Picking out your first disc golf discs can be intimidating – chances are that you are at a sports goods store or looking online at a retailer where there are literally thousands of options. Stay calm – this short list will help you find what will work best for you. There are four slots that can help a new player start to form their game, learn good habits, and enjoy the game!
If you are reading this, you are new to the flight characteristics and how they are described. Here is a quick rundown – if you want more details, many resources are out there, but this should do the trick for now.
Overstable = When thrown flat RHBH(right-hand backhand), the disc will go left.
Stable = When thrown flat RHBH, the disc will go straight.
Understable = When thrown flat RHBH, the disc will go right.
Now that we have that out of the way learn what you should be bagging from day 1.
Stable Putter
A stable putter is a great place to start for a couple of reasons – this will fill the slot of what you’ll putt with, as well as a disc that will get thrown off the tee or as an approach disc. A neutral putter will help teach you the basics of throwing angles and how to throw with touch.
Our choice is the Latitude64 Pure with a shallow rim and plenty of glide – you can find it here!
Stable Mid-Range
A stable mid-range shares many characteristics of a stable putter, but you’ll distance, and it is a significant step towards adding power to your throws. A stable mid-range can grow with your game and be a great disc to fall back on, especially when needing to hit gaps in the woods.
Our choice is the Innova Mako3 with a relatively flat top and comfortable rim – you can find it here!
Overstable Putter/Mid-Range
This one may seem out of line with the other three, but hear me out – this disc arguably fills the most critical slot in all players’ bags, so I don’t see a reason why someone shouldn’t bag one sooner than later. Although overstable, it is slow enough to help teach a player how to throw a torque-resistant disc and control the angle out of hand.
Our choice is the Discraft Zone with a flat top and is considered to be top of-class in this slot – you can find it here!
Stable Fairway Driver
Another fairly standard recommendation, especially one you’ll often find in starter packs, is a stable fairway driver. The jump from mid-range to fairway driver is a tough one since your throwing flaws will be exposed to a higher degree. But the positive is that you’ll gain major distance and get to throw some lines that weren’t possible with a mid-range or putter.
Our choice is the Dynamic Discs Maverick, which comes in many different plastic types and all the glide one could want for a fairway driver – you can find it here!
This list isn’t perfect, but it should create a good foundation for any player, regardless of whether you want to play for fun or competitively. The most important thing is finding discs that feel good in your hand, have confidence in, and help you improve your score.