Disc golf for beginners

Did you say Disco?

No… Disc golf!

Jargon and glossary

Many aspects of disc golf originate from the original golf, which in the disc golf community is referred to as “ball golf” to differentiate them.

Much of the terminology is borrowed from ball golf:

Hole: each lane from tee to basket.
Course: a set round of holes (usually 9 or 18).
Tee: (or Teepad) where you start each hole.
Fairway: a good landing area.
OB: out of bounds (plus one to your score and bring it back in bounds).
Drive: first and longest throw (or swing in ball golf) off the tee.
Driver: the disc (or club) used to drive.
Putt: a throw from close to the basket (or a swing from close to the cup).
Putter: the disc used to putt.

Scoring

Par: the expected score on the hole.
Birdie: one under par.
Eagle: two under par.
Albatross: three under par (very rare).
Bogey: one over par.
Double, triple, and quadruple bogey—2, 3, and 4 over par, respectively.

Some of the language has adapted. In ball golf, if you are between a drive and a putt, you might use an iron. In disc golf, it would be a midrange.

Because the length of grass does not matter when putting in disc golf, close to the basket is called Circle 1 (10m) and Circle 2 (20m) rather than the green.

On a ball golf course, a hazard means a sand trap/bunker or water hazard, and either is played as it lies or with a penalty stroke (like OB). In disc golf, a hazard means you must play it from where it landed, as well as add a penalty stroke.

Making a throw into the basket on your first try is more often called an ace than a hole-in-one.

Several of the terms are unique to disc golf:

PDGA: Professional Disc Golf Association.
Backhand: gripping and throwing the disc with the back of your hand as the leading edge.
Forehand: gripping and throwing the disc with the palm of your hand as the leading edge.
RHBH/LHBH: right hand backhand/left-hand backhand throws.
Hyzer: angle of a disc when throwing with “the ungripped edge of the disc closer to the ground than the edge in a player's hand”.¹
Anhyzer: opposite angle of hyzer with the ungripped edge closer to the sky than the edge in a player’s hand.
Overstable: a disc that by design will tend to go more to the left for RHBH players.
Understable: a disc that, by design, will tend to go more to the right for RHBH players.
Basket: the target on each hole, metal with a band on top, chains, and a cage.

Physics of flight

Though many would recognize a Frisbee or disc, the approval process is quite strict to ensure fairness and safety. According the the PDGA² a disc must be made of plastic, be between 21 and 30 cm in diameter, and weigh no more than 200 g. There are 15 guidelines altogether, but the number one guideline is an existential guideline of what a disc is:

Discs must have a circular, saucer-like configuration, with a flight plate unbroken by perforations and an underside inner rim depth that is between 5 and 12 percent of the outside disc diameter. The flight plate is defined as the upper (or dorsal) section of the disc, which is delineated by the points where the inner rim depth is measured. The saucer-like configuration requires a significant degree of asymmetry between the upper and lower sections, resulting in distinct top and bottom sides of the disc.

Because of the rim, flight plate, and distinct top and bottom sides of the disc, it acts as both a wing/foil and a gyroscope³. The flight through the air generates lift, while the spin of the disc tries to keep it in the orientation thrown.

For RHBH throwers, the spin of the disc means it will tend to go to the left, particularly when it slows down. Overstable discs increase this effect, while understable discs reduce that effect and can even go more towards the right at higher speeds. The speed of the air over the disc has an impact, which can come from the amount of power used as well as wind speed.

A headwind effectively increases the speed of the air over the disc and will give more understable effects, and a tailwind reduces the speed of the air (in relation to the movement of the disc) and gives more of an overstable effect. A crosswind, however, will hit the flight plate and push it in whichever direction the wind is going (left or right compared to the direction of flight).

Strategy

The first throw off the tee is usually an attempt to get close to the basket to have an easy putt for birdie. Wherever the disc lands, the player marks it and then throws again (with any disc of choice). When the disc lands in the basket (or comes to rest in the chains), the number of throws is scored. For a competition, the fewest throws total on the course wins!

The many variables of disc golf give players options when strategizing for each hole. Players can look at playing for birdie or par, disc selection, wind speed, forehand vs. backhand, hyzer vs. anhyzer, power, and direction. Each hole on the course is different, calling for different shot selections. When a throw goes poorly and gets stuck behind a tree, bush, etc., players may need to “scramble” to get back to the fairway. There is risk/reward in “going for it” and trying to save par from a bad position or “taking your medicine” and accepting a bogey rather than risking a double bogey or worse.

Each course is also different, providing new problem-solving opportunities as players travel to new places. As skill, power, and technique improve, the strategy might change as well. When players previously might have played for par, now maybe they try for birdie. Or when a player needed a driver to get close to the basket before, now using a midrange or putter for more accuracy.

Play can be as competitive or as casual as players choose. Apps such as UDisc⁴ and Disc Golf Metrix⁵ allow players to score and track their rounds and can mark progress from week to week and year to year. Grab some discs and give it a try!