Starter discs

[gator51]

ok hi y'all I am a newbie at this ,so heres my querry,what disc(s) should i be buying as a beginner and which do I AVOID,i want the best ,not crap and I value your opinons,thanks:chug:

[rob smith]

get a roadrunner- nice beginner disc should fly rather straight with slight hyzer at end for newbie arm speed. maybe wraith or katana for sidearm and hyzer shots. try a roc (i could never get these to work for me when i was a newbie). a putter i like gateway wizard. find what feels good in your hand. these should all be in mid wieghts 167-171.
have fun
rob

[Jeff Hemmerling]

I agree with Rob. Get a midweight (165-170) Sidewinder or Roadrunner. The new Vulcan is a good beginner disc too if you can stand the wide rim. It's a Sidewinder on steroids. For midrange I'd suggest a Shark (a less stable Roc).

Basically use discs that feel good in your hand (again Rob ;)). That's the bottom line, really. Go to Next Adventure or Disc Golf Depot and try as many discs as you can.

Have fun!

[sillybizz]

No. No. No. :headbang: :headbang: :headbang:

Don't even mess with discs that fast yet; the fastest disc I would recommend to someone new would be a Leopard. Get a Meteor or Stingray and work on your form and technique for a while. Roadrunner is a ways off yet and the Vulcan, NO not yet, you are not ready. Wraith, Katana? NO.

[JR Stengele]

Drivers:
champ or star Valks
champ leopards
dx or champ eagles

Mids:
z and x Buzzz
dx Roc

Putter:
dx Aviar

[pdxdiscer]

ok hi y'all I am a newbie at this ,so heres my querry,what disc(s) should i be buying as a beginner and which do I AVOID,i want the best ,not crap and I value your opinons,thanks:chug:

XL
Stratus
Roc/Classic Roc
167-170
Bright , visible colors:oranges, candy yellow, day-glo green

many throws in an open field so you learn what they wanna do AND

on the course, watch every stinking, crappy, lameass throw until the bitter end, so you see where it ends up...nothing more frustrating than bad throw becoming a 20minute search or lost disc:pullhair:
oh,
have fun

[cefire]

I'm will agree with Silly in that if you want to learn wrist control early (which is extremely important) you'll want to start with a slower disc (Leopard or SLOWER)! Start out with a driver (even a roadrunner or vulcan are TOO FAST and much too stable at low speeds which is the important part here) and you'll likely be throwing 'S' curves the rest of your career and will have a tough time learning how to throw straight lines.

My ideal beginner backhand thrower bag:

Discraft XL (start with 1 and then add a second new one in about 6 months)
Innova Stingray (Stratus would be another great choice or perhaps Buzz SS if you have a lot of power)
Aviar P&A (really any true "slow" wide rimmed putter will do here)

Happy flights :)

[Scott]

Put me in with the "avoid the driver" group. Think midrange and fairway drivers. Leopard, TL, shark, stingray, etc... When you start turning these over consistently it will time to add faster and more overstable discs.

[cefire]

I'd argue that when you can make those discs finish their flight straight, that is the time to move on.

Anyone can torque over even an Xcal with enough power or windmill rotation - it takes something different entirely to ensure that a TL is not hyzering at all even 300' down the fairway.

[sillybizz]

Anyone can turn any disc over with enough OAT, I used to do it with a #2 hyzer from Lightning, circa 2005. I used to do it with a DX Viper as well. My discs used to look like knuckle balls...

It takes more to get the disc to do its intended flight.

[Jeff Hemmerling]

Good call all of you on disc selection. I've forgotten how I started out and what skills you need to acquire in the beginning. Forget my suggestions above. Grab a Shark, Stingray, and putter (or something along those lines as suggested above). When you can control those it's time to move up to faster discs.

[Joshua Olmsted]

I'll echo the call for the XL, great beginner driver.

[whalekillah]

I started with a Teebird, and it is still THE most important disc in my bag. Once I could throw a little harder I stepped up to faster discs. Take it SLOW at first. Throwing faster discs too soon can be really frustrating.

[Ol' Bob]

Well, from what I've seen, there are beginners, and then there are beginners. Grab people on the course who would like to help you out. While a Stingray was exactly the right choice for my first disc, I've seen newbies who could crank my most overstable driver right from the start.

Asking was the right thing to do. Ask someone who knows something to watch what you are throwing, and how you are throwing it, to make suggestions.

[maynard]

Ok im gonna bring it down another notch or speed or amount of intial frustration. I have taught literally hundreds of players how to play over the last 20+years and what I have found is give them a good putter to begin with. If a new player learns the fundamentals with a Aviar or Magnet, such as hyzers/anhyzers, nose up/nose down,arm speed and distance control. The transition into mids and beyond blends way easier. I love seeing the reaction on new players faces when they throw their first s-curved drive. Also take them out into a field before you ever show them a double mando, ob ridden hole thats 700'. Ps~its good for your game too!

[emmarose]

i second the valkyrie, roc, sidewinder, stingray, aviar advice and would like to add stay away from the fancy plastic... you're gonna want those super pretty shiney discs... but no, no... not yet... you need to pick up that super boring, dull yellowish or off white dx stingray and huck the eff out of it and then in a year or so or less depending on your learning curve, then you can start getting some pretty discs...

p.s. you should probably try an eclipse... discraft... best disc ever... ;)

[Mikk]

just my 2 cents.. when I first started some local pro's took me under their wings and gave me 2 discs. an Aviar and a Roc. I was told to use these 2 discs for atleast 2 months BEFORE touching any drivers..This was the best advice anybody ever gave me... :)

[SPIDER-DAN]

For a putter i would find out first if you like soft or stiff plastic. Kc pro aviars are pretty stiff and jk pro aviars are soft. See which one feels good in the hand........ There are only a bazillion putters out there.

For a midrange i would consider a shark, stratus, or even a light cobra.

For a driver i would go with first the leopard in a 160 weight and go from there. If you have a hard time turning it over after a couple months then try a stingray. If you seem to flip it over more often than not after a couple months then step up to the valkyrie..........you can never go wrong with a valk.

Also, very important, ask someone to watch how you throw. If you release your disc with hyzer (45 degree tilt downward) or with anhyzer (45 degree tilt upward) that will make alot of difference for anyone to help you pick out the right disc.

Just my 2 cents.

[Bruce]

Innova:
DX beadless avair
DX Shark
DX Leopard

Discraft: Whatever the base plastic is? Pro-d?
Magnet
Stratus
Xl

With new people especially they need to learn how discs are going to change as they age and beat in. It's my belief to avoid overly stable discs, go with something more neutral, so that a newbie can learn as many aspects of disc flight as possible.

[softwinterwhispers]

I would agree Bruce, the Leopard has been one of the best starter discs I have used. I made many a kicktastic birdies with that one. It makes a excellent midrange.

Yes I dig my Leopard!

Innova:
DX beadless avair
DX Shark
DX Leopard

Discraft: Whatever the base plastic is? Pro-d?
Magnet
Stratus
Xl

With new people especially they need to learn how discs are going to change as they age and beat in. It's my belief to avoid overly stable discs, go with something more neutral, so that a newbie can learn as many aspects of disc flight as possible.

[jshrack]

just my 2 cents.. when I first started some local pro's took me under their wings and gave me 2 discs. an Aviar and a Roc. I was told to use these 2 discs for atleast 2 months BEFORE touching any drivers..This was the best advice anybody ever gave me... :)

I completely agree with this logic.

When I introduce a beginner I usually throw together a beginner bag with a roc, a mako, and a buzz. Then a dart, a KC aviar, a JK aviar... and a Condor just in case. I try to mix up the plastic types to let them get a feeling for the differences. Let them throw what they want.

[Flatroc]

Go to Disc Golf Depot and buy one 180 gram dx roc.
Then, ask the owner, 'Jerry Miller', if he has some time for some pointers.
The tips you get from Miller will be priceless compared to what you payed for the disc.

[Toby Puttzinski]

Picking up a few 'seasoned' discs should help as well. Brand new discs tend to need a little breaking in, especially if they have very much 'flashing' on the edge. Not only are used discs cheaper, but they usually feel a little better in your hand.

[SPIDER-DAN]

picking up a few 'seasoned' discs should help as well. Brand new discs tend to need a little breaking in, especially if they have very much 'flashing' on the edge. Not only are used discs cheaper, but they usually feel a little better in your hand.

great advice............i even like to pick up a seasoned disc here and there every once and a while.

[General Scales]

Whippet. Viper. Flick. Force. Drone. Predators.

[Rakoz]

Take me:
Former baseball and discus thrower... Threw Teebirds and Eagles right out of the gate and was throwing wraiths within a few months (side arm and tomahawk somehow). Putt and approach with candy Rhynos. Had such a weird training

Taught My wife (no sport history) with:
Leopard ultralight
Kite Ultralight
Tbird ultralight
putts with warlocks

Taught my Best Friend (also athlete) with:
Leopard
Eagle
Buzz
Wizards

It's hard to say with each person. I havn't found a disc I can't flip sidearm so I throw a lot more backhand these days (big d still comes sidearm). Was I taught wrong? Who knows...I'm a pretty competitive advanced player in my neck of the woods... could I have been amazing and awesome... we'll never know.

When I am introducing someone to the sport I always recommend Leopard, shark/mako, Eagle, and whatever feels good for putting. Leopard is your go to back hand, shark/mako can make most approach shots, eagle is your diversity disc (tomahawk, thumber, sidearm, roller even). Depending on power and history you'll have to adjust weight but most people should start lighter and go up.

[sillybizz]

Take me:
Former baseball and discus thrower... Threw Teebirds and Eagles right out of the gate and was throwing wraiths within a few months (side arm and tomahawk somehow). Putt and approach with candy Rhynos. Had such a weird training

Taught My wife (no sport history) with:
Leopard ultralight
Kite Ultralight
Tbird ultralight
putts with warlocks

Taught my Best Friend (also athlete) with:
Leopard
Eagle
Buzz
Wizards

It's hard to say with each person. I havn't found a disc I can't flip sidearm so I throw a lot more backhand these days (big d still comes sidearm). Was I taught wrong? Who knows...I'm a pretty competitive advanced player in my neck of the woods... could I have been amazing and awesome... we'll never know.

When I am introducing someone to the sport I always recommend Leopard, shark/mako, Eagle, and whatever feels good for putting. Leopard is your go to back hand, shark/mako can make most approach shots, eagle is your diversity disc (tomahawk, thumber, sidearm, roller even). Depending on power and history you'll have to adjust weight but most people should start lighter and go up.

If you are flipping every disc while throwing you have off axis torque or bad form. I can throw under stable mid range discs like Meteors and such (yes forehand I am talking about) and get good flights out of them and not flip them over. People with sports backgrounds have more POWER right away and can throw it far; more power than form. Just because you can throw it far right away doesn't mean you are using proper technique. Sorry not trying to single you out, just trying to prove a point.

[Rakoz]

If you are flipping every disc while throwing you have off axis torque or bad form. I can throw under stable mid range discs like Meteors and such (yes forehand I am talking about) and get good flights out of them and not flip them over. People with sports backgrounds have more POWER right away and can throw it far; more power than form. Just because you can throw it far right away doesn't mean you are using proper technique. Sorry not trying to single you out, just trying to prove a point.

No problem. I don't flip every disc over when throwing max sidearm; I throw very far with my xcal and tee rex and seldom flip them anymore. I have a ton of power and know that's more of my game than others and luckily my form is improving with age as my power wanes.

I was merely suggesting that you may want to disc up a little for SOME people. I moved from leapard to TL to eagle to tbird to wraith and at every juncture the extra distance from my power made we want to learn to control that disc more. I threw sidearm and tomahawk and soon I learned how to backhand all these discs as well. Can most people jump straight to wraith and get it right? Probably not. But many new to our game can handle fairway drivers off the tee and more and probably get more pleasure doing so (and therefore get them to stick around in our sport).

My wife would get discouraged and probably stop disc golfing if I gave her full weight discs or anything overstable. Likewise my friend would have done the same if given the same discs my wife uses. Sometimes it is ok to disc up a newbie. sometimes.

[Toby Puttzinski]

Try a CFR Max for a disc that's difficult to flip. I am a LH player that uses a forehand mostly for recovery shots. My RH side-arm(only gets used when injured) is much more powerful/natural than my left, as I am semi-ambidextrous>> I throw a football and any other heavy stuff left-handed, but skip rocks/throw a baseball with my right arm. Anything below 10 o'clock with my LHFH feels awkward, so I often use an over-stable disc such as the Champ Max/ChampXCal/CE Viper.

While Silly's correct that form>wing down can prevent flip, perhaps you could benefit from throwing something more stable. What is your most stable disc? <<after post I see you throw an Xcal/Trex>> The CFR Max is slower, but more over-stable...

You make a good point that it really depends on the individual...

[Rakoz]

While Silly's correct that form>wing down can prevent flip, perhaps you could benefit from throwing something more stable. What is your most stable disc? <<after post I see you throw an Xcal/Trex>> The CFR Max is slower, but more over-stable...

You make a good point that it really depends on the individual...

I carried one in my bag for awhile. I didn't get the same distance with it and took it out when I could start backhanding around that distance with decent control. I've also had luck with a brand new DiscMania's PD but keep going back to the trex and xcal when it got broke in a little.

Individuals are different in this just as in any other sport. I'm pretty sure there is a Church of Roc somewhere in disc golf land but I just don't like them. Could be form, could be mental... doesn't matter. They don't work for me.

[Mayumoogy]

I started out in the 80's so I had 77 molds and softie 86's. Then a couple years later I got a Discraft Eclipse and used that forever. The eclipse is a great beginner disc, I also second the Leopard, and the idea of getting things that feel good in your hand.