PDGA Approved Discs: Release Rate
As disc golf becomes undeniably more popular, more discs enter the disc golf scene, vying for space in disc golfers bags. These facts about how many discs are being approved today, vs just 10 years ago may blow your mind.
PDGA Disc Approval Rate
1964 – 1987 Disc Approval Numbers
According to the list of PDGA approved discs (found here), the first approved disc was in 1964. That disc was named, according to the sheet “Professional” and was made by Wham-O / DTW. Twenty three years later, at the end of 1987 that number had grown to 71 approved discs.
Discs Approved Today
Fast forward to 2013. In 2013 alone, there were 73 PDGA approved discs, and as of October 15th, 2014 there are 70 PDGA approved discs in 2014. Since January 1, 2013 there have been 143 PDGA approved discs.
In all, there are 686 PDGA approved discs. Nearly 21% of approved discs in the market, have come within the last two years. This does not take into account the large number of discs which were once approved, but no longer in production. Were currently produced discs only taken into account, the percentage would be much higher.
Disc Approval Rate Per Year, by Decade
One final way to look at how disc production has changed, is to view the average number of discs approved per year, during a given decade.
1960’s:
-
- .2 discs per year, or 1 disc every 5 years.
1970’s:
-
- 1.6 discs per year.
1980’s:
-
- 6.9 discs per year.
1990’s:
-
- 10.6 discs per year.
2000’s:
-
- 23.6 discs per year.
2010’s:
- (To Date):51.6 discs per year.
Disc Brand Increase
- In the history of PDGA approved discs, 48 different brands have produced discs all time.
- Within the last two years (after October 15, 2012) 27 of those 48 brands have produced a new approved disc.
- 21 brands have not produced a new model within the last two years, either because they no longer manufacture, or they have not expanded their lineup.
- Within the last two years, of the 27 that have made an approved disc, 14 of those brands had never created a disc previously. Over half of the brands creating new models today, did not exist before October 2012.
Brand status for the last 2 Years
New Brands:
- Axiom Discs
- Deity Discs
- DMI Sports
- Dynamic Discs
- Essential Discs
- Eurodisc
- HOLE19 sarl
- Kastaplast
- Obsidian Discs Oy
- Paradigm Disc Golf
- Prodigy Disc
- Salient Discs
- UB Disc Golf – Hand Candy
- Yikun Sports
Older than 2 years, with 1 or more new models
- CHING Sports
- Disc Golf Association
- Discmania
- Discraft
- Gateway Disc Sports
- Innova-Champion Discs
- Latitude 64
- Legacy Discs
- Millennium Golf Discs
- MVP Disc Sports
- Prodiscus
- Vibram Disc Golf
- Westside Golf Discs
No new models within 2 years
- 1080 Disc Golf
- ABC Discs
- Aerobie
- Crosslap Discgolf Parks
- Daredevil Discs
- Disc Golf Aotearoa
- Discwing
- DKG Disc Sports
- Dynamic/Destiny Discs
- Ferris State University
- Hero Leports Co., Ltd.
- Lightning Discs
- Pacific Cycle
- Plastic Paradise
- Quest Applied Technologies
- Rip Disc Golf
- Skyiron
- Skyquest
- Snap Discsports
- Wham-O / DTW/li>
Discs Approved Since October 15, 2012
Model
- Lace
- King VIP Air
- Stag
- Tursas
- Underworld
- Rival
- Zombee (Ace Race 2012)
- Amp
- Patriot
- Tern
- Escape
- Fugitive
- Judge
- Trespass
- Delivery
- Transition
- Transporter
- D1
- D2
- D3
- D4
- Shock
- 135G UltiPro Junior Ultimate
- 150G WaKa Freestyle Disc
- 175G UltiPro Ultimate
- View
- Assault
- Sabotage
- Vendetta
- P3 – Putt & Approach
- Proline Breaker
- Tangent
- Mace
- Laseri
- M1
- M2 (originally the M3)
- M3 (originally the M2)
- M4
- PA1
- PA2
- PA4
- Suspect
- Giant VIP Air
- Stag VIP Air
- Sword VIP Air
- Warship VIP Air
- MD3 – Midrange Driver
- Renegade
- Fury
- Tensor
- Mystic (retooled)
- Verdict
- Delivery Organic
- Transition Organic
- Transporter Organic
- Stiletto
- Truth
- Atlas
- Omega SuperSoft Big Bead
- O-Lace
- unLace
- F1
- F2
- F3
- F7
- Crank
- Rask
- Rage (retooled)
- Tank – Panzer
- D5
- Procul
- Nova
- Mortar
- Prometheus
- Resistor
- Bandit
- Gauge
- Mongoose
- Warden
- D5 (retooled)
- Saint Pro
- Foxbat
- Harp (Kannel1)
- Hatchet (Sotakipves1)
- Sorcerer (Tietäjä1)
- World (Maailma1)
- F5
- Yao
- Mantis (Ace Race 2013)
- Servo
- Antidote
- Jade
- Aries
- M5
- Alias
- Envy
- Rask (retooled)
- Tiger
- Inertia
- Switch
- Witness
- Daedalus
- Chimera
- Impulse
- Motion
- Tesla
- Outlaw
- Crave
- Claws
- Gui
- Wings
- Inspire
- Thief
- FD2
- Scythe
- Boatman VIP Air
- Shield
- Tursas VIP Air
- Underworld VIP Air
- Torrent
- PA3
- Four20
- Enforcer
- Claymore
- Dagger
- X1
- Monstrum
- Vein
- Lex
- Da’e
- Gou
- Hu
- Jun
- Assassin (retooled)
- Chief (retooled)
- Kaxe
- Missilen
- Backdraft
- Shaman
- Clash
- Supreme Legacy
- Felon
- Freedom
- Buzzz OS
- Bird-Dog
- Terrapin
- Touch
- Thunderbird
- Veteran
- Solace
- Honey
- H1
- Jiao
- Wei
- CD2
- Outlaw (retooled)
- Splinter
- Proxy
- Theory
- H2
- H4
- All in One
Manufacturer
Vibram Disc Golf
Westside Golf Discs
Westside Golf Discs
Westside Golf Discs
Westside Golf Discs
Legacy Discs
Discraft
MVP Disc Sports
Legacy Discs
Innova-Champion Discs
Dynamic Discs
Dynamic Discs
Dynamic Discs
Dynamic Discs
Eurodisc
Eurodisc
Eurodisc
Prodigy Disc
Prodigy Disc
Prodigy Disc
Prodigy Disc
MVP Disc Sports
Yikun Sports
Yikun Sports
Yikun Sports
Yikun Sports
DMI Sports
DMI Sports
DMI Sports
Discmania
Disc Golf Association
MVP Disc Sports
Latitude 64
Prodiscus
Prodigy Disc
Prodigy Disc
Prodigy Disc
Prodigy Disc
Prodigy Disc
Prodigy Disc
Prodigy Disc
Dynamic Discs
Westside Golf Discs
Westside Golf Discs
Westside Golf Discs
Westside Golf Discs
Discmania
Dynamic Discs
Latitude 64
MVP Disc Sports
Gateway Disc Sports
Dynamic Discs
Eurodisc
Eurodisc
Eurodisc
Latitude 64
Dynamic Discs
Innova-Champion Discs
Millennium Golf Discs
Vibram Disc Golf
Vibram Disc Golf
Prodigy Disc
Prodigy Disc
Prodigy Disc
Prodigy Disc
Discraft
Kastaplast
Gateway Disc Sports
Millennium Golf Discs
Prodigy Disc
UB Disc Golf – Hand Candy
Innova-Champion Discs
Millennium Golf Discs
Salient Discs
MVP Disc Sports
Legacy Discs
Legacy Discs
Legacy Discs
Dynamic Discs
Prodigy Disc
Latitude 64
Innova-Champion Discs
Westside Golf Discs
Westside Golf Discs
Westside Golf Discs
Westside Golf Discs
Prodigy Disc
Yikun Sports
Discraft
MVP Disc Sports
Salient Discs
Latitude 64
Millennium Golf Discs
Prodigy Disc
Axiom Discs
Axiom Discs
Kastaplast
Paradigm Disc Golf
MVP Disc Sports
MVP Disc Sports
Dynamic Discs
Innova-Champion Discs
Deity Discs
MVP Disc Sports
MVP Disc Sports
MVP Disc Sports
Legacy Discs
Axiom Discs
Yikun Sports
Yikun Sports
Yikun Sports
Axiom Discs
Dynamic Discs
Discmania
Latitude 64
Westside Golf Discs
Westside Golf Discs
Westside Golf Discs
Westside Golf Discs
Disc Golf Association
Prodigy Disc
Vibram Disc Golf
Dynamic Discs
Latitude 64
Latitude 64
Prodigy Disc
UB Disc Golf – Hand Candy
Salient Discs
UB Disc Golf – Hand Candy
Yikun Sports
Yikun Sports
Yikun Sports
Yikun Sports
Gateway Disc Sports
Gateway Disc Sports
Kastaplast
Latitude 64
Salient Discs
Gateway Disc Sports
Axiom Discs
CHING Sports
Dynamic Discs
Dynamic Discs
Discraft
Paradigm Disc Golf
Paradigm Disc Golf
Salient Discs
Innova-Champion Discs
Millennium Golf Discs
Vibram Disc Golf
Essential Discs
Prodigy Disc
Yikun Sports
Yikun Sports
Discmania
Legacy Discs
Obsidian Discs Oy
Axiom Discs
Axiom Discs
Prodigy Disc
Prodigy Disc
Date Approved
10/30/12
10/30/12
10/30/12
10/30/12
10/30/12
11/02/12
11/13/12
11/14/12
11/28/12
12/03/12
12/07/12
12/07/12
12/07/12
12/07/12
12/11/12
12/11/12
12/11/12
01/01/13
01/01/13
01/01/13
01/01/13
01/15/13
01/16/13
01/16/13
01/16/13
01/16/13
02/08/13
02/08/13
02/08/13
02/13/13
02/22/13
02/22/13
03/04/13
03/04/13
03/05/13
03/05/13
03/05/13
03/05/13
03/05/13
03/05/13
03/05/13
03/10/13
03/10/13
03/10/13
03/10/13
03/10/13
03/29/13
04/04/13
04/19/13
04/19/13
05/14/13
05/30/13
05/30/13
05/30/13
05/30/13
05/30/13
06/18/13
06/18/13
06/22/13
06/25/13
06/25/13
07/06/13
07/06/13
07/06/13
07/06/13
07/08/13
07/18/13
08/29/13
08/29/13
08/29/13
08/29/13
09/03/13
09/03/13
09/03/13
09/23/13
09/25/13
09/25/13
09/25/13
10/14/13
10/14/13
10/17/13
10/22/13
10/28/13
10/28/13
10/28/13
10/28/13
11/01/13
11/01/13
12/01/13
12/01/13
12/16/13
12/20/13
01/06/14
01/06/14
01/12/14
01/12/14
01/12/14
01/19/14
02/10/14
02/10/14
02/17/14
02/17/14
02/22/14
02/22/14
02/22/14
02/22/14
02/25/14
03/09/14
03/09/14
03/09/14
03/09/14
03/22/14
03/22/14
03/24/14
03/24/14
03/24/14
03/24/14
03/24/14
03/24/14
03/25/14
03/25/14
03/31/14
04/07/14
04/13/14
04/13/14
05/04/14
05/04/14
05/13/14
05/13/14
05/13/14
05/13/14
05/13/14
05/13/14
05/19/14
05/19/14
05/19/14
05/22/14
05/22/14
06/09/14
06/10/14
07/14/14
07/14/14
07/14/14
07/19/14
07/19/14
07/19/14
07/20/14
08/05/14
08/05/14
08/05/14
08/26/14
08/26/14
08/26/14
08/26/14
09/05/14
09/17/14
09/17/14
09/24/14
09/24/14
09/26/14
09/26/14
10/01/14
We’re curious what you think. Comment below and let us know your thoughts on any or all of the following:
- With this many new models and new brands, is it good for the sport?
- History shows us that not all of the molds being produced today will remain in production. Will discs be moved to “out of production” more quickly, because more discs have entered the market? Or is there room enough for all of the new molds being released, especially when considering industry growth in general?
- Do you like the additional selection, or do you wish we were back to the days of ?
- How much of your bag is comprised of these new molds?
- From the brands which are older than two years, and have not produced any new discs, do you own or use any of their discs? If so, which discs?