Golf-FAQ.com

how to tell when it's time to move up to a higher speed disk in disk golf

by Carissa Lockman Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
image

The higher the number, the faster the disc needs to be thrown. I will say, though, that the first flight rating indicating how fast a disc will go can be partially correct if the thrower throws the disc as hard as it’s supposed to go. If the disc is thrown hard enough, it can fly faster if the speed flight rating is higher.

Full Answer

Does disc speed matter in disc golf?

Disc speed matters because each disc is supposed to fly a certain way. Each disc has a series of four numbers called flight ratings that allow the disc to have it’s own “personality.” Speed is the first flight rating. Speed is how hard the disc must be thrown.

Do wider rims make a disc travel faster?

A wider rim reduces the disc’s drag resulting in better aerodynamics, thus a higher speed rating. You can read more details on disc golf speed and disc flight numbers here. It is important to note that higher speed discs will not actually travel faster than lower speed discs. Any disc will only travel as fast as you are able to throw it.

What is high speed turn on a disc?

High Speed Turn is the tendency of a disc to turn over or bank to the right (for RHBH throws) during the initial part of the flight. A disc with a +1 rating is most resistant to turning over, while a -5 rating will turn the most. Discs rated -3 to -5 make good roller discs. Discs with less turn are more accurate in the wind.

What speed should I put my discs at?

If you have the previous mentioned speed 11 arm, you should be able to make all discs speed 11 and down fly as they’re designed to. You may have to power down on the lower speed discs, but you should be able to make them work. Put a speed 12 or higher in your hands and that’s where they will stop doing what they are “supposed” to do.

image

When should I move up a disc speed?

When you are turning over the disc (on your full throws) AND you can direct where they are going (you can aim them) then it is probably okay to step up a speed or two. I think I got that part under control. In field practice I am able to get pretty consistant in their flight patterns and where they land.

How fast do you have to throw a disc golf disc?

The average speed of a disc golf throw is around 50-70 miles per hour or 80-112 kilometers per hour. The fastest disc golf disc thrown was by pro disc golfer Simon Lizotte and was at a speed of 89.5 miles per hour or 144 kilometers per hour.

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.

How far should a speed 7 disc go?

Speed 6-7 can go much further then 300, 450-500 in top pro power hands.

How can I improve my disc golf speed?

1:582:46What is a good way to increase arm speed in disc golf? - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd just whip your arm through fast make sure that you're still using good good form but whip yourMoreAnd just whip your arm through fast make sure that you're still using good good form but whip your arm through real fast don't really worry about where the disc.

Can you throw a disc golf 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.

What disc golf goes the farthest?

The Best Distance Drivers According to Star RatingsRankDisc MoldWeighted score1Innova Destroyer5.442Innova Wraith5.013Infinite Discs Aztec4.774Discraft Zeus4.656 more rows•Aug 17, 2020

Do lighter discs fly farther?

In general, lighter discs fly farther than heavier discs, but heavier discs may fly farther in a headwind due to their greater stability. A safe bet for the average player is to throw discs weighing around 160-165 grams for best distance.

How do you throw a 400 foot disc?

3:445:10How I Started throwing 400+ Feet | Connors Tips| - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipI'm throwing the disc on hyzer hitting that power pocket. And that's where the different discMoreI'm throwing the disc on hyzer hitting that power pocket. And that's where the different disc selection comes into play with you know flip up to flat turnovers hyzer the whole way.

Does more speed mean more distance disc golf?

The most relevant takeaway from the study was evidence that players throwing at speeds from 45-70 MPH (which encompasses the vast majority of Disc Golfers) demonstrated a very consistent relationship between speed and distance. For each 1MPH increase in disc speed, the average drive distance increased by 7.2 feet.

How far can the average person throw a disc golf disc?

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.

How do you throw a disc golf farther?

7:4820:06How To Throw Far with Drew Gibson (Really Far) - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipBecause what happens is you're when you pull through you're gonna be right through that center coreMoreBecause what happens is you're when you pull through you're gonna be right through that center core of your body which is the strongest part of your body with your elbow leading.

When you start disc golf, do you hit a plateau?

When you start playing disc golf, you’ll hit a certain point where you start having trouble getting better and throwing harder. This plateau is a couple months after you start playing. I hit that and I know a lot of other people do as well. But when I finally listened to this piece of advice, I got significantly better – don’t run up on the teepad for momentum.

What is the most common throw in disc golf?

The backhand throw is one of the most common throws in all of disc golf. It's tough to perfect, but once you master it, you open yourself up to learn the game and become a great disc golfer. But...

What is disc golf speed?

Disc golf speed refers to the speed rating of a disc golf disc and is the first number listed on the disc. The speed rating of the disc is on a scale of 1 to 14 indicating how fast a disc should be thrown to achieve its intended flight path. More specifically, disc speed is a measure of the disc’s aerodymics and is primarily determined by ...

How fast is a disc golf driver?

Fairway driver: 6-8 speed. Control driver: 9-11 speed. Distance driver: 12-14 speed . Discs rated lower than 4 speed are usually considered putters. Disc golf drivers cover a wide range of speeds because there are many different situations when you will be throwing drivers.

Why are disc golf putters so slow?

The reason disc golf putters are slow is because lower speed discs are easier to control than higher speed discs. Putting occurs close enough to the basket that accuracy is more important than distance.

What discs do you use for disc golf?

Disc golf throws generally fall into three categories and recommended disc speeds: 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.

Why throw slower discs?

Slow discs are usually easier to control whereas fast discs usually have potential to fly further. A general guideline is that you should throw slower discs for accuracy and only move to faster discs when your need for extra distance outweights your need for high accuracy. Beginners often do not have the power to throw a high speed disc properly. ...

What is the target landing area for a disc?

For example, if you are throwing 150 feet from the basket, your target landing area should probably be Circle 1 (the 33 foot or 10 meter circle around the basket) and you might choose a 2-4 speed disc.

Why are higher speed discs more aerodynamic?

The difference is that higher speed discs are usually more aerodynamic and will maintain their speed longer than low speed discs because they are not slowed as much by the air. Jump over to Mind Body Disc here to learn if your arm speed matches your disc speed.

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 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.

Can you throw a disc faster than 10?

What is Disc Speed. 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. You don’t magically gain more arm speed because you picked up a Nuke instead of a TeeBird.

What is the speed of a 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. Slower discs take more power to throw upwind, but they’re easier to throw more accurately and may actually go farther downwind. High speed discs are not recommended for beginners as they require more power to fly properly.

What is the difference between stable and overstable discs?

Stability is a description of the disc’s flight path. Understable means a flight that turns right (RHBH throw). Stable is a flight that doesn’t turn. Over stable refers to a flight that turns left (RHBH throw). Spike/Spike Hyzer is a shot that lands almost vertically and doesn’t skip.

What is glide disc?

Glide describes the discs ability to maintain loft during flight. Discs with more glide are best for new players, and for producing maximum distance. Beginners wanting more distance should choose discs with more glide. Discs with less glide are more accurate in high wind situations.

What is high speed turn?

High Speed Turn is the tendency of a disc to turn over or bank to the right (for RHBH throws ) during the initial part of the flight. A disc with a +1 rating is most resistant to turning over, while a -5 rating will turn the most. Discs rated -3 to -5 make good roller discs. Discs with less turn are more accurate in the wind. Discs with more turn are easier to throw for beginners.

Is the Wraith faster than the Speed 10?

They are to be used to compare between models. For instance, a Wraith, with the flight ratings 11, 5, -1, 3 is faster than the speed 10 models and slower than the speed 12 and 13 models. The Glide, Turn, and Fade cannot be compared to other speeds, but can be compared to other discs with the same speed rating.

Why does a disc move when it is slow?

The science behind why a disc moves the way it does is because when the rim of the disc pushes air over its top, which results in less air pressure above the disc than below it.

What makes a disc fly more overstable?

A more concave bend in the wing shape will make the disc fly more overstable, while flatter wing shapes will be less stable. Some discs are beaded. A bead is a small added rim of plastic at the bottom of the disc. Beaded discs tend to be more stable to overstable. Beading is most common on putters.

How to tell if a disc is overstable?

The most effective way to tell if a disc is overstable or understable is to throw it. Try throwing the disc backhand and aiming straight. For right-handed players, an understable disc will turn to the right and an overstable disc will turn to the left. A stable disc will go straight.

Why use an understable disc?

Even though the disc turns right in its flight, it will still fade back to the left. If you are trying to throw anhyzer, a shot that is meant to go to the right, using an understable disc will help with the movement to the right.

How does plastic affect disc stability?

Plastic stiffness can also affect stability. Stiffer plastics tend to be more overstable and more flexible plastics tend to fly more stable than the stiffer blends. Dome height may also play a role in disc stability. Flatter discs tend to be more overstable and discs with a higher dome tend to be stable.

What is the turn rating of an understable disc?

This is typically the third number on the disc. Understable discs are rated -5 to -3, stable discs are rated -2 to -1 and Overstable discs are rated 0 to 1. So the closer the turn rating is to -5, the more Understable it will be, and the closer the turn rating is to 1, the more Overstable it will be. Different disc stabilities will come in handy ...

How does disc stability affect weight distribution?

Disc stability is influenced by the shape of the disc and how weight is distributed across it . A lot of these factors can be a result of the plastic choice. The shape of the different parts of the disc can also have a significant impact. Parting line height is thought to be the biggest factor in disc stability.

Why is there a little bit of smoothing on the graph?

On the Analysis graph, there is a little bit of smoothing because we do not plot every data point but instead every 3 or so to make a readable graph. If you look at the analysis graph, you usually won't find the same max speed as is reported in the activity stats because the graph is smoothed.

Which sports are better for elapsed time?

Certain sports lend themselves better to elapsed time, including indoor ones like Yoga and Weight Training, and some outdoor ones like Skiing and Surfing (note that speed for Skis is still based on moving time.)

Why does Strava think you are moving faster than you really are?

If, for example, one GPS coordinate is recorded + or - 50ft from where you actually are, and the next GPS coordinate is also recorded + or - 50ft from where you actually are in the other direction, Strava will think you are moving faster than you really are because the distance between the two GPS coordinates isn't accurate.

Why does Strava prioritize moving time?

Because moving time is the best measure of how long you were active, especially for sports like running and cycling, Strava will generally prioritize moving time and pace based on moving time in places like the activity feed, activity screens, and pages, challenges, goals, and stats. Some exceptions:

What is elapsed time?

Elapsed time is the duration from the moment you hit start on your device or phone to the moment you finish the activity. It includes stoplights, coffee breaks, bathroom stops and stopping for photos. Moving time, on the other hand, is a measure of how long you were active.

Can a bad GPS connection cause false positives?

A bad GPS connection could lead to false positives if your activity's GPS data tells Strava that you are moving when you aren't. Things like GPS drift, GPS signal loss or a 'jumpy' GPS track can also cause your activity to report more or less distance than you actually traveled.

image

What Is Speed in Disc Golf?

The Misconception

  • There’s a HUGE misconception when it comes to speed in disc golf. A lot of players believe that the first flight rating, or the speed of the disc, shows you how fast that particular disc will fly. That’s not actually correct. The speed is how fast a disc must be thrown in order to fly the way it’s supposed to fly. The higher the number, the faster ...
See more on discgolfnow.com

Why Disc Speed Matters – The Flight Ratings

  • Disc speed matters because each disc is supposed to fly a certain way. Each disc has a series of four numbers called flight ratings that allow the disc to have it’s own “personality.” Speed is the first flight rating. Speed is how hard the disc must be thrown. The second flight rating is glide. Glide represents how long a disc can glide through the air. The third flight rating is called high-sp…
See more on discgolfnow.com

3 Ways to Get Your Discs Up to Speed

  • In this section, I’ve put a couple of really simple, yet really effective tips to increase your arm speed and your disc speed. These tips are meant for beginners.
See more on discgolfnow.com

Overall

  • Speed is really important in disc golf. And when it comes to disc speed, being able to get some power and spin behind your disc usually means the difference in whether your disc will fly correctly or not. But don’t worry too much about speed. Just practice up, keep learning, and you’ll soon get speed behind all your throws. Hopefully you’ve been able to learn something today. Tha…
See more on discgolfnow.com

OH, Wait! The Book!

  • Before you go, grab a copy of the best beginner book on the planet, “The Disc Golf Player’s Manual.”This ebook is packed with 200+ pages of the best info available to new disc golfers. So don’t miss out! Also be sure to smash those share buttons below!
See more on discgolfnow.com

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9