If you know someone that has been playing disc golf for many years, you’ll likely find a disc or two in their bag that has been there for a long time. Maybe even from when they first started. It will likely have dings and scrapes, and the stamp might not even be visible. But the disc still gets thrown and still has a sweet flight. And it still has life left! I’ve never
At the other end of the life-expectancy spectrum, some discs have been lost or damaged on the first throw! Although that is rare, it goes to show you that how long discs last can vary. In this blog we will look at some of the things that affect a discs life length. And we’ll talk about ways to get the most life from your discs.
One of the most important reasons a discs lasts a long time is because of which plastic the disc is made of. Some plastic types are much more durable than others. If you check out Infinite’s listing for the Halo Star Destroyer, and then check out the DX Destroyer, you’ll see that they have much different durability ratings. Since the Halo Star is much more durable than the DX, is will last longer (all other things being equal).
What makes the Halo Star more durable than the DX plastic? The DX is a softer plastic and can easily get dings and gashes in it. As a disc’s plastic gets more beat up, that definitely affects the flight of the disc. The disc typically becomes much more understable as it wears. They can become so understable that they become unusable.
Another way to drastically shorten the life of a disc is to hit a hard object just right, and have the disc crack. That can be a tree, sign, light pole, etc. Since discs hit things all the time without breaking, I don’t know what makes them break. I just know it randomly happens.
We play year round here in northern Utah and hit trees when the temperatures are single digits, without any damage. Then, on a nice 80 degree day someone will smack a tree, and “crack”. Dead disc. Per PDGA guidelines, if a disc has a hole or a crack, it is not legal to use in sanctioned play.
This Pro Eagle has become brittle and is now a wall hanger.
Losing a disc another way to bring an end to its use. Sometimes it is painful to walk away from a lost disc, but it seems that occasionally they just disappear. You can mitigate this from happening by doing a few things:
- Throwing bright colored discs can make them more visible in grass, weeds, or shrubbery.
- Writing your name and/or contact info might get a lost disc returned
- Let other people know where you lost the disc, and that you would love to get it back.
- Carry a retriever to get discs out of a pond or tree.
- If you lose a disc, see if there is a local club that posts found discs online.
Having backups for your go-to discs is a good way to make sure your game isn’t affected if you lose or break a disc. By throwing both discs the same amount of time, they will wear the same and continue to fly the same.
Proto Destroyer and Boss from 2006 and 2008. Lots of life left.
If a disc doesn’t get lost or get major dings, it will last for years. Premium plastics could give you decades of life. The flight will likely change as it ages, but it will happen slowly. The longer life is certainly a case for throwing premium plastics.