Almost every disc golf disc has four numbers printed on it, for example 7 | 5 | -1 | 1. These are the flight numbers, and they sum up how the disc behaves in the air on a backhand throw by a right-handed player. Understanding them is the fastest way to know whether a disc fits your game.
Speed: from 1 to 14
It tells you how fast you need to throw the disc for it to fly as designed. Putters sit between 1 and 3, midranges between 4 and 6, fairway drivers between 6 and 9 and distance drivers from 10 up.
More speed doesn't mean more distance if you don't have the arm to throw it: a speed 12 driver thrown slowly soon drops to the left. If you're just starting out, a disc of speed 7 or lower will give you more distance and more control.
Glide: from 1 to 7
It measures how long the disc stays in the air. A high glide (5 to 7) helps you gain distance with little effort and is ideal for beginners. A low glide (1 to 3) gives a shorter, more controlled flight, useful on windy days or for precise approaches.
Turn: from +1 to -5
It describes which way the disc tends to go during the fast part of the flight. A negative turn (-1, -2, -3…) makes the disc drift to the right (for a right-handed backhand). The more negative it is, the easier it is to throw straight or to shape shots that curve to the right. A turn of 0 or +1 indicates a disc that resists turning over.
Fade: from 0 to 5
It's the disc's tendency to finish to the left at the end of the flight, when it loses speed. A fade of 0 or 1 finishes almost straight; a fade of 3 to 5 guarantees a strong finish to the left, very useful in the wind or to get around obstacles.
Stable, overstable and understable
Putting turn and fade together, we talk about the disc's stability:
- Understable: very negative turn and low fade. It turns to the right and is easy to throw straight. Ideal for getting started.
- Stable or neutral: turn and fade of similar size. It flies straight with a gentle fall at the end.
- Overstable: turn close to 0 and high fade. It always finishes to the left and handles wind well.
How to use the numbers to choose
If you're just starting out, look for discs with low or medium speed, high glide, negative turn and low fade. A good example is a midrange with numbers like 5 | 5 | -1 | 1. As your arm gets faster, the same discs will become more understable and you'll be able to move on to faster or more stable models.
Remember that plastic and weight also change the flight: premium plastics tend to be a bit more stable and lightweight discs are easier to throw. On each product page in our store you'll see the flight numbers, plastic and weight of every disc.
Not sure which disc to choose? Take a look at all our discs or write to us and we'll help you.