Full Answer
What do the numbers on a disc golf disc mean?
Many people ask, “what do the numbers on a disc golf disc mean?” These numbers relay important information on the design of the disc, giving information about speed, glide, turn, and fade.
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.
Does the weight of your disc golf disc matter?
Simply put, yes, the weight of your disc golf disc matters and can significantly affect the flight of your golf disc. On the most basic level, lighter discs take less effort to throw than heavy discs and as a result are often more accurate.
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 do the numbers mean on disc golfs?
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 distance in disc golf?
Typical Distance A seasoned disc golfer with average power will generally max out around 400 feet/122 meters at most.
Do lighter or heavier discs go further?
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 gram of disc should I use?
Competing players use the heaviest, 178-180 grams, weight class mids in general. The 150 class and 165-169 grams weight classes are best for junior players and beginners. The most common misconception is that heavier discs fly further. Lighter discs work well for players at all levels.
How far should a beginner throw a disc?
According to the Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA), you can expect beginners to throw disc golf discs at an average distance of around 175 to 250 feet. This is typically approximately 80% of their ultimate throwing distance, becoming farther as they gain more experience in the sport.
How do pros throw so far disc golf?
0:361:39How do pro disc golfers throw so far with such little effort? - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWhen pros throw far they're pulling the disc in front of their chest here and they're not rotatingMoreWhen pros throw far they're pulling the disc in front of their chest here and they're not rotating their shoulders too fast because that's going to bend the elbow.
What weight disc do pros throw?
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.
How do I get more distance in disc golf?
0:545:30How To Get More Distance in Disc Golf - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipMore stability more fade which is another predictable factor. So when approaching the basket. YouMoreMore stability more fade which is another predictable factor. So when approaching the basket. You often want to throw with the nose. Up so that you can guarantee a closer proximity to the basket.
What disc golf goes the farthest?
The Best Distance Drivers According to Star RatingsRankDisc MoldWeighted score1Innova Destroyer5.442Innova Wraith5.013Infinite Discs Aztec4.774Discraft Zeus4.656 more rows•Aug 17, 2020
Are heavier discs better?
Simply put, yes, the weight of your disc golf disc matters and can significantly affect the flight of your golf disc. On the most basic level, lighter discs take less effort to throw than heavy discs and as a result are often more accurate.
How many discs should I carry?
But a good rule of thumb: you should always carry at least six discs with you. Two drivers, two mid-range, and two putters.
How do I choose the right disc?
How to pick out discs using the flight ratingsSpeed ranges 1 to 14. Speed is just about the single most important factor when looking for disc golf discs. ... Glide ranges 1 to 7. ... Turn ranges 1 to -5. ... Fade ranges from 0 to 5. ... Don't worry about what the pros throw… ... Skip the drivers. ... Weight matters. ... Plastic matters.More items...
What is the lightest disc in golf?
150 class. A disc that weighs 150 grams or below falls under this category. These are the lightest golf discs available. It can be used to cross a long distance. These are also easy to throw. So for younger players or the beginners, these discs can be a good option.
What is overstable disc golf?
Overstable refers to a flight that turns left. Finding the middle ground is what a lot of people look for, especially when you are just staring. Many of the pro golfers ignore lightweight discs. That is fine for pros, but you will want to start with lighter discs such as 166 grams.
How much does a putter weigh?
Max weight for a putter is usually between 174, 176 grams. 170-172 grams and 173-175 grams do fall under the category of appropriate weight classes for putters for most players. Light putters would be a good option for young players.
What are the different types of discs?
There are three categories of discs, including putters, mid-range discs and drivers. You have to select them for different purposes, and many of the features will differ based on the type you are choosing.
Why do people use heavy discs in games?
Once a player knows the basics, he or she can start using heavy-discs to develop skills . Lightweight discs are easy to throw and easy to control.
Which disc is more comfortable to throw?
Disc with more turn is more comfortable to throw for the beginners. As lighter disc usually achieve more turns, choose one of them. You have to play on the field to understand it because the experience is something that can provide better knowledge about disc golf weight for beginners.
Does a heavier disc spin easier?
Spin. Comparing to a disc that is light in weight, heavy disc requires more strength to get the same spin. Being a beginner, you probably will not have the snap to throw a heavier one. A lighter one will spin easier with the same amount of power.
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 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 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 does a high fade rating mean?
A higher fade rating means that as the disc slows down the more likely the disc is to hook. For a right-handed player throwing backhanded, this means that with a high fade rating the disc will hook to the left. Players wanting to throw a skip shot would use a disc with more 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.
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.
Which way does the disc go in a Frisbee?
Right-handed players, releasing the disc with their right hand (backhand throw), cause a clockwise rotation in the disc. As a result, the flight of a frisbee always ends with a curve to the left, as shown in the filghtchart.
What is it called when a disc turns to the right?
Discs that turn to the right are called understable discs. These fall within the digits -1 to -3, where the digit -1 has a slight turn and -3 a heavy turn. Usually, these discs also turn back to the left at the end of their flight, but this depends on how vertical a disc is in the air.
Why are understable discs easier to throw?
Understable discs are simply easier to throw when you’re not fully in control of the technique yet. This makes the game more fun to play (because you simply throw further) and you learn the technique better in a correct way.
What is a frisbee disc?
Frisbees are round discs of relatively light material. They are meant to be thrown. Some even far, such as distance drivers. There are several forces at play with such a disc:
What is a mid range disc?
Mid-range discs and putters are lower speed discs. Therefore, these discs require less speed during the throw to get that correct flight through the air. This makes them easier to use and better to learn the technique.
Is disc stability relative?
It is good to know that these terms are relative. The stability is different for each type of disc, but can also differ in the hands of different players. Discs feel a lot less overstable for players with a razor-sharp technique and strong backhand than for players who are still at the beginning of their learning process.
How many 1000 rated disc golf players are there?
So what is a good player rating if a ‘good’ scratch player will score 1000?
How to calculate your disc golf rating
Now you know how the ratings are calculated – how do you calculate your own rating?
Who is the best disc golfer?
With only 0.3% of players sitting with ratings over that magical 1000 score mark – who is the best disc golf player?
How much does a disc golf disc weigh?
There are a few other weight specifications for approved golf discs, but those details are beyond the scope of this article. Most discs weigh between 160 and 180 grams ...
What are the factors to consider when selecting a disc golf driver?
When selecting the best weight for a disc golf driver, the most common factors to consider are distance and wind resistance. As mentioned above, light weight golf discs have the potential to fly further. However, wind is often a larger factor to consider for drivers because drivers are usually in the air for a longer length ...
Why use a light weight putter?
There is certainly an advantage of using a light weight putter to reduce the power required to reach the basket, but this advantage is usually outweighed by potential impact of the wind. Beginning disc golfers usually see the largest benefit from light weight putters, or occaisionally disc golfers using a putter for approach shots.
Does disc golf disc matter?
Simply put, yes, the weight of your disc golf disc matters and can significantly affect the flight of your golf disc. 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 ...
Do lighter discs turn faster?
Although not always guaranteed, lighter discs often have a tenda ncy to turn more at high speeds than heavier discs.
Is it easier to put a midrange disc on a line?
Here, the balance between effort to throw the disc and consistency is crucial. Lower weight midrange discs are easier to put on a specific line since more attention can go into proper form. However, midrange drivers are slower than distance drivers and often have more rounded noses so the wind can have more amplified effects on the flight path ...
What happens if you throw a disc with a negative turn rating?
If a disc has a negative rating for turn, and you aren't seeing any turn when you throw it, you might not be getting it up to the desired speed. The same can be said for fade. If you're seeing more fade than you'd expect, you might be struggling to get that disc up to the desired speed. Flight Rating: Glide.
What is the speed rating of a disc?
Speed ratings range from 1 to 14. Discs with a lower speed rating tend to be easier to throw, but might not go as far. If you're looking for more distance, speed ratings on the higher side of that range will accomplish that, but could be harder to throw. The harder a disc is to throw, the less room there is for error.
What is the turn rating of a FD3?
As a comparison, the Discmania FD3 has a 0 rating for turn. Without even throwing the two discs, you can expect more turn on the FD than the FD3. One reason why you see most beginner discs with negative turn ratings is the result if you aren't able to get a disc up to speed.
What does fade mean on a disc?
Fade can be also be described as the low speed stability. As the flight of a disc begins to end and the disc begins to lose power, the fade will begin. For discs with a higher fade rating, like the Discmania PD2, you might see the fade begin earlier than a disc with a lower rating and you'll see it finish harder.
What happens when you throw a disc at full speed?
Using the Discmania CD3 as an example, when thrown at full power, or more specifically, the speed that the disc wants for it's desired flight, you'll see a good turn begin and the disc will move to the right at the start of the flight. Let's say you aren't able to get the CD3 up to full speed.
What does each number on a disc mean?
For any Discmania disc, you'll find a series of four numbers and each one represents something about that the flight of that disc. Many in disc golf will always look for flight ratings and will always be curious about them for any new disc they are interested in. Others tend to ignore them.
Why don't you see distance drivers recommended for beginners?
You can also think of speed as the amount of power you need to put behind the disc in order to get the intended flight out of it. This is one reason why you don't see distance drivers recommended for beginners.
What determines a disc's flight characteristics?
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. Two of the most common and sought after stability types are Understable and Overstable.
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 ...
How to 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.
How does plastic affect disc stability?
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. Dome height may also play a role in disc stability. Flatter discs tend to be more overstable and discs with a higher dome tend to be stable.
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.
What makes a disc fly more overstable?
A more concave bend in the wing shape will make the disc fly more overstable, while flatter wing shapes will be less stable. Some discs are beaded. A bead is a small added rim of plastic at the bottom of the disc. Beaded discs tend to be more stable to overstable. Beading is most common on putters.
Why does a disc move when it is slow?
The science behind why a disc moves the way it does is because when the rim of the disc pushes air over its top, which results in less air pressure above the disc than below it.