Since the four-number flight rating system has been adopted by our sport, I thought I would help people who are new to disc golf understand the terminology. Let’ jump right in and learn the terms
This article will talk about the flight of a disc as if it is being thrown by a right-handed player who is throwing a backhand shot.
We will use the Infinite Discs Pharaoh for the example. It has the following flight numbers: 13, 6, -1, 2
Here is what those numbers represents, in order:
Speed – The first number is the relative speed that you need to be able to throw the disc in order for it to fly like it should. The higher the number, the faster the disc needs to be thrown. Since most beginners lack the skill to throw fast enough for higher speed discs, lower speed discs are a better fit for new players. As they develop the skills to generate more arm speed, players can handle discs with higher speed ratings. If a player throws a disc that has a speed rating that is too high for their skill level, the flight will likely be short, with the disc starting to turn left almost immediately.
Glide – The second number in the rating system is an indication of how long the disc will stay aloft when thrown. The higher the number, the more GLIDE and the longer the disc will stay aloft. Generally speaking, newer players should seek discs that have a high GLIDE rating.
Turn – The third number in the flight rating system describes how far to the right a disc will fly during the fastest part of the flight. The more the number is below zero, the more the disc will turn to the right. We say that a disc with a rating that is well below zero has ‘a lot of turn’. Discs with a zero or positive one turn we be considered as having ‘almost no turn’. Those discs are great for throwing into a headwind, while a disc with a lot of turn is better for throwing in a tailwind.
Fade – The fourth number describes how far to the left the disc will move as it slows down in its flight. The higher the number, the more to the left the disc will fly. As mentioned above, since a beginner doesn’t have the skill to throw discs as fast as is necessary in order to fly correctly, the disc will start to fade almost right out of your hand. That is especially true with molds that have a high FADE number.
How Accurate is The Flight Rating System?
While it is nice to have a flight rating system to guide us in our disc selection, the system is far from perfect. The actual flight of the disc is heavily affected by the plastic type, weight, and condition of the disc. Heavier discs take more effort to throw, making the disc appear to have less turn and more fade than a lighter disc in the same mold, for example.
Factors such as parting line height (the line created around the outer rim of the discs by having two mold parts when the disc is made) affects the flight of the disc. Because of that, you can end up with two discs that are the same mold, plastic and weight, but fly differently.
For now, the flight rating system is the best we have, and can still give you general guidelines for selecting a discs.