As a beginner in disc golf, understanding flight numbers can seem overwhelming. However, once you grasp the concept, you'll be able to choose the right discs for your throws and improve your game significantly. In this post, we'll break down what each flight number means and provide recommendations for beginners.
What are flight numbers?
Flight numbers are a way to describe the flight pattern of a disc. They are usually represented by four numbers: speed, glide, turn, and fade. Each number gives you information about how the disc will fly through the air.
- Speed (first number): This refers to how fast the disc flies. A higher speed means the disc will travel farther. This also means that the disc will need to be thrown at this speed to ensure the disc flies like it is designed to.
- Glide (second number): This indicates how long the disc will stay in the air. A higher glide number means the disc will stay aloft longer.
- Turn (third number): This shows how much the disc will bank or turn to the right (for right-handed throwers) for the beginning and into the middle of the flight path. A negative number means the disc will turn to the right more aggressively , while a positive number means it will stay straight or even begin to start travelling to the left.
- Fade (fourth number): This represents how much the disc will come back to the left at the end of its flight. A higher fade number means the disc will come back to the left more aggressively towards the end of it's flight while a lower number like 0 will imply that the disc will finish more straight-ahead.
Recommendations for beginners:
As a beginner, you'll want discs with lower speed and higher glide. This will make your throws more stable and easier to control. Here are some specific recommendations:
- For drivers, look for discs with speed around 5-7 and glide around 5-6. These will give you good distance without being too hard to handle.
- For mid-range throws, discs with speed around 4-5 and glide around 4-5 are perfect. They'll fly straight and level, making them easy to control.
- For putters, speed isn't as important. Look for discs with a lot of glide (around 4-5) and minimal turn and fade. These will fly straight and drop gently, perfect for landing in the basket. Choosing a putter that feels good in the hand is one of the most important factors!
Remember, the key to improving your game is practice. Start with these beginner-friendly discs and as you get more comfortable, you can experiment with different flight numbers to find what works best for you.