Category: Random

Disc Golf Weight Explained – Choosing the Best Disc Weight

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Disc Golf Disc Weights

Why Weight Matters in Disc Golf

When it comes to choosing the best disc golf disc, getting the right weight is an important factor. The weight of a disc affects its speed, stability and the way it will fly. Understanding this relationship can provide a significant advantage in the discs you choose to purchase and throw on the course.

Release Velocity and it’s Relationship to Distance

The faster you’re able to throw the disc, the greater your potential to get more distance. This provides a relationship between the release velocity of a throw and the distance the disc travels.

According to a Best Disc Golf Discs Youtube video, for every additional mile per hour in speed at release, there is an average increase of 7.2 feet in distance. So the easiest way to get more “arm speed” and throw faster is by increasing your release velocity with lighter weight discs.
Research shows that reducing the disc weight can lead to an increase in throw speed. For instance, shaving off 20 grams from a disc’s weight can enhance the speed by 6.5 miles per hour. Theoretically, this could result in an impressive gain of 47 feet in distance.

Lighter Discs for Big Distance

The potential of lighter discs isn’t merely theoretical. For disc golf distance competitions, world records have been set with light weight discs weighing under 160 grams. This underscores the point that lighter discs, when thrown correctly, can achieve astounding distances. For me personally, I can most easily get full flight and maximum distance with a 149 gram Pharaoh.

Disc Stability Also Matters

While light weight discs have potential for more distance, the flight dynamics of the disc can also change. Lighter discs, by their nature, tend to exhibit more turn, which can affect the intended flight path. To counter this tendency, it might be advantageous to choose a more stable driver or increase the weight. Increased stability allows for more consistent flight paths.

While the weight of the disc may not actually affect the discs stability, the fact that you are able to throw light weight discs faster will affect its stability.

Factoring in Wind Conditions

Disc weight makes a big difference when it comes to throwing in the wind. Lights discs are affected much more than heavier discs, simply because of physics. All other factors being equal, lighter discs will get blown around more than a heavier disc, since there is less mass to get moving. That goes for a head/tail wind, as well as a cross wind.

Pro Disc Golfer throwing max weight disc

Which Weight to Choose?

With a lot of disc golfers trying out popular discs by different brands, we thought that we would address the questions of disc weight. For some players, the weight of the disc is not particularly important as long as it flies the way that they want it to. But for other players, the disc weight is very important since they prefer the performance of heavier discs, or desire the easier distance that may come with lighter discs, etc.

Your weight choice should primarily depend on the disc you are purchasing and what you intend to use that disc for.

Choosing Weight for Putters and Midrange Discs

Because the objective and putter and midrange discs is not distance but control, in most instances you should choose heavier, near max weight discs.

Disc Golf Putter Weights

Most disc golf putters have a max weight of 173-175grams. Personally, I like a putter around the 170-172 gram range. It really probably doesn’t make much of a difference, but psychologically in my mind that “lighter” putter will glide just a little bit more. When it comes to making putts, it’s really all about confidence.

Midrange Disc Weights

Some Midrange Discs have wider diameters, and thus the PDGA allows for heavier max weights. Large diameter mids like the Buzzz and Roc3 have max weights of up to 180 grams.

If you’re looking for something very overstable, you probably want a heavier disc, or at least something in the 165g plus weight range. If you want something that will glide a little bit more and not fall to the ground as fast, consider something lighter than mid weight for that mold.

Best Weight for Disc Golf Drivers

Disc golf drivers and their sharp rims usually have a maximum weight of 175 grams or less.

When it comes to choosing drivers, this is when the weight ranges really matters. The reality is that you will probably want a variety of different weights depending on your intended use for the driver. If you’re looking for big distance, use a lighter disc.

While I can’t usually tell the difference between a 170 gram, and a 173 gram disc, there is a noticeable difference between max weigh drivers and those in the 160’s. When a disc golf driver gets in the 150’s or lower weight range, there is a noticeable difference in the speed you are able to throw the disc and the way that it will fly.

If you have a tendency to “turn over” your disc, you probably want to stay away from light weight drivers as the heavier varieties will provide more consistency.

Some disc golfers choose to throw light weight but very overstable discs to get the best of both velocity and stability.

The real way to choose the right disc weight for you is simply to try your favorite driver in a number of different weight ranges to see which ones perform best for you in varying situations.

Lighter Weights for Beginners

Because new disc golfers do not have the arm speed to get a full flight out of disc, the best discs for beginners are usually light weight discs, at least in terms of drivers. Mid weight midrange discs are also recommended for newer players.

Sometimes factory second blemishes make x-out discs lighter than the non x-out version, so a factory second version is a way to get a lighter disc in the mold you are looking at.

Disc golf disc with penned weight of 167 grams

Are the Weights Listed on Disc Golf Discs Accurate?

Here at Infinite Discs, we try to represent each disc as accurately as possible on our website by including a photo and the details for each disc. We decided years ago that we would trust the manufacturers when it comes to indicating the weight of their discs.

Most major disc manufacturers take the time to weigh the discs as they come out of the mold and painstakingly mark those weights in ink, with stickers, or embossed on the bottom of each disc. We trust that they have a well-established procedure for accurately weighing those discs as part of their manufacturing process.

WHY DON’T WE WEIGH THE DISCS at Infinite Discs?

Because we’ve chosen to trust the disc manufacturers to represent their products accurately and according to their own standards, we do not take the extra time to weigh each disc as we add them into our online inventory. Here at Infinite Discs, we currently have three different digital scales which we use to weigh packages as we ship them. When used to weigh individual discs, we can lay the same disc on each of those three scales and get results that may differ a gram or two from one scale to the next or from the weight indicated on the disc. So which of those scales is correct?

Scale Variations

We have heard the argument that “gravity is the same everywhere,” and that is correct. While gravity may not change, the calibration of different scales might differ. While we do not own the most top-of-the-line digital scales, we have noticed that there can be differences between them, so we don’t feel that we should automatically judge a disc’s factory weight to be wrong if it differs slightly from what one of our scales might say.

The same 173-174 Kong on another one of our digital scales.

Let’s assume for a moment that we receive a disc marked as 175g by the factory, using their procedures. Then we weigh the disc and find that our scale says 174g or maybe 176g. We feel strongly that it is not our place to then scratch out the factory weight and indicate our own results on the disc. We also don’t feel that we should list the disc on our website with a weight that is different than the factory results– the purchaser of the disc would receive it, see that our advertised weight doesn’t match what is marked on the disc and feel deceived. They might weigh the disc themselves and find a result of 173g on their own scale and feel that both we and the factory were wrong. Thus, we stick with what the factory says and don’t alter the disc or the weight information provided. That way, the manufacturer becomes the ultimate authority for the disc that they produced.

DIFFERENT BRANDS AND THEIR WEIGHT DESIGNATIONS

We’ve seen a lot of players move from one brand to another when purchasing discs. We’d like to address another important consideration when it comes to the procedures of those different brands. Innova, for example, typically marks their weights to the precise gram by writing the weight on the bottom of the disc in ink. Players who throw Innova or discs by other brands that use a similar procedure are able to pick the exact weight that they feel is perfect for them.

However, Discraft has not traditionally marked each disc to the gram. They instead choose to put a sticker on their discs that indicates a weight range. For example, they’ll put a sticker on a disc that says 170 – 172. That way, they are acknowledging that there will be some variation in weight for the discs produced in that batch. Other discs may be lighter and marked with weight stickers like 167 – 169, or heavier with 177+ (typical for mid-range discs like the Buzzz). Again, we assume that their range is accurate, but can’t promise that when weighed on somebody’s personal scale that it won’t fall a gram above or below the range that Discraft indicated.

Our Policy

When we list discs by companies that use a weight range on a sticker, we have chosen to be consistent in our data entry practices by simply listing the low number on that sticker. That is because our data entry system does not allow for a range, but wants a single number. Thus, a disc marked as 170 – 172 will be listed as 170.  A disc with a sticker saying 173 – 175 will be listed as 173.  The “max weight” for a Discraft driver would typically be listed as 173, but could actually weigh on the higher end of that range.

Other brands that use weight ranges include DGA, Viking Discs, Yikun Discs, and the new Active Baseline series of discs from Discmania (not individually weighed, but sold in a weight range).

WHAT IF THE WEIGHT IS JUST PLAIN WRONG?

While we’d like to believe that we live in a world where mistakes don’t happen, that is simply not a reality. While taking photos and adding thousands of discs per week onto our website, it is possible that some busy, tired employee here at Infinite Discs may type a weight in incorrectly. Usually we catch that error before the disc ships and we contact the buyer to make sure that they get a weight that they want. If the disc slips past another employee at the shipping station and the buyer receives a disc that has a factory weight that is different than what we entered, then we take care of the problem.

If we have entered the disc weight according the factory-marked weight, as indicated above, but the buyer believes it is still inaccurate or marked incorrectly, then we’re still happy to help the best we can, knowing that some busy, tired employee at the factory may have made a mistake. After all, nobody is perfect, and mistakes are always possible. We just want to clarify that we are doing the best we can to represent discs on our website exactly as the factory specified.

174g vs 175g

In the end, when disc weight becomes a hot topic of discussion or a complaint, we often find ourselves wondering if that gram or two was really going to make a difference in the player’s game. Would a 174g disc perform that much worse for an average player who claims that they absolutely must have a 175g disc? That’s an argument to be settled elsewhere. As disc connoisseurs, we can attest that here at Infinite Discs we have discs in our bags that straddle a lot of weight ranges, and they fly as well as we can throw them.

We hope that this information has been helpful in understand a little bit more about disc weights and how they effect flight. We hope you better understand how brands mark the weight of their discs, and how we at Infinite Discs work with those brands and trust in those manufacturers to indicate the weight of their discs so that our buyers can make an informed purchasing decision.

 

Beyond Plastic: Cultural Stories about Infinite Discs’ Discs

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Beyond Plastic: Cultural Stories about Infinite Discs’ Discs

A prevalent trend among disc golf manufacturers and companies with their own line of discs is to adopt a naming system or thematic tone for their lineup. For example: Westside Discs molds are typically medieval-related names, Clash Discs name their molds after different food flavors/spices, and MVP uses electrical-related titles.

We (Infinite Discs) have chosen to use various ancient cultures from around the world to name our discs. This post is going to break down the various cultural names we use as inspiration, we will look at stamp artwork that reflects these cultures, and we will discuss what cultures we look forward to using in the future.

 Starting at the beginning, the very first mold in the Infinite Discs lineup was named the Exodus and was first run in S-Blend plastic back in 2018. The word Exodus means an extensive departure of a people from one area to another. One of the most famous and well-known historical exoduses is the departure of the Israelites from Egypt to the “Promised Land.” This name was decided after we chose to focus on ancient Egyptian culture to name our discs going forward. Since then, we have branched out and chosen to include all varieties of ancient cultures in our theme.

EGYPTIAN CULTURE

Egyptian culture is believed to date back to the 31st century BCE. The ancient Egyptians are renowned for their contributions to art, architecture, sciences, and polytheistic belief systems, with elaborate temples and monumental structures like the Pyramids of Giza reflecting the centrality of religion which you see reflected on many of our stamps.

The molds that we associate with Egyptian Culture are as follows:

Here are some of our favorite stamps that follow the theme of this culture –

ROMAN/GREEK CULTURE

Roman and Greek cultures, collectively known as Greco-Roman civilization, have profoundly influenced the course of Western history. Ancient Greece birthed democracy, philosophy, and classical arts as well as excelled in architecture, literature, and sculpture. Ancient Rome is most known for their evolution into a formidable empire, therefore inspiring several of our mold names. Both cultures celebrated polytheistic religions, with Greek and Roman mythologies influencing art and literature.

The molds that we associate with Ancient Greco-Roman civilization are as follows:

Here are some of our favorite stamps that follow the theme of this culture –

SOUTHERN AMERICAN CULTURE: MAYAN, INCA & AZTEC

Despite their geographical separation and distinct historical timelines, the Maya, Aztec, and Inca civilizations shared certain characteristics such as advanced agricultural practices, complex social structures, and polytheistic religious beliefs. However, each had unique cultural achievements and political organizations that contributed to their individual legacies.

  • Maya: Known for their advanced knowledge in astronomy, mathematics, and hieroglyphic writing. Built impressive city-states with temples and pyramids.
  • Aztec: Renowned for their military prowess, impressive architecture, and the complex social structure. Their artistic expressions included intricate codices and sculptures.
  • Inca: Famed for their extensive road network, advanced agricultural terracing, and skillful stonework in constructions like Machu Picchu.

Each of these cultures has a disc in the Infinite line up with it’s own name represented. We also include the Alpaca as part of this cultural theme, as each of these cultures relied heavily on these amazing creatures for food and clothing materials.

Here are some of our favorite stamps that follow the theme of this culture –

ASIAN DYNASTY CULTURE

Ancient Asian dynasties were characterized by rich and diverse cultures that significantly shaped the history of the continent. These ancient Asian dynasties reflected an intricate tapestry of philosophies, arts, and scientific achievements, leaving enduring legacies that continue to influence the cultural landscape of Asia today.

Currently, we only have the Dynasty as part of this cultural identity. But we are continuing to work on creating several other molds that fall under this cultural influence.

Here are some of our favorite stamps that follow the theme of this culture –

 

We’d like to highlight that a number of our molds can be associated with various cultures based on the stamps selected for different production runs. For instance, the Tomb and the Emperor were not initially intended to be part of the Asian Dynasty culture. However, as evident from these stamps below, they share some connection with this cultural theme.

SPANIARD & EXPLORER CULTURE

Ancient Spanish culture, with its roots in a diverse history shaped by various civilizations, has contributed significantly to the cultural tapestry of Europe. The Spanish Golden Age, marked by flourishing arts and literature, colonial expansion, and contributing to the blend of cultures defines this culture.

One of our most recently released molds, the Galleon, begins to cover this culture as a GALLEON is a large, heavily armed sailing ship that was used primarily by European states from the 16th to the 18th century and played a significant role in the exploration and colonization of the Americas.

A CONQUEROR is an individual or entity that successfully overcomes and subdues others, typically through force, skill, or strategy. This is our most recently released mold, and is currently in Signature Halo S-Blend plastic and soon to be Swirly S-blend.

ANCIENT CULTURE RELATED

The following molds don’t fall under any specific cultural category, but do fall under each category as an integral part of ancient cultures.

SLAB: A slab is a flat, thick piece or slice of material, often rectangular in shape. This term is commonly used in construction and architecture to describe a broad, horizontal surface, such as a concrete slab (that’s where our plastic name comes from) and other ancient structures like temples and pyramids.

RUIN: Ruin refers to the state of decay, destruction, or disintegration of something that was once complete, prosperous, or structurally sound. It can apply to physical structures, such as buildings or monuments, as well as abstract concepts like relationships or plans. As we look back on these ancient cultures, we see much ruin as their once glorious palaces, colosseum, and pyramids are beginning to decay.

RAZE: To raze is to utterly obliterate or demolish, usually in the context of structures, buildings, or entire settlements. Historically, scholars assert that war and conflict were prevalent in nearly all ancient cultures, suggesting that instances of razing likely occurred with some frequency.

MYTH: A myth is a traditional or sacred narrative that explains the beliefs, customs, practices, or natural phenomena of a society. Myths often involve supernatural beings, gods, heroes, and legendary events, serving as cultural stories that convey moral or spiritual lessons. We see that each ancient civilization discussed here had some sort of myth/legend that was passed down through the generations.

CZAR: A czar historically refers to a title used for the emperors or monarchs of Russia. In a more general sense, the term “czar” is sometimes used metaphorically to refer to a person with significant authority or control over a particular area or aspect, such as a “drug czar” overseeing anti-drug efforts.

SCEPTER: A scepter is an ornamental staff or rod, often made of precious materials and adorned with symbolic embellishments. It is a symbol of authority, sovereignty, or rulership and is traditionally associated with royalty, monarchs, or other high-ranking figures. Crowns, attire, and scepters are just a few of the ways that people would be able to recognize who was in charge of that group of individuals or an entire nation.

KON-TIKI: The name for this disc does not have a clear cultural relation, nor a clear description of what it means. This disc was named before our Creative Director was brought on and during a time where the naming process was more random. However, several interpretations can be made for this name. 1. The Kon-Tiki was a raft used for a famous expedition led by Norwegian explorer and ethnographer Thor Heyerdahl where him and his crew sailed the Kon-Tiki from South America to the Polynesian islands. 2. Large stone heads have been refered to by tourtist as Kon-tiki’s, but are not general known by that name in any cultural significance. Therefore, we can place this disc name under Polynesian culture, which you my see us work more on in the future.

ARE ALIENS REAL???

We find it important to talk about our small use of an Alien theme that weaves it way into several of our cultural stamps. The belief in extraterrestrial influence on ancient civilizations is a popular one. Extraterrestrial guidance suggests that advanced beings from outer space may have played a role in shaping the development of early human societies. The concept of extraterrestrial influence on ancient cultures remains a topic of debate and speculation and we believe it is a fun and creative way to include these views into our artwork.

HOW DO WE CHOOSE DISC NAMES?

Over the years, there have been several means by which a disc is named. But as of 2 years ago, we now have an Infinite Discs Brand Manager and Creative Director who is in charge of ordering every run of discs, choosing and editing artwork, and has the final say when naming discs. Our entire team discusses a host of name options, but our Creative Director has the final say.

Additionally, If you notice, all of our Distance Drivers are strong names (Conqueror, Emperor…). We wanted to be sure to show that something so overstable as an Emperor should have a strong name.

WHAT MOLDS DO YOU HAVE TO LOOK FORWARD TO?

2024 is going to be an AMAZING year for some new releases! We currently have a new putter, mid-range, and possibly a fairway driver in the works. Feel free to drop a comment below with your name suggestions! Make sure it falls under one of our cultural identities, or give us a new cultural identity we haven’t thought of yet!

 

We hope you enjoy our line up of discs as much as we do!

And as always…

Love what you throw, and throw what you love

Infinite Discs Plastic Types

 INFINITE DISCS PLASTIC TYPES

Infinite Discs currently has 20 different plastic variations! Choosing the best plastic is an important decision when purchasing a new disc. This post is to help you navigate which plastic will be the right choice for you when purchasing from our lineup.

Innova Champion Discs is our mold manufacturer, therefore our plastic types are based on their plastic types. We will indicate the similarities below, but you can read about their plastic types HERE

PREMIUM PLASTICS

S-Blend: A somewhat firm, opaque plastic that flies true to the flight numbers. Compare to Innova’s ‘Star’ plastic.

  • Swirly S-Blend (various swirls within the plastic)
  • Splatter S-Blend (bits of recycled plastic added to the plastic)
  • Halo S-Blend (two-toned flight plate)

C-Blend: A firm, transparent plastic that has increased durability and tends to make molds more overstable. Compare to Innova’s ‘Champion’ plastic.

  • Metal Flake C-Blend (added metal flakes within the plastic)
  • Metal Flake Glow C-Blend (added metal flakes & glows in the dark)
  • Glow C-Blend (glows in the dark)
  • Gummy C-Blend (less-stiff than regular C-Blend)
  • Luster C-Blend (has an added shimmer)
  • Concrete (Luster and Metal Flake plastic combined)

G-Blend: A gummier feeling plastic that has added glimmer and grip. Compare to Innova’s ‘GStar’ plastic.

I-Blend: A softer plastic that is made from the recycled parts of S-Blend plastic. The ‘I’ stands for ‘Infinite Blend’ since this plastic is unique to our brand.

BASE PLASTICS

D-Blend: A base plastic that is firm and grippy, yet lacks durability. Compare to Innova’s ‘DX’ plastic.

  • Glow D-Blend (glows in the dark)

P-Blend: A durable and stiff base plastic. Compare to Innova’s ‘KC Pro’ plastic,

  • Glow P-Blend (glows in the dark)

X-Blend: A midgrade plastic that has a great balance of durability with a tacky, grippy feel. Compare Innova’s ‘XT’ plastic.

N-Blend: A stiff and grippy plastic, with an emphasized stiffness in the flight plate. Compare to Innova’s ‘Nexus’ plastic.

R-Blend: A soft plastic with good grip and some flexibility. Compare to Innova’s ‘R-Pro’ plastic.

*Signature Plastics: When you see plastics on our site labeled as ‘Signature _-Blend’ this means that the plastic price has been slightly increased to support the professional disc golfer who’s stamp is on that specific run of discs. There is nothing different about the plastic, only the price.

 

What plastic type should you choose?

Here is a breakdown of what each plastic is best suited for: 

S-Blend: Any of the S-Blend plastics are versitile and best used for throwing. Ripping an S-Blend plastic off the tee or on an approach will result in an excellent flight.

C-Blend: Most* all of the C-Blend plastics are more durable yet less grippy than the other premium plastics. You will find that C-blend tends to be more overstable than all the other premium plastics., but is also a great choice for throwing.

*Gummy and MF Glow tend to be softer and grippier than the other C-Blend plastics

G-Blend: This plastic is the opposite of C-Blend. It is less durable, has increased grip, and tends to fly straighter. However, this plastic is just as good for throwing as all the other premium plastics.

I-Blend: This is the most basic of the premium plastics, but is still a good plastic for throwing. A fresh I-Blend mold will typically have the same stability as an S, G, or C-Blend mold, but it will be the first of the three to ‘beat in’ and become understable overtime.

D-Blend: This plastic is best suited for putters and approach discs. It is firm and gives you good grip, meaning it will have a better chance of hitting the chains and staying in the basket. This is generally the same for the P, X, N, & R Blends we have available, but with assorted types of grippiness and durability as explained above.

* Note that each run of a certain mold in a certain plastic will fly slightly differently than that same mold in that same plastic type from another run. This is due to the slight inconsistency of manufacturing for each run month to month; Innova can’t make all discs the same every single time. All of our stock stamps have run numbers on them to help indicate the differences. 

 

Misprint/X-out

These terms are used interchangeably, but typically indicate the following:

X-out: Discs that are marked with an x-out indicator on our website mean they are ‘factory seconds.’ These molds did not get formed perfectly in the molding process and have some fundamental flaw in their design/plastic. However, most x-outs tend to fly much like their perfect counterparts. You may also see a small penned ‘X’ on the disc’s front flight plate.

Misprint: This indicates that the artwork on the disc was not stamped perfectly, and is therefore a flawed product. Most misprinted discs come with multiple stamps on them as an attempt to fix the stamping error before finishing the remaining run of discs.

Check out this post for a more detailed explanation of X-Outs, Misprints and Factory seconds.

 

 

We hope this post has been informative, and that you are able to more accurately choose the discs and plastics that are best suited for your disc golf needs. And as always…

THROW WHAT YOU LOVE

Team Infinite Player Spotlight: Taylor Aubuchon

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When I started my journey down the rabbit hole of learning about disc golf and buying discs about 2 years ago, Taylor Aubuchon was the first reviewer I came across. I appreciated Taylor’s succinct reviews that had no extra fluff in them: 60-second reviews, a couple throws from different release angles, flight trackers, and good descriptions of the feel and flight of a specific disc.



The more knowledge I gain, or think I gain, I still find myself looking forward to and immediately clicking on any new videos from Taylor. Taylor can pack just the right amount of information into a short and easily digestible video. Most of Taylor’s videos also end with a discount code to be used at infinitediscs.com. 

I reached out for a brief interview to better introduce Taylor to other Infinite followers that may not be aware of his content, social media presence, and mission to grow the game.

 

What is your disc golf origin story?

In late middle school/early high school (2007/2008), my group of friends and I were introduced to the game through our church’s youth group. I also took my dad and brother out to play and we were all hooked instantly. We were really lucky to have a great course just a few minutes away and started to play relatively seriously early on. Our youth group started a weekly bag tag series, and I even started to run a small doubles charity tournament within that first year.

How long have you been working with Infinite Discs?

Fortunately for me, Infinite started to support me after just my first review video, which was in March 2019. I’ll never be able to thank Dylan enough for believing in the plan I had for a different take on review videos! It’s pretty crazy to see how far I’ve come and how much it’s grown since then.

When did you start posting disc golf videos?

I started posting in March 2019, right when the first run I-Blend Emperors came out. This was a disc I was really excited about and thought it needed some more light shed on it. It was a mediocre video, to say the least, but it got some great feedback and I’ve been trying to improve and refine my style ever since.

How did you develop your signature and succinct review style?

I think as most content creators develop their style it starts out being mostly self-serving. After taking an extended hiatus from the game, my brother introduced me to the Infinite brand. I was hard-pressed to find any reviews or really any content focused on their lineup. Most YouTube reviews I was watching seemed quite long for their purpose, and I couldn’t find any review content on Instagram at the time. I saw an opportunity to create a more concise format that would be able to be pushed to the more underutilized avenues of social media. The original plan was actually to only post them to Instagram. I only created a YouTube channel to be able to share the reviews in Infinite’s comment section.

What disc surprised you the most after reviewing it? (You weren’t expecting to like, flew differently than expected, etc)

Definitely the Aztec. I had never really thrown that kind of straight control driver that still had good distance potential. When the I-Blend test run came out I loved the feel and flight it had, but it beat in just a little too quickly to be super reliable. Thankfully, the color glow run came out shortly after and I’ve had at least two in my bag ever since. The Aztec gives me the control of the Exodus, while not sacrificing much of the extra distance I’d get from bumping up to an Emperor of Pharaoh. If they’re ever looking for a name to put on the color glow Aztec, I know a guy that’d be pretty interested.

What is your favorite Infinite disc?

The Tomb without a doubt. I power grip everything but putts, so the Tomb is a perfect throwing putter for me with its shallow rim. Right now I’m bagging a Splatter S-Blend for overstable, C-Blend for stable, and D-Blend for understable throwing putter slots.

Check out Taylor’s Tomb review here:

Infinite Discs D-Blend Tomb Review

What is your favorite non-infinite disc?

I’ve had a full infinite bag for a bit over a year now, but the hardest disc for me to take out was the Westside Discs Pine. I enjoy a taller, more overstable feeling Midrange that beat into straight fliers. Taking the time to beat a disc into that perfect spot gives you a level of confidence and trust in it that can’t easily be replaced.

Who is your player on tour?

I always look forward to watching Drew Gibson shred out there. Best backhand form on tour!

Do you compete in tournaments? Discuss some local events, results, experiences, etc.

Unfortunately, it’s been a couple of years since I’ve played a local event, but I’m hoping to get back out there soon! 

What are some of your disc golf goals?

Since really diving into content creation, most of my goals center around growing my presence to be able to share these awesome discs with as many people as possible! It’d be awesome to hit 1000 YouTube subscribers someday, but I try not to focus too hard on any specific avenue as there are so many outlets to push to. As far as disc golf specific, I’m always tweaking something in my game. Right now the goal is to develop a more consistent forehand, there’s a reason you’ve never seen me throw a forehand in any video…

Check out Taylor’s full video catalog here:

Taylor Aubuchon – YouTube

What are some of your hobbies outside of and other than disc golf?

Before disc golf, my biggest passions were music and video games. I played in local bands throughout high school and dove pretty deep into music production afterward. I’ve also streamed via Twitch off and on since around 2015. Although music has taken a bit of a back seat recently, I still stream regularly at twitch.tv/ursapls and would love to talk disc golf, gaming, or music with anyone that wants to stop by!

 

 

Be sure to Subscribe to Taylor’s YouTube channel and Follow him on Instagram(tayloraubuchon)!

We will be continuing this series, spotlighting members of Team Infinite from all 4 levels: Signature, Elite, Ambassador, and Core Teams. Please share this article and comment below which player(s) that you would like to hear from!

 

Get outside and throw some discs. Have an awesome day! 

Morgan Leonard

Molenny Disc Golf

Focus Friday – Gateway Wizard

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For this week’s Focus Friday we are shining the spotlight on Gateway’s Wizard. Over the weekend you can use the discount code: FOCUSWIZARD to save 10% on any Wizard.

One of the most popular putt & approach discs that we sell. This is a great stable putter, allowing for some good drives and reliable putting.  With a vast variety of plastic types you’ll be sure to find the one that suits you the most. While putting with the Wizard from the circle’s edge, you can expect a solid straight line. After that point, is when the disc will start to fade out. When it comes to driving the Wizard, you can expect a pretty straight flight path that ends with a decent fade. This can hold anhyzer lines for a while, but it will generally fade out.

This weekend is a great time to get your favorite Wizard, or to try it out. Again, use the discount code FOCUSWIZARD to get 10% off.

Head on over to https://infinitediscs.com/Gateway-Wizard to select your Wizard. Once everything you want is in your cart, you can apply the discount code FOCUSWIZARD and get 10% off all Wizards in your cart.

Note: After placing your discs in the shopping cart and before checking out, click on the “Discount Code” box under the shopping cart and enter that code. Then proceed to checkout.

2020 Christmas Gift Ideas for Disc Golfers

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Christmas presents

Every year at Infinite Discs, we put together a unique, fun list of gift ideas for disc golfers. Let’s take a look at the 2020 holiday ideas that we feel would please any disc golfer. This is your 2020 Disc Golf Gift Guide!

Discs!

Of course, no disc golfer will turn down more discs for the holidays. But where do you start if you don’t know which specific discs they need? Opt for something fun to throw, collectible, or even holiday-themed. Whether they use it or keep it as a memento, they’ll appreciate it.

Pro Tour Championship Disc
Special Edition Discs — Limited edition or signature discs supporting pro players are always a hit. In 2020, these became rare, selling out quickly. Infinite Discs offers a great selection of Pro Tour Championship Discs that are both functional and collectible.

Browse Limited Edition Discs Here

Holiday Edition Discs — From spooky Halloween themes to festive holiday designs, several manufacturers release special holiday discs each year.

Check out the Holiday Selection Here or Browse Halloween Stamps Here.

Large Gift Items

Zuca All Terrain Cart
Zuca All Terrain Cart — A premium choice for disc golfers who want to carry a lot of discs in style and comfort.

Explore other options like the MVP Rover Cart or browse Cart Accessories Here.

Mid-Range Budget Items

Disc Slinger Bag
Infinite Disc Slinger Bag — A versatile, budget-friendly bag perfect for beginners or quick rounds.

Upgrade to the Deluxe Disc Slinger Bag for enhanced durability and capacity.

Stocking Stuffers

Flight Towel — A dual-purpose towel and warm-up tool that’s both practical and fun for disc golfers.

Disc Dots — Help players improve their putting focus with these fun and functional practice aids.

Gift Cards

E-Gift Cards — Deliver a code via email for online purchases.

Physical Gift Cards — A tangible option to include in stockings or gift boxes.

We Want Your Input

Have other gift ideas for disc golfers? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

How the Pandemic Has Affected Disc Golf and the Supply Chain

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Nobody saw the surprises, challenges, and often bizarre events of 2020 coming. It has been a very unexpected year. On top of the obvious heartbreak of sickness, death, job losses, and disrupted lives, even small sports like disc golf and pickleball have had its disappointments with the cancellation of major events. But let’s really dive into the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on disc golf in terms of growth and the marketplace.

“Skip the Course. Stay Home”

A lot of people, especially tournament directors and touring professionals, felt an acute sting when the PDGA (Professional Disc Golf Association) suspended all sanctioned events starting March 14th. It felt like much of the year was ruined for competitive disc golf. And yet, many players still felt like they could enjoy recreational play to some extent, especially since many jobs were sending people home, schools were switched to online courses, and other public events were all cancelled. People had time on their hands and parks seems a safe place to socially separate while doing something fun.

Then on March 23rd, the PDGA sent out a letter to registered members to please “skip the course and stay home.” They encouraging leagues not to gather and basically requested that all players avoid their local courses. It wasn’t long before many courses in the most populated cities started pulling their baskets out, just to make sure nobody would gather to play. The request made total sense. After all, the world was in a panic, Covid-19 is very contagious, and staying away from one another is a good way to avoid the spread of disease.

But did everybody get that memo? Conditions can vary greatly in the many different parts of the country. In more rural areas, things pretty much continued as usual because cases of Covid-19 were barely present, if detected at all. More densely populated areas had to take more drastic measures. But it would be incorrect to claim that everybody everywhere was staying at home. Many disc golfers continued to play, whether in small groups, with family members, or alone. Disc golf, in many ways, it a socially distant sport when tournament and league play is removed.

 

With all that said, there are many people who know nothing about the PDGA. They aren’t members, or they play casually, or they discovered disc golf while looking for a way to pass the time. Those people obviously did not hear or head the call to stay home. How do we know? Because disc golf exploded.

A Great Way to Pass the Time

Maybe it was the number of people in forced quarantine from work, school, and other events that fed the interest in disc golf. Maybe the outdoors simply feels safer than staying pent-up in a building. Whatever it was that created the perfect storm, disc golf suddenly became a very popular way to pass the time during the pandemic.

Infinite Discs has a unique perspective into the disc golf growth and interest trends, being a seller of disc golf products. Here is a look at website traffic that hit the InfiniteDiscs.com website from the end of 2019 to the present (June 5th).

The candlestick in June is shorter than the others because the week was not over when the chart was made. We’re not sure if the apparent growth will settle to a new plateau or if it will continue in an upward trend. But the increase in traffic, even dwarfing 2019 holiday sales, shows an obvious increase in interest. The dark blue represents “organic searches,” meaning that those are people who found and visited the website through their own searches and exploration. That is where most of the increase was generated– new people looking for discs.

Disruption in the Supply Chain

While the growth and interest in disc golf and the coinciding desire to purchase discs increased, the ability to supply those discs dropped. With the declaration of a worldwide pandemic, many states in the USA mandated the complete shutdown of “non-essential” businesses and manufacturing. Disc golf apparently is non-essential, but that did not stop people from wanting discs. More people were spending more time either on the course or playing in the backyard. Most of the major manufacturers and distributors of discs and targets (baskets) were forced to shut down or operate on a skeleton crew. Suddenly, manufacturers like Innova, Discraft, MVP, Prodigy, and others were unable to feed the growing demand. Not only could they not keep up, but they were falling behind on previously scheduled manufacturing runs, meaning that the supply would take a long time to catch up, even when allowed to turn the machinery back on again.

For an visually stunning look at the conundrum of disc golf supply vs demand during the pandemic, take a look at the following graph. It shows the sales trend at Infinite Discs from October 2019 through May 2020. The red shaded area roughly designates the time period that several major manufacturers were forced to close and had very limited ability to ship restock.

So, during the steepest time of growth, the disc manufacturers were unable to continue functioning. The obvious effect of that pattern is a drastic drop in inventory levels at disc golf retailers. When new supply is unavailable, old supply drops precipitously.

Infinite Discs took up a mantra of “More the 50,000 discs in stock” in 2017 when we were able to move into a larger facility and increase our inventory levels. It was our goal to stay well above that level for the long term. We printed thousands of promo cards stating that mantra. But the supply chain challenges of 2020 made it impossible. Here is a graph showing Infinite Discs disc inventory levels starting in November of 2019 (the peak of inventory before Black Friday sales kicked in) to the present.

When we combine the sales levels with the decrease in inventory levels, you can easily see the correlation. Again, when interest and sales increase, but the ability to restock is removed, the balance of supply vs demand is broken.

Sorry, We’re Out of Stock

One easy product to discuss when pointing out the effect of the pandemic on disc golf purchases is baskets (or “targets”). With many people taking up backyard putting to pass the time, the demand for disc golf baskets sky-rocketed, quickly clearing retailers out of inventory. Much of the time, large items like baskets are drop-shipped from the manufacturers when they are ordered through online vendors. That is a logical way to avoid the issues of storage and the high shipping costs of moving heavy items around the country. A customer buys a basket, then the online retailer sends an order to the manufacturer to ship directly to the customer.

But if the manufacturers are closed…then drop-ship orders are no longer available. So even if the baskets are technically in a warehouse, they aren’t accessible. Infinite Discs tried to battle that problem as things started to shut down and immediately ordered large shipments of baskets that in some cases took weeks to arrive. Suppliers were basically piling baskets on pallets and shipping them out before having to lock up and go home for an indefinite period of time.

So in many cases, the choices were few when it came to obtaining portable baskets at a time when people most wanted portable baskets. That lack of supply existed with other products as well.

Where Are the Popular Discs?

For many years, Innova has been the highest-selling brand at Infinite Discs. Without making detailed comparisons through the years, it is safe to say that they represent a large portion of the disc golf market. Innova’s manufacturing facilities are located in California, and that was one of the first states to shut down businesses because of the pandemic. If the discs in highest demand were not being manufactured for a couple of months, then how do you think things are looking for Innova now that they are back in business and trying to catch up?

Once again, here at Infinite Discs, we can share a little bit of insight into that problem. We have an algorithm which calculates the number of discs we need for each disc model and in each plastic type based on 30-day vs 90-day sales vs discs in stock. That way we can restock based on the sales trends in an attempt to keep the right quantities in stock for every disc. We recently placed a restock order with Innova for nearly 16,000 discs based on that algorithm because the demand was so high and the inventory levels so low after the shutdown. At the time of this blog post, our current inventory level for all Innova discs in stock is 3,975 discs. That means that the shipment that we’re still awaiting should have four times our current inventory, just in restock! But Innova is struggling to meet those quantities as they have spent days putting the shipment together, because they have many more retailers making similar demands, and they too are at very low inventory levels after having a couple of months without manufacturing.

Take a look at popular Discraft disc models. In the case of Discraft, where signature Paul McBeth discs are a huge boon to the brand, keeping certain discs in stock at all is a challenge for the same reasons. Last week, Infinite Discs had these totals available for certain models:

Luna = 0
Malta = 0
Anax = 0
Zeus = 0
Zone = 0

Those are some of the hottest discs in the current Discraft line-up, aside from the Buzzz. None of them were in stock. Not a single disc in any kind of plastic. After a small restock, we’re back to zero again this week.

In May the new Paul McBeth Hades was announces as soon as Discraft was able to open up their operations again, along with a slew of other signature discs. With nearly 1,000 Hades in stock at midnight of the release day, Infinite Discs was sold out by morning. One of the most hotly anticipated signature releases, the Paul McBeth Tour Z Swirly Luna, was one that we’d asked for 1,200, but received just short of 100. To this day, we’ve still received no more than 300 total of the disc after two small, follow-up shipments. Why? It is Discraft’s fault? Nope. They also cannot keep up with the new demand and the depletion of inventory when they too are trying to make up for lost time.

When Will Things Turn Around?

Basically, the Pandemic caused a huge increase in interest, when it comes to Disc Golf. The cancellation of tournaments and the plea not to assemble in groups didn’t stop new players from picking up the game. The new increase in demand has drained the market of discs and other supplies. How long will it take for the market to catch up to the new demand and eventually normalize? We don’t know. We’re struggling to keep discs in stock, but people won’t stop buying them. Will there be an eventual shortage? Will it take months or years for disc makers to meet a new surge that was never anticipated or expected?

What are your thoughts on the pandemic and it’s effects on disc golf? Did you see an increase in interest in the game? Are more people on your local courses now? Share your experiences in the comments below.

Infinite Discs Putters – What the Team Wants

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Infinite Discs opened up a survey in February 2020 to the members of Team Infinite in order to see which Infinite Discs brand putters they liked the most. We also asked which plastic blends they wished to have with those putters. While Infinite Discs had released four putters in D-Blend plastic, not all of those putters have seen premium plastic releases yet. Since the brand is still new and we’re trying to discover what the players want most, we felt that feedback would be valuable.

THE FIRST FOUR PUTTERS

First of all, let’s introduce you to the putters in the Infinite Discs line-up. At the time of this survey there were four primary putters. The RUIN has just been introduced, and while it has the dimensions of a putter, it is designed primarily as an overstable approach disc, so it is excluded here.

The MYTH

The MYTH was the first putter in the Infinite Discs brand lineup and we wanted to start strong. The Myth is a dependable, beaded putter with a comfortable rim that can be used for precision putting, or as a driving putter and approach disc.  The Myth has a slight end fade and only moderate glide.

These are the flight numbers:

  • Speed: 2.0
  • Glide: 3.0
  • Turn: 0.0
  • Fade: 2.0

 

The TOMB

The TOMB is a flat-topped, low-profile, putt-and-approach disc with a comfortably smooth, beaded rim. The Tomb has just the right amount of stability to cover ground while threading the needle on approach shots, whether thrown forehand or backhand. It can also be used as a crossover mid-range, driving putter, or to hold the line while putting for distance or in moderate headwinds.

These are the flight numbers:

  • Speed: 3.0
  • Glide: 4.0
  • Turn: 0.0
  • Fade: 1.0

The SCARAB

The SCARAB is a beaded putter that has a similar rim configuration to the Infinite Discs Myth, but with a different flight plate that provides a longer glide for longer putts and approaches. If you love throwing putters for distance, or you’re seeking pinpoint accuracy gets the job done. It has less fade and more glide than the Myth with a similar feel.

These are the flight numbers:

  • Speed: 2.0
  • Glide: 4.0
  • Turn: 0.0
  • Fade: 1.0

The COHORT

The COHORT is a unique putt-and-approach disc that is a great, beadless option for mid-range and approach shots with a comfortable rim for either backhand or forehand players. The revolution toward smaller-diameter discs for mid-range shots continues and the Cohort is stable enough to hold the line when thrown with confidence. When in a firm plastic blend, it makes a great putting putter for players who prefer a beadless rim.

These are the flight numbers:

  • Speed: 3.5
  • Glide: 4.0
  • Turn: 0.0
  • Fade: 1.0

 

WHICH ARE THE FAVORITES?

As of February 2020, the players surveyed picked their favorites of these four putters. The results were quite interesting, showing that a lot of the players preferred the two putters which double more as approach discs. The Tomb and the Cohort are both very effective approach discs– one with a bead and one without. While the Tomb has been available in several plastics, including premiums like C-Blend and S-Blend, the Cohort was only introduced in D-Blend (base plastic) and R-Blend (a soft, flexible blend). Here is a look at a chart showing the favorites:

 

The popularity of the COHORT is particularly interesting since it was only released in limited editions to the Infinite Discs VIP Club and Team Infinite members in 2019 with remaining R-Blend discs sold to the public with a bottom stamp. Apparently those few people who have the disc ended up loving it!  The TOMB, on the other hand, has a longer history and has been released in multiple plastic blends due to its popularity.

WHICH PLASTICS IN THE FUTURE?

The surveyed Team Infinite members definitely had a lot to say when explaining why certain putters needed to be released in specific plastic types. There were too many requests and comments to share here. As a few examples, these were some thoughts:

  • “I would love to see the Cohort and Tomb in Metal Flake Glow C-Blend!”
  • “Myth in S-Blend (and some more max weight P-Blend), and a Scarab in P-Blend, Swirly S-Blend, and Splatter are always cool too.”
  • “P-blend Scarab and S-blend cohort.”
  • “Stiff P-Blend Tomb. or X-Blend Tomb, please.”
  • “Myths and Scarabs in C-Blend, R-Blend, and any other premium plastic. Also more Myth
    X-Blend runs please.”
  • “I’d like to see more tacky grip, but medium to firm stiffness on a putter. The X-Blend
    works great for that in my opinion, but I haven’t been able to putt comfortably with
    any of these putters yet.”
  • “Cohort in C-Blend or Swirly S-Blend.”
  • “Myth in premium, like S-Blend,C-Blend, Swirly and Splatter.”

There’s usually just as many requests are there are different tastes. But we tallied up those requests and found that the following were the most requested for future releases (top 6 in order of most requested):

  1. C-Blend COHORT
  2. Luster C-Blend TOMB
  3. C-Blend MYTH
  4. Metal Flake Glow C-Blend TOMB
  5. S-Blend COHORT

FAVORITE PUTTER COLORS

We also thought that it would be fun to ask our Team Infinite members which colors they prefer for putters. They were allowed to name any color and vote for more than one if they have several favorites. This is what they picked as their favorite colors for putters:

We will continue to seek feedback from our team members as well as the public when it comes to the types of discs and the types of plastics used, as well as the preferred colors.

If you have any feedback on these putters or would like to request a special plastic type, feel free to comment below. 

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