Do you carry a "throw away " disc?

[Midnightbiker]

I was playing a course one day, and I lost a $17 disc, and was not happy about it. I decided to starting carrying a DX Valk, and throw it on holes where there is a chance I might loose my disc. I can get them at the local sporting goods store for about $7 , and I would rather loose a cheap disc that I can easily replace, than a nice disc that I really like. Does anyone else do this?

[LeftyToss]

I've done it on holes where water is very in play. I'll go as far as throwing a DX disc instead of a Champion cause I know the DX is cheaper to replace but also won't last as long. I mean unless you're playing competitively I don't see a point in risking a $17 disc over a $7.

[Usher]

That is what I do. It just makes common sense to me. Why risk your $15+ disc if there is a good chance of it getting lost when you could only lose a $7 or so disc.

[runnaman]

I actually painted a disc just for shots where there is a possibility of losing a disc but now I actually like it a lot. It's a Millennium Polaris LS, I call it my safety disc.


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[Midnightbiker]

Thats pretty damn funny.

[craigd]

I use an old dragon for water shots. I also keep a dx Wraith in my that I could live without if I lost it.

[solomon.trenton]

i know someone that did that with an epic (they hated it) and they can never lose it.

[rikardob]

I carry a DX Valkyrie for water shots myself. Actually I lost that at hole 14 (Como park) a few weeks ago. I'm throwing a DX Beast over water these days. I usually use that for thumbers and tommys over trees. I'll get a DX Valk again when I go to the sports store. I've been meaning to pick up a dragon but 150g seems so light and what help will it be if it's floating in the middle of a pond or sunk in the middle of one?

[DiscJunkie]

I carry several Lightning Discs that float, plus a Dragon, if there is water on the course that I'm playing. My home course has some magnetic water, but it doesn't seem to work on floating discs. Strange, very strange...

[solomon.trenton]

odyssey puts out several floaters that weigh as much as in the low 170's.

[Marv Vega]

Pure economics really. I use a Dragon or Hydra for water holes, Champion Discs for heavily wooded holes, and Dx for holes that look like losing a disc is likely.

[phishbrained]

The discs that I find I'll use on the water holes or holes where i might loose it. If I do then I'm just putting another lost disc back into circulation. I hardly lose the my favorite discs which used to be a problem when i first started playing.

[bayouace]

Yes, I throw one I could stand to lose on water holes. Have used it for 15 months now and yet to lose it. I think it has to do with being relaxed and OK with losing it, and I just throw it great. Maybe I should only play water holes.

[jaymon1]

Yes, I always have one driver in my bag that pretty closely resembles my main driver in terms of flight characteristics, except it's in cheaper plastic. I'll use it in high-risk situations (thick shule/undergrowth usually). I also keep a back-up midrange for mostly the same reason, and have a Dragon for water shots.

Not surprisingly, that's the spot in my bag that has to be replenished most often. It's uncommon to lose a disc at any of my local courses, but there's a couple courses I get to play out of town a few times a year that demand the sacrifice of a disc or two every time.

[scarpfish]

Oh hell, I carry three sacrificial discs. Usually a DX Teebird, a DX Firebird, and a Pro-D XL.

[Hamilton]

i carried a beat dx eagle...until a few weeks ago...sacrificed to the freeman lake gods...need to pick up another "risky disc"...

[DiscChainBasket18]

I dont like to carry any extra discs because I don't want to lug around any more weight than I have to. The last time I added a disc for a special hole was for a tourney I played at Victor Ashe in Knoxville. Hole 1 throws over a large pond & I lost a 'star' disc there one time. Now I throw DX plastic over the pond.

[_.-Dut-._]

Yuppers, I carry a Z Avenger for the "just incase" holes.

[gcrussell4]

Just had a tournament at the Links course in Missouri City, TX on Saturday. The regular layout has water coming very much into play on 15 of 18 holes and the largo layout has water on almost every hole. I have thrown so much crappy, ok, good, and great plastic in all that water it makes me sick. I often will place an order of dx stuff before I am going out there (teebirds, destroyers, firebirds, etc.). I will also bring discs that I won from tourneys and knew I wouldn't use. The problem with that is just when I start to feel comfortable with one of those discs, when I actually start to care about it, is when it finds its way into the water. I think like many others have already said, the best way to keep a disc is to not care about it and the best way to lose a disc is to care too much about it.

[valkyriefb11]

I have a cracked pro starfire that I use for water holes during rec rounds. Its actually served me well having never touched water ... but I know if I throw a disc I actually care about over the water it would land in there no matter what.

[Glynis27]

I have a Hydra and a very old, very beat DX Eagle that I found in the water. Having a disc you don't need to worry about does let you relax and just throw. I have yet to lose them. The hydra did go into the water once when some wind got under it and flipped it. Had to wait 30 minutes for it to float back to shore. I'm not losing my expensive discs.

[McMarkD]

I have a bunch of "new" dx plastic I throw over water. I don't want to loose any of my beat up dx plastic in the water. I think it is harder to beat up a disc. Besides, if a disc survives being thrown over water a lot, it begins to be beat up, and it works it way into the I will throw it when it is safe.

[biscoe]

i will carry a brand new disc of some sort if there is a shot over water i'm not too confident in my ability to make on a given course. better to lose a new one than one you know well.

[jace]

No extras! play to win every time...... if I start planning on the "throw away" concept, I am bound to screw up my form and get too anxious anyhow. I only have one local course where water comes into play, and it's 1 hole. If I'm having a really bad day I suppose I might just take my penalty stroke and drop, but I have yet to skip the hole and have glided to safety every time so far (knock, knock, knock)

As for loss in shrubs, overgrowth, etc. - I make sure to watch every throw closely and have spent up to 45 minutes hunting down a disc. I'll lay-up if the confidence is fading in a round. I just can't see carrying the extra disc yet - maybe when some of my current discs get beat-up too much they'll be an extra some day.:cool:

[t i m]

I don't carry "crap" discs for water except on a few very specific courses that have water+high wind in play simultaneously.

I have however, learned not to throw favorite or really expensive discs over high-risk shots (Don't throw your translucent 2nd run CE Valk on a forehand helix over a pond into a headwind, for instance).

I am a huge fan of X-out Champion discs. You can get some of them for as little as $8 (most are $10), and they fly great. That way, I can throw my main driver, and if I lose it, oh well --- I'm only out $8-$10. But my odds are high of making the shot, since I am throwing a disc I know and like.

I've got several backups of X-out Teebirds, Destroyers, Firebirds and Orcs -- these are what I throw 90% of the time on my drives, and 90% of the time over/around water as well.

[EclipticOne]

i carry a star teerex(not the cheapest) that i throw. its close to my destroyer and good in winds. i haven't lost it yet and i dont plan to since i like it for my back-up driver.

[swarren1977]

I always carry a few cheapies as back up. These are usually DX plastic discs. Might have to look into getting some factory seconds.

[harr0140]

I have these as extra I would only throw if I was worried about damage or loss.

Beat up Eagle that flies just as it should, despite its damage.
Beat up Viper with chunks out of the rim, used for spike hyzer shots that I am concerned might hit gravel or pavement or rocks.
Beat up Stingray, just in case I guess.
Dragon - although I have yet to throw this, every water shot I have had to clear has been easy enough to throw the eagle.

[DirtyMittenDG]

A few courses near me have ALOT of water hazards. I keep 3 "risk a discs" for different shots.

-150 DX Orc
-Beat 175 champion eagle
-Beat 167 champion teebird

[sgb118]

well, i have discs that i intend to use in those kinds of shots, but i never actually use them. i just throw my best ones all the time. i still don't lose them though because i go in after them.

[zud00]

I have an old starfire that I use for shots that I am not confident it, but most of the time I am confident and just use my normal disc.

[BrotherDave]

I have however, learned not to throw favorite or really expensive discs over high-risk shots (Don't throw your translucent 2nd run CE Valk on a forehand helix over a pond into a headwind, for instance).



That's what I've been doing wrong;) I use to throw crappy dx discs that I would find (no name OFCOURSE) but I've given them all to my brother who's starting out. He's got a job though and I don't so now he's getting his own darn discs.

[TalbotTrojan]

The only junk discs that I carry are ones taht I find on the course without a name or number on them. Thank you disc golf friends. I do have a disc that I got from a tournament I played in that is becoming a junker as well. I'd still like to keep it though since it was from a tournament.

[jdc03270]

I have a really old wraith I found for shots that a lost disc could happen.

[Ezekiel]

This makes enough sense i might need to try it. I do carry an old beaten dx valk that i could use. Unfortunately it is so worn all it does is slam to the right :eek:

[kerplunk]

I carry a few DX discs nowadays. They're not just good for water, they also come in handy when it is rainy or cold and your star and champ plastic starts getting really slick. This especially sucks for a flicker. In fact, I'm now trying to put together a collection of DX plastic (drivers and mids) for those cold and rainy days.

[AdamH]

In my trunk, I have a backup of nearly every disc in my bag. I hate to lose a disc and will go to great lengths to find them. Having a backup of everything is good for my peace of mind, especially in tournament situations. I know that if worse comes to worse, I've got a backup in my trunk.

[simpletwist]

We had this very same dilemma this past weekend playing Black Diamond at Emery Park. There are a few baskets by a very deep and dangerous ravine and the small creek that runs by a hole that was very high and muddy. This summer the creek won't be a problem, but that ravine always will. My GF brought a couple "throwaway" discs and she used them but didn't lose any. I chose to go with my regular team and didn't lose any either. But it did mean playing a little more cautious. I hate laying up.

For I say use your regular discs. For me, I'd rather lose a disc and go for it. I like the challenge of accuracy and lower scores.

[StPaulie]

I have never done this but I have thought of if. I have gone to some lengths to retrieve a disc before. Includeing getting a decient pair of pants muddy when I played on the way home from work and did not have anything to change into. The place a cheap disc I would not feel bad loosing are those shots over a lake. There is a course in Macon Ga. with a 300 foot carry over water.

[zenbot]

I have to assume that everything I have may get lost someday. I've come to terms with it.

[A.Mutt]

I did have a dx leopard that I used to carry for a "throw away disc" til last week when I gave it to some kids trying to play with a beach frisbee. I usually try to keep at least one disc handy that I won't mind not coming home with.

[justin]

I've got a Rogue I use on water shots I might loose it on. It flies and feels like a Surge/SL for me with more fade. Prime and Marshall Street usually have this disc for $8 so it's cheap to replace as well.

I firmly believe in the advice once given by a sports psychologist on the first ruond of PDGA Radio podcasts:
"Don't throw floater discs. As soon as you pull out your floater disc you are saying to yourself, 'I know I'm not going to make this shot.'" Yes, I am grabbing my Rogue only on those shots but I am confident of my abilities with it so I don't think I'm a complete hypocrite...but maybe a litte bit.

[beatUPboss]

yes 4 courses like yucaipa

[solomon.trenton]

not intentionally, but i do have some that i dont care too much about

[sloppydisc]

Orange DX Cheetah is my throw away disc. But it is starting to get broke-in decentlly, and now I may wan tto keep it. I need to lose it soon or I am going to have a problem.

[chain-addicted]

I have a blue DX Cheetah that I use for risky water shots.... That, or I just throw my Champion Groove: I dont care if I lose that thing!

[Fender088]

If I ever get to play Flyboy I'm definitely throwing two old Pro Beasts that I could care less about in the bag. Don't feel like losing any of my main drivers over those daunting water holes. Normally I do not carry one though.

[JRW III]

My home course has three holes with the lake in play and generally a lot of wind, so I carry a lot of water discs. 2 distance drivers, 2 fairway drivers, a midrange and a putter. They are mostly dx or lake retrieved versions of my main discs. I prefer to use "water" discs so I can go for the riskier shots without worrying about losing a disc.

[bcr123psu]

I have a DX Wraith, DX Valk, and a DX Eagle that I'll take to courses where a splashdown is possible.

[jacob2918]

hell i carry dx discs i find in this one pond. draw all over them with sharpie. and on the back i write. "i know my disc looks ruff but its my first ace disc! please return 50.00 reward" and then i put dominoes number on it and names like jon.jack.or tom lol.

[bettsjc]

I keep a DX Wraith in my bag on courses where major water is involved. Won't usually throw it unless there is some kind of pond or lake in play. Creeks don't scare me too much, even if I have to get a little wet to get it back. I'd actually feel better about searching in a knee-high creek for Star plastic than DX.

[jacob2918]

Evryone carries dx wraiths! whats with you people! lol ive gotten over 200 discs out last 2 months from my secret pond and at least 30 were dx. lol

[l337m4573rpyr0]

I carry a couple DX destroyers as my throw-away drivers. The closest course to me is Como Lake so, I'm pretty much guaranteed to lose a disc or two every month.

[Airfishey]

I don't carry any at the moment, but I will definitely be picking up one or two shortly.

[mambrose]

I have some pro wraiths I found in the water that I will throw over (380 ft) over water) pretty risky shot

[leppard]

I carry "throw away" discs. Usually old DX plactic but still consisitent discs and I throw them on the practice field before I use them at the course.

[bcr123psu]

Usually old DX plactic but still consisitent discs and I throw them on the practice field before I use them at the course.

Yeah, you have to do this. Nothing like stepping up to a tee with a disc you have never thrown only to find it to be more/less stable than its premium plastic counterpart, watch it hit a tree branch, and then plop into the depths of noreturnville.

[cjskier]

Having a throw away disc shows no confidence in your game.

[rhino21]

I had a DX Eagle I used for water shots instead of my Star Eagle. I tried to go for it at Buckhorn (17?) and would have made it had it not been for the leaves that it grazed. I had just saved my coyote from the same pond just a couple holes earlier. Oh well.

[CoachQ]

I don't carry "throw aways" anymore. If I lose a disc or two each month, this sport is still much cheaper than any other. Any discs I win in tourneys just sit on the shelf at home so they can take the place of their non-retrievable brothers.

By the way...if any of you purchased a throw away disc...you are not saving the money you thought you were, you still bought more plastic!

[waynewf]

I usually have a couple of DX Valks and DX Banshees in the car for courses with water....

[leppard]

Having a throw away disc shows no confidence in your game.

Practice = Confidence.

[jkdisc]

i love throwing a disc in the water because when i go to get it i find more!

[Midnightbiker]

Practice = Confidence.

I am confident that I am a great driver, but I still have car insurance.

Throw away discs are disc insurance.


Nothing is perfect. Even Rolls Royce has a repair shop.

[bcr123psu]

Practice = Confidence.

Yeah, I practice throwing DX plastic over water so I can build enough confidence to throw Champ/Star.

[Midnightbiker]

You can have all the confidence in the world, but if you slip, or throw wrong, it will cost you. I don't take the risk.

[leppard]

Same here, Midnight.

[culinarywiz]

I don't carry a throw away disc because I have a hard enough time reducing my bag to the current 19. Carrying a disc I only throw when I could lose it would displace a disc I truly enjoy throwing.

Of course, I have a few sentimental favorites that I would never throw in those situations, but I have quality back-ups for pretty much every disc in my bag.

[zenbot]

I don't need throw-away discs if Biscoe is around. He's a master disc fisher.

[Beable]

I use a newish Gazelle for throwing over the lake on 15 at Deer Lakes. Doesn't matter to me if I lose $7 here and there. Ironically, a week or so ago I ended up right at the edge of the water, which is not a hard throw, and threw my favorite Buzzz carelessly and lost it.

I do think your water disc has to be something you have confidence throwing.

[nygfaninva]

I carry a Roadrunner I call The "Kamikaze" I use for throwing over water. Its a just in case disc, he has always came back so far.

[JR Stengele]

When I travel to new courses, I usually carry one dx driver just in case the course is poorly maintained, there is water, extreme elevation, etc. It has come in handy a few times and is ALWAYS well worth it. No matter how good you are. Just make sure you have used it enough so you can control it.

[Cyclops]

Yes, I carry a throw away in my bag. Hell I may even carry 2, depending on which course I'm playing. Water shots, blind hole and heavy thick on the sides of a fairway can eat your disc. Throw your favorite driver, or throw your beater? I know what call I'm making.

[stsren]

I carry a couple of throw away discs in my bag, but when I get to the water shots, I end up throwing my good plastic...
If my discs swim, I swim, except in extreme circumstances.

Been lucky lately, hope that continues!

[Nathanbr2]

I actually painted a disc just for shots where there is a possibility of losing a disc but now I actually like it a lot. It's a Millennium Polaris LS, I call it my safety disc.


http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs023.snc1/2563_1029384262167_1452150020_80832_7911090_n.jpg

I had an old LS polaris I picked up out of a lake while looking for my disc that I used for the purpose. Then It sunk itself again:doh:. some discs are just meant to be in the water i guess.:\

ui think i may take that design for my next disc though:clap:

[Mike C]

It's not a bad idea. I used to, but don't anymore. These days I throw my favorite driver and putter over water multiple times a week. I just take my time, read the wind, prepare my shot well and watch carefully where it lands and I'm usually alright. Landed in the edge of a stream a few times but I got it out. I like a minimal bag, and I don't like dx / pro d discs. I'd rather just have a premium version of X disc, and pay attention to what I'm doing with it. Accidents still happen but I've learned to minimize their occurrence.

[wolito]

I never have carried a throw away disc, but it does make sense to do so if your confidence is lacking on a certian risky throw. I tend to just go for it an risk a good disc.

[Donovan]

Yepper doodly-doodly; I carry a beat up 160g R-Pro Boss. I can throw it as far as anything in my bag and they are cheep to replace.

[VictorB]

No. Put it in the fairway, and you won't lose discs :D

[Dthunderchicken]

I don't carry a throw away per se. I do carry a back up driver and have thrown it in place of my primary. Unfortunately I had to figure that one out the hard way.

[Technohic]

I like Dragons so I can throw it and it is cheap, but if I didnt like it, I wouldnt throw it. I carry 2 DX Teebirds and 2 Pro Leopards just in case I lose one in a round and they are cheap to replace as well.

[AdamH]

I have a back up of every disc I throw in my trunk. Since everything's replaceable I don't worry about losing discs anymore. This is especially nice at tournaments so I focus on the shot rather than the water. And I think I only lost two last year.

[sloppydisc]

Evryone carries dx wraiths! whats with you people! lol ive gotten over 200 discs out last 2 months from my secret pond and at least 30 were dx. lol


There are no 'secret' ponds in the Triangle. Send our discs home!!!

I hope that big ass snake gets a hold of your leg!

:mad::mad:

[jacob2918]

over 200 disc out. 30 dam dx wraiths. and about 60 rightly returned. the rest with no numbers. no one at this pond cares. there all rich pricks who dont write on there discs. and the kind that play 8 deep throwing two shots on every shot without letting people play through. AND im from the country,not afraid of any snakes like you yanks lol...

[sloppydisc]

Snakes suck. 60 returned is admirable. Good job. Tell us all that course so we can avoid it at all costs. Rich pricks don't play disc golf though. You must have good booze in the country. We should play.

[Timo]

yep, unless you're a pro, you gotta keep a few beaters for those risky shots. I like to keep a few CE's in my bag for playing but no way do I have the skill to risk them on shots over water or extremely wooded or tall grass holes. I like to spend my time playing not searching for discs.

[sloppydisc]

I just keep all the discs I steal from small grade-school children for the water holes. If they don't spell their names correctly on the discs I get to keep them.

[jacob2918]

its in mid. tennessee. when you do pass the douche bags they like to throw into you. so we just pick up there disc and toss em in the deep ruff. FOR NOW lol

[lilbuzjr]

I use an old dragon for water shots. I also keep a dx Wraith in my that I could live without if I lost it.

dragons float dont they?

[ThomasOrion]

i always carry a beat up dx eagle...if it goes in the water, i just dont care!
funny thing is , ive never lost it, and i sometimes forget it. but some courses i play have no water, so i rarely have it.
but yes, if its a watery course, i have a safety disc!!!

great idea.

[TxDiscGolfBoy]

I ALWAYS carry a throw-away-disc. Just in case you really want to "go for" that crazy good shot.

examples:

Cedar Hill's Beaver #8 (i think) -- the secret window box shot across the lake.

Greenbriar Community Center #18 -- when in the long across the lake.

[Subicon]

I have a blue DX Cheetah that I use for risky water shots.... That, or I just throw my Champion Groove: I dont care if I lose that thing!

Send me your Groove. I just lost mine in a pond and I actually liked it. :doh: