How your discs SHOULD be flying | Disc Golf Beginner's Guide (Fixed)

The flight of a disc is complicated and unique to disc golf. So as a community, we’ve developed ways to talk about it that might not be intuitive for newer players. So to help clear things up, this is our complete guide to how discs fly.
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[@hightenor123]

In my area Stable is where the horses sleep

[@krillev]

Christopher Lucier To throw over that place, use an "over stable" disc... 😂

[@gamofin3447]

This is too good! 😄😄😄

[@Frank-Reynolds]

My rhbh disc flight path is like a NASCAR race. Everything turns left.

[@austinthrowsstuff]

Same here, I got some disc that fade right now tho. The Luna goes right on a flat release

[@tomahoks]

Swing is snapless and round then.

[@Jonttuf17]

Try slower discs

[@jwoellhof]

Flex shots dont really come out that often in tournament play. Nikko Locastro has entered the chat.

[@rccaraddict294]

What the hell you talking about 🤔😂

[@kcnole]

I don't know how people in my region refer to it, but to me I think of them as follows: Overstable is a disc (Like a felon) with a very strong fade. Stable would be a disc that has a reliable fade Neutral being a disc that is just going to fly straight like most putters Understable for those that you can turn or fly straight Flippy for those that have a very strong turn to them.

[@olympics1234567]

That's the same way I call them. As far as each individual goes, the same disc will be different. I'm old, so I can just barely hyserflip a roadrunner and throw it 275 ft., my 28 year old son can hyserflip a destroyer and throw it 425 ft.

[@discgolfisbetter]

I agree with that except for one thing, where does “Beefy” fall on the scale?

[@kcnole]

@@discgolfisbetter To me, beefy is just another term for Overstable. Maybe a really, really overstable disc. A Stego is definitely beefy. lol

[@discgolfisbetter]

@Kevin Carter Yeah honestly to me it’s more of a way to say that a disc is overstable relative to the mold. (Ex. “That Destroyer is a lot beefier than most.”)

[@olympics1234567]

@@discgolfisbetter I think beefy and meat hook are the same. Just my opinion.

[@cfd_26tln21]

Another great video Danny. Stable and Neutral are synonymous in my mind. Those dang trees are still your back drop!!! Lol Good work!!

[@bobbysweeney5377]

My favorite shot is one that doesn't make me swear. I suck but I love it!!! Thank you for these.

[@mikepitts8470]

That's sm funny stuff, right there & oh so true!! Thx for the chuckle.

[@tedsell1455]

No good but i love it , lot to learn

[@Silver_Creek_Aquatics]

It would be really cool to find out exactly what speed (as an avg) it takes for each of the speeds to maintain their stability or match the speed number per requirement. With a radar gun this should totally be possible. Or build an auto launcher for them that you can control speeds. Just saying, that would be some cool science we have yet to see. Can yall make it happen? I bet people would be willing to help out or donate if needed.

[@TheNecksnapper]

I think it'snot quite that easy, rotational speed matters as well. Meaning the required speed is lower if you give it more rotation and vice versa.

[@Silver_Creek_Aquatics]

@@TheNecksnapper yeah I agree spin and speed are 2 different things, but that's what I meant by based on an avg, because unless a device is built, you will have different spin put on a disc that will differentiate per person.

[@wakimura303]

Not sure, I’m 14 and throw 300 feet and use innova discs, the speed rating on my farthest disc is an 8 but I’m fairly certain you throw farther

[@johnswoodgadgets9819]

I suppose you could build a giant, precisely controllable version of a clay pigeon launcher for developmental testing. I am sure if you are in the disc manufacturing business you probably already have, but wouldn't necessarily talk about it publicly.

[@PacNorthOR]

I was hating on it before... but now I kinda miss the stache...

[@RoastedHVAC]

Nope... It had to go. Lol 😀

[@BPH29]

I agree.. back then he was Danny.. now he's just.. Danny

[@Javaman92]

Noooooo

[@stvsmith1791]

the stache was dashing! arguably his best feature. : {>

[@discgolfisbetter]

Danny: If you’re new to the game, I suggest starting with slower discs. Pretty much no one: Yeah I threw fairways for at least 5 months before I tried a Destroyer.

[@endomusia9410]

Guess I’m pretty much no one. I’ve been playing for around 2 years and I still don’t have a distance driver.

[@discgolfisbetter]

@Nail Congratulations! You should be running a disc golf beginner’s clinic! Very few people understand disc golf enough to have done that. lol

[@moredots]

Eh nothing wrong with trying distance drivers. What's useful is to understand why they're not usually the best choice.

[@hunterfritts4498]

I own one I just don’t use it. I don’t have the arm speed yet so it just dumps. One day

[@subspaceanomaly]

I bought a bunch of discs at Christmas, loosely speaking one of each innova champion discs. The thunderbird and destroyer are my most accurate throws along with the valkyrie and the katana goes the furthest, around 400ft. Perhaps my ultimate background means the above advice is less helpful for people who can throw frisbees already? Having said that I'm getting other ultimate players into disc golf and the upfield players are struggling but the handlers (I'm a handler) find it quite easy. I feel like the most important thing is to find a disc that is rewarding and fun to throw, and maybe a really lightweight driver would be that disc for some people rather than spending years throwing putters. Having said that I'm finding I can use a putter for most of my throws and I'm really enjoying that accuracy. Pointless comment I guess.. Easy to get caught up in flights of thought..

[@RebeIMate]

Good video. I think these kind of videos are also great for players who have played for many years with same discs and has forgotten what kind of a new discs they would need to get to match their abilities/requirements nowadays. For example I threw my old PD C-line (speed 10) and it still was pretty "straight" - even with a fair amount of power. But when I threw my oldish (McBeth) StarDestroyer (SD), I almost couldn't believe how much turn it got with this faster speed SD compared to PD. Even throwing with a hyzer, the SD just turned to the right, while PD held it's line and never turned out right. I guess what I am trying to say is that even for beginners, don't be afraid of the high "speed numbers" on a disc. Numbers on a disc are just guidelines. For me it is much more important how the disc feels in your specific, individual hand and how you think the disc would/could fly for you considering you'r own abilities.

[@coolbananaboy5075]

You are very good at this - best explanations, thank you.

[@Jasha127]

Stable here (to my friend group at least) means flies straight. Overstable fades. Understable turns. But of course there’s some variance in that depending on the player.

[@johnswoodgadgets9819]

All the courses I play are through the woods. You know, the kind they mow with a bush hog and a chain saw twice a year whether it needs it or not. Some of those turns would be hard to make on a bicycle without hitting trees, much less by throwing a disc. Lay it up to the corner, throw again, and DO NOT miss any putt! Overstable is outside my reality, and outside my bag. Hehe!

[@JetADR]

For a beginner like myself it would be helpful to show a disc with the flight number words and their numbers. When you say speed put the word speed up on the screen and show the range of numbers it can be etc. This will help ppl to learn the word and its meaning. Also showing an aerial drawing view of the flight path and a video with disc that has a tail drawing the flight path helps too. Still learning all these terms etc.

[@brucec9735]

Yes! I would like to see the terms: stability , it’s direction, it’s number and a diagram all at the same time. The terms would stick better if done with association to its effect, a pictorial example of it and the number on the disc.

[@JayDeeTee]

I just bought a wild bunch of overstable and understable discs to begin. Shitty is when they all fly the same pattern. Practice I must

[@nicolasdriever6573]

This is super helpful for a beginner! Thank You!!!

[@grandpastoner7527]

Awesome Video! Thanks so much! I just started playing last month and got the Dynamic Discs Starter Set. Having issues with the Escape disc as a right hand back hand throwing, but this Flex shot is what I needed to know! Thank you very much! Super helpful video!!

[@Klong15]

I was that guy in college when we would play super casually. I had bought a 13 speed and a putter. Now I'm actually getting into disc golf as a hobby and learning all of this stuff, and right now only sticking to 7-9 speed discs until I get more consistent. Hell, I can t-off my 7 speed Maverick from a stand still farther than my buddy doing a run up with his 9 speed sidewinder. :)

[@RockCh4lk]

Thanks Danny! About the stable discussion... Dictionary definition: a): placed so as to resist forces tending to cause motion or change of motion b): designed so as to develop forces that restore the original condition when disturbed from a condition of equilibrium or steady motion In aviation: a): Stability is an aircraft's ability to maintain its original flight path. b): Stability is the characteristic of an aircraft that tends to cause it to fly (hands off) in a straight-and-level flightpath. Sounds like stable should mean, stable (straight). :)

[@markadkins9290]

There's so much to learn. All I want to do is get better and throw farther!

[@ElMofo9]

This was actually pretty helpful well done

[@Gordie_J]

I find the meaning of stable is different between generations of disc golfers in my area. 40+ or players who have been playing over 8 years describe stable as discs that have a really high fade, where as younger and newer players describe stable discs as straight flyers. Lastly, that pure white Escape is beautiful!

[@benjaminlawson1321]

Great video!! such an knowledgeable guy.. appreciate all your videos

[@brickuz]

Would be cool with a more advanced video that roughly explains how differences in a discs design affects its characteristics such as dome vs flat vs even slightly concave or the difference between some common edge designs such is spikey with the edge further up or spikey with the edge further down, various ways to make the edge blunt, spikey edge but then a deep rim (a bit like a Compass or EMac Truth) compared to a more evenly spred edge (like a Fuse). I'm sure that's not an exact science but would love to hear a disc designer do a super-nerdy video on that.

[@ptbfrch]

Qualifier: I think many players (including myself) will find some discs more overstable than their flight ratings, simply because we (again, including myself) aren't able to put enough speed on the disc at release. Like an EMac Truth, which will be closer to the speed it fades if not released at proper speed, and will seem very overstable, but when released at the correct speed will fly straight as a nail until it slows down. Right Hand Back Hand throws: Understable = disc that when released flat and at speed turns right until it fades (sometimes fades a little [Underworld], sometimes more [Destiny]) Neutral = disc that when released flat and at speed flies straight with good fade (good examples are Explorer and EMac Truth) Stable = disc that when released flat and at speed naturally starts turning left upon release, usually with strong fade (good example is Longbowman) Overstable = like Stable above, only more extreme (good example is the Ahti and Fortress)

[@bluetickbeagles116]

Love your videos and thorough explanations.

[@TylerSigman]

Great vid--always appreciate your descriptions!

[@chrisjensen9941]

Excellent discussion, Danny. Thanks!

[@ericbruch]

This is exactly why early discs never had numbers printed on them. They're pretty much meaningless except for comparison to another disc from the same brand. Weight will also affect flight rating because you might not be able to throw as fast

[@alexzaplatosch9321]

Such a helpful video! Thanks Danny

[@ronhorn5058]

Thanks for another great/helpful video

[@meatshieldmoto4498]

"Stability" is definitely a muddy concept for beginners, especially when describing straighter shots. I personally like "neutral stability," but just calling something straight works too.

[@michaelnevins5820]

Danny dont forget that different plastics of the same disc make a huge difference in flight

[@kcphotographystudios8836]

Excellent as always. I wish they had a cheat sheet you could bring on the course. My old brain has a hard time remembering this stuff.

[@jugglecopter3232]

This clarified a lot.

[@docxen]

Danny any chance you could have a special guest on a video who's a leftie. Do some tips and tricks for us? thanks love the videos. This one i could of used some diagrams lol i'm a visual learner.

[@BibbusTV]

So as a lefty should I take everything you said and do the opposite? Im new an I throw lefty backhand using a leopard with a little hyzer and it tends to go pretty straight and tthen finishes to the left a bit. Is that flying correctly?

[@willhowarddg]

That should be how a leopard should fly for a beginner.

[@Mk-of8gh]

Yes the leftie throw is a mirror image. Its beacause the disc is spinning in the other direction. Leftie bachand flies the same as a righty forehand though.

[@ambeaver]

I'm also new, but shouldn't it finish to the right for a lefty?

[@jwoellhof]

@@ambeaver Yes, if your disc has enough fade, it will finish to the right, for a lefty backhand. A leopard, though, is a 'flippy' disc, that will turn left for a lefty backhand, and keep going left if you throw it fast enough or with anhyser angle. If you are flipping a Leopard up and to the left for a full flight and you dont want that, it's time you graduated to more stable discs. Try an Explorer next. Since this is a Trilogy Plastic video. :)

[@LondonDiscGolfCommunity]

Liked, Commented, Subscribed and Shared. ✌️

[@carsonnowland5124]

Great Video!

[@maurobetschart9237]

This was great for a new player

[@Darkened234]

I also liked the first version of the video ... repetition makes permanent :)

[@hyzerbob-omb2973]

Good work

[@davemorris9368]

Hyzer, outside of the disc pointed down works for right handed or left handed people, the outside of the disc is always down.

[@Leo-kd1xy]

I can get my fairway drivers to fly controlled about 70-80m if I don't use power. However when I try to add power to get the maximum distance those discs starts to turn to right very early and there's no coming back😭 help would be appriciated if someone knows what Im doing wrong

[@rudyrubio9768]

I like to think of stable as being the resistance to turn and not how much a disc fades

[@tanner2stroke]

Solving the age old question “why de do dat?”

[@LeftySupreme]

If stable means overstable then why even say over at all? A super stable disc for me is one that in calm wind conditions I can throw good and hard and it won't flip over on me, but it also won't fade out early on me. Understable will turn and change angles. Overstable will fade out early. I will say though, a stable driver will most of the time have some fade at the end of it's flight, but I think a stable disc going straight then fading at the end is different than an overstable disc hyzering out of your hand. Ultimately the difference in how we use the terms isn't the biggest deal as long as it makes sense to you and everyone understands what you mean. I do like the idea that a discs speed is a requirement. I was recently talking to a buddy about the Explorer's flight numbers. He thinks it's weird that the numbers make you think overstable but it flies understable to stable. I think it's because the Explorer is a 7 speed. So if you throw it with 12 speed power then it's gonna turn over on you, but if you give it a nice easy controlled throw it will go straight with a little fade at the end.

[@jordansargent8823]

I used to get a bunch of flack for calling an overstable disc stable like you described.

[@jawaring4367]

understable > overstable. Saying something is "very understable" would mean it is far to on one end. Saying something is "very stable" would mean directly in the middle. Saying something is "very overstable" would mean it is far at the other end. Saying "not very stable" would mean that it would not be in the middle, but saying this doesn't have any indication of whether it is over or under stable. Stable is essentially another word for balanced and when you think about it you would never think a "very balanced" disc was overbalanced or underbalanced to one side, and a "not very balanced" disc would be.

[@bonesnsmitty]

Nothing wrong with trying a faster disc. You may be a natural and not even know it. However, if you are not, and your disc remains overstable, then you at least know what you need to build up to. Do not let people bully you with the, "feeling like a noob if I try" syndrome.

[@robertyounger5849]

I’d say for California stable means neutral, but I’m not positive I can speak for the whole state. I can definitely understand either philosophy.

[@duncanmarkie4313]

What are some good low speed stable (straight) drivers, I need one

[@gerrybaker7055]

I’m a big fan of disc mania FDs. They turn a bit when thrown hard but for me it’s the straight distance disc I have

[@Oeugh]

Yeah fd is really good

[@GregoryKarlovits]

Usually "stable" around here is in that "straight" range but I'm more likely to say "neutral" to make it simpler

[@Vagabondpilot]

Stable is where we keep the horses.

[@kirkwould]

The biggest secret in disc golf is most people should only throw mids. It’s not a popular idea and the people who really know won’t say because they’re all trying to sell discs but if you can’t throw a teebird 400 feet there is no reason to have a destroyer. People try to cheat their arm speed by buying super flippy wide rim drivers but there is a reason no one on tour throws mambas, or gstar destroyers, or katanas. Work on throwing slower discs harder until each step up in category of disc adds 50-100 feet of distance. But if you’re like most people and your boss flies 50 ft farther than your roc, you shouldn’t be throwing distance drivers. Get that flippy plastic out of your bag and you will start getting better at disc golf.

[@jwoellhof]

Just playing devil's advocate here, cuz I've been down the exact road you are describing with the Teebird vs Destroyer. I play in an area with strong wind every day. On the holes that are straight into the wind, I get an extra 50+ feet with consistent placement on these holes with a Star or Champ Destroyer, while my Teebirds either stall out at 300 with a good hyzer flip, or turn and burn much shorter when I dont put enough hyzer on them. Im talking about 20-35mph winds here, most days. As for the flippier plastic, not all flippy, wide rim discs are one trick ponies. I see intermediate arms get 400+ out of drivers like the Destiny, Shryke, and the new Hades, when they can barely get 300 out of a Teebird. Beginners can get some good flights out of these discs too, often giving them the little boost of enjoyment they need to continue with the sport long enough to get better.

[@taylordutto9962]

Stable for me is if the disc stays on the angle you throw it 🤔

[@paul.etedder2439]

Flight numbers really don’t matter. Putters are 1 to 4 midrange 4 to 6 fairway 6 to 9 drivers anything above that . Depending on disc company. My advice is throw putters for the first year your learning .

[@lukezacharias3245]

Anyone looking for a great disc golf mind should look into Scott Stokely

[@pdderek]

Stable for me is the propensity of the disc to hold the line I release it on. The discs resistance to turn and fade

[@EddyMetal60]

Stable to me means a disc is a bit overstable but not a meat hook.

[@dougadamsau]

Stable to me means neutral or straight.

[@hwugh1]

I would caution DD against trying to get their customers to "accept" those manufacturing "variances" as the reason the disc doesn't fly TRUE to it's flight numbers. When I buy a disc stamped with a name/flight numbers, I expect to get a disc that's come out of the mold machine and is in the shape of the patented DESIGN on the drawing board so it flies like it's supposed to. Any/all discs that DON'T match that design shouldn't make it onto the shelves for the consumer to buy because they DON'T fly true to the advertised/stamped design. I mean, you wanna head down the path Innova went where discs come out of the mold, cool down too fast/slow, end up warped/taco-ed, yet still get stamped and shipped out to customers? That results in a grey market of folks swapping/trading/buying discs from other players in the HOPE of getting a disc that flies correctly. Then they lose that disc and the task of finding a replacement is such a beeyatch! Just sayin' I've bought DD before and they flew true to their flight numbers. Was I just one of the Lucky customers???

[@haukionkannel]

hwugh1 every disk manufacturer makes dust similar way, so the real flight and printed Number vary with all. They all use mold and They all have disk that warp etc. For example. My fisrt mvp shock was understable or neutral, next 3 were owerstable. My first D3 max was understable, the next 3 were neutral and one is owerstable... and innova you did mention allready...

[@dannybigflix9125]

The variances caused by the inconsistencies of injection molding won’t even usually make a big enough difference to merit an entire number change. But if you have one that’s not exactly like one that you bought a few months ago, that’s probably why. The inconsistencies are inherent with injection molding for everything. The shape of the disc is still the shape of the mold, but there is a slight margin of error. Just because the mold is made out of metal and the disc is made out of plastic. If we were to throw out every disc that wasn’t exactly the same as the last one, we’d get one out of every 3 discs that passed QC and discs would cost 4x as much.

[@hwugh1]

@@dannybigflix9125 Fwiw, the two discs I bought were to support two FPO player's tours. Both discs DID fly true to their numbers as they were compared to discs I already had (NOT Innova...) which flew "True" after I adjusted for elevation and the desert heat. Hopefully, when you say "inconsistencies" you mean variations so minor that after a few field practice sessions where the thrower rolls the outer edge of the disc down or up depending on what's needed to bring the shape/parting line back to the original design (Tuning), the disc flies true to its numbers. And hopefully, if someone were to replace their whole DD bag with "New-From-the-Factory" discs, the discs which needed "Tuning" would be NOT be 2 out of every 3 discs which would be the case according to your math. Just advising you and DD to NOT go down the same slippery slope as Innova where discs stamped as "Tee_Bird" have parting lines varying more than 1/8 inch from one production run to the next yet still end up on the shelves for unsuspecting golfers to buy with the expectation it'll fly straight for the majority of it's flight before gently fading to the left. (According to the numbers stamped on it...) (Bring-back-the-stache!) (^_^)

[@marshie1337]

f in chat for the stache

[@peeweesermon2231]

When I saw the title I hoped this would be about seeing your discs vaping while pregnant, combining caffeinated beverages with alcohol, or using Amscot cash advances to buy a new iPhone

[@timothyturner9134]

All my mid ranges go further than my drivers... lmao

[@rccaraddict294]

Lmfao 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@UnoMeeh]

I hate when people use stable to mean over stable. If a disc is stable that means its straight flying. Thats the entire point of the word. Stable, balanced, equal, all synonyms. The sentence "that disc is very stable" should mean very straight flying. I hate when i watch a tournament and idk which way the commentators are using it.

[@isivaasanaru5643]

Stable to me is when the last two numbers are -1 and 1 etc.

[@Pastormikeboyle]

Now you know how your shots fly. 🤔 uh, nope!

[@Javaman92]

Not what I expected but okay...

[@mccarty53]

I can’t stand that disc golfers call a drift to the left as “fade.” Folks, that’s a draw. A fade moves to the right in a controlled way. How did our sport ever get something so fundamental wrong.

[@mitchyp8988]

Maybe it has to do with the direction we are facing. In golf, assuming right handed, are facing the right and the fade is moving away from us to the right. In disc golf, right handed throws are facing the left side of the tee box and a fade again describes the projectile moving away from us towards the left.

[@Photologistic]

In ball golf, a four letter term if left, a five letter term is right, slice is right, hook is left. The thing is, a disc has way more flight patterns than a ball. We need more terms to describe them all.

[@TheKoyotetracker]

Fade makes sense because the disc is "fading out" as in losing speed. If it is no longer traveling the prescribed "speed" then it's power us fading.

[@devinmoser2675]

Right handed disc golf equates to lefty regular golf, think about the direction his body faces when he throws backhand, if you stood that way during regular golf you'd be left handed, a fade finishes away from you and a draw finishes towards you, 'fade away', 'draw you in', they got it right 👍

[@kcnole]

Golf and disc golf, while similar, are very different sports and the flight characteristics of a disc are much different than a ball. There's no reason to attempt to replicate other verbiage. Fade makes sense because as the disc is losing momentum its flight begins to fade. For a forehand or a LHBH, the fade is to the right.