Discs and Accessories

What you need to play...

Discs can be purchased at a very reasonable price from the Internet or from the Effingham Park District Office located in the Hendelmeyer Recreation Center on South 4th Street in Effingham.

Categories

Discs are manufactured with different cross-sectional profiles.  Those with a slim, tapered edge are normally classified as "drivers". Those with a wider, more rounded edge are typicalled classified as "putters".  Discs manufactured with profiles somewhere in between these two extremes are called "midrange" discs.

Plastics

Most manufacturers use at least 2 grades of plastic for their discs.  We like to refer to these grades as "candy" and "regular".  "Candy" discs are more expensive ($14-$20) and are virtually indestructible.  "Regular" discs are inexpensive ($5 - $13), easy to grip, but are very susceptible to nicks, scrapes, scratches, and malformities.

Mass

The mass of a disc is one of its most important properties.  See "Disc Physics" for a detailed treatise on this property. The momentum imparted to a disc is a product of its mass and its velocity.  If you are strong and fast in your delivery, you can get the best results from a heavy disc (170+ gram class).  Beginners tend to use lightweight discs while more seasoned players tend to use the heavier discs. 

Properties

Many disc manufacturers categorize disc properties in terms of speed, glide, high-speed turn, and low-speed fade. According to Innova's Disc Selection Chart...

 

"The following system (shown at right) is useful for rating various aspects of a disc’s performance. Diagrams are based on a right handed backhand throw. The flight is broken into two phases and rated individually. High speed is the first part of the flight, low speed is the end of the flight."

 

 

Disc Characteristics

What to look for in a disc...

* Type of Plastic

* Weight in grams

* Thickness of rim

* Color

Flight Characteristics

High Speed

Low Speed

Disc Shapes

Flat for distance

Domed for lift