Harper Lin
Disc golf, also known as frisbee golf, is a sport played with a flying disc or frisbee. The sport is played on a course with 9 or 18 holes, and players complete a hole by throwing a disc from a tee pad or tee area toward a basket. The PDGA, or Professional Disc Golf Association, is the official governing body of the sport and oversees the rules of play and equipment standards. While the term frisbee golf is commonly used by recreational players, sports organizations like the PDGA discourage its use due to potential trademark disputes with Wham-O, the owner of the Frisbee trademark. As such, the flying objects used in disc golf are generally referred to as discs rather than frisbees.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Alternate names | Frisbee Golf, Disc Golf |
| Disc weight | 145-150 grams, may be lighter |
| Disc type | Thick-rimmed for distance, thin-rimmed for loft |
| Scoring | Par is the number of strokes a skilled player is expected to make |
| Gameplay | Throwing a disc into a basket from a tee area |
| Course | 9 or 18 holes, exceptions may have holes in multiples of three |
| Hole distance | 200-400 ft (61-122 m), not shorter than 100 ft (30 m) |
| Basket design | Metal basket supported by a center pole with hanging chains |
| Teams | Two teams of seven players each |
| Field size | 110-meter playing field with two end zones |
| Scoring example | Eagle: completing a hole two under par |
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What You'll Learn
'Frisbee' is trademarked, so 'disc' is preferred
Disc golf, also known as frisbee golf, is a sport in which players throw a disc at a target, following rules similar to golf. The sport is usually played on a course with 9 or 18 holes, with each hole consisting of a teeing area and a target basket.
The term "Frisbee" is trademarked by Wham-O, and sports organisations such as the Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) discourage the use of the term "Frisbee golf" to avoid potential trademark infringement disputes. As a result, the term "disc" is preferred over "Frisbee" when referring to the equipment used in disc golf. This helps to distinguish the sport from the trademarked toy and to avoid any legal issues.
While some players in the disc golf community may use the term "Frisbee" casually or interchangeably with "disc", there is a general understanding that "disc" is the more technically accurate and preferred term within the sport. This preference for the term "disc" is especially prominent among more experienced players and those familiar with the disc sports community.
The use of the term "disc" also aligns with the efforts of the PDGA and other disc golf organisations to establish and promote the sport as a distinct entity, with its own specialised equipment and terminology. By using the term "disc," players and organisations can emphasise the unique skills, techniques, and culture associated with disc golf, separate from the recreational activity of throwing a "Frisbee."
Additionally, the term "disc" allows for more specific terminology within the sport. For example, different types of discs used in disc golf have their own names and characteristics, such as "distance drivers," "putters," or "overstable" and "understable" discs. These terms refer to the specific design features and flight patterns of the discs, demonstrating the nuanced language that has developed within the disc golf community.
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'Lid' describes discs with thin rims
Disc golf, also known as frisbee golf, is a flying disc sport in which players throw a disc at a target, using rules similar to golf. The discs used in the game are called "golf discs" or "golf frisbees". The term "frisbee" is discouraged by sports organizations such as the PDGA due to potential trademark disputes with Wham-O, which owns the trademark rights to the name "Frisbee".
The choice between "disc" and "frisbee" is a matter of personal preference for some players, with "disc" being the more technical term. Some players also use the terms "putter" or "driver" to refer to the discs. The rim of a disc golf disc is an important factor in its performance, as it affects the stability of the disc during flight. Discs with thinner rims tend to be more precise but have greater wind resistance and less spin potential.
The stability of a disc golf disc refers to its tendency to turn right or left during flight. There are three categories of stability: understable, stable, and overstable. Understable discs tend to turn to the right during flight, stable discs fly straight, and overstable discs turn to the left. The stability of a disc is influenced by factors such as rim width, weight, and the type of plastic used.
The rim width of a disc golf disc is typically around 0.83 inches or 2.1 centimeters. A wider rim places more weight at the edge of the disc, affecting its flight characteristics. Thinner rims, on the other hand, are commonly found on mid-range discs and putters, providing greater precision but sacrificing spin potential and increasing wind resistance.
In addition to rim width, the weight of a disc golf disc also plays a crucial role in its performance. Lighter discs can be thrown at higher speeds than heavier ones, and the PDGA specifies weight limits for discs used in competition. The weight distribution of a disc, including the weight placed at the rim, impacts its stability and flight characteristics.
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'Distance driver' discs have the thickest rims
Disc golf, also known as frisbee golf, is a sport in which players throw a disc at a target, following rules similar to golf. The sport is usually played on a course with 9 or 18 holes, with each hole consisting of a teeing area and a target basket.
The discs used in disc golf are often referred to as "golf discs" or simply "discs". However, some people also refer to them as "frisbees", although this term is discouraged by sports organizations such as the Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) due to potential trademark disputes with Wham-O, the owners of the "Frisbee" trademark.
Distance driver discs are a specific type of disc used in disc golf. They are characterized by their high speeds, ranging from 9 to 15, and their wide, thick rims. The thick rims of distance drivers serve multiple purposes. Firstly, they contribute to the aerodynamic properties of the disc, affecting its flight characteristics and stability. Secondly, the thick rims make the discs prone to skipping when they make contact with the ground, which can be advantageous in certain situations.
The thickness of the rim in distance driver discs is a topic of discussion among disc golfers. Some Innova discs, such as the Destroyer and Xcal, have rims that are 22mm thick. There was previously no cap on rim width, but the PDGA recently imposed a limit of 2.6 cm. This decision was made due to safety concerns and to prevent the technology from outpacing course development, similar to the evolution of traditional golf. Some disc golfers feel that very wide rims can be unsafe and make the game too easy by adding too much distance to their throws. On the other hand, some players prefer wider rims as they provide a more comfortable grip for certain throwing techniques.
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'Gimme' is a guaranteed basket shot
Disc golf, also known as frisbee golf, is a sport where players throw a disc at a target, following rules similar to golf. The sport is usually played on a course with 9 or 18 holes, with each hole consisting of a teeing area and a target basket.
A "gimme" is a term used in golf to refer to a putt so short that it is considered unmissable. Rather than making your opponent roll the ball into the hole, you can give them the shot and count it as holed. The term "gimme" is derived from "give me", as in "will you give me that shot?". While it is not a requirement to give a gimme, doing so is considered an act of goodwill and sportsmanship.
Gimmes are not given in stroke play competitions but are often seen in match play tournaments such as the Ryder Cup. In match play, a player can concede their opponent's next stroke, a hole, or the match, but this must be communicated clearly. Although similar, there is a distinction between gimme putts and conceded putts, with the latter being the only type of putt that is legal in the Rules of Golf.
Gimme putts can also cause controversy, as illustrated in the 2015 Solheim Cup when American opponent Alison Lee assumed her putt had been conceded, only to have Norwegian Suzann Pettersen insist that it had not. This resulted in the Americans losing the 17th hole.
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'Ace' is a hole-in-one
Disc golf, also known as frisbee golf, is a sport in which players throw a disc at a target, following rules similar to golf. The discs used in the game are called by different names, including "discs", "frisbees", and sometimes "disks". The use of the word "disk" is often frowned upon by disc golfers.
An "ace" in disc golf is when a player gets a hole-in-one. It is when a player throws their disc and makes it into the target in just one shot. This is a rare feat in disc golf, requiring both skill and luck. When a player gets an ace, it is customary to celebrate with high-fives, fist bumps, and compliments for the player.
There are several named types of aces, including:
- Skip Ace: When the first throw on a hole skips off the ground and lands in the basket.
- Tree Ace: When the disc hits a tree and then lands in the basket.
- Trace: A shortened name for a Tree Ace.
- Ninja Ace: When the disc lands in the basket without being seen or heard.
- Blind Ace: When a player aces a hole where they cannot see the basket. This differs from a Ninja Ace as the player can hear the disc hit the chains.
- Swish Ace: When the disc lands in the basket without hitting the chains.
- Glow Ace: An ace achieved during a night round when using disc lights.
- Jump Ace: When the disc jumps up into the basket from a roll.
- Roller Ace: The same as a Jump Ace.
- Skywalker Ace: When the disc flies through many trees without hitting any and lands in the basket.
- Thumber Ace: An ace achieved when throwing a thumber shot.
- Copycat Ace: When a player aces the same hole immediately after someone else has.
- Cover-Up Ace: The same as a Copycat Ace, but it lowers the value of the first ace.
- Gang Bang Ace: When everyone on the card aces the same hole.
- Soup Kitchen: The same as a Gang Bang Ace.
- Plinko Ace: When the throw hits multiple trees or branches on the way down but still lands in the basket.
- Magnet/Tractor Beam Ace: An ace that appears to be guided into the basket by unseen forces.
- Wind Ace: When the player gets an ace with the help of the wind; otherwise, they would have missed.
- Disc of Destiny: When a disc gets an ace on its first throw.
- Black Ace: When the disc lands in the basket of a different hole.
- Troll Ace: When the player hears their disc hit the chains, but it is found more than 50 feet away from the basket.
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Frequently asked questions
Disc golf frisbees are called 'discs' or 'golf discs'. While the term 'Frisbee' is sometimes used, sports organisations like the PDGA discourage its use due to potential trademark disputes with Wham-O, who own the trademark rights to the name.
Disc golf has its own unique terminology, including 'gimme', which refers to a putt that is almost guaranteed to land in the basket, and 'DFL', which stands for 'Dead * Last', referring to the player who comes in last place.
One technique is the 'roller', where the disc is thrown at an angle that causes it to land on its edge and roll, useful for covering a lot of distances, especially when there are many trees or low-hanging branches.
