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what does overstable versus stable in disc golf mean?

by Julien Gorczany Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago

Overstable: An overstable disc will fade to the left at the end of its flight path when thrown RHBH. Understable: An understable disc will turn to the right at the end of its flight path when thrown RHBH. Stable: A stable disc will generally fly straight without noticable fade or turn.

Brief Description of Terms
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. Overstable refers to a flight that turns left ( RHBH throw).
Jul 22, 2022

Full Answer

What does overstable mean in disc golf?

Like we discussed before, overstable refers to a disc that tends to fly to the right when thrown by a right-handed backhanded thrower. Discs that are overstable would have a turn rating of 1. When thrown at high speeds, overstable discs are less likely to turn over than stable and understable discs.

How do you tell if a disc is stable or unstable?

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 difference between understable and stable discs?

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.

What is stability in disc golf?

Stability is a disc golf term used to describe the flight path of a disc, specifically the tendency of the disc to fly in a specific direction after it leaves a player’s hand. 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.

What is an understable disc?

What does it mean when a disc slows down?

How to get disc to bank to the right?

What happens when you throw a disc on a hyzer?

Which is more stable, a firebird or a valkyrie?

What happens when you hit a disc in a high speed turn?

Is a firebird more overstable than a valkyrie?

See more

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How do you tell if a disc is stable or Overstable or Understable?

One quick way to tell if a disc is Overstable or Understable is to look at its Turn rating. 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.

When would you use a stable disc?

What Stability Is Best For Beginners? Generally, understable discs are the best option for beginners with lower arm speed because they are simply easier to throw farther. Because these discs require less power and less release accuracy, they are more forgiving and give newer players more distance.

What does it mean for a disc to be Overstable?

Overstable is a term that describes a disc's stability, its overall flight pattern, i.e. where it lands compared to from where it was thrown. Overstable Discs: Turn opposite the spin when thrown flat, straight and with average power. That means. RHBH (right hand back hand) throw will spin right and turn left.

How does an Understable disc fly?

An understable disc flies with the opposite characteristics than an overstable disc. It has a tendency to turn to the right while the disc is at its highest speed. How much it turns depends on the third number in the four-number flight rating system. Typically, understable discs have a turn rating of -2, -3, or -4.

Why do pros throw Overstable discs?

When thrown on a hyzer, an overstable disc wants to find the ground. The more stability a disc has, the quicker it will want to dump out of the air and land. This means that the less stability the disc has, the longer it will take to find the ground when thrown on a hyzer.

Do Understable discs fly farther?

Understable discs go farther than overstable discs of a similar speed, so an understable mid can encroach on some fairway drivers, and have zero fade.

What makes a disc stable?

The degree to which a disc resists high speed turn determines the disc's stability. Discs that have a lot of high speed turn are understable. Discs that have a moderate amount of high speed turn are stable, and discs that resist turning right even at high speeds are overstable.

Do heavier 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.

Why are Understable discs better for beginners?

* Understable discs are the most beginner friendly. * They turn in the same direction of their spin during the initial stages of their flight when thrown flat, straight and with average power.

What is a Hyzer Flip?

A Hyzer Flip is very similar to an S-Shot but follows a straighter line. An understable disc is thrown very fast with a hyzer angle of release. The disc turns or “flips” up and brings its nose down in the process. This allows for a long straight glide.

What is the most stable disc?

The 13 best stable distance driversInfinite Discs Pharaoh (13, 6, -1, 2) ... Innova Shryke (13, 6, -2, 2) ... Discraft Crank (13, 5, -2, 2) ... Dynamic Discs Renegade (11, 5, -2, 3) ... Innova Beast (10, 5, -2, 2) ... Latitude 64 Flow (11, 6, -0.5, 2) ... Westside Discs Sword (12, 5, -0.5, 2) ... MVP Octane (13, 5, -1, 2)More items...

Does more spin make a disc more stable?

A disc with more RPMs will act more understable than its slower spinning counterpart not to mention it should travel faster and further. You will have to throw the disc harder to get it to travel at the same speed with less spin and still it will not travel as far.

What makes a disc over or under stable?

The degree to which a disc resists high speed turn determines the disc's stability. Discs that have a lot of high speed turn are understable. Discs that have a moderate amount of high speed turn are stable, and discs that resist turning right even at high speeds are overstable.

How do you throw a stable disc?

1:513:54How to Throw Over Stable Discs| Disc Golf| - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipI'm going to lean back a bit and throw it on a hard flex line. And the stability of the disc willMoreI'm going to lean back a bit and throw it on a hard flex line. And the stability of the disc will let it ride. And then start to pan out flat. And then come back to the left.

What is the most stable disc golf driver?

The 13 best stable distance driversInfinite Discs Pharaoh (13, 6, -1, 2) ... Innova Shryke (13, 6, -2, 2) ... Discraft Crank (13, 5, -2, 2) ... Dynamic Discs Renegade (11, 5, -2, 3) ... Innova Beast (10, 5, -2, 2) ... Latitude 64 Flow (11, 6, -0.5, 2) ... Westside Discs Sword (12, 5, -0.5, 2) ... MVP Octane (13, 5, -1, 2)More items...

What numbers make a disc Understable?

Ratings are from -5 to +1. Lower ratings of -5 to -2 contribute to understability. A disc with a -5 rating offers the least resistance therefore will turn the easiest while a +1 rating is most resistant to turning. Discs rated -5 to -2 make good roller discs and are considered understable.

What are overstable discs used for?

Overstable discs work great for spike hyzers and skip shots. They are recommended for more advanced players because those players tend to have a higher arm speed. The reason overstable disc work better for higher arm speeds players is they won’t turn over as easily. Similarly, overstable discs are more accurate when thrown in windy conditions.

What physical properties make a disc overstable?

There are several disc properties that can affect the stability of a disc. For instance, higher speed discs with wide rims tend to be more overstable. Discs that are shaped like a dome tend to be less overstable or more understable. Discs with beaded edges tend to be more overstable. The plastic type used for the disc can also affect the stability of the disc which we will talk about in the next section.

What does stability mean?

Stability is a disc golf term used to describe the flight path of a disc, specifically the tendency of the disc to fly in a specific direction after it leaves a player’s hand. 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 does overstable mean?

Like we discussed before, overstable refers to a disc that tends to fly to the right when thrown by a right-handed backhanded thrower. Discs that are overstable would have a turn rating of 1. When thrown at high speeds, overstable discs are less likely to turn over than stable and understable discs.

What plastics are the most overstable?

When it comes to Innova plastics, the Champion and Metal Flake plastic are the most overstable.

What is the turn rating of a disc?

The turn rating system is a scale between 1 and – 5. Discs with a turn rating of 1 are considered overstable. Discs with a turn rating of 0 are considered stable. Finally, discs with a turn rating of -1 through -5 are considered understable.

Who is the father of discs?

Dave Dunipace the founder of Innova Champion Discs and the father of the modern disc says about overstability “A more reliable marker is the parting line height which is the separation line on the nose of the disc.” To go into what Dave said a little further, discs with a higher parting line will be more overstable and discs with a lower parting line will be more understable.

What Is Disc Stability?

Disc stability describes how a disc’s physical design affects the way that it flies. It is also commonly associated with high-speed turn because it describes how the disc will turn in the air. High speed turn refers to how the disc will behave while it is moving at high speed, but at the end of the flight, the disc slows down. During the slower part of the flight, low speed fade describes how the disc will behave.

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 ...

What are the two stability types?

Two of the most common and sought after stability types are Understable and Overstable . If you’re trying to figure out how to tell if a disc is Overstable or Understable , let’s cover that now:

Why is it important to know what disc to use?

There are a bunch of factors that determine a disc’s flight characteristics, but one of the most commonly referred to is a disc’s stability. Knowing a disc’s stability is a huge factor in knowing how the disc will fly.

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.

How does the dome height affect stability?

The dome height will also affect how blunt the disc is, which can also affect stability. Flat discs tend to have noses that are blunter, while discs with a higher dome tend to have noses that are more rounded. Blunter noses tend to be more overstable. Similarly, wing shape can affect stability.

How does plastic affect stability?

More durable types of plastics will tend to be more overstable. Less durable plastics tend to be more understable. 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.

How many turns does an understable disc have?

understable discs usually have -2 or more turns. They can be turned over swimmingly and hold the road in addition take a protracted time to fade.

Which direction do understable discs tend to go?

The flight pattern of the understable disc is to the left, whereas the overstable discs tend toward the right.

What is a glide disc?

Glide describes the discs capacity to hold loft all through flight. Discs with greater drift are excellent for beginner players, and for generating the most distance. Beginners looking greater distance ought to select discs with greater waft. Discs with much less waft are greater correct in excessive wind situations. Glide is rated from 1 to 7.

What is the glide rating on a disc?

The glide rating is critical to grasp before shopping for a disc. This rating varies from one to 7. Lower the gliding; less are going to be the glide effect. Low rated disc drop early. And once we observe high rated disc glides can be additional. The disc will take a more distant flight.

What are the flight ratings on Innova discs?

The Innova Flight Ratings System was designed as the way to explain a disc's supposed flight. Flight Ratings are broken into four main categories: Speed, Glide, Turn, & Fade. These characteristics may be wont to rate numerous aspects of every disc’s flight. every disc contains a distinct "personality"; the flight path that creates that disc is unique. Flight Ratings can be used to compare Innova golf discs to each other. alternative corporations have adopted an analogous system, however it’s necessary to notice that flight ratings shouldn’t be used to compare discs between brands since each company rates discs differently. We've over ninety disc models to satisfy a large variety of players and throwing techniques. to find out additional concerning what every of those characteristics mean, ask the descriptions below. Flight Ratings are supported mitt backhand (RHBH) throws.

What is overstable disc?

When we talk about the stability of a disc, for example, how overstable a disc is, we are referring to a discs tendency to resist turning to the right on a Right Hand Back Hand (RHBH) throw during the high speed portion of the flight, and fade hard to the left as the disc slows down.

What makes a disc more overstable?

Tailwind – Since a tailwind decreases the amount of air flowing around the disc, a disc becomes more overstable. That makes an understable disc easier to throw. Overstable discs would just make a hard left turn, but an understable disc can still have a long flight.

What is the effective speed of a disc in a tailwind?

Conversely, a tailwind in the above scenario would mean your effective speed of the disc would be 40 mph. An overstable disc thrown at that speed would starting fading very quickly, while an understable disc would fly just fine at that speed, making it the disc of choice in a tailwind.

What is an overhand shot?

Overhand shot – similar to the forehand shot, the overhand shot (thumber or tomahawk), can be thrown with an overstable disc to get a faster rotation and more narrow overall shot.

Why does an uphill shot fade faster?

Uphill shot – Since an uphill throw uses more energy to gain in elevation, the disc will slow down faster and start to fade earlier. Throwing an understable disc gives the disc a longer flight before it starts to fade.

Why do people prefer overstable discs for flick shots?

Forehand (flick) shot – Though not necessary, a lot of people prefer more overstable discs for their flick shot because of the increased torque and speed that is transferred to the disc. Then they don’t have to worry as much about the disc and its ability to fight the turn right out of their hand.

How does a disc fly?

As the disc slows, the forces causing it to turn to the right no longer overpower the forces causing it to turn to the left, and the disc begins to fade to the left until it falls to the ground. That’s an oversimplified explanation about the flight, but for our purposes, it works. To be fair, the physics behind the flight of the disc is academic when it comes to selecting discs. We don’t need to know why a discs flies the way it does (although, it is interesting to study), we just need to know that certain discs do fly a certain way.

What Are Overstable Golf Discs?

Overstable denotes the name of golf discs that fly right when a right-handed backhanded thrower throws them. These discs have a turn rating of 1, and when they are thrown at high speeds, they rarely turn over. Overstable discs include multiple physical properties that depend on the manufacturer and the desired stability level.

Why Understable Discs Are the Best For Beginners?

Understable discs are highly recommended for beginner disc golfers. As a beginner, you will know little no nothing concerning the game stability. And since learning about the game stability takes time, you wouldn’t want to start with a disc that would make the exercise impossible. Using understable discs get you to master the game mechanisms and master the art of playing the game with optimal stability. As you keep on mastering the game and learning all the fundamentals, you can start playing with overstable discs.

What is an understable disc?

Understable discs are like the soft spinning tops and overstable discs are like the hard spinning tops. If you throw them like different discs they will behave similarly, but if you throw them like identical discs they will behave differently: An overstable disc thrown flat and gently will wobble and hook short while an understable disc thrown flat and hard will wobble and slice long.

What does it mean when a disc slows down?

When a disc slows down below the cruising speed, it will begin to "fade" from flat (--) to a hyzer angle (/ for RHBH). This is low speed fade. A disc flying flat will begin to bank left (RHBH) and an anhyzer shot (that is already banking to the right) will progress to flat to banking to the left.

How to get disc to bank to the right?

Likewise, you can achieve high speed turn without actually banking to the right by throwing the disc on a hyzer and allowing the disc to "turn" up to flat.

What happens when you throw a disc on a hyzer?

You also know that throwing any disc on a hyzer (wing down) will make it go left. So if you want to make a 90 degree turn, or if you want it to practically boomerang around an obstacle, you could choose to throw an overstable disc on a hyzer and get there faster. Hyzer spike.

Which is more stable, a firebird or a valkyrie?

In the teebird/eagle example, the teebird would be more high speed stable, while the eagle would be more low speed stable. For the other examples, the firebird is more high speed stable AND more low speed stable than the valkyrie. The valkyrie is more high speed stable and low speed stable than the roadrunner.

What happens when you hit a disc in a high speed turn?

During the high speed turn, the disc , if viewed from the back so that the disc looks like this - from you perspective, will rotate. For a right handed back hand (or left handed forehand) the disc will rotate towards this orientation , causing the disc to potentially bank to the right.

Is a firebird more overstable than a valkyrie?

You won't find many (if any) people who would argue if I told you that a firebird is more overstable than a valkyrie. Given the same throw, a firebird will likely not even be close to hitting the high speed turn phase, and will fall into the low speed fade much sooner. A valkyrie will be able to achieve high speed turn at much more reasonable speeds (a beginner may not be able to hit these speeds easily, but most players with some experience can). The disc will also stay in its cruising speed range much later in flight, and may not slow down to fade until right at the end of its flight. In this example, the firebird is more overstable and the valkyrie is more understable.

What is an understable disc?

Understable discs are like the soft spinning tops and overstable discs are like the hard spinning tops. If you throw them like different discs they will behave similarly, but if you throw them like identical discs they will behave differently: An overstable disc thrown flat and gently will wobble and hook short while an understable disc thrown flat and hard will wobble and slice long.

What does it mean when a disc slows down?

When a disc slows down below the cruising speed, it will begin to "fade" from flat (--) to a hyzer angle (/ for RHBH). This is low speed fade. A disc flying flat will begin to bank left (RHBH) and an anhyzer shot (that is already banking to the right) will progress to flat to banking to the left.

How to get disc to bank to the right?

Likewise, you can achieve high speed turn without actually banking to the right by throwing the disc on a hyzer and allowing the disc to "turn" up to flat.

What happens when you throw a disc on a hyzer?

You also know that throwing any disc on a hyzer (wing down) will make it go left. So if you want to make a 90 degree turn, or if you want it to practically boomerang around an obstacle, you could choose to throw an overstable disc on a hyzer and get there faster. Hyzer spike.

Which is more stable, a firebird or a valkyrie?

In the teebird/eagle example, the teebird would be more high speed stable, while the eagle would be more low speed stable. For the other examples, the firebird is more high speed stable AND more low speed stable than the valkyrie. The valkyrie is more high speed stable and low speed stable than the roadrunner.

What happens when you hit a disc in a high speed turn?

During the high speed turn, the disc , if viewed from the back so that the disc looks like this - from you perspective, will rotate. For a right handed back hand (or left handed forehand) the disc will rotate towards this orientation , causing the disc to potentially bank to the right.

Is a firebird more overstable than a valkyrie?

You won't find many (if any) people who would argue if I told you that a firebird is more overstable than a valkyrie. Given the same throw, a firebird will likely not even be close to hitting the high speed turn phase, and will fall into the low speed fade much sooner. A valkyrie will be able to achieve high speed turn at much more reasonable speeds (a beginner may not be able to hit these speeds easily, but most players with some experience can). The disc will also stay in its cruising speed range much later in flight, and may not slow down to fade until right at the end of its flight. In this example, the firebird is more overstable and the valkyrie is more understable.

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