measurement of drag. In other words, the higher the speed number, the more aerodynamic a disc is. That aerodynamic shape means it will maintain it’s speed longer due to less drag on the disc.
Do fast discs fly overstable?
Faster discs do not. They fly considerably more overstable for me than their numbers say they should. But sometimes I need an overstable disc! My distance driver of choice into the wind is the WestSide World. For many faster arm speed players, the World is not a good choice into a headwind.
What happens if you throw a disc at an angle?
If you choose to throw the disc at an angle where the wind is under the disc, it will achieve more glide. If there is more air across the top of the disc, it will have less glide. Less glide is also inevitably going to mean less distance.
How to become a better disc golfer?
By spending a good amount of time practicing on your own and studying the numbers, you will become a more confident and intuitive player in no time. When you start out in disc golf, the rule of thumb to live by is lower numbers.
What is the difference between a disc and a frisbee?
Disc golf dics are smaller and denser than frisbees. Frisbees can be around 12 inches in diameter, whereas a disc will be 8 inches. Another important reason to distinguish between the two is the numbers representing flight patterns.
How does a disc stay aloft?
A disc stays aloft initially when it is thrown. The higher the disc’s glide, the further it will travel. The factor that influences glide more than any other is the shape of the disc. This shape is what air passes over and under when the disc is in flight. In addition to shape, the glide is affected by the player.
How many discs can a disc golf bag hold?
Some serious players will have bags that hold 20 or more discs, meaning they are prepared for absolutely any scenario. There are tons of great choices for disc golf bags (trust us: you want to buy a bag specific to disc golf to stay organized during play).
What are the numbers on a disc?
For stable discs, look for a set of numbers close to these: 1 Speed 9 2 Glide 4 3 Turn -2 4 Fade 2
What is a high turn disc?
What to Know About Disc Turn as a Beginner. A high turn disc rating will help a beginner achieve a longer flight. Understable discs, those with a high turn rating, will naturally want to turn over. You have to get the hang of throwing these in different winds, which will affect the turn.
Average Throwing Distance in Disc Golf
As mentioned, most beginners tend to throw disc golf discs at an average distance of 175 to 250 feet. Meanwhile, with around 1 to 2 years of experience, recreational players have an average throwing distance of approximately 200 to 300 feet.
Factors That Affect Disc Golf Drive Distance
Like regular golf, several factors can affect a disc golf player’s throwing distance or “drive distance.” Factors like a player’s experience, technique, and speed can affect the distance a disc golf disc reaches when thrown.
How to Improve Your Drive Distance in Disc Golf
As a beginner, there’s plenty of room for improvement. With enough practice and training, you can reach longer distances in disc golf.
Final Thoughts
Disc golf adds a fun new twist to traditional golf, using discs to make it more enjoyable. However, there’s more to it than simply throwing the disc at a target; several factors can affect your distance and accuracy.
