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?
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. ...
What do you need to know about disc golf?
What Do You Need to Play Disc Golf?
- First things first: you need some discs. Discs are important in disc golf. ...
- Next up, a bag. After you grab a few discs, you’ll need a good bag to store them in. ...
- Miscellaneous accessories. ...
- Finding a course. ...
- 5 general improvement tips for new disc golfers. ...
- Overall. ...
- Great job! ...
- Related Content. ...
- Don’t forget. ...
What is the best golf disc?
Best Overall: Innova Champion Roc3 Innova is one of the best and most popular disc golf manufacturers on the market. Available in three weight ranges — 165-170, 170-175 and 175-180 grams — this disc is perfect for control shots and called Innova's “go-to mid-range” disc.
Which disc golf brand is best?
Best Golf Deals: Save up to 31% on golf equipment from top brands including Callaway and Titleist at Walmart - including a wide range of golf clubs, balls, bags, apparel, and disc golf products ...
What does the numbers mean on a 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 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 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 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.
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 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 is RHBH disc golf?
RHBH – Short for 'right-handed backhand'. A type of throw where a person throws with their right hand with a backhand throw. Other throws are RHFH for 'right-handed forehand', and the equivalent throws for left-handed players, LHBH and LHFH. When discussing disc flight it is important to make this distinction.
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 is hyzer and Anhyzer?
The difference between hyzer and anhyzer is how the disc is released in an angle by the disc golf player. The hyzer throw happens when the top of the disc is facing away from the thrower. The opposite is anhyzer, where the top of the disc will face the thrower upon release.
What do disc numbers mean for forehand?
A low number indicates a disc which will not fly far. Higher numbers mean a disc will fly far. Much effort is required to make low glide discs fly far, while minimal effort is required to throw high glide discs far. It is therefore much easier to judge where a low glide disc will land, than a high glide disc.
How do ratings in disc golf work?
Your rating for each round is based on how well you shoot relative to a hypothetical scratch player defined as someone with a rating of 1000. The automated calculation uses scores from at least 5 players with ratings over 699 whose rating is based on at least 8 rounds of information.
What weight discs do pros throw?
Many of the competing players use under 170 gram drivers, especially when throwing uphill or in moderate wind conditions. The most used weight class, apart from Blizzard discs, in distance throws is 165-169 grams.
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.
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 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 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 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 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 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 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.
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.
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.
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.
