Full Answer
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.
What does turn rating mean in disc golf?
So, the higher the number, the more glide a disc golf player will get from their Frisbee. Turn is the third category on the rating system. From +1 to -5, high-speed turn is the ability of the disc to turn over in flight, or head to the right for athletes who throw with their right hand.
What does the fade number mean on a disc golf disc?
The fade number corresponds with how likely or far the disc is to fade off towards the end of the throw. This range goes from 0 to 5, with disc with ranking 5 having extremely high fade. Towards the back end of a disc flight, it will typically begin to veer off in a certain direction.
What is a high speed turn in disc golf?
The high-speed turn of a disc is its ability to turn over to the right after the disc is first thrown (rhbh thrower), usually with a fair amount of speed behind the disc. Turn is represented by the numbers 1 to -5. Discs with a score closer to -5 will have more turn.
What does the numbers mean on disc golf?
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 do the 4 flight numbers mean 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 discs and how they will perform during the flight in the air.
What does the 5th number on a disc golf mean?
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.
Is a lighter or heavier disc better?
On the most basic level, lighter discs take less effort to throw than heavy discs and as a result are often more accurate. However, light weight discs are also generally affected by wind more than heavy discs so you may find heavier discs can maintain a consistent path more effectively in windy weather.
What is the most stable disc?
A disc rated 0 will finish straightest with the least fade. Discs with a low fade rating are the more understable. A disc rated 5 will fade or hook hardest at the end of the flight. Discs with a high fade rating are predictable even in wind and considered more overstable.
How do you tell if a disc is over or Understable?
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 does the last number on discraft mean?
Discraft's rating system gives a number from -3 to +3. The best way to explain this system is to think back to the 4 number system. If you add the last 2 numbers from the 4 number system (Turn and Fade) together you will approximate the number in the Discraft system.
What does speed glide turn fade mean?
Basically, how a disc is supposed to fly. Speed: how hard the disc must be thrown. Glide: how long the disc can stay in the air. Turn: how much the disc turns to the right when first thrown (rhbh thrower). Fade: how much the disc turns to the left at the end of it's flight (rhbh thrower).
What speed disc should I throw?
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.
What weight disc should a beginner use?
Simply put, Beginners should choose disc weights between 150-170 grams, with the sweet spot and good middle ground being in the low 160's. Discs that are this weight will be much easier to handle for new, slower arms, but also heavy enough for you to grow into as your arm strength inevitably increases.
Do lighter discs go 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.
What disc weight do pros use?
Most pros actually use a driver that is under 170 gram discs, because they work perfectly well to deliver distance at that weight.
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 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 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 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 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.
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 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 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.
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 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.
How fast can a disc fly?
Depending on the disc manufacturer the numbers can range from 1 to 14. The speed of the disc also indicates the disc’s purpose. Putters range from 1-3. Midranges disc has a 4 or 5 rating.
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.
Meaning Of Numbers on The Golf Disk
The number that is available on the golf disk will represent the characteristics of the disk and how it will fly in the air as it will be the flight rating system. It will also represent the speed of the disc in the air, glide, and fade as well.
Purchasing Discs Suitable for Your Style
As in the market, there are a lot of discs available however you need to choose one as per, you’re playing style. If you know about the glide only then you can decide if you want the disc to cover a longer distance in the air.
Comparing Discs
If you see two discs and they have different numbers on them, you will get confused as to what those numbers signify and why they are different. So, if you have an idea about the flight rating, only then you will be able to differentiate between both the discs. Let suppose two discs have different numbers as 12 and 13.
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.
