Disc golf: 5 reasons glow plastic is (nearly) irresistible

Glow discs are all the rage.

If you don’t get it, it’s understandable.

Taking something plastic and making it glow in the dark seems like a strategy McDonald’s would use on Happy-Meal toys to work kids into a frenzy. Wouldn’t you know it, though, disc manufacturers have adopted the same mentality – and buyers can’t get enough of the stuff.

Here’s why …

1.  It glows

Duh.

It’s more than that, though …

Most disc golfers don’t live in Florida, Arizona or California. As such, when the fall and winter months roll around, getting rounds in becomes a matter of playing after the sun goes down. It’s REALLY nice to use the same (or many of the same) discs for glow rounds as regular rounds.

Yes, glow plastic works at night …

But it works just as good during the day.

That’s efficient bag-building.

2. It’s grippier

This might be mental …

But the proof is in the pudding.

Calvin Heimburg putts with Color Glow KC Pro Aviars, because he feels the grip is better. As somebody who also putts with KC Pro Aviars, I can confirm this assertion – there’s more grip.

And it’s not just KC Pro plastic …

Staying within the Innova lineup, DX, Pro, Champion and Star – I’ve thrown it all in glow. Across the board, it’s grippier. And while I’m far from an expert on every disc company, I’ve got a good bit of experience with the glow frisbees Trilogy, Discraft and Discmania produce …

Yup, you guessed it – grippier.

Tired of losing Whale Sacs?

Build a glow-heavy bag.

3. It’s more overstable

This is NOT always the case …

But it’s a safe assumption to make:

Glow discs are more overstable.

Obviously, an uptick in overstability doesn’t automatically make for a better disc. But the Pro Tour certainly leans heavily on glow plastic, and it fields the kind of arms that require beefier discs. For amateur disc golfers, this is great for maintaining the longevity of a disc, as well.

Because, you know …

Trees.

Something to keep in mind.

4. It fetches a higher price tag

This sucks when buying glow discs for actual use …

Revelatory, I know.

But while it’s not for me, if you’re one of those disc golfers who watches disc-drops like a hawk to scoop and resell en masse, it’s smart to build the bulk of your inventory with glow discs:

• Initially, they cost more.
• On the backend, they fetch more.

Welcome to the plastic economy.

5. You can support your favorite pro

Thankfully, not all Tour Series discs are of the glow variety.

But a sizable chunk of ‘em are …

This includes the illustrious Sexton Firebird, of course.

Given everything glow plastic has going for it, putting a percentage of the purchase in the pocket of your favorite touring professional is the cherry on top. Remember: Not everybody is making Lizotte, McBeth or Wysocki money. Glow or not, buying Tour Series discs helps feed dreams.

Corny, but true.

Go for it.

Don’t be fooled …

Glow discs do NOT make the golfer.

But the pros use ‘em for a reason: They look good – they work well, too.

When given the option, go glow.

Have anything to add? Take to Twitter to let us know – we’ll actually (for real) get back to you.

Editor’s Suggestions:

• Why Gregg Barsby’s ‘Iron Leaf’ video reigns supreme
• Disc golf: What happens if a legal stance is impossible?
• Disc golf: Where should you put your index finger when putting?

Real quick, if you happen to buy something through a link in this article, there’s a chance we’ll get a small share of the sale. It’s how we keep the lights on. To learn more, click here.