Disc golf: You need at least one comically flippy frisbee in your bag

Have you ever noticed how one-sided the use of the utility frisbee is?

I don’t care if it’s Simon Lizotte or Simon Cowell …

Film an “In the Bag” video with just about any disc golfer on the planet, and it’s pure beef in the utility slot – and I’m not just talking drivers, either. For the slow stuff, you’re seeing Zones and Mutants. And, of course, for the faster, farther-flying frisbees, Tilts and Maxes built out bags.

What’s crazy, though, is those SAME players can be heard saying THIS out on the course:

“I don’t have anything flippy enough in my bag for this shot.”

Sound familiar?

Here’s what I’m getting at with this …

Make space for one ultra-flippy disc in your bag.

For the past 18-ish months, I’ve tugged on a 158-gram (gasp) SP-Line Sail when I need something to fly like a paper plate. Though a premium plastic, the frisbee called for ZERO beating to immediately turn for me. It’s worked from day one, and it flies like a dream.

Here’s what I use it for …

• Use No. 1: Standstills – I’m not talking about the kinds of standstill approaches for which you bust out a midrange or approach putter – I’m talking about standstills that demand some distance. The severe understability of the Sail makes it happen with little effort.

• Use No. 2: Pushing Hyzer-Flips – This is almost exclusively a woods line for me. It’s one that’s required on long, right-to-left fading fairways with heavy woods on both sides. The general shape of the fairway makes you think you need a stable-to-overstable flier. In reality, though, you need an understable disc that’ll flip, glide and fall out of the sky.

• Use No. 3: Long, Left-to-Right Drifts – This is the reason I bought the DGA Sail in the first place. I was tired of bombing “understable” discs, only to have ‘em hook-up when I needed a continued, right-fading finish. Yes, the 150-class Sail is more than capable of entering “throwler” territory, but that’s on me – when thrown properly, it does its job.

• Use No. 4: Attempted Backhand Rollers – The keyword here is “attempted,” obviously. My disc golf game needs more work than Jeremy Clarkson’s teeth, but at least I can feign expertise on most lines – this isn’t the case with backhand rollers. The Sail hasn’t made this a tournament-ready shot, but during a casual round, I’m no longer afraid to try.

Also, I didn’t expect this to be the case when I picked one up, but the Sail has helped me fan grip drivers with more confidence. This was always something I tinkered with in the past, but when throwing a disc that begs you to not rip on it like a madman, it’s often the preferred approach.

Does the Sail see as much action as my FAF Firebird?

Not even close.

But when it’s needed, I’m glad it’s there.

If you’re looking for a Sail-esque flight in your bag, duh – buy a Sail. Still, across the flight chart, the following are a few rock-solid recommendations to point you in the right direction:

• Disc No. 1 – Putter, The Innova Sonic
• Disc No. 2 – Midrange, The Latitude 64 Pearl
• Disc No. 3 – Fairway Driver, The Discraft Heat
• Disc No. 4 – Distance Driver, The Lone Star Disc Tumbleweed

* Note: Lower weights and baseline polymers will always help you flip a disc more easily.

The understable stuff might not be sexy enough to instantly fly off virtual shelves, but until you welcome a “disc doily” into your bag, there’s a gaping hole in it – and there’s no denying it.

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