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what do the 4 numbers on golf discs mean

by Jaylen Mueller Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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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 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 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 does the final number on a disc mean?

The final number on our discs is fade and has a rating of 0 to 5. 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.

What is 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. Turn and disc stability go hand in hand.

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What do the numbers on the front of a disc mean?

The four-number system. For the most part, the majority of the discs you're going to find will use the four-number system. The numbers are usually printed right on the front of the disc going in order from left to right. They stand for speed, glide, turn, and fade.

How do the numbers work in 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.

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.

How do I identify my disc golf disc?

The easiest and most popular way to mark your disc is by writing your name, phone number, and PDGA number (if you have one) on the bottom of the disc with a Sharpie. This helps to distinguish your disc as unique. It also provides contact information so that the disc can be returned to you in case it gets lost.

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.

How do you tell if a disc is over or Understable?

A short cut method for determining whether this disc is over or understable is to add the last two numbers in the flight numbers, in this case: -2+2=0. If the resulting number is positive the disc is said to be overstable.

What's the best disc golf driver?

The 17 Best Disc Golf Distance DriversInnova Boss – 13, 5, -2, 3.Discraft Zeus – 12, 5, -1, 3.Innova Destroyer – 12, 5, -1, 3.Dynamic Discs Sheriff – 13, 5, -1, 2.Infinite Discs Pharaoh – 13, 6, -1, 2.Innova Wraith – 11, 5, -1, 3.Legacy Cannon – 14, 5, -3, 3.Innova Shryke – 13, 6, -2, 2.More items...

What are the top three leading disc golf companies?

Top Three Brands in Other CategoriesBest Disc Golf Brand Marketing/BrandingRankBrandAverage Score1Discraft3.07/42Discmania3.00/43Innova2.91/4May 3, 2022

What is the most Understable disc?

The Mamba is one of the most understable disc golf discs ever made and sports a ridiculous -5 turn rating (turn ranges from 1 to -5, with -5 being the most turn). The Mamba is the best disc on the market for roller shots.

What disc has 7 Glide?

Disc Information The Latitude 64 River is one the highest rated fairway drivers. It has incredible glide and is a great driver for beginners. Latitude gives this disc a glide rating of 7, higher than any other disc golf disc. Intermediate and advanced players will be pleased with the River's accuracy and consistency.

What disc has the highest glide?

Highest Glide Discs Comparison TableProductGlidePriceLatitude 64 Retro Burst River7 glideCheck PriceInnova Aero6 glideCheck PriceInnova Tern6 glideCheck PriceInnova Star Shryke6 glideCheck Price1 more row

What weight disc do pros use?

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.

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?

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?

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.

Why is speed important in disc golf?

Why? Because it more or less determines how well the rest of the three factors will work when you are in the game.

What does "glide" mean in golf?

In golf disk golf, glide means the duration your disk can stay in the flight after the throw. Glide is generally measured between the numbers 1 and 7. Here, the glide of 7 means the disk can stay up in the air for the maximum time, whereas the glide of 1 is the lowest.

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.

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.

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 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.

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