DISCS
Every decision we make, regardless if it’s design, material selection or feature, we have performance in mind. Enter the course with confidence using Evolvent Discs.
DISC GOLF DISCS
Disc golf discs are are commonly divided into four different categories:
- Distance Drivers
- Fairway Drivers
- Midranges
- Putters
The disc flight property speed is what distinct them, with drivers being capable of longest distance while putters have the shortest distance potential.
When considering which disc type to use, it boils down to situation and experience. A number of different input variables affect which disc type to use in which situation. Some of them are:
- Length to basket
- Course design
- Weather condition
If you’re a beginner in disc golf, we recommend to start throwing with a midrange disc. This is because they are generally designed to have a good balance between distance and control, making them easy to throw (drive) but also controllable in close-basket situations (putt).
DISTANCE DRIVER
Distance Drivers are developed to travel maximum length at minimal effort. However, due to their natural shape and configuration in design they tend to be more complex to throw to their full potential. Some characteristics you will notice on a distance driver is sharp edges, wider rim widths and low height. Minimal air resistance and maximum gyroscopic effect are leading words when designing a distance driver. In the end, all the different combinations of a disc design resulting in a specific flight pattern will be to either gain or loss of some of the key parameters.
If you’re new to disc golf we advice you to look at other disc types before you take on a distance driver.
FAIRWAY DRIVER
Fairway Drivers typically combines the good characteristics from a Distance and Midrange Driver to form a disc that can carry distance with minimal cost of control. A Fairway Driver doesn’t have as sharp edges and long rim width as a distance driver in order to give a more controlled disc.
A fairway driver is optimal for a less experienced player seeking to improve their game by working on their distance potential.
MIDRANGE
Midranges have the highest utility of all the disc types. It’s a great beginners disc that will typically have a great balance between control and distance. The design of a midrange will be characterized by less rim width and rim height than the drivers and will as a result feel more comfortable in the hands, giving a feeling of more control.
Midranges are great for beginners, also for tight gaps and approach shots that aims to land close to the basket.
PUTTER
PUTT & APPROACH
As the name suggests, putters are made to be the disc that will close the gap between you and the basket. Putters are designed for maximum comfort and stability in flight on short distances. A putter aims to be reliable to throw at short distances and optimized to absorb the impact from hitting the basked chains to fall directly on the spot. Some of the typical shape features of a putter is shorter rim width, larger diameter and higher total height.
FLIGHT NUMBERS
Flight numbers are characteristics used to describe how a disc behaves when flying. There’s no real scientific way that structures the way flight ratings are given at the moment. However, flight rating work well enough to give players and indication of what kind of behavior they can expect from a disc. Keep in mind that some properties, like plastic, will affect how the disc behaves in new condition compared to thrown-in. A thrown-in disc typically has their characteristics changed over time as the plastic gets worn. Depending on the plastic, a disc will wear in different ways. The different flight numbers are:
- Speed
- Glide
- Turn
- Fade
Our explanation of flight numbers takes reference in the Innova Flight Rating System, which is the most commonly used reference today. Let’s expand on the different ratings above.
SPEED
Speed is the flight number rating that defines how much speed potential one can expect from a disc. The speed rating is a positive number, typically between 1 and 14, however, some manufacturers give their discs higher speed rating. Higher speed is a good indicator for which skill level is required to receive full potential in a disc, where higher speed indicate technically harder disc to throw.
The typical high rim width on drivers is what makes them require a higher skill level, as they become harder to grip. Another factor is that they are built for high speed which also requires the player to be able to throw the disc with intended velocity.
GLIDE
Glide describes how much a disc can carry distance in relation to speed. The glide number is a positive number between 1 and 7.
A way to describe glide is that a disc with high glide essentially requires less speed (power) when thrown in order to fly the same distance. If we take away any surrounding conditions and throw two discs with the exact same characteristics except glide, the one disc with higher glide will fly the longest distance. A disc with high glide characteristics will typically have a shape that optimizes airflow to give upward forces.
TURN
Turn describes how a disc behaves during flight with regards to stability. Turn is a very technical term and requires understanding for many circumstances that affects turn. Many will take different circumstances into account when explaining turn. The best way to start understand what turn is, is to exclude any external circumstances and only account for different velocities. As previous mentioned, there’s three characteristics that describes the disc turn behavior:
- Overstable
- Stable
- Understable
Turn is measured in a negative or positive number between -5 to +1. Depending on velocity and turn number, a disc will start turn at a given distance from the point of release. All discs eventually turn over to some extent. Sidewinds can however affect a flight enough to make it fly arrow straight. This is however not very likely for any disc if you throw it normal and there’s no side wind. Two key factors affecting when the disc turns are velocity and rotational speed. Gyroscopic forces from the rotational speed on a disc will keep it in mass center equilibrium for longer, making it less prone to turn, even if thrown with less speed (velocity).
FADE
Fade describes how a disc behaves at the end of the flight. Fade is measured with a positive number between 0 and 5. A disc with a fade number of 0 will have little to no fade, this is somewhat where the term turn gets into a grey zone. A disc with no fade should only have turn affecting it, to make a distinct differentiation. Hence, the disc will have a hook at the end of the flight, but per definition, that hook is a result of the turn continuing in its flight pattern. A higher fade number will amplify the hook effect at the end of the disc flight. To get back to the “a disc with no fade pretty much only has turn affecting it”, a disc with no fade hence does not amplify the turn.
FLIGHT PATTERN
Every time a disc is thrown it will leave a pattern, trail, or flight path. Analyzing each flight pattern of different discs makes the foundation for the flight numbers reference. Digging further into a disc flight pattern, there’s terms such as stability and release angle, adding complexity to the understanding why discs fly in a specific pattern.
To understand flight pattern in a more detailed way, we have to expand more on, and refer to the terms stability and release angle. Stability is divided into three different terms: overstable, stable and understable. Release angle is also divided into three different terms: hyzer, flat and anhyzer.
A way to think of stability and release angle is the same way a tennis player angles the racket in order to curve the ball, making the ball curve left or right regardless of initial direction. While the tennis ball will curve depending on its spin, a disc will curve differently based on its angle of release.
STABILITY
Stability is derived from the disc, it’s a property of a disc and describes how it will behave given certain conditions when throwing. Stability is categorized in three terms:
- Overstable
- Stable
- Understable
Look at stability the way in which overstable is on one end of a spectrum, stable is in the middle and understable on the other end. For a right handed backhand player, overstable is referenced to the left side of the spectrum, and for a left handed backhand player, overstable is referenced to the right side of the spectrum. Right handed backhand throw is the most common and will be the default reference going forward. For a left handed backhand thrower, simply just mirror image any illustrations.
The stability of a disc will affect the turn potential in a disc, making the disc flight behave differently depending on release angle. With reference to the image below, think of increased over/understability as increased need of release angle in order for a disc to land on the spot you aim at.
RELEASE ANGLE
Release angle is derived from how you hold your hand when releasing the disc, therefore, release angle is controlled by the player and not relying on the disc being thrown. Release angle is categorized in three terms:
- Hyzer
- Flat
- Anhyzer
Regardless of which hand you are throwing with, a hyzer throw has the tip of the disc pointed down when releasing the disc. When throwing flat the disc will be pointed in a horizontal direction, and an anhyzer throw has the disc pointing up. To sum it up:
- Hyzer: tip of disc facing down
- Flat: tip of disc facing horizontally
- Anhyzer: tip of disc facing up
STABILITY AND RELEASE ANGLE TOGETHER
Combining stability and release angle creates a matrix of different outcomes of flight paths. By illustrating how they work in combination, we can create a matrix that explains how the flight path behave in each specific combination:
BEST BEGINNER DISC
Midranges have the highest utility of all the disc types. It’s a great beginners disc that will typically have a great balance between control and distance. The design of a midrange will be characterized by less rim width and rim height than the drivers and will as a result feel more comfortable in the hands, giving a feeling of more control.
For a beginner, it’s well enough to start with only one disc to get going and then add discs as you figure out what kind of disc you seek next. It’s also a great investment to spend some time reading up on the different relevant technicalities involved in disc golf, such as:
- Disc types: Driver, midrange, putter
- Flight numbers: Speed, glide, turn, fade
- Stability: Overstable, stable, understable
- Release angle: Hyzer, flat, anhyzer
UNDERSTABLE MIDRANGE FOR BEGINNERS
The most common recommendation for a beginner in disc golf is to pick up an understable disc, preferably an understable midrange, why? It’s rooted in the fact that most new players tend to release the disc in hyzer, meaning tip down. An understable disc will prevent the disc from “running away” in the hyzer angle, and try to parry that natural line coming from the release angle.
PLASTICS
Discs are produced in a number of different plastics. Plastics for disc golf can be divided into two main categories:
- Basic plastic
- Premium plastic
Basic plastics are typically cheaper and more easy to break in. Even if considered “high quality”, they are defined by being less costly and be worn out quicker. However, a basic plastic can provide a grip which is hard to attain from many of the premium high quality plastics. Premium plastics on the other hand typically has higher abrasion and temperature resistance together with great mechanical properties, meaning they are hard to deform permanent (plastically).
Putters are commonly produced in basic plastics due to their nature being thrown with less speed (less likely having to withstand high impacts) and where players want a plastic that easily gets thrown-in.