Disc golf is not just a game of skill and strategy; it’s also a game of equipment, where the type of disc you use can significantly impact your play. One crucial aspect of this equipment is the disc’s plastic type. Understanding the differences between various disc golf plastics and their effect on flight patterns is essential for any player looking to improve their game. In this article, we’ll go over different plastics produced by major brands like Innova, Discraft, Latitude 64, and MVP, so you can hit the course with confidence in your plastic knowledge!

The Importance of Plastic Types in Disc Golf

The type of plastic used in a disc golf disc affects everything from grip and durability to flight patterns and stability. Disc golf plastics can be broadly categorized into two groups: premium plastics and baseline plastics. Each has its benefits and preferred conditions for use.

Premium vs. Baseline Plastics

Premium Plastics

Known for their durability and resistance to wear, premium plastics maintain their original flight characteristics longer than baseline plastics. They are ideal for players who want consistent performance over time. These plastics typically have a smoother finish and are less prone to scratches and nicks.

Baseline Plastics

Baseline plastics offer superior grip and are more affordable, but they wear down faster. This faster wear can be advantageous for players who prefer their discs to ‘beat in’ and develop new flight patterns over time. Baseline plastics are often the choice for putters due to their excellent grip.

Brand-Specific Disc Golf Plastics

Innova

Champion

Champion is one of Innova’s most popular premium plastics, second only to Star. It’s a translucent or clear plastic that’s very durable, and usually runs a little stiffer than other blends. Discs in Champion plastic tend to be a little more overstable than the same disc in another plastic. Innova also has a few variations of Champion such as Metal Flake Champion, Glow Champion, Halo Champion, and Blizzard Champion.

Star

Star is an opaque premium plastic, and is Innova’s most popular blend. Discs produced in Star plastic tend to be little softer than their Champion counterparts, and tend to beat in a little quicker. While the difference is usually negligible or nonexistent, Star discs can have less stability out of the box than the same disc in Champion plastic. Star also has many variant plastic blends such as the popular Halo Star, Star Color Glow, Swirly Star, and the ultra soft and grippy GStar blend.

DX

DX is Innova’s flagship baseline plastic. This blend offers a softer, grippier, and chalkier feel than anything in premium plastic. Baseline plastics such as DX are more prone to wear. The main use of baseline plastics such as DX is Other baseline plastics include KC Pro, JK Pro, R-Pro, and XT.

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Discraft

ESP

Discraft’s most popular premium blend offers something that not many other companies can offer: every disc is unique. ESP is Discraft’s opaque, and slightly less durable blend. Instead of just solid colors, ESP is often swirled and ran from one color to the next. The swirls, combined with Discraft’s vast array of stamp foils, ensure that finding two ESP discs that look exactly the same is next to impossible.

Z

Z is Discraft’s translucent and most durable blend. Stock runs of Z are only available in solid colors, unlike ESP. But there are also many plastic blends that stem from Z, such as Z Swirl, Z Lite, Metallic Z, CryZtal, Z Flx, and Z Glo.

Putter Line

Discraft’s putter line is exactly what it sounds like, and is used for all of their putters. Putter line is a baseline plastic, so it’s not very durable, but it has the chalky and tacky grip that players often want for their putters. Putter Line Soft is also available for most putters.

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Latitude 64

Gold Line

Gold Line is Latitude 64’s opaque, softer premium blend. You may be catching on by now that each and every company has very similar classifications for plastic. Most companies have a softer opaque blend which is the most popular, and then a see-through premium blend that’s more durable, and a baseline plastic for their putters. Every company has many more plastics available, but most stem from these popular three main plastic types.

Opto Line

Opto Line is Latitude’s more durable, translucent plastic blend. It’s a little softer than translucent plastics from other companies, and feels really good in the hand. There are also many variants of Opto, such as Opto-X, Opto Ice, Opto Air, Opto Ice Orbit and Opto Moonshine Orbit, as well as Opto Moonshine, Opto Glimmer, and Opto Ice Chameleon.

Zero Line

Latitude’s flagship baseline putter blend, Zero Line, comes in three firmness grades, each one available in solid colors or with swirls.

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MVP

Proton

Proton is MVP’s translucent blend. Discs in this blend are typically a little more overstable than discs in Neutron plastic.

Neutron

Neutron is MVP’s most popular plastic, and you guessed it, it’s opaque. MVP also has a plastic called Cosmic Neutron, which has the same feel as Neutron but have swirly colors instead of one solid color. MVP also uses an air-bubble technology to help them offer a full range of weights. Neutron with this technology is called Fission plastic, and has a slightly different feel when compared to Neutron.

Electron

Electron is MVP’s baseline plastic, and is available in three firmness grades. There is also a swirly Cosmic Electron blend, which is also available in three firmness grades.

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Plastic Performance in Different Conditions

Cold Weather Performance

Softer plastics, typically baseline types, perform better in cold weather as they retain flexibility and grip. In contrast, some premium plastics can become too stiff and slick in cold temperatures. The problem is, baseline plastics are more prone to damage or breaking when frigid temperatures are around. Finding soft premium blends like Discraft’s ESP FLX, Innova’s GStar, or Latitude’s Frost will help your performance significantly on cold days.

Wet Conditions

In wet conditions, baseline plastics often provide better grip, reducing the chances of the disc slipping during release. The key to performing in wet conditions goes beyond plastic choice, and has a lot to do with keeping your discs dry. Bring plenty of towels, and be sure that you have your Max Wax with you so you can get grip even if it’s pouring.

Players’ Preferences

Durability vs. Wear

Some players prefer less durable plastics as they ‘beat in’ faster, changing their flight characteristics. Beat in discs will become more understable, and will develop traits like “late-fade” which is harder to find in a disc off the shelf. On the other hand, players who prefer a new discs’ characteristics value consistency and longevity, and tend to lean towards the more durable premium plastics.

Role of Disc Wear

The way a disc ‘beats in’ is crucial in the sport. A well-used disc in any plastic can offer flight patterns that cannot be replicated with new discs. Instead of bagging 4 or 5 different mid-ranges of different stabilities, many pros will bag 4 or 5 of one mold in particular in various states of wear. This phenomenon is called “cycling”.

Conclusion

Understanding the nuances of disc golf plastics is crucial for every player. Whether you prioritize durability, grip, or the evolution of flight patterns over time, there’s a plastic type suited to your needs. Experimenting with different plastics from various brands can significantly enhance your playing experience and strategy on the course.

In the world of disc golf, mastering the art of distance driving is a badge of honor. Whether you’re looking to crush distance drives out in the open, or aiming to maximize your distance down a tight fairway, choosing the right distance driver can significantly enhance your game. With the myriad of options available, selecting the ideal driver can be overwhelming. This guide dives into the top 10 distance drivers, showcasing the advanced technologies and unique characteristics that set them apart. Let’s embark on a journey to discover the perfect blend of speed, stability, and glide to maximize your distance!

Understanding Distance Driver Characteristics

Distance drivers are the quintessential discs for achieving maximum range. Key features include a wider rim for faster speeds, and materials designed for durability and performance. The interaction of these characteristics with a player’s technique defines the flight and ultimately the distance achieved.

The Top 10 Distance Drivers

The 10 discs in this list were the top-10 bestselling distance drivers of 2023. The data for this list came from Marshall Street Disc Golf sales reports. Some of these molds appeared on the list more than once, just in different plastics. We’ve removed those duplicates and only included the top selling plastic of each mold.

1. Innova Star Destroyer – One of the first 12-speed distance drivers to hit the market, the Destroyer has been a staple in many golfers bags for nearly two decades.
2. Discraft ESP Hades – The Hades is from Paul McBeth’s personal line of discs, meaning he helped design it himself. The Hades features high levels of turn and fade, making it idea for S-curve type shots.
3. Discmania S-Line DD3 – Discmania’s answer to the Destroyer is super popular, but hasn’t quite usurped the Destroyer.
4. Innova Star Tern – The Tern offers something that many distance drivers are short on, and that’s turn. The Tern is more of an understable distance driver, making it easier to throw far for players with lower arm-speed.
5. MVP Fission Wave – The Wave is the first distance driver in the top 10 that’s not a 12-speed driver, it’s an 11-speed. 12-speed discs are extremely popular, but 11-speed discs take a little less effort to shape into lines.
6. Innova Star Shryke – The Shryke represents a newer age in distance technology. It features more turn, and superior glide compared to most distance drivers, making it easy to throw for almost any skill level.
7. Discraft ESP Zeus – Another Paul McBeth disc, and another Destroyer “clone”. The Destroyer revolutionized the game, it’s no wonder that many discs replicate it’s shape and flight numbers.
8. Innova Blizzard Katana – This 13-speed is a bomb. Its high speed, copious glide, and light weight allow it to go very far, very fast. Be careful where you aim this thing.
9. Discmania Horizon Cloudbreaker – The Cloudbreaker is one of the most popular distance drivers available from Discmania. It’s extremely similar to their own DD3, slightly modified to Eagle McMahon’s requested specifications.
10. SimonLine Neutron Time-Lapse – The Time-Lapse is an Axiom/MVP disc that was designed with heavy input from elite pro Simon Lizotte. A Destroyer “clone” to be sure, but MVP’s overmold technology and an especially domey flight plate set the Time-Lapse apart.

Popularity of the Destroyer

The Destroyer, released in 2007, boasted a very wide rim and a combination of glide and overstability that set it apart from anything that had come before. The Destroyer is the best selling distance driver of all time, not just 2023. If our list included different plastic variations, the Destroyer in different plastics would take up 4 spots of the top 10. Even after removing those duplicates, many of the other molds on the top 10 list are Destroyer “clones”. We’re in no way saying that these other companies copied the Destroyer directly, but the Destroyer has set a standard for distance drivers that has yet to be beaten, so its style has been replicated many times over. Almost all professional players bag a Destroyer-like driver as their go-to disc for distance shots.

The most popular distance drivers from most companies share the same flight numbers as the Destroyer, 12 / 5 / -1 / 3. Such discs include the Discmania DD3 and Cloudbreaker, the Millennium Scorpius, Discraft’s Zeus, the Hooligan Yeet, and even newer molds such as the SimonLine Time-Lapse and Clash Disc’s Salt.

Disc Technology and Innovation

The evolution of disc golf technology has led to the creation of discs with specialized plastics and aerodynamic profiles. The plastics used not only affect the flight and durability of the discs but also offer different grips and feels. This allows players to tailor their selection to their comfort and style.

At this point, the most ground-breaking disc technology on the market is GYRO overmold technology, created by MVP discs. This technology allows for MVP to put the majority of a disc’s weight into the outer rim. As a result, MVP claims their discs maintain momentum better, and fade more forward than “monomold” discs.

Choosing the Right Disc

Selecting the right distance driver is highly personal and depends on your play style, arm speed, and experience. In any case, it’s essential to experiment with different discs to understand how each one complements your throwing technique. Consider starting with more understable discs if you’re a beginner, and gradually work your way towards more stable to overstable options as your skills develop. Flippy discs can get easy distance, but consistency is key in disc golf, and more overstable discs offer more opportunities for consistency.

Expert Insights and Trends

Gaining insights from professional players, disc golf veterans, or coaches can be invaluable. They can undeniably share many helpful tips on disc selection and techniques to maximize distance. Keeping an eye on the trends among top players can also guide you in making informed choices about the discs you add to your bag.

In conclusion, the journey to maximizing distance in disc golf is as much about selecting the right equipment as it is about skill and technique. The top 10 distance drivers listed here offer a range of options to suit various playing styles and skill levels, and overall, the Destroyer is king. Remember, the best disc is the one that feels right in your hand and complements your unique throwing style. Happy disc golfing, may your drives be long and your putts short!

Speed 7 fairway drivers are the unsung heroes of disc golf, offering a perfect blend of control and distance. In this guide, we dive into the “Speed 7 Showdown” to compare the best of these versatile discs. Ideal for navigating tight fairways or achieving moderate distances, finding the right speed 7 driver can significantly enhance your game. Whether you’re fine-tuning your approach or exploring new options, join us as we explore the top picks that stand out in this highly competitive field.

Understanding Speed 7

Discs rated with a speed of 7 are some of the most controllable and shapeable fairway drivers on the market. Fairway drivers can range in speed from 6 all the way up to 10. That’s a pretty wide range, so what makes speed 7 fairway drivers so popular?

Being relatively low in speed compared to most other drivers, speed 7 discs are extremely workable. They offer the distance to conquer many tasks out on the course, without sacrificing much control, if any. Back in the days before true wide-rim distance drivers, these discs were the go-to for most shots. Nowadays, they’re not the farthest flying discs on the market, but are still an essential disc in most players’ bags.

Top Speed 7 Fairway Drivers: A Comparative Analysis

Below, we list the 5 best selling speed 7 fairway drivers of 2023. This information came from Marshall Street sales reports, and shows us the discs that players trusted most in 2023.

The Contenders

• ESP Athena (7/5/0/2): The Athena is a Paul McBeth designed fairway driver that offers a straight and smooth flight with a consistent left finish.
• S-Line FD (7/6/0/1): The FD is Discmania’s flagship fairway driver, with copious glide and a tendency to push straight and forward.
• Neutron Rhythm (7/5/-2/1): The Rhythm is a newer fairway driver from Axiom Discs. The Rhythm is more understable than the other contenders, but still offers a reliable and predictable flight.
• Opto River (7/7/-1/1): The Opto River has the highest glide of any fairway driver out there.
• Star Teebird (7/5/0/2): The Teebird is the original 7/5/0/2 disc. There are many fairway drivers on the market that attempt to replicate the Teebird, or share its flight numbers.

The Best 7-Speed Fairway Driver

The ESP Athena was the bestselling fairway driver of 2023. It’s hard not to credit the Teebird for the success of other 7/5/0/2 discs. That being said, the Athena is an original invention of Discraft and Paul Mcbeth, despite its many similarities. The S-Line FD came in 2nd place, but if you combine sales for all plastic types of FD vs. all versions of Athena, the FD emerges victorious.

The Neutron Rhythm fell into 3rd, but that could’ve been because of the limited availability seen throughout the year. It wasn’t always in stock, and when it was, it sold quickly.

It’s almost impossible to choose just one as the best! Considering all, our top choice is the FD. The FD was reinvented by Discmania, and produced in a ton of different plastics last year. It is once again a staple fairway driver for disc golfers everywhere.

The Future of Speed 7 Drivers

Disc golf has seen so many upgrades in technology over the years. What’s to come is anyone’s guess, but taking a look at the history of 7 speed drivers, we may be able to demise clues of the future.

Time and time again, 7/5/0/2 fairway drivers dominate as some of the most popular 7 speed discs. The other contenders from above are all high glide, neutral in flight, and have very little fade. From this, we can extrapolate that future breakthroughs in speed 7 discs will provide more of the qualities people are looking for. Straighter, “glidier”, smoother fairway drivers may be in store for us in the future. Who knows, maybe we’ll even have speed 7 discs with a glide of 8, or dare I say 9!

Choosing Your Next Fairway Driver

Choosing a new fairway driver can seem daunting because of the amount of them on the market. Despite there being so many of them, most of them are great! Anything with a fairly neutral flight, high glide, and low fade should be everything you need to start carving out fairways like butter. A good 7 speed disc should be able to hold anhyzers, hyzers, and straight shots. If you’re looking for a sure finish at the end, the Athena or Teebird might be best for you. If you’re looking for easy to throw discs with lots of glide, consider the FD, or the River. At the end of the day, you’ll have to try some things out for yourself and see what works for your unique throwing style and form.

Conclusion

Is speed 7 the best speed? We can’t say. But after going over the bestselling 7 speed discs on the market, we can say with confidence that there are some key features that make speed 7 discs popular. High glide, comfortable rims, minimal fade, and lots of shot diversity seem to be the key features of the most popular 7 speeds. Whether you’re looking to finesse your way down a tight fairway, or trying to go the distance with some control, a 7 speed fairway driver may be exactly what you need.

Disc golf, a sport of precision and skill, demands the right equipment for every situation. Among the most crucial are putters, and in this guide, we focus on a specific type: the overstable putter. Renowned for their consistency and versatility, overstable putters like Prodigy’s PA-2, Discmania’s P2, Discraft’s Luna, and Axiom’s Envy, have gained popularity among players at all levels. We’re here to tell you why.

What Makes Overstable Putters Stand Out?

Overstable putters are characterized by their ability to resist turning over during flight, even in windy conditions. Their overstability makes them a reliable choice when accuracy is paramount, and ensures that they’ll have a strong, predictable fade at the end of their flight.

Top Overstable Putter Picks

1. Prodigy PA-2: Known for its consistent fade and firm grip.
2. Discmania P2: Praised for its reliability in all weather conditions.
3. Discraft Luna: Popular for its balanced flight and comfortable feel.
4. Axiom Envy: Noted for its versatility and exceptional control.

Each of these putters brings something unique to the table, and their popularity among professional disc golfers further highlights their effectiveness. Past users of the P2 are many in number, including stars such as Paul McBeth, Eagle McMahon, and Nate Sexton. The Luna was designed by Paul McBeth, and the Envy is the disc James Conrad threw in “The Holy Shot” with.

Why Consistency Matters

In disc golf, consistency is key. With that in mind, there’s not many tools more important than an overstable putter. A consistent left finish and a resistance to turning over will quickly become predictable, and predictability in your discs is crucial for building confidence on the course, as well as being consistent.

Overstable Putters in Action: Course Applications

1. Anhyzer Throws: Contrary to what one might expect, overstable putters can be ideal for anhyzer shots, especially when you need the disc to fight back towards the end of its flight. When these discs beat in, the turnover is typically more gradual and smooth than a disc that’s understable right out of the box. The best example of this is the holy shot!
2. Windy Conditions: Their ability to maintain a straight flight path in headwinds is unparalleled.
3. Approach Shots: The predictable fade of overstable putters makes them excellent for precise approach shots.

Understanding the Difference: Putting vs. Throwing Putters

Overstable 3-speed or 4-speed putters are typically choice for drives and approaches rather than putts, especially when in a premium plastic. There are also many putters that are ideal for putting, but may not make the best throwing putters.

• Putting Putters: Typically used within the circle, focusing on accuracy over distance.
• Throwing Putters: Typically in a premium plastic, used for drives and approaches. Designed to handle more power and offer more control over longer distances.

Most 3-speed overstable putters fall into the ‘throwing putter’ category, although they can still be effective for putting, especially in windy conditions.

The Benefits of a Limited Putter Selection

Carrying too many putter molds can lead to confusion and inconsistency, which is why many experienced players suggest limiting your bag to one or two putter molds. This approach not only allows you to become deeply familiar with your disc’s behavior, building consistency and confidence.

Choosing Your Overstable Putter

When selecting an overstable putter, consider:

• Feel in the Hand: Comfort leads to confidence.
• Flight Characteristics: Understand how it behaves in various conditions.
• Versatility: Can it handle different types of throws?

Conclusion

Overstable putters, with their predictable flight and versatility, can be an asset on any disc golf course. Whether you’re fighting the wind, navigating a tight approach, or even executing an anhyzer shot, an overstable putter like the PA-2, P2, Luna, or Envy could be the key to elevating your game. Remember, the best putter is the one that feels right for you and complements your playing style. Test, practice, and find your perfect match!