Disc Golf Discs for Beginner Women Players

Disc Golf Discs for Women 101

There’s a very large selection of discs to choose from and for new players it can be overwhelming trying to find a disc that you will have success with. There’s really no such thing as a ‘beginners disc’ or a ‘womens disc’ however there are certain characteristics in golf discs to look for that will help your game.

One common mistake women make when we first start playing is to choose a disc because we like the name or because it’s cool or pretty – Or throwing a disc our boyfriend or husband gave us out of their bag. Now that you’ve fallen in love with Disc Golf it’s time to get your own discs. So how do you choose the right discs? Ones that will work for you – not against you?

Here are some tips to help you choose and an explanation of the various disc characteristics you’ll come across.

Disc Weight

Disc golf discs typically range from 130 grams to 175 grams, and sometimes up to 180g. Disc weights are usually written on the bottom of discs. Lighter discs will allow beginning women players to achieve more distance and better control. Look for 150 class weights and up to the low 160’s. Keep in mind though that not all discs are available in the lower weights. You might also find that you are more comfortable with a lighter weight driver but a bit heavier mid-range or putter.

Disc Types

There are a wide variety of discs used in disc golf and they are generally divided into three categories: putters, all-purpose mid-range discs, and drivers.

• Drivers

Drivers are usually recognized by their sharp bevelled edge and have most of their mass concentrated on the outer rim of the disc rather than distributed equally throughout. Drivers are often divided into different categories.

For example, Innova discs divides their discs into Distance Drivers and Fairway Drivers, with a fairway driver being somewhere between a distance driver and a mid-range disc.

Discraft divides their drivers into 3 categories: Long Drivers, Extra Long Drivers and Maximum Distance Drivers.

Drivers are generally the most difficult to control, but also the longest flying.

Fairway drivers have a lower speed and are easier to control. They are also an excellent first driver choice for beginners until your strength and disc control increases. The higher speed drivers have a wider rim so if you have smaller hands like I do it’s hard to get a good grip on them. If you’re fortunate enough to have a disc golf retailer near you, go in and touch and feel the plastic. Make sure the rim is not too wide.

 

• Mid-Range

These discs are slower and more accurate than drivers- they tend to have a more stable and predictable flight path. Typically used for closer range shots to the basket when a driver is just too much and will help you park it under the basket vs. throwing past it.

You’ll want to have a mid-range you are comfortable with because you will find yourself using it frequently during a round. Some players will even use their mid-range as a driver in certain situations such as for short drives where trees or other obstacles come into play.

• Putt and Approach

They are the slowest and shortest flying of the disc types. Used to hit the chains and put it in the basket. That cha-ching sound- it never gets old! Also used for making short controlled upshots.

Don’t underestimate the importance of your putter. Ladies, sinking your putts can help give you an advantage over the guys. Sure, most guys will out drive you from the teepad, but putting is on a more level playing field. Putting is not about power- its all about confidence and accuracy. So find a putter you like- then buy several in the same model so you can practice.

 

Disc Speed

Different drivers will have a different level of speed- For example Innova offers drivers from a speed of 8-13 and fairway drivers in the 6-7 speed range. Discs advertised as having a high speed are usually made for advanced players with high power.

As a beginner keep in mind that a higher speed disc will not necessarily help you throw farther. This is because you need to work on control and increasing your power first. Be patient- this comes in time.

Disc Stability

Like clubs in ball golf, the various types of disc golf discs are designed to travel on a specific flight paths. The disc’s flight characteristic is defined by the term stability. This is why some discs will go right and some will go left.

A simple explanation of this can be found on InnovaDiscs.com

Brief Description of Terms…

• Stability is a description of the disc’s flight path.
• Understable means a flight that turns right . (Anhyzer)
• Stable is a flight that doesn’t turn.
• Overstable refers to a flight that turns left . (Hyzer)

Additional advice from Discraft suggests that “as you gain experience and get to know how your discs fly under different circumstances, you’ll want to experiment with additional discs and stabilities to see which ones fit your style and fill additional needs in your bag.”

My advice on stability for beginning women players? Since beginners tend to throw discs at lower speeds, choosing a disc that is stable to slightly understable is your best bet.

 

Types of Disc Plastic

In researching the best way to explain the various types of plastic that discs are made of I found the best explanation given by Blake Takkusen of DiscGolfReview.com. In his article he states, “a general rule is, the more expensive the plastic, the smoother it is. Smoother plastic has less air friction. What this translates into is that higher end plastics will make discs faster and less controllable. Faster discs require more power to throw them well, have less glide, fly more overstable, and do not fly as far. Also, smoother discs are more difficult to flatten from a hyzer, turn over, and more difficult to make fly straight.

The best plastics to start out with are generally the less expensive plastics with more air friction. While these are generally the least durable, they also break in fairly well and will actually fly farther and be easier to control for newer players. Innova’s DX plastic, Discraft’s Elite X (their mid-level), Gateway’s S, Millennium’s standard (non-Quantum), etc. will probably give the best results for those who are still developing their technique and do not yet have power to spare.”

I tend to agree. Cost is another reason it’s best to avoid purchasing discs in premium plastics as a beginner. Instead, buy cheaper discs in basic plastics and play until you are comfortable with a certain disc model. Some vendors may even offer used discs. This way if you don’t like the disc, you can try a different one without having spent too much.

 

Cost of Discs

New disc golf discs typically cost between $7 and $25 depending on the model of the disc and the disc plastic. Basic disc plastics like the Innova DX line are relatively inexpensive but wear quickly.

Discs in premium disc plastics like the Discraft Elite Z line and Innova Star plastic usually cost at least $15 but these plastics are extremely durable and will resist damage when they hit trees and other obstructions.

 

Our Top Picks for Beginning Women:

Overall we recommend that women new to disc golf start with lighter weight discs in the ‘stable’ range that will fly straight and have good glide. Choosing too heavy a disc or more overstable discs will tend to be more difficult to control and can lead to frustration.

A good starter set would consist of 3 discs- a driver, a mid-range and a putter. Start out with the basic , less expensive DX type plastic at first. It will help keep your investment low while you play with the different discs and discover the specific discs that are best for you. After you are comfortable with a certain disc, consider purchasing a premium type plastic of that same disc model that will not wear as quickly.

Drivers: 139 – low 160 weights

Latitude 64, Diamond  (very popular with the ladies!)

Latitude 64, Jade

Innova Leopard, DX

Innova Leopard, Starlite

Innova Valkrie, DX

Innova Valkrie, StarLite

Innova Teebird, DX (also great in the wind- try one in a lighter weight and one in the 160’s range as a backup for those really windy days)

Discraft Cyclone, Pro D

Discraft Avenger SS

Discraft Stratus, Pro D

Mid-Range: 150-165 weight

Latitude 64, Pearl

Innova Roc, DX

Innova Shark, DX

Innova Cobra, DX

Discraft Buzz, Pro D

Discraft Comet, Elite X

Putters:

Putters are much more of a personal preference for any disc golfer. Because of that, I’ll just list some of the more popular and widely used putters below.  As you play more, you may find you use 2 or 3 different putters depending on the shot or conditions. Once you find a putter that fits you and that you are confident in, buy several of them in the same weight- I like to have them all in the same color too :)

Innova Classic Aviar

Innova Classic Roc

Latitude 64 Ruby (recommended putter for Junior Girls)

Discraft Magnet, Pro D

Discraft Soft Magnet, Pro D