You may have noticed that there are four numbers on the top of most discs. These numbers are used to guide the user so that one has an idea of how the disc will fly through the air. The four numbers are, from left:
1. Speed: How fast the disc manages to fly through the air. With maximum power, discs with higher Speed will achieve a longer distance, but if they did not throw hard enough, they will dump down faster than a fairway driver or midrange. Therefore, it is recommended that beginners do not start with a distance driver, even if you think you can throw further. In a headwind, it is easier to throw a disc with a high Speed.
2. Glide : How long the disc manages to stay up during a throw. More Glide means more distance, but at the expense of reliability. In a headwind, a disc with a lot of slip will be particularly unreliable.
3. Turn : Assuming a right-handed player throwing backhand: How much a disc goes to the right at the start of a flight, i.e. how much the disc "turns". A high negative Turn number indicates that the disk turns a lot, and will move sharply to the right at the start of the flight. A lot of spin is very useful for beginners to gain more distance, but too much spin causes the disc to "turn over". That is, the disc goes to the right and never returns to the left. A lot of turn can be useful when throwing to the right or throwing a roller.
4. Fade : Assuming a right-handed player throwing backhand: How much a disc goes to the left towards the end of the flight, i.e. how much the disc "fades". A high positive number indicates that the disc fades a lot, while discs with a fade close to 0 will finish straighter.
Turn and fade form the basis for disc stability. Read more about overstable and understable discs.
Although these numbers are used by most disc manufacturers, they will never be the same from manufacturer to manufacturer. In addition, discs from the same brand with the same flight numbers will behave surprisingly differently. Factors that come into play include:
- What shape the disc has
- What plastic the disc is made of
- What weight does the disc have
- How much the disc has been used. Discs spin more after hitting the ground and trees.
Therefore, the numbers act as a good guide to buy the right disc for your needs, but you have to go out and throw to know your own disc.
If you want to learn more about the theory behind disc golf, different throwing techniques and recommended discs for beginners, you can check out our complete guide to frisbee golf for beginners .