What are the differences between Disc Golf discs?
 
 You have heard what a great sport Disc Golf is (‘Frisbee Golf’ to some), and you need some equipment.   
First of all, you will need a true disc golf disc, and not some knockoff Frisbee.  A frisbee will only fly 175 feet, but a disc golf disc can fly a distance of 400 feet.   These super aerodynamic golf discs are designed to do 3 basic things:
- to be used as a driver for long throws
- to be used as an approach disc for 2nd & 3rd throws
- to be used as a putter

Disc Golf is usually played on a free disc golf course located in local parks.  They are distinguishable from the street by the 5 foot pole and metal basket and chains that hang from the top to the middle of the pole into the basket.  The object of disc golf is to start from the tee and in the shortest amount of throws, get a disc to rest inside the basket.  Most larger cities have at least one or two courses and a simple google search on 'disc golf' and your city name should show you where you can play.  95% of the time all you will need to play is a disc golf disc and a course.  Most larger cities also have a disc golf club with varying levels of play from 'Beginners/Novices' to Pro and Amateur divisions as well as various 'age' divisions.   Everyone I've ever played with their first time, has wanted to play again!    It's a great sport, and except for buying the discs, the sport is FREE!  Gotta love that!

The following information is slanted toward right hand throwers.  The characteristics of each disc will be the opposite of it's rating if you are a lefty, or if you throw 'side-arm' (palm up-& body facing to the right).
 
  Due to physics principles, all discs try to ‘fall off’ to the left heavily at the end of the flight.  This is called ‘STABLE’ because it duplicates the laws of natural physics.  If a disc is designed to fall off to the RIGHT, it is called ‘unstable' or UNDERSTABLE or 'TURN OVER DISC’ because this isn’t a natural occurrence of clock-wise spinning discs.  Understable discs, such as the Valykrie line, are tremendously handy discs to use when approaching a right turn or right dogleg turn to get closer to the basket.
 
  The differences in the discs are primarily based on how much the disc falls off; and to which side (stable or unstable) the disc does falls off to.   Putters are considered to be neither stable or unstable.  An approach disc is used to glide to the target with very little ‘to the right’ or ‘to the left’ action.    Take a few minutes:  look at the Innova-Champion and/or Discraft website and familiarize yourself with their ‘lines’ of discs.  They rank by number the degree of the falloff.  They also rank their discs by GLIDE, SPEED, FADE and TURN.  The websites explain the differences.  I suggest you get one good overstable driver, one good understable driver, and a couple of putters, same weight if possible. 

**BUYING TIP**: The heavier the disk (171+grams) the more the disc will usually go 'left/stable';  the lighter the disc: the more the disc will go to the right (unstable.)
 
     A good ‘average’ weight for any disc is about 171 grams (you see them advertised for sale as:   171G).    (The weight of the disc is usually written dead center on the back of the disc, or in the lip.)  Anything more than 171 grams would generally be used for a stronger-arm thrower.  Under 171 grams makes a disc a bit more understable and is easier for the beginner to average disc golfer.  Weights around 150 grams are discs usually used for Juniors, Women, and some Master  (40 years +) divisions.  They are very hard to control in the wind and are not recommended for the average male adult to throw. 
 
      The two most successful disc golf manufacturers are Innova-Champion and Discraft.  Each company has their own subtly different discs that are high quality and the preferred discs of 90% of all disc golfers     
 
Innova has a distinct way of selling their discs into 3 ‘Lines’ or main types of discs:
Discs Made With:
 *CH*  -  Champion plastic will retain their flight ratings characteristics for a longer period of time (stays more stable)
 *PL*   -  PRO plastic will start slightly less overstable and the driver models will have more glide. (***Note:  although PRO plastic is probably one of the fastest lines made, they will become understable after much use.  I have a Pro Destroyer that I dearly love, but although there aren't any nicks in the plastic, it has become understable (goes right now) after about 1-1/2 years of  use.)
 *DX*  -  DX plastic will start more overstable and with use will match the ratings. With continued use, the DX plastic will eventually become more understable than the ratings.   DX plastic also is more prone to chipping and edge damage or warping when hitting trees.
 
DISCRAFT has 4 lines to their products:
*ESP *           -  2006 lines; grippier plastic, more durable
*ELITE 2*       -  most durable discs made;  made in CANDY clear plastics or high resolution color  truer flights; last 2-3x longer than ELITE-X DISCS
*ELITE-X *   -excellent grip; more consistent flights; high durability
*PRO-D*       - like DX, but more sturdy, economical
 
     I won’t bore you with the minor distinctions of each disc.  Try to match up your kind of game with the type of characteristics that echo your style.  For instance:  if you throw a fast spinning flat throw, you might want a disc that has high speed quality and good glide.   If you are a power thrower, you will probably want a pretty fast stable disc since you will be throwing long distance ‘S’s.   Avoid the gimmick discs.    You can always borrow a friends disc for a round and test out a disc to see what they do.    There are tons of great deals on discs out there on EBAY and the disc golf ‘lots’ are often a great way to fill your disc golf bag with a great selection of the essential discs to have. 

**BUYING TIP**: When playing into a head-wind, it is better to use a heavier, more stable disc.  Understable discs tend to just 'flip over' and go too hard to the right, and usually into the ground at a severe angle.   When you have a wind to your back, use a disc that is middle to light weights and one that is designed to 'glide'.

In summary:  To play you will need three discs:  a driver, a putter and an approach disc.  The flight characteristics of the driver should be matched to your throwing style.  Putters and approach discs are simply a matter of personal taste. 

 (Putting tip:  look at the basket, visualize a specific LINK on the chains in the upper right of the basket, and after practice, your muscle memory should eventually take over and guide the disc into that spot.)

 Have fun, and if you get a chance, please take a second and recommend this review to others if you think it will help them.  
 
Thanks!
Jeff Feezle of Macafeez