Well you came here to find out about those 4 little numbers on your disc, so let’s jump right in. The 4 numbers on disc golf disc are flight ratings according to the manufacturer. From right to left they stand for – Speed – Glide – Turn – Fade – and each disc is different than the next.
What do the numbers on the disc mean?
- "Turn" and "fade" are both measurements of how much a disc will turn left or right in the air. ...
- "Speed" is a commonly misunderstood measurement. Speed is not a measurement of how fast or how far a disc will fly. ...
- "Glide" is pretty much self explanatory. Some discs tend to hang in the air longer than others. ...
What are some good basic starting discs for disc golf?
Let’s check out the three different types of discs:
- Driver: this is the disc you will almost always use first for your tee shot. These discs are meant mostly for speed and distance.
- Mid-range: this disc is used mainly for approach shots close to the basket and for tee shots when the basket isn’t too far away. ...
- Putter: putters are meant to travel short distances as accurately as possible. ...
Is Frolf the same thing as disc golf?
The term “Frolf” is also used to describe disc golf, but Frolf is a game unto its own. What Is Frolf? Frolf is similar to disc golf and is played with a group of friends with a Frisbee, or a flying disc similar to one. Frolf can be played almost anywhere and has even come up with it’s own set of rules, which can change at any minute I might add.
How many holes does a disc golf course have?
The traditional official disc golf course has 18 holes, but smaller courses may only have 9 holes. It would be an oddity to find a disc golf course with a less than 9 holes, but it would be even rarer to find a disc golf course that has more than 36 holes. Disc golf courses are typically filled with maps of holes and layouts of the overall course.
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What is the 5th number on a disc?
We applaud this move! First you'll see the four digits which equate to speed / glide / turn / fade, followed by a fifth number which is the old-school Discraft flight number.
What does the turn number mean?
turning number (plural turning numbers) (geometry, topology, mathematical analysis) A version of winding number in which the number of rotations is counted with respect to the tangent of the curve rather than a fixed point.
What do the numbers on discs golf 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.
What is a good disc golf rating?
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.
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
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 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.
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.
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.
How to tell if a disc is faded?
Disc Fade. An easy way to picture the fade is to think of your disc fading off into maximum distance at the end of its glide. The fade describes the strength of the disc’s left turn once it nears the end of its flight. It is important to note that the fade to the left is based on a right-hand throw.
What Are the Numbers on a Disc Golf Disc?
The four numbers on a disc golf disc were created as a flight rating system which represents the intended path of a disc golf disc as it flies through the air. The four numbers correspond to the following characteristics: speed, glide, turn, and fade.
History of Disc Golf Flight Numbers
Disc golf flight numbers haven’t actually been around as long as people think. The game of disc golf has been around since as far back as the 1970’s (not very long when compared to other sports), but the flight number rating system that is now universally accepted by most companies has only been in place since around 2009.
How Flight Numbers Are Determined
An important note to make is that disc golf manufacturers do not use an industry standardized scale for speed. This means that a 12 speed from one brand, may not necessarily fly the same as a 12 speed from another brand. However, one brands 12 speed disc, will always fly faster than the same brand’s 11 speed disc.
How The Weight of a Disc Affects Flight Path
Theo Pozzy conducted a study in the year 2000 which examined the relationship between many factors and the distance that a disc golf disc will fly. some of the key measurable data included player level, disc mold / brand, disc weight, and release velocity.
Other Flight Rating Systems
Disc Craft has used a single number rating system for years on their discs, and even though they have adopted the widely accepted 4 number rating system, they still include their single number on most of their discs.
Final Thoughts
The flight numbers on a disc golf disc are important to your game, and will influence the flight path of every disc. However, it is important to note that the numbers are only accurate when technique is perfect.
What is the glide number on a disc?
The second number from the left is glide and it has a numerical value of 1 to 7. Glide is how long your disc can maintain it flight and is what is referred to as flight time or loft. Discs with more glide are usually better for new players because they don’t require as much power or technique to fly for long distances. The higher the glide number, the longer maximum distance you should be able to produce from a throw.
What was the first disc golf disc?
They created the very first disc golf disc that was specifically designed to be used in the game of disc golf called “The Eagle.”. This driver allowed disc golfers of the time to have powerful and accurate drives with this well designed disc and they have been creating discs and equipment ever since.
What is fade in golf?
Fade is the discs tendency to hook left (for RHBH throws) at the end of the flight. A disc that has a rating of 0 will continue through the end of the throw in the straightest path possible. A disc that has a rating of 5 will hook left very hard at the end of the flight.
What is the best rating for a roller disc?
A disc with a +1 rating is most resistant to turning, while a -5 rating will turn the most. Discs that have a rating of -3 to -5 make good roller discs and are great for dogleg left holes where you really need that right hand turn.
Which plastic discs have the highest flight?
While the flight ratings should give the thrower a good expectation of a disc’s flight, the exact flight is dependent on many factors like the particular material it is made with and, the throwers style and speed. Champion plastic generally produces the most high speed stable discs, followed by Star, DX, Pro, and R-Pro.
When did disc golf start stamping?
They started to stamp their discs with flight ratings in 2009 in order to let disc golfers know about what the disc SHOULD do when thrown at the correct speed and accuracy. If you have horrible form and can’t throw worth a damn, the flight ratings really don’t mean that much.
What is the fastest disc?
Speed is how fast a disc is capable of travelling through the air, if you have enough power to propel it. Obviously a driver disc that has a rating of 14 has the potential to be the fastest disc possible because they have the widest wingspans allowing them to soar much faster than the smaller width discs.
What are the numbers on a disc?
The four numbers on the disc are referred to as the flight rating system . This system was developed by Innova Champion Discs with the purpose of describing each disc’s flight characteristics. The system has since been adopted by most discs manufacturers. The four numbers in the rating system stand for: Speed, Glide, Turn, and Fade.
What is the third number in a disc sequence?
So for a player who is right-handed and throwing a backhand shot, the more turn the disc has the more likely it is to move to the left or turn over. The turn rating ranges from + 1 to -5.
What does a fade rating mean on a disc?
It describes how the disc finishes at the end of it’s flight. A fade rating of zero indicates that the disc won’t fade and will finish straight. A higher fade rating means that as the disc slows down the more likely the disc is to hook.
What is the second number in the sequence?
The second number in the sequence is the glide rating . It shows how well the disc maintains loft while in the air. The higher the rating the easier it is for the disc to remain in the air. The numbers in this rating range from 1 to 7. Discs that have more glide are easier to throw farther distances. Discs that have less glide are easier to throw with accuracy and do better in windy conditions.
Why is a disc considered a distance driver?
The disc would be a distance driver because of the speed rating. The disc would have a lot of glide and would stay in the air quite easily. If you are a right-handed player throwing the disc backhanded the disc would fly to right after leaving your hand. We know this because of the -4 turn rating.
Which is more accurate, a disc or a glide rating?
For shots that require more accuracy like putts and approach shots, a lower glide rating may need to be considered as the disc should be more accurate. You don’t want your shots floating past the target. In windy conditions, discs with less glide tend to be more accurate.
What is a 0 rating disc?
A disc with a 0 rating is considered stable and will fly straight. While a disc with a negative rating is considered understable and will turn right. The more turn a disc has the less accurate it is in the wind.
What is the speed number of a disc?
This number is generally based on the rim size and scales from 1 to 14.
What is a fade disc in golf?
Disc Golf Fade Rating Details. Earlier we said that fade is the late-flight characteristic of a disc causing it to move laterally as velocity reduces. Some discs fade gently, some fade harshly, and some tend to fade while still flying forward. Higher fade discs are usually considered overstable.
What is glide rating?
Our definition of glide is the disc’s ability to stay in the air. We believe the glide rating is the most misunderstood and the most arbitrary of four disc rating numbers. There is no specific disc measurement that seems to contribute to the glide rating. In general, the more air that can stay under a disc, the more glide it will exhibit. So discs with a higher dome and deeper rim are more likely to have more glide. Some people see an understable disc stay in the air a long time due to its turn and improperly assign it more glide. One of the highest glide discs is the Discmania FD.
What does higher glide disc mean?
The disc’s ability to stay in the air. A higher glide insinuates a disc will fight to stay in the air. In our opinion, a higher glide disc exhibits a more forward pushing fade. This is an arbitrary scale from 1 to 6.
What is a stable disc?
Stable – a flight that is relatively straight. This term is sometimes (confusingly) used to describe a disc that is overstable, especially when the word stable is emphasized like “that disc is stable “. Understable – a flight that turns more than it fades, or ends more to the right for a RHBH throw.
What does PFN stand for in Discraft?
Prior to 2019, Discraft used a different system that effectively shows the overall expected left/right travel of a disc (or commonly stated as stability ) with a single number. As a side note, when you are shopping for discs you may run into listings that use the abbreviation PFN.
What is a pre flight number?
This simply means the disc was produced prior to the flight numbering system and doesn’t have the numbers printed on them, thusly it is labeled Pre -Flight-Number. These are sometimes sought after by collectors. Other discs may not have the flight numbers printed on them, especially custom stamps and special runs.
Why is it important to read disc golf numbers?
Learning how to read disc golf numbers is important especially if you are a new disc golfer. It will help in so many ways in improving your skills and also on your disc selection during the game.
What are the four numbers on a disc?
The four numbers on the disc indicate the speed, glide, turn, and fade of the disc in the same order. The flight rating system is often used by players to compare different disc and how they will perform during the flight.
What is the speed rating on a disc?
The Speed. The first number found on the left side of the flight rating system is the speed rating. It is numbered from 1 to 14 and is the measurement of the disc when traveling in the air. The greater the number is on the speed rating, the fastest the disc travels in the air. Usually, the faster discs easily cut in the air with less effort ...
What are the numbers on a Discraft disc?
Those four numbers can be called characters which will determine the different aspects that affect the disc flight. The four numbers on the disc indicate the speed, glide, turn, and fade of the disc in the same order.
Why use a disc with a low glide rating?
If you are just starting, I would suggest using the disc with a higher glide rating because it will give more distance during the throw.
What does 5 fade mean on a disc?
Meanwhile, if the disc has a 5 fade rating, it has the best chance to go to the left at the end portion of the flight. The fade rating of the disc can also be referred to as the stability of the disc when it is losing power at the end of the flight. The fade will come once the end of the flight starts.
Can plastic discs affect flight quality?
You should also remember that the type of plastic of the disc can also influence and affect the quality of the flight regardless of the rating.
