Disc Weight

[basmith42]

I just got my first two "light" drivers and have noticed a huge distance advantage. I'm talking about a 148g TeeRex and 168g Wrait (vs 175g area for almost everything else).

How do you figure out what weight to get in discs? Is it really just trial and error?

[Marv Vega]

Yeah, alot of trial and error, it all comes down to personal preference. The lighter the disc of a particular mold, the less stable it will be and the further it will fly in theory. A heavier disc, again to a specific mold, will aso generally be more predictable (stable), harder to turn-over, and better into the wind.

[iDisc]

i have a 166g wraith and it's the way to go. also a 169g destroyer. i like medium weights.

and Marv said a heavier disc will handle wind better is true if you throw a 160 g wraith the same as a 175g wraith the 175 will do better but you can easily adjust your shot to throw it lower or higher depending on the wind

[discinator]

I think it really boils down to how hard you throw. I'm not talking about your distance but the amount of force you put on the disc. A lot of guys gravitate to those really overstable heavy discs when it is really more disc than they can throw. I'm one of those guys that really only needs a moderately stable mid 160's disc. Yeah you need to adjust for wind, but I like to throw as light as I can get away with without them flipping over too much. Right now I throw a 168 Teerex and and a 165 Wraith for the majority of my teeshots.

[Rbuzz9]

this may be a dumb question - but how do the disc makers make the lighter discs? are all the discs of a certain mold the exact size and the density of plastics is altered? or are the lighter ones slightly smaller? or is the nature of the process of making a disc not very six sigma and weights naturally fluxuate?


i think it's a lot of trial and error. Right now i'm in the phase of trying all sorts of low 170 g drivers as opposed to trying one type of driver in different weights.

i think it would be a decent experiment to take a disc you can throw fairly well in the 170 range and see if you can get away the same disc in the 160 range. Tho it's probably best to stick with something you can throw well. - I'm the experimental type

[garublador]

Originally Posted by Rbuzz9

this may be a dumb question - but how do the disc makers make the lighter discs? are all the discs of a certain mold the exact size and the density of plastics is altered? or are the lighter ones slightly smaller? or is the nature of the process of making a disc not very six sigma and weights naturally fluxuate?

My understanding is that weighing agents are used. So the density of the plastic is varied to get different weights.

As for figuring out which weights to throw, it's mostly trial and error. I'm guessing it's more trial and error than most people are willing to do, though.

[Rbuzz9]

i have an unhealthy obsession with buying discs. tho the $10-$15 pricetag is not too hard to swallow. First i was a forehand guy - then began buying different fast understable discs to get some decent distance on my backhand - then i was screwing around and threw an orc & a flash forehand way further than anything BH - so i am now on a forehand kick- want to see how much D i can get with true forehand discs. bought a destroyer last week - and an Xcal this weekend.

On average how many people are willing to keep buying discs? Theoretically i'd say getting good with a few discs is probably better for someone in the long run. But it probably has a lot to do with how serious you take the game. i think im a sucker for the latest/greatest thing and the fact that chix dig lenth haha

[DannyM]

It is DEFINATELY a lot of trial and error...sadly a lot more error in my case over the first few years. Everyone I knew, most of the discs at the table at tournaments were 175g stable discs, which my throwing style was just not able to get to work right. I finally learned about weights, and found for me that 161-165g discs work best for me in backhand, and that 171-173 work best for me forehand <except my destroyers which are 168g>. Yes, wind will have effects on your disc, and you may want to keep heavier, overstable discs in your bag for just that. If you have friends who throw similar discs in lighter weights than what you have, ask to try it. In the past year I've probably gained 50-70 ft in my drives by going down in weight, and actually gained in accuracy as well.

[Donovan]

I am of the same trial and error. I started out in the 170's and am now leaning on 168 for many of my discs. Although, I still like my Wraith at 175 and the Sidewinder around 171. So it is certainly a matter of trial and error. I think even the stability of your disc may be effected by weight choices. Meaning, I tend to like heavier understable discs. I would think is not the norm, but it is what is working for me at this point.

[discinator]

I find the same to be true Donovan. I think there is a tendency to overpower the lighter discs causing them to flip easier.