How Many Discs Do You Really Need in Disc Golf?

Discs, discs, discs...

When I first started playing disc golf, I’d watch pro disc golf on YouTube and hear commentators talk about “flex shots,” “turnovers,” and “under-stable discs.” There was a lot I didn’t understand.

The commentators also seemed to recognize every type of disc that the players were throwing. (And that was even with pro disc golfers carrying 40 or 50 different discs in their bags.)

Watching all of this, I thought I’d need to learn all of these types of discs, all these different shots.

But after playing disc golf for several years, I realized that the best way to play the game—and enjoy it—is to do what works best for me personally.

For starters, that means using only the discs I really need. At this point, I use the same fairway driver (an Innova Star Teebird) for both forehand and backhand drives. And I use the same mid-range disc (an Innova R-Pro Pig) for both approaches and putting.

Call it minimalism if you want, but I only carry a few discs when I play. I don’t need a whole bunch of discs. I know what my discs can do.

The point is, you can play an entire round with just a few discs. You don’t have to own dozens of discs.

In some ways, it makes for good training. I’ve simply learned exactly what my discs can do for both forehand and backhand. By spending tons of time throwing a particular disc, I know what lines and distances it’s capable of.

Consider this: There’s a game that people sometimes play in traditional golf. They pick one club to use for an entire round (plus a putter). Doing so forces them to adapt and improvise during a round.

It’s the same in disc golf. Ask yourself, if you could only use one disc for an entire round, what would it be?

Sometimes its better to master one specific disc, and know precisely what you can do with it.

Play your own disc golf game. Make it work for you.

Strive to be happy.