
What Disc Golf Numbers Mean
- Speed. The first number on a disc is it’s Speed rating. ...
- Glide. The second number found on a disc is going to be the Glide rating. ...
- Turn. Next, we will find the third rating known as Turn. ...
- Fade. Lastly, we come to the 4th rating on a disc known as Fade. ...
- Putting It All Together. ...
Full Answer
What are the numbers on disc golf discs?
So what do the numbers on a disc golf disc mean? The four numbers on a disc golf disc are a flight ratings system that represent the true characteristics of a disc golf disc as it flies through the air, including the speed, glide, turn, and fade of the disc. Basically, how a disc is supposed to fly. Speed: how hard the disc must be thrown.
What do you need to know about disc golf?
Sep 01, 2020 · The first number on a disc is it’s Speed rating. This number is usually a value between 1-14, with 1 being the slowest and 14 being the fastest. As a beginner, you’ll find that slower discs are easier to throw as they require less power and are oftentimes more accurate. Think of throwing a baseball vs a wiffle ball.
What is the best golf disc?
Jan 26, 2021 · What do these numbers stand for? Simply enough, these numbers represent that specific disc's flight ratings, or characteristics. In order, these ratings are: Speed Glide Turn, and Fade Okay, but, What are disc golf disc ratings? Let's take a look at each of the ratings and break down what they are and their significance. Speed Speed is typically the first number seen on a …
Which disc golf brand is best?
Jun 01, 2020 · This numbering system focuses on loft when in flight. For the newest players, discs with more glide are very favorable for all-out distance. On the other hand, less glided discs have better accuracy, especially in situations where wind is a factor. So, the higher the number, the more glide a disc golf player will get from their Frisbee. Turning Fast

What does the numbers mean on a disc golf?
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.Mar 7, 2022
What do the 4 numbers mean on a disc golf disc?
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.Feb 13, 2018
What is a good disc golf rating?
Players who average the course layout SSA will have a rating of 1000. As of 2021, top pro players who average scores lower than SSA have ratings over 1000 ranging up to 1050. PDGA amateur men average around 860 and women around 725.
How are disc flight numbers determined?
A measurement of the disc's aerodynamics. Faster discs with higher speed numbers have a larger rim and a sharper nose to allow the disc to move faster and further if you have the arm speed to keep it in the air. This number is generally based on the rim size and scales from 1 to 14.Nov 12, 2020
What is the 5th number on a disc?
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. So now players who like one system or the other can have both for easy reference.Mar 28, 2018
What is a hyzer shot?
A hyzer shot is where a right handed player throws a back hand shot to the right of the basket and the disc cuts back left.Dec 31, 2004
What is a 900 rated player in disc golf?
How do you use the rating numbers for handicapping? Every throw equals about 10 rating points on a typical 18-hole course from the long tees. If your scores average 10 throws over SSA, your rating will be 100 points lower than 1000 which would be 900.
What is a 1000 Rated round in disc golf?
Players who average the SSA on courses played will have a rating of 1000 and are considered “scratch players”. A player who averages scores lower than SSAs on course they've played will have a rating over 1000.
What is the highest rated disc golf round?
1,132The highest-rated round of disc golf by the Professional Disc Golf Association is 1,132, achieved by Paul McBeth (USA) on 2 March 2013 at the Memorial Championship in Fountain Hills, Arizona, USA.Mar 2, 2013
What are the top three leading disc golf companies?
The Top 5 Selling Golf Discs for 2020Innova Destroyer.Discraft Buzzz.Discraft Luna.Innova Wraith.Discraft Zone.Jan 26, 2021
What is Glide in disc golf?
Glide is a disc golf disc's ability to maintain loft, or stay in the air, during flight. Glide is also the second number in a disc's flight ratings and ranges from 1 to 7. The higher the number, the more glide a disc has.
What are the rules to disc golf?
The lowest number of total throwsDisc golf / Rules to win
How many numbers are on a disc?
Updated: Dec 29, 2020. As you start handling discs or even shopping for them, you may begin to notice that some of them have a series of 4 numbers marked on them. You may ask yourself,
What is the third rating in disc golf?
When a disc is thrown back hand by a right handed thrower, the “Turn” indicates how much a disc will want to “turn over” during its initial flight upon release ( disc golf lingo for a disc going flat and straight before finishing to the right) and will be rated with a scale between +1 and -5.
What is the speed rating on a disc?
The first number on a disc is it’s Speed rating. This number is usually a value between 1-14, with 1 being the slowest and 14 being the fastest. As a beginner, you’ll find that slower discs are easier to throw as they require less power and are oftentimes more accurate. Think of throwing a baseball vs a wiffle ball.
What is the second number on a disc?
The second number found on a disc is going to be the Glide rating. Glide will be rated on a scale between 1 and 7 with 7 being the highest. Glide can be described as a disc’s tendency to stay afloat when thrown.
What does it mean when a disc is thrown as a left handed player?
When you throw a disc as a left handed player or when a right handed player throws forehand, the “ Turn” rules are reversed and will indicate how much a disc wants to initially go to the left, rather than the right.
Do discs with higher glide perform better in higher wind?
Therefore, beginners will be able to throw discs with high glide ratings longer distances more easily. On the flip side, discs with lower glide will perform better with higher wind because they will be less likely to be “carried” by the wind after being thrown.
What do these numbers stand for?
Simply enough, these numbers represent that specific disc's flight ratings, or characteristics. In order, these ratings are:
What are disc golf disc ratings?
Let's take a look at each of the ratings and break down what they are and their significance.
Glide
The second number is in reference to the amount of glide that disc is rated for.
Turn
This rating is severely underutilized by beginner players when they are trying to learn how to throw. Many people, myself included, want to try to learn right away how to use fast speed drivers with stable to overstable flight patters to account for mistakes in form and technique.
Fade
Fade is the amount of "hook" that a disc is likely to have at the end of it's flight pattern. Some discs are meant to be great for doglegs and navigating around objects while others require a straighter approach to the basket or landing zone.
What is the fastest disc in golf?
The first category, speed, is the degree in which a Frisbee travels through air, and it ranges from 1 to 14. If a disc reads “14,” this is the fastest disc on the market today. This is also the Professional Disc Golf Association’s (PDGA) most legal option to use. The faster the disc, the more you will see it cut through the air with less exertion. If your disc reads “1,” you can expect the disc to need more power for it to be thrown in the wind.
What is the best number for a roller disc?
When looking for roller discs, -3 to -5 are a perfect number. Less turn-able discs are definitely more accurate in the wind.
What are the four categories of Frisbee?
These four categories are: Speed, Glide, Turn, and Fade.
Is a disc more accurate?
However, the slower the disc, the more accurate it will be . Also, if your disc travels with the wind, you can expect it to go further than you thought possible. Beginners should stick with slower discs, while professionals can handle the greater speed options.
Do disc golfers get more glide?
For the newest players, discs with more glide are very favorable for all-out distance. On the other hand, less glided discs have better accuracy, especially in situations where wind is a factor. So, the higher the number, the more glide a disc golf player will get from their Frisbee.
What do the numbers mean on Innova discs?
What do the numbers mean? The Innova Flight Ratings System was designed as a way to describe a discs intended flight. Flight Ratings are broken into four main categories: Speed, Glide, Turn, & Fade. These characteristics can be used to rate various aspects of each disc's flight.
What makes a disc Overstable?
So for a right-handed player throwing the disc using a backhand technique, if the disc tends to fly straight it would be considered a stable disc. If the disc tends to fly to the left, it is considered overstable. When the disc tends to fly to the right, it's considered understable.
What weight disc should I throw?
The most used weight class, apart from Blizzard discs, in distance throws is 165-169 grams. Players who can throw over 100 meters with drivers also use heavier weight classes, e.g. 170-172 and 173-175, latter being the heaviest weight class in drivers generally. A heavier driver is more reliable in windy conditions.
What are the best disc golf discs for beginners?
Top 15 Disc Golf Discs for Beginners MVP Spin - Speed: 3 Glide: 4 Turn: -1 Fade: 0. Latitude 64 Ruby - Speed: 3 Glide: 4 Turn: -3 Fade: 1. Discraft Magnet - Speed: 2 Glide: 3 Turn: -1 Fade: 2. Mid-Ranges. Innova Mako3 - Speed: 5 Glide: 4 Turn: 0 Fade: 0. Discraft Buzz - Speed: 5 Glide: 4 Turn: -1 Fade: 1.
What is the straightest flying disc golf disc?
ANUBIS by Infinite Discs. MAKO3 by Innova. EVIDENCE by Dynamic Discs. FD by Discmania. RIVER by Latitude 64. LEOPARD3 by Innova. BUZZZ SS by Discraft. AXIS by MVP.
How can I make my CD more Understable?
To make it more understable he presses down all the way around the rim with his thumbs.To make the disc more stable he presses up underneath the rim with his thumbs. He does this a few times going around the rim then he tests his disc to see how it flies after wards.
How do you make a disc golf disc?
For making a golf disc, an ultra-speed procedure known as 'injection molding' is adopted. The main principle of this procedure is taking a liquid plastic ingredient into a sealed mold that is generally of the multi-hollow type. The liquid plastic is refrigerated to a solid form just after being poured into the mold.
What are the four numbers on a disc golf disc?
The ratings can be categorized into four true and basic characteristics. These are speed, glide, turn, and fade.
What does speed mean on a disc?
What Does It Mean? Speed is generally the rate at which the disc can travel through the air. It can also be interpreted as how hard the disc must be thrown to perform at its maximum. The first of the four numbers you see represents the speed count. The speed rating is represented on a scale of 1 to 14.
What is the glide count in golf?
Glide refers to the golf disc’s ability to sustain loft during flight. In other words, it is the measure of how long the disc can stay up in the air. The glide count is measured in a range of 1 to 7. Palpably, 7 describes the longest glide while 1 means the shortest glide.
What does "turn" mean in golf?
Turn is often a measure of the stability of a golf disc. More turn means more under-stability. In an actual case, beginners take benefits from under-stability. These discs are easier to throw and beginners can easily get the most out of their throw combined with low speed and a high glide count.
Why is it important to have a higher glide disc?
As you can already assume, the glide is important because it keeps the golf disc in the air. If you’re among the players who’d want more distance when throwing a disc, then opting for a higher glide disc is the most evident choice. The same advice is given to the beginners and amateurs as well.
What is the difference between a fade disc and a 5 fade disc?
It usually kicks in after a disc has traveled its majority of the flight. A 1 rated fade disc will hardly have any fade effect and finish straight. On the other hand , a 5 rated fade disc will sharply hook at the left in the case of a right-hand backhand throw.
What is a lower speed disc?
Lower speed-rated discs are relatively easy to throw and control. These discs are referred to as putters. High-speed discs work as drivers. They are hard to throw and require more power to work properly. This type of discs is only recommended to throwers with excellent throwing skills.
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 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 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.
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.
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 do the 4 numbers on a Frisbee golf disc mean?
These four numbers represent different characteristics of the flight. The four numbers are: speed, glide, turn, fade. 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 does the 5th number mean on a disc?
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 is a turnover shot in disc golf?
Understable/Turnover The tendency of a disc to turn to the right during the high speed portion of the flight for a RHBH thrower. The faster the disc is thrown, the more it will turn, therefore an understable disc will turnover more upwind than downwind.
How is Disc Frisbee Golf scored?
The score for a player on a hole is the total number of throws, including penalty throws. The total score for the round is the sum of all hole scores, plus any additional penalty throws. The use of anything other than a number as a score (including the lack of a score) is subject to penalty as described below in 808.
What makes a disc Overstable?
If a disc has more air above than below, that applies downward force to the the front (or “nose”) of the disc. With the same throw but with a disc made so that more air passes under it than over it, the right edge will go up due to the upward pressure on the disc’s nose. This makes a disc overstable.
What is the most stable Innova driver?
About the Innova Krait This driver is one of the most stable drivers in the Innova line, featuring great stability at high speeds, which means it won’t turn over on you when thrown hard. This equates to better distance for those straight and level shots.
How do you 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.
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 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 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.
