What Do the Numbers on Disc Golf Discs Mean?

If you what do the numbers on disc golf discs mean, that’s great! Disc golf is one of those rare and fun sports that I like to tell you about. This peculiar game is a fusion between traditional golf and Frisbee, doesn’t it sound interesting? Well, let’s tell you what it’s all about.

However, in this opportunity, we will talk about how this sport is played and its specific characteristics. In this edition, we will talk about what do the numbers on disc golf discs mean. This is valuable information for all those who love this sport and those curious about Innova DiscGolf. Without further ado, let’s get started.

Disc Golf is a sport

It is played with a classic frisbee but smaller and heavier (different modalities and each one is different). The game’s objective is to cover the course from beginning to end with a minimum of disc throws. This sport is practiced both professionally and by amateurs in the United States, Europe, Japan, and in more than 20 countries worldwide. Disc Golf is played like traditional golf, but instead of clubs and balls, a frisbee is used. No, let’s talk about the discs!

Disc Golf Discs: All about them!

In Disc Golf, we find three different types of discs: Putter, Midrange, and Driver. This last category is then divided into two to make a correct classification. Putters are precision or short shot discs, midrange discs are midrange discs and are more unstable than putters, and drivers are long-range discs and are the most precarious of all.

We can distinguish the categories in the latter from drivers: distance driver, background driver, and street driver, a street driver that has fewer trips than the distance driver, and more than the mid-range driver.

What do the Numbers on Disc Golf Discs Mean?

Putter: They are short-throw or precision rotors and have a higher profile than the rest of the rotors and a more rounded edge. These discs that have lower speed (0 to 4) and fall and have much sliding also tend to have little effect, although each group of discs has very different characteristics.

Medium range: these are discs for medium distances, they are more unstable than putters, but they go a little further. They have an intermediate profile between putters and drivers, and their edge ends in a small curve. Medium distance discs have very variable turning, camber, and glide values, being their speed between 4 and 7 approximately.

Street Driver: these are the discs called the street driver. Its profile is very thin, which gives it greater aerodynamics, and can go further, their speed values ranging between 7 and 10 more or less.

Distance driver: these are the longest trips, the ones that go the furthest and the most difficult to control. Like street drivers, their profile is very thin, and their aerodynamics are excellent—their speed changes from 10 to 14.

Similar to Golf?

Disc golf is very similar to golf and presents the same challenges, whether it is making a long putt, being forced to throw from a bush, or around a tree in the middle of the fairway. However, there are some significant differences when it comes to golf. The practice of disc golf is free, and it is not necessary to rent, for example, a golf cart.

The courses are generally held in public parks, open to all types of users, and at any time of day. Whether you are a woman or a man, young or old, you will always have a disc golf course at your disposal.

A Sport for Everyone

The sport of disc golf can be a lifelong hobby. It attracts both young people and adults and is also played with people with disabilities. It is easy to learn and does not exclude any person. Many people who play Discgolf also play Ultimate and vice versa.

There are courses in 20 countries around the world. More than 1,300 such facilities have already been built in the United States and Canada. There are also facilities of this type in much of Europe: Finland (250), Sweden (134), Norway (50), Denmark (45), Germany (54), United Kingdom (26), France (25), Switzerland (19), Austria (9), Czech Republic (9), Netherlands (6), Belgium (5), Hungary (4), Estonia (4), Iceland (4), Poland (3), Ireland (2), Lithuania (1) and Russia (1).

Why Play Golf with Discs?

Today, more and more people participate in recreational activities to improve their health and quality of life. The sport of disc golf combines motor skills, fitness, and mental training. Another advantage of disc golf is that its practice does not involve a great expense.

Disc golf is inexpensive, and disc golf is free because the courses are in public parks. It is also fun. Try it; it is the sport of the future.

Basic Rules of Disc Golf

The order of play on the first hole is decided at random.

The game starts on each hole; the player always has the support foot within two meters of the front start line. This line can only be crossed when the disc has left the player’s hand.

The next shot is taken from the point where the puck was stopped. You can run, but the pivot foot must always end at the marked position. To make the shot more comfortable, you can step aside but never go near the basket.

The player with the puck furthest from the basket is always the first to shoot. During a kick or shot, which by definition, is a shot of 10 meters or less, it is not allowed to step forward to complete the movement.

There is no limit on the number of pucks that can be used during the game.

 In disc golf, there is no limit on the number of courses in a hole. It is played until the disc is inside the basket, regardless of the number of shots.

The winner is the player who completes the round with the least number of shots possible.

Read more: How to Throw A Disc Golf Driver Straight

Who Created the Flight Classification System?

The flight classification system is a series of four numbers created by the disc golf company Innova Discs. Innova understable discs implemented the system in its units in 2009. All this, although the system has existed informally for a long time. Although most don’t know precisely when or how long it was used informally, the company started stamping discs around 2009.

Due to some confusion, the company launched this flight classification system to help with a few things. First, according to Innova, the four-number characterization system “was designed to describe the intended flight of a plate. These properties can be used to qualify various aspects of the flight of any plate. Each album has a different “personality”; the trajectory that makes this hard drive unique. 

This system not only helps to describe each disc but also to compare individual models with each other. Because each disk is unique, you can look at each number in a disk’s flight pattern to see how it differs or remains the same. This usually makes disc golfers easier to choose. This also helps beginners understand how each disc flies. Overall, I would say that it is a reasonably practical system in the disc golf world.

Use Everything Around you to Play

This sport sharpens the wit, develops mental skills, and improves the physical condition of those who practice it by enhancing their skills. As in golf, the exterior elements of the landscape, such as trees, bushes, and lakes, are the best parameters for this sport to make the best shots and obtain the best angle and perspective for the shot.

The golf disc has multiple benefits for your health and quality of life. It exercises the upper and lower body and the coordination between the two. It will offer you an increase in concentration both in the game and in your daily life, and you will develop flexibility. You can find a disc golf disc chart to see each advantage of discs.

Stop thinking about it and start practicing original sports like disc golf. You will not only exercise while having fun, but you will also learn new things and meet new people. So, you already know what do the numbers on disc golf discs mean!

Frequently Asked Questions 

What are the 4 numbers on a disc golf disc?

The four numbers are related to this:

Speed: Speed or velocity is the disc’s ability to cut through the air during its flight. The speed is listed from 1 to 15. High-speed drives are faster. The disks

Faster gets you farther with less effort. Slower discs need more power to throw but are less likely to reach the basket.

Glide: Glide or Plane describes the ability to keep the disc in the plane during flight. Discs with more glide are the best disc golf discs for beginners and produce maximum distance (especially downwind). Glide disc is measured from 1 to 7. Beginners looking for more distance should choose discs with more glide.

Turn: Turn is the disk’s tendency to turn to the right during the first part of the disc golf flight path (for a backhand throw from a right-handed pitcher). A disc with a spin of 1 is more resistant to effects, while a spin of -5 will have a lot of spin to the right. Discs with a spin of -2 to -5 are good discs for rolling the rollers.

Fade: Fade or Tomb is the puck’s tendency to fall to the left at the end of the flight (for a backhand throw from a right-handed pitcher). A 0 fade disc will end up straighter, while a 5 fade disc will fall to the left at the end of the flight. Treble registers are predictable even when played in the wind.

What is the heavy disc golf disc?

Among the various options on the market, the innovative Condor golf disc is the heaviest. It is all precision in all ranges due to its weight and size is also good for self-catching flights and launch in race and capture. Even during the maximum time in the air it gives an excellent performance.

Do heavy discs fly farther?

Due to the various options of Discraft numbers, there are several alternatives. In general, lighter discs fly farther than heavier discs. However, heavier discs can fly more into the headwind. This is due to their higher stability. A safe bet for the average player is to know disc golf numbers for forehand. For example, discs that weigh around 160-165 grams for the best distance are a great choice.

How heavy of a disc should I throw?

All this will depend on the level of player each person has. This means that, for example, people with more experience can use a disc of a maximum of 180 grams. These belong to the medium range of discs. Some putters are lightweight and heavyweight. In this sense, the heavier ones perform better in the wind and to make more vital shots. On the other hand, beginners should look for discs of around 170g to take advantage of a good drive.

How does disc weight affect flight?

A disc can affect flight in several ways. It all depends on the characteristics that each one has. To cite an example, a lighter disc spins more easily. Therefore it can have more HSS for longer. This stability is the tendency of the disc to turn left at the beginning of the flight. This is also true as long as the speed and rotation of the disc are high.

On the other hand, lighter discs have less stability, especially at high speed. But if the disc is heavier, it will fall faster. Therefore, discs affect flight depending on their characteristics.