Disc golf: Technically, no disc is too flippy for your arm

Here’s one of disc golf’s most common humble-brags …

It’s to be said following the instant flipping (and rolling) of a disc:

“Man, that disc just gets squirrely on me.”

You didn’t come right out and say it, but we get it …

You’re huge.

The humility comes from the open admission of a bad shot. The brag, however, rears its ugly head when the insinuation is made that your cannon of an arm simply can’t be contained by the sorry excuse for a golf disc that somehow made its way into your Zeus-like throwing hand.

DGPT: Ezra Aderhold

Forehand or backhand, let’s assume there was no wrist-roll of any kind – this was a turn-n-burn huck. Furthermore, let’s assume the disc wasn’t being thrown in the middle of a hurricane, either.

I hate to break it to you …

This isn’t the disc’s fault.

I don’t care if you’re Simon Lizotte: You (likely) knew what the disc would do before you picked it up. As the archer, it’s your job to account for the known flight of the arrow. Every time I watch one of those “Understable-Only Challenge” videos on YouTube, I think to myself …

“You know you don’t have to throw that Retro Burst Diamond full power, right?”

Fan-grip the thing. Take a little (or a lot) off.

Maybe combine BOTH with a steep-hyzer release.

Clearly, there are situations in which you wouldn’t want to call upon this kind of disc. If there’s even a mild headwind, hard pass. If you need to grip-and-rip without thought for much else, opt for a different tool. And should you need reliability in a pressure-packed situation, this ain’t it.

Simply preferring something more overstable is reason enough to avoid ultra-flippy frisbees.

DGPT: Joel Freeman

Confession: My bag is NOT overflowing with paper-plate discs.

But if it looks, smells and tastes like poop, don’t complain about stepping in it.

You knew what it was when you picked it up

Understable.

Adjust and enjoy. Overcommit and complain.

The choice is yours.

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Lucas Miller

Lucas Miller is the founder and editor-in-chief of Green Splatter. When he’s not out tossing a Champion Rhyno in his native Utah, he’s watching true-crime documentaries with his wife, wrestling his twin boys and praying the Oklahoma City Thunder’s rebuild passes quickly.

7 thoughts on “Disc golf: Technically, no disc is too flippy for your arm”

  1. I have a Star Wraith that I’ve had ever since I was a noodle arm and it is beat to bits. When I throw it full power on a steep hyzer it flips and rolls. And my backhand is pretty fluid. I think what most people who say that are talking about at full steam.

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  2. Yes this times 100. So tired of people saying they’re leopard (or whatever disc) is an instant roller. It was never intended to be thrown that hard. Throw it at the speed and which it requires and it will fly similar to what the numbers represent

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  3. Had a super flippy dx Shark from a starter kit back when people where still rocking fedoras (Matty O obviously gets a lifetime pass). Rocked that for years because when there was little to no wind, I could finesse it and let that thang glide for days. Even with a relatively weak arm, I could never put more than 50% power on it. Still miss it.

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  4. I would agree until I got a Blizzard Katana. Been throwing a Boss for a while and got a Blizzard Boss and love it, also bag a Katana and wanted a lighter weight. It’s a high speed disc. might take some adjustments to be able to use it but not being able to throw a high speed disc at high speeds doesn’t make any sense….. I have other High speed understable disks. I bag a Destiny and Dadilus as well and that Katana is like a -6 on the high speed turn.

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