the best kept secret (dents/notches)

[compn]

have any of you ever had a disc that just wouldnt stop? a disc that would continue spinning forever even after hitting multiple trees, and landing? that magical disc with a big ole notch/groove or dent in it? yes my friends, the dented disc is one of the best kept secrets in the golf world.

my friends would always say i was cheating with the dent.

is there any proof that a beat up disc flies further?

[garublador]

It's mostly anecdotal evidence, but yeah, beat discs fly farther than new ones. They tend to fade less and later. The only issue is finding a disc that starts off stable enough to still be useable when beat up.

[High Flyer]

And with more turn/less fade, they are more likely to roll. I have a disc with a good chip, a great roller too. When it hits the grass, it sounds different than the others, which I really think might be the chip digging into the grass and accelerating the disc. Any experts out there?

[Texconsinite]

I have 4 Wraiths, and the longest one is a beat-up DX 177g that I have dubbed "Old Faithful". The whole top and sides are covered with nicks and scratches, and since it makes a big S curve, it often slams into trees when it doesnt fade soon enough.

Yes, sometimes it does turn over and not come back, but it S curves so nice usually.
What I heard is that the chips and dents act like little brakes in the air, and slow the disc down.
Since the disc is slower, but you throw it with the same power as a new (faster) one, it naturally becomes more understable.

Also, wouldn't a disc that has more high speed understability naturally have to fight harder to come back? Perhaps thats why the fade seems less? Because Old Faithful still fades pretty hard, just not when it turns into a roller

[kvanorsdel]

All of my lost discs have been well seasoned discs that just seemed to get longer and longer every time I threw them, ultimately flying into the woods at the other end of the fairway

[DeafDiscGolfer]

Interesting...

I noticed that when I found my old discs in the old stinky water, it get aged faster and one of the disc (172g Raging Inferno DT) has been left bend a little bit on the edge (must be from the weight of the dead branches in water) but it produced the farthest distance that I have ever thrown! I only need to throw it correctly which I had to start it off by a bit deep hyzer and it will fly quickly up and make a long anhyzer for awhile before it starts to breaking to left for landing. It was a beautiful "S" flight.

I guess maybe the Gateway's discs are easy to break in than other discs due to cheaper softer materials they are using for their discs. I'm starting to like their Dimple Technology discs but noticed that it tend to be understable very easily.

I do have couple of well-seasoned 175g DX Valkyries that I have been using as practice driving shots. It makes an easy "S" but need several good break-ins to make much longer "S" throws. If its not perfectly seasoned, then it becomes useless and understable and/or can be a roller or give it to the newbies.

:)

[garublador]

I guess maybe the Gateway's discs are easy to break in than other discs due to cheaper softer materials they are using for their discs. I'm starting to like their Dimple Technology discs but noticed that it tend to be understable very easily.Those are only the discs that are made by QuestAT. The regular Gateway plastics are actually really good. Lots of pepole would like slower discs in Gateway's version of DX, they call it 'S', because of the added durability while still keeping the advantages of DX.

[marcusriewer]

I have noticed that my beat up Viking flies more true now than it did when it was new. I thought maybe it was just because I was becoming a better discer, but after reading all these I think that the weathering could be good for it. I was throwing it around at the house and the dog that loves to fetch everything, bit a whole in it,then later in the month I threw it in the woods and when it hit the ground a branch stuck right through it, and since then, I can launch the thing!

[Iceman]

Hmmmm..... I have been throwing my DX plastic discs better than most of the star plastics which don't get beat up much....hmmmmm. Interesting. Makes me want to go pound up some discs. This all makes me think of the famous Roc getting better with age.

[XxInnovaxX]

i always seem to lose mine before they get too many scratches and dents on em

r.i.p. orange star orc 172g :(

[bayouace]

Those are only the discs that are made by QuestAT. The regular Gateway plastics are actually really good. Lots of pepole would like slower discs in Gateway's version of DX, they call it 'S', because of the added durability while still keeping the advantages of DX.

I agree. For my skill level, which I admit isn't real swift, Gateway makes some very controllable stuff.

A Surge, Sabre, and VooDoo pretty much do it for me.

KISS!

[Donovan]

I agree. For my skill level, which I admit isn't real swift, Gateway makes some very controllable stuff.

A Surge, Sabre, and VooDoo pretty much do it for me.

KISS!

Surge? LOL Umm that is Discraft and it is a hell of a disc!

[bayouace]

Surge? LOL Umm that is Discraft and it is a hell of a disc!

Yes, a Surge is a Discraft and the other two are Gateway. I didn't mean to imply that I only used Gateway. Sorry, I'll be more clear next time.

[solomon.trenton]

It's mostly anecdotal evidence, but yeah, beat discs fly farther than new ones. They tend to fade less and later. The only issue is finding a disc that starts off stable enough to still be useable when beat up.

star plastic baby!

[harr0140]

I have noticed that my beat up Viking flies more true now than it did when it was new. I thought maybe it was just because I was becoming a better discer, but after reading all these I think that the weathering could be good for it. I was throwing it around at the house and the dog that loves to fetch everything, bit a whole in it,then later in the month I threw it in the woods and when it hit the ground a branch stuck right through it, and since then, I can launch the thing!

Just so you know once a disc is punctured ti is not allowed for use (in PDGA tourneys that is), not sure if PDGA rules govern all leagues and such.

[jesus]

A beat up dx roc is the greatest disc known to man
a beat up dx aviar is the second greatest disc known to man

[A.Mutt]

I have a beat up elite X pred that flies much further and straighter than the significantly newer one. It also has one of those 'speed divits'. I find it sad that the disc has a crack now and had to be retired. I have noticed that as the newer one has gotten worn in its flying much straighter and longer before its hard fade.

[sumner420]

hmm...I'm not sure that I ready to buy into further, but my beat up discs are more likely to go where I throw them,
Slower = more reliable?

[borndasaur]

One of the guys around here puts his new discs in the bed of his pick-up for a couple weeks to break them in. From his results, I'd have to say it works.

[innova]

i tend to lightly sand dents and dings so there is no distraction to my throwing hand.

[HolySchnell]

I was just discovering the beauty of a beat dx valk when a tree got in the way and knocked it right into the water! Now I throw a new one on every hole I play for the sole purpose of breaking it in so I can get that beautiful S curve back!

[billnchristy]

Haha, my wife was trying to beat in a new Valk yesterday and the damn thing refused to hit trees.

Meanwhile, my well seasoned Gazelle was a tree seeking missile yesterday.

[ShortBusDiscGolf]

beat destroyers will fly forever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[The Reverend]

Just so you know once a disc is punctured ti is not allowed for use (in PDGA tourneys that is), not sure if PDGA rules govern all leagues and such.

what if the disc is punctured and then you seal the hole by melting it a little with a lighter?

[TalbotTrojan]

Beat discs do fly further, just like an understable disc will fly further than an overstable counter part in the same speed. The high speed turn allows the disc to fly further because it isn't trying so hard to fade. I am sure someone can explain the physics of it better than I can. I liken it to ball golf where if you hit it a certain way the ball will roll forward more when it hits the ground or you can hit it where the backspin stops it. In discs this is also the reason that you typically see understable discs with higher glide ratings. The trick to beat in discs it controlling them so that they do not turn so far to the right that they fall out of the sky, which is typically when rollers happen. I have a great DX Destroyer that is nice and beat. The only thing I can do with it now it throw rollers. I had a great TeeRex that was just starting to get to its peak in wear. I could throw it straight for a long time, and then I threw it so far that I never found it.

[TalbotTrojan]

what if the disc is punctured and then you seal the hole by melting it a little with a lighter?

That is illegal too, along with sanding the disc technically. Alstering the disc in any way so that the flight characteristics change, with the exception of throwing the disc into tree and other had objects is illegal. Never seen it called yet.

[Chef Joe]

I'm pretty new to the sport, but I've noticed that the throwaway discs other people have given me seem to be more to my liking than the couple I've bought myself. I always kinda thought it's because they just knew which ones were best for me, but now that I think about it, they do have a few knocks in them.

[John Rock]

That is illegal too, along with sanding the disc technically. Alstering the disc in any way so that the flight characteristics change, with the exception of throwing the disc into tree and other had objects is illegal. Never seen it called yet.


Sanding your discs is legal, as written in the rule book. I carry a sanding sponge in my bag to smooth out nicks and scratches caused by normal wear and tear.

[jedwards]

I took a side-by-side photo of my beat Eclipse and a brand new one. I have had the beat disc for over 10 years and it is my go to mid-range disc, I even putt with it from anywhere beyond 20 feet. I cannot throw the new one for s@!t.

[bazillion]

I took a side-by-side photo of my beat Eclipse and a brand new one. I have had the beat disc for over 10 years and it is my go to mid-range disc, I even putt with it from anywhere beyond 20 feet. I cannot throw the new one for s@!t.

Man, that sucker looks like it's been through the wars!

[jedwards]

Man, that sucker looks like it's been through the wars!

...and that's the "good" side ;)

[Craton]

Beat up Viper---what a versatile disc. I know it doesn't get the big distance that other things do, but honestly, it has gone from me joking about it's +1 turn 5 fade to being one of the discs I reach for the most to get me out of tight situations. It is so predictable, even though it's been beat to hell and back.

As for normal discs, I have a few wraiths in star that will go miles now that they have been beat up. The trick now is to make sure I aim them right, or they won't fade back.