I’ve been playing disc golf for nearly a year and a half.1I actually watched it on YouTube for over a year before ever playing, so I learned a lot about the sport first. It’s an incredibly fun activity that I play mostly by myself in California, and love meeting up with friends to play while back in Minnesota. It’s relatively cheap to get into, lets me explore fun bits of nature, I get to directly compete against myself, and have a clear way of seeing whether I’m improving.
My set of discs has mostly stabilized (with the exception of losing a disc here or there), so I thought it would be good to talk through each disc and why I like to use them.
Terminology
Here’s a quick guide so we’re all talking about the same thing. Discs are roughly broken up into four categories:
- Distance Drivers
- Fairway Drivers
- Midrange
- Putter/Approach
Each disc (or at least every disc I use) has flight numbers, a series of four numbers that roughly describe the characteristics of the disc in the air.
- Speed: How fast do you need to throw this disc for the other numbers to be correct? Speed is actually a measure of the rim width of the disc, and in general a higher speed means the disc can travel farther. You’ll see most flight numbers range from 1 to 14.
- Glide: How well does this disc “float” in the air? A glide of 5 acts like you’d expect a spinning disc to fly, whereas a glide of 1 really likes to fall to the ground quickly. Some discs claim a glide of 6 or even 7.
- Turn: When you initally through the disc (right-hand backhand), how much does the disc initally want to go to the right? A negative number indicates a tendency to turn to the right. Turn typically ranges from -4 to 1.
- Fade: At the end of its flight, how hard does the disc fight to the ground and oppose any turn? A higher number means it “falls” to the ground more than gliding to the ground. Fade typically ranges from 0 to 4 or 5, although no disc truly has 0 fade.
In addition, people tend to summarize the turn/fade characteristics using the words “overstable”, “stable”, and “understable”.
- Overstable means the disc has very little turn, and high fade. These discs require the most power to throw, and are very reliable in all wind conditions.
- Stable means the disc is relatively straight, so it has not a lot of turn, and not a lot of fade.
- Understable means the disc has a tendency to turn much more, and fade less.
With that out of the way, we can cover my bag!
Distance Drivers
Prodigy Airborn Falcor (13 6 -1 2.5): This is my highest speed disc. For a stronger player, this is a good far-flying distance driver they can control. For me, since it’s not “broken in”, it remains quite overstable. I’d say the numbers are closer to (13 6 0 3) for me. I use this for distance shots that have to go left, and long forehands. The high glide number makes it less likely to “dive” to the ground.
Innova Star Destroyer (12 5 -1 3): This disc is a touch less overstable than the Falcor, and I find it more comfortable to really tear into it on a backhand. Plus, it has a cool rainbow bottom stamp. However, it does dive to the ground a little bit faster than the Falcor.
Dynamic Discs Fuzion Trespass (12 5 -1 2.5): This disc got broken in much faster, and is actually a stable-to-understable distance driver. It is the disc I have thrown the absolute farthest, so in an open field I can break this guy out and go to town.
Innova Star Wraith (11 5 -1 3): I found this disc in the winter in Minnesota with no name on it. It’s since become one of my go-to distance drivers. It has slowly broken in, getting a bit more turn as each month passes by. It’s comfortable in the hand for both backhand and forehand.
Dynamic Discs Lucid Sergeant (11 4 0 2.5): I initially purchased this as a forehand disc, because it has a flat profile and was pretty overstable. However, it’s broken in and is now an incredible, controllable driver. I can throw it on several angles, and it will hold.
Fairway Drivers
Innova Champion Thunderbird (9 5 0 2): Champion plastic is known as being very overstable, and this disc is no exception. It is similar to the Falcor for my use, but a bit more comfortable due to the smaller rim.
Dynamic Discs Lucid Escape (9 5 -1 2): My farthest-flying control driver. It is a stable-to-understable disc, able to hit a great line. It glides forever — the glide should definitely by 6. I can throw it nearly as far as my Trespass, which is ridiculous.
Innova Champion Sidewinder (9 5 -3 1): Another found disc. If I’m throwing a backhand and need a disc that will go right no matter what, this is my choice. It’s mostly a utility disc, but it sure has its utility.
Innova Champion Firebird (9 3 0 4): The best utility disc. Very overstable, I can throw overhands with it, and hard forehands. It’s my get-out-of-jail disc. I always have a spare one in case my current one gets too beat up or lost.
Innova Star Firebird (9 3 0 4): Another Firebird? You bet. The Star plastic is not nearly as stable as Champion. It can turn just a little bit, and fight back to the left. This is more of a disc I could drive with to shape a hole, rather than get myself out of a tough situation.
Legacy Icon Phenom (8 5 -1 2): An excellent control driver. We’re getting into my “I love throwing these super straight at the basket” discs, and this is the one I can throw the farthest. It is stable in the truest sense: I can throw it dead straight with very little movement to the left or right.
Legacy Pinnacle Patriot (7 5 -2 1): Similar to the Phenom, but just a bit less stable. This disc initially sold me on the Legacy brand. It’s a super straight disc when I angle it correctly, or I can throw it on a great understable turnover line when needed. It’s one of the most comfortable discs in my hand.
Legacy Icon Rival (7 5 0 2): Less stable than the numbers imply, this disc will definitely turn a little bit to the right. However, unlike the Patriot, it will fight back to the left at the end which is a very nice feature.
Innova Glow Teebird (7 5 0 2): An overstable version of the Rival. Despite it having the same flight numbers, this disc will not go to the right unless I force it to on an angle. It will always fight back left, so it’s good to use in a stronger wind.
Midranges
Legacy Pinnacle Pursuit (5 3 0 3): While it’s a midrange speed, I use it almost exclusively on approaches. It’s good for shorter forehands where I need to flex it around a tree or other obstacle. In other words, it’s like a shorter distance Firebird.
Dynamic Discs Fuzion Truth (5 5 0 2): A workhorse midrange for me off the tee. I can throw it hard and get it to turn a little, or smooth it out there for a beautiful flight with immense glide. A bit touchy in the wind, but fun to throw. I also have a backup of this.
RPM Piwakawaka (4 5 0 0): How can you not love that name? This is an understable midrange whose real numbers are more like (4 5 -1 0). It falls to the right on a backhand, and is useful for a few particular shots. I consider this a midrange due to the slimmer profile compared to the Harp below.
Putt and Approach
Westside Discs BT Medium Harp (4 3 0 3): A taller approach disc that is pretty overstable at low speeds, or a straight flying disc I can drive with at full power. It feels comfortable in the hand no matter how I throw it. When in doubt, I use this within 200 feet.
Axiom Electron Firm Envy (3 3 -1 2): My main “driving” putter that flies straight, can be put on different angles, and is very trustworthy on shorter holes.
Westside Discs BT Medium Shield (3 3 0 1): An excellent approach disc for me. I can throw it incredibly straight, or on various angles, at short distances. It’s comfortable in my hand, and the medium-soft plastic makes sure it sticks to the ground when it lands. I will sometimes try a very long jump-putt with this disc.
Dynamic Discs Class Hybrid Warden x2 (2 4 0 0.5): These are my “putting” putters. I used cheaper ones before, but invested in a higher quality plastic and they do feel better in my hand.
- 1I actually watched it on YouTube for over a year before ever playing, so I learned a lot about the sport first.