Home Disc Golf FAQ Flight Ratings System
Flight Ratings System
SPEED|
Speed is the ability of the disc to cut through the air. Speed Ratings
are listed from 1 to 13. Discs with high numbers are faster. Faster
discs go farther into the wind with less effort. Slower discs take more
power
to throw, but have less of a chance
to fly past the basket.
GLIDE|
Glide describes the discs ability to maintain loft during flight. Discs
with more glide are best for new players, and for producing maximum
distance (especially
downwind). Glide is rated from 1 to
7. Beginners looking for more
distance should choose discs with
more glide.
TURN| High Speed Turn is the
tendency of a disc to turn over or
bank to the right (for RHBH throws)
during
the initial part of the flight. A disc with a +1 rating is most
resistant to turning over, while a -5 rating will turn the most. Discs
rated -2 to -5 make good roller discs.
FADE| Low Speed Fade is the discs
tendency to hook left (for RHBH
throws) at the end of the flight. Fade is rated from 0 to 5. A disc
rated 0 will finish straightest, while a disc rated 5 will hook hard at
the end of the flight. Discs with a high fade rating are predicable
even in wind.
Discs Made With...
For more information on plastic types, check out the Plastic Types Overview.
| Star Plastic will retain flight ratings for a long period of time, with added grip.
| Champion Plastic will retain flight
ratings for a long period of time.
| Pro Plastic will start slightly less overstable
and the driver models will have more glide.
| 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.
Brief Description of Terms...
Understable discs are much more speed sensitive than stable or overstable discs. An understable disc will often fly stable to overstable at low speed. Beginners tend to throw discs at lower speeds.
For more information on these terms or others, refer to our Glossary of Terms.
The exact flight for any disc is dependent on the particular material it is made with, such as Champion, Star, Pro, R-Pro, or DX. It is also dependent on the throwers style and speed. Champion plastic tends to produce the most high speed stable discs (other than special runs of Star Lite), followed by Star, DX, Pro, and R-Pro.
