Disc question

[D1sasterouz]

Ok im 19 and I have been playing Frisbee golf for a few years but there are many thing's I still do not know. My first question is...Is it possible to wear out a disc. My favorite driver is an Elite-Z wildcat I have been throwing for a few years. Sometimes I get a perfect drive (my range is under 350 feet I think) and other times I shank it to the left or right. I throw right hand forehand and I notice that I can play a par 5 and if I even have a little tilt to my Wildcat it may turn out doing a hyzer or anhyzer but I can switch discs on the next hole and throw a perfectly good shot. I do not want to think my Wildcat is slowly wearing down. I would rather it be me messing up on the drive. Any recommendations on a disc that flies like the wildcat that has about the same fade as one?

[Jon Brakel]

Ok im 19 and I have been playing Frisbee golf for a few years but there are many thing's I still do not know. My first question is...Is it possible to wear out a disc. My favorite driver is an Elite-Z wildcat I have been throwing for a few years. Sometimes I get a perfect drive (my range is under 350 feet I think) and other times I shank it to the left or right. I throw right hand forehand and I notice that I can play a par 5 and if I even have a little tilt to my Wildcat it may turn out doing a hyzer or anhyzer but I can switch discs on the next hole and throw a perfectly good shot. I do not want to think my Wildcat is slowly wearing down. I would rather it be me messing up on the drive. Any recommendations on a disc that flies like the wildcat that has about the same fade as one?

Here's a couple of things to think about:
1) If you could throw every drive perfect you'd be the best pro ever and wouldn't be asking us questions.  You ARE going to get different results on different drives. Consistency is a key to the game and consistency comes with practice...lots of practice.
2) Discs don't really wear out, but they do age and their flight characteristics change with age. Most discs more understable as they age. Sometimes its a good thing. Sometimes they get too flippy to throw regularly and they go into the back of the bag for when you need a turn over shot, roller or throwing with a big tail wind. Discs do also sometimes break...often after they've aged.
3) Unless you are talking about hole 18 at Fairfield or one of a couple of holes at Edgebrook, there are no par 5 holes in the Chicago area.
4) Work on learning to throw right hand backhand as your primary shot. Leave the forehand for special situations.

[ChaChaChavez]

i too am new to the game, bout 6 months strong for me. First things first the name of the game is "Disc" Golf. I believe the difference is you catch a frisbee and by no means can you huck a frisbee like a disc. Think of it this way...  The olympics have the sport "Discus" as an event. The sport in which they throw discs for distance.  Secondly you should go to discrafts web site http://www.discraft.com/resources.html   and innova's website  http://www.innovadiscs.com/downloads/2008_driver_chart_web.pdf   and find the flight charts or something chart and compare it to whatever that "M" disc you throw does. Lastly, listen to these guys on the forum, they've been in the game a lot longer than i have  and can answer probably anything and they're pretty quick about it too.  Best of luck to you mah friend.    

[deucemeister]

Discs indeed do wear out depending upon the type of material the disc is made of and the frequency of big lumber hits it has been exposed to.  The more resilient plastic will hold up for a long time, while the type that nicks and chunks easily will wear quickly. That is not neccessarily bad thing, as i like to have a new and somewhat used disc of the same type and weight for diferent flight characteristics.  IT will tun over more and more as it wears, and there are holes where that shot is needed.    I see most new players out there using forehand throws, mostly because it is an easier throw physically, but for the most part it is harder to control.and unless you are gifter, it won't go as far as a power backhand throw; the backhand is a more consistent throw, but it does take more strength and skill to master versus the forehand,
   Try out some different drivers, but also keep in mind that driving is important but not the whole game and is less important overall as sinking a putt; ie.e, drive for show, putt for dough.  Unless you have very good power, I would stay away from the fastest drivers to start out with, as they will be very overstable and will all dive left on you. 
Hope that helps and glad to welcome you to the disc golf world.

[Jon Brakel]

It is also really easy to mess up your elbow and never be able to throw forehand or backhand ever again by throwing forehand for power. It's much harder to have a career ending injury while throwing backhand.

[stpitner]

Well - one comment that I would make is that with an Elite-Z Wildcat - that disc should last the longest for the particular type of plastic.  As you hit more and more trees, obstacles, etc, it will slowly wear it down.

If you were consistently flipping it and having it go the opposite direction of your fade, then I'd say that you've worn in your disc to the point where your power can make the disc flip nicely.  If it's sometimes flipping, sometimes going perfect, sometimes hooking too much, then that's more of your technique and not a consistent throw each time around.  Work on your arm angle, keeping the disc flat (and realizing that if you tilt the disc up or down you can purposefully make it go different directions).

If you're not sure what you're seeing, I believe they still make Z-Wildcats, so buy a new one of the same weight and see what happens!  If you want something that is going to have a little bit more fade and not as easy to flip, I'd probably say try out the Z-Crush from Discraft.  There's not too much that is similar to the Wildcat as far as the rim, but from Innova you might want to consider the Champion Viking.  It's not going to fly JUST like the Wildcat, but it might be something to try out.

Scott