Disc Golf Numbers (What do they mean?)

Disc golf is a flying sport. This sport is being played following the rules of golf, but here players throw disc towards a target, which is usually a type of basket. For primary choosing and learners, it is best to choose lighter discs, having around 166grams of weight. Pro golfers mainly want more massive discs. Disc golf discs have specific disc numbers used for the flight rating system, and this is what I am going to discuss in this article. I will try to apprise you; what do disc golf disc numbers mean.

Flight Rating System

The flight rating system represents the actual features of a disc while it moves to the destination in an airy mode. Disc golf disc number is nothing but the four numbers on discs that have been introduced by the renowned company dealing in disc golf-related premium products, Innova discs. Innova started putting this numbering concept in 2009, though it has spread informally for long. 

Each disc follows a particular flight path. The numbers are used to identify the characteristics of each disc during their specific flight path. Because each disc has its distinct flight path for reaching the target after being thrown in the air, this characterization also helps in comparing individual models of the disc against the other. This, in turn, helps the beginner golfers to pick discs according to their requirements and understand the way different discs fly. The numbering system includes Speed, Glide, Turn and Fade of the disc, which I will be discussing further in the following paragraphs. To know that, what do disc golf disc numbers mean, it is essential to learn about this numbering system.

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Speed

Speed is about at what pace and how fast the disc should be thrown in the air. Ratings of speed are listed through 1-13. Discs with lower numbers require more power to be thrown, but it has less chance of going past the basket. Higher numbered disc require lesser power to be thrown and cuts faster through the air.

Glide

This shows that for how long the disc will stay in the air. Glide is rated in number from 1 to 7. Especially in downwind, new golfers should use a disc with more glide, i.e., higher rating, as it will cover much more distance. Disc golf numbers having lower glide are rated low as they will travel less distance at a single throw.

Turn

This rating tells how much the disc tends to be the rightwards when first thrown by a right-hand backhand thrower (RHBH thrower). RHBH thrower is a player who throws in a backhand way and also by the right hand. Similarly, there is a left-hand backhand player, generally known as LHBH thrower. For RHBH throwers, turn at high speed is the tendency of the disc to turn over to the right or bank to the right and vice versa for LHBH throwers. And it happens during the initial time of the flight. Disc with a -5 rating will turn the most, while a disc with +1 rating will resist most from turning over. Discs rated between +2 to -5 makes good roller discs.

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Fade

This rating shows how much a disc turns left at the end of its flight for an RHBH thrower and vice versa for LHBH thrower. For a right turning disc, it is the rating that shows how much the disc will change its flight path and turn left at the end. Fade is rated from 0 to 5. Here,a disc finishes in a very straight way, which has a rating of 0. On the other hand, a disc rated 5 will try to turn most left at the end of its flight for RHBH throws. 

Understable and Overstable Discs

There are few terms related to the disc golf disc numbers. Such as Stability refers to the state of a disc going exactly straight in its flight path. Understable disc means for an RHBH throw; the disc tends to turn right during its flight.  For an RHBH throw, an Overstable disc means that the disc tends to become left during its flight. Stable is when the disc does not turn as it refers to Stability. There are other two parameters that I think you should know are Spike/ Spike Hyzer and Skip.

Conclusion

So far, I have tried to discuss what do disc golf disc numbers mean in a disc golf game. Still, there are many more aspects to this rating system. There is an Innova disc chart, which shows a detailed rating of disc golf discs because there are different kinds of discs that are used for various shots. It is a thumb rule of choice for beginners to have lighter discs for practice and know how to read the disc golf numbers and rating system to learn the game in a better way.