Just a Frisbee? No, each disc design has unique flight characteristics, and depending on how, and how well they are thrown, is what determines your flight, Straight at the pin? Almost never.

What the Heck Do You Hippies Mean?

RHBH: Right hand, backhand throw. This is the standard throw used by most right-handers.
RHFH: Right hand, forehand throw
LHBH: Left hand, backhand throw
LHFH: Left hand, forehand throw
Hyzer: Advanced throw with disc tilted right side high
Flat: Standard throw.
AnHyzer: Advanced throw with disc tilted left side high

In a RHBH throw, the disc spins clockwise, and no matter what the design, typically it will turn over and fall to the Left. This is dependent on two things, disc design, and type of throw.

 

These are the four mystery numbers that many manufacturers print on their discs.

 

Disc Design. Here are the four components of disc design and why:

Speed (1 to 14): 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.

Glide (1 to 7): Glide describes the discs ability to maintain lift 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.

Turn ( -5 to +1): High Speed Turn is the tendency of a disc to turn over or bank to the right (for RHBH throws) during the initial part of the flight. A disc with a +1 rating is most resistant to turning over, while a -5 rating will turn the most. Discs rated -3 to -5 make good roller discs. Discs with less turn are more accurate in the wind. Discs with more turn are easier to throw for beginners.

Fade (0 to 5): Low Speed Fade is the disc’s tendency to hook left (for RHBH throws) at the end of the flight. A disc rated 0 will finish straightest, while a disc rated 5 will hook hard at the end of the flight. High fade discs are usually used for spike and skip shots.

Here’s where the info comes from, they say it better than me,

Here are some examples of different types of discs:

MVP Discs Wave driver with stats 11, 5,-2, 2.

 

This is the flight chart for the Wave disc pictured above.

 

Vector midrange (5,4,0,1) with flight chart inset. Notice how much more convergent the flight paths are for high-power throws compared with the Wave disc.

 

Atom putter (3,3,0,1). Straight and flat.

 

Form. This is tough one, Much like ball golf, weight transfer is critical, and in disc golf if you do it wrong, you can hurt yourself…

Throw in a straight line, not a roundhouse throw, but straight across your body, with a wrist flick at the end, not tough guy, but smooth. My style is Horrid, but these guys can help you: Simon Lizotte, and Danny Lindahl  whose motto is “slow is smooth, smooth is far.”

Gear! Oh goody, my favorite part. I carry fifteen different discs right now, and with multiple putters, it’s more like twenty, add a bag, towels and and a small ice chest, it adds up. They sell “pro” carts but not me, I did this:

Rigs of this size are not uncommon on the course. Baby strollers designed for jogging are also popular among disc golfers.

And got one of these for practice. While this may be overkill, I’m an overkill kind of guy.

An all-metal disc golf target or basket. You finish the hole when you putt-in to one of these.

 

You can play this game well with only one disc and have fun. A good starter disc is the Innova Wombat-3 (5, 6, -1, 0); although designed as a midrange the Wombat is forgiving for drives and competent for putts. I’m nuts, but you don’t have to be, grab a disc and have some fun!