Speed
1–14How fast the disc needs to travel to fly as intended.
Speed is the most misunderstood flight number. It doesn't mean the disc flies faster — it means the disc needs to be thrown faster to reach its intended flight. A speed 13 driver thrown at intermediate arm speed won't fly far — it'll fade immediately because it never reached its design speed. Match the speed to your arm speed, not your ambition.
Practical: Beginners: stick to speed 7 and under. Intermediate: speed 7–10. Advanced: speed 10–13.
→Speed 2–4: Putters — slow, controlled, accurate
→Speed 5–7: Midranges and slow fairways — versatile
→Speed 8–11: Fairway drivers — balance of speed and control
→Speed 12–14: Distance drivers — maximum distance, requires arm speed
Glide
1–7How long the disc stays in the air.
Glide measures the disc's ability to maintain lift throughout its flight. High glide (6–7) means the disc wants to stay airborne — it covers more ground for the same power input. Low glide (1–3) means the disc loses altitude faster — useful when you want a disc to drop steeply (spike hyzer) or punch through wind without riding it.
Practical: Beginners want high glide. Advanced players use low glide for specialist shots.
→Glide 1–2: Quick drop, wind-punch shots
→Glide 3–4: Standard — most discs sit here
→Glide 5–6: Distance and beginner-friendly
→Glide 7: Maximum carry — River, Valkyrie
Turn
+1 to -5Whether the disc turns right (negative) or resists turning (positive) at high speed.
Turn describes what happens in the high-speed phase of flight — right after release. Negative numbers mean the disc turns right for right-hand backhand throwers (understable). Positive numbers (+1) mean the disc actively resists turning — it's overstable. Zero means it holds the release angle without turning either direction. This is the most important number for matching discs to your arm speed.
Practical: Beginners with less arm speed need negative turn (-1 to -3). Advanced players can throw zero or positive turn discs.
→-4 to -5: Very understable — rollers and hyzer flips
→-2 to -3: Understable — beginner-friendly fairways
→-1 to 0: Neutral — holds any line you give it
→+1: Overstable — actively resists turning, wind-proof
Fade
0–5How hard the disc breaks left at the end of its flight.
Fade describes the low-speed finish — when the disc slows down and the gyroscopic stability kicks in, pulling it left (for RHBH). Higher fade means a stronger, harder left finish. Lower fade means a gentle, gradual finish. A 0 fade disc will fly nearly straight to the end. A 5 fade disc snaps hard left as soon as it slows down.
Practical: Beginners want low fade (0–1). Advanced players use high fade for specialist shots and wind.
→Fade 0: Barely fades — stays straight to the end
→Fade 1–2: Gentle, predictable finish
→Fade 3–4: Strong fade — specialist use
→Fade 5: Maximum fade — headwinds, spike hyzers
Reading Real Discs
Here's how to apply the numbers to discs you'll actually throw:
Slow putter, decent glide, holds the line, barely fades. Great first putter.
Medium speed midrange, slight turn then gentle fade. The most neutral disc in the sport.
Fairway speed, high glide, turns right at speed, gentle fade. Great understable fairway for beginners.
Fairway speed, good glide, holds any line, reliable left fade. Overstable workhorse.
Fast, low glide, never turns, hard left fade. Specialist headwind and forehand disc.