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New to Disc Golf and need disc recommendations?

8/1/2016

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Welcome! This is our attempt at reaching out to you, the newest member of the disc golf family. This inaugural post is written by myself, Justin, and Sean. Each of us will give you some recommendations on a couple of driver, midrange, and putter molds for you to check out from the Trilogy line up to start your bag.

Let's just get this out of the way, first - Trilogy is a term for the three companies that are separate but have a close relationship with each other - Dynamic Discs (Kansas), Latitude 64 (Sweden), and Westside Discs (Finland). Each company has their own disc line up and some of the molds are similar to what the other companies have already produced. Latitude 64 actually does all of the molding/processing for each of the three companies, that's why your disc says "Made in Sweden" underneath the flight plate. Let's start!

Rob: An old friend of mine of over 20 years contacted me about wanting to start building his first bag. This is what prompted me in deciding to start this blog to hopefully help out newcomers like him and others. For people throwing right or left hand backhand (RHBH/LHBH), they typically throw the disc on an angle and not flat. Because of this, understable discs are typically recommended to newbies. Honestly, I tell beginners to start with putters and midrange discs instead of jumping into drivers. I know, I know, drivers are sexy - they have fatter rims, they fly further (when thrown correctly), and in general are more fun to throw than mids and putters.

If you just have to have a driver, I would recommend starting with a fairway driver such as the Seer, Witness, and Maul in any plastic. They all have great glide (how well a disc will hang in the air) and forgiving when you throw the disc on a hyzer angle (the part of the disc away from your hand is closer to the ground than the part of the disc you're holding it - anhyzer is the opposite). We'll talk more about hyzer and anhyzer throws in another post to keep this one from getting too long.

My favorite starter mids - the Sling, Truth (both the older and the re-tooled EMac Truth), Compass, and Tursas. The Tursas is really understable, the Compass and Sling are very similar, and the older Truth is more understable than the newer EMac Truth. The other guys will give you their recommendations which will differ from mine. I have a terrible forehand, so when I need a disc to go right (I throw RHBH), I use a Tursas. If I need it to go straight, either Truth, Sling, or Compass.

As far as putters go, this is where it's a little tricky. There are so many different putter molds because people can be picky. Find a putter you like and then buy a bunch of them. Try out different putters - they typically come in base plastics so it's cheaper than the more premium plastics that mids and drivers are available in. They wear out a little quicker being base plastic - that's why I say find one you like and stock up on them. I prefer beadless putters for the way they feel in my hand. The bead on a disc goes around the bottom of the rim - look at the profile of the disc and where it would sit is where the bead would be if it has one. The Warden and Shield are my go to putters from Dynamic and Westside, respectively. The Mercy by Latitude 64 is pretty good as well.


Sean: After being introduced to the sport a year and a half ago by my good friend, I have jumped in head first, and it has really become a passion of mine. It filled a void when it came to enjoying nature, as well as my competitive demeanor. Of course being a left handed player is always a blast because I use different parts of the course than the vast majority of right handed players. Not only that, disc golf by nature is an inexpensive sport, and that is the biggest draw to new players. Now when everyone goes and buys discs, they all want the cool colors, the fastest discs (ones designed to go far). While all of that is a big draw for beginners, 90% of us make the mistake of buying the fastest disc possible thinking we can throw it far only to discover when they throw it that it doesn't go very far at all. This is due to the speed of the disc, and the player's skill level not being able to achieve that speed yet. The following is my choice for the best discs for beginners.

​Putters: Putters are a very personal thing. It is the most used disc in our bag, getting used on every single hole. The key to finding a putter is very simple; Do you like how it feels? If you don't like how it feels, you will not have confidence in it. From the 30 foot and in mark, nearly all putters will fly the same, the old saying "the archer not the arrow" definitely applies here. Find a putter that you first find absolutely comfortable in your hand. If you don't like how it feels, keep moving on until you find one you like. My personal recommendation is the Westside Swan Reborn. It has a very comfortable depth for my smaller hands, but it gives a nice full feeling, instilling confidence. It has a great straight flight path when used as a putter, and off the tee it flies understable and is a great turnover putter.

​Mids: These are the key to the game, and the trilogy lineup has the best midranges in the business! You want something that is straight to slightly understable when beginning. The Truth and EMac Truth from Dynamic Discs are the most popular midranges in the trilogy lineup and for good reason, they are perfect for everyone from beginners to pros. I highly suggest using these.

​Drivers: Drivers is the biggest catch, as they range from anything speed 7 to speed 14. The higher the speed, the more arm speed the player needs to get them to fly correctly. Don't make the mistake of buying the fastest thing on the market, it will only hurt your game. I truly believe and suggest using midranges and putters only for at least 6-12 months into playing. I made the mistake of buying the fastest disc possible, and it really hurt my game and my progression. Stick with midranges until you're throwing them upwards of 300 feet and putters until 250 feet. They will teach you form, wind management, and consistency.

​Justin: His opinion coming soon!
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    Rob, Sean, and Justin

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