How to set up your bag? Disc selection, etc.?

Hello, I have found some great threads on here about picking discs to throw. But, does anyone have any advice on how to set up their bag? How many drivers, mid ranges, putters, etc to carry? Right now I have been going crazy buying discs to try...have 19 total right now with innova and vibram in my bag. But, kind of shooting in the dark right now.

 

Thanks!

[Christian Lamb]

You mention your Innova discs getting really beat up. What plastic are you using? This is another variable in disc selection you must account for...the type of plastic. Innova explains it very well on their website. I favor their star plastic for certain discs and champion plastic for others. Champion plastic will last a very long time and it will hold the discs flight characteristics for a long time as well. Champ plastic will also start out a little more overstable at first and slowly break in (maybe 6 to 10 weeks of solid play) while star plastic will often start out more overstable as well but will break in a bit quicker (maybe 3 to 4 weeks of solid play). Experiment some w disc weights as well. Generally the heavier the disc the more overstable and sometimes u can throw a disc harder and farther in lighter weights, but watch the wind cause it will throw a light weight disc all over.
If u haven't checked out the latitude 64 discs you should eventually, and the discraft Buzz is a must throw mid range disc.
Don't take my word for it though..... Just get out there and throw. ;)

[Rock Out With My Roc Out]

Here's my advice to you, start with a pair of identical putters (whatever you prefer). Treat them like gold, they are the one disc you will use more than any other disc in your bag. Maybe add a lighter weight beat up understable one for short escape shots and short upshots where you need something that will float a lil longer, perhaps in a tailwind.

Get two midranges, one that's overstable, but still "throwable" for YOU (everyone is different, and discs fly differently depending on the human that is operating them) for throwing into a headwind, and short hyzers shots, then one that's understable for you, for short turnover shots and straight narrow shots plus much more when you learn to hyzer flip.

Get some kind of fairway driver that is understable (Leopard is always been a goodie) for longer turnover shots, straight shots, and also good for when you are standing in a spot where you can't get a full throwing motion (if I am in a jam I will grab something less stable, since I can't throw with full power, and just kind of flick it)

After that, its whatever you feel comfortable carrying, but in my opinion, less is more, and more is, well, a waste.

 

Also keep in mind that all you are trying to do is look at the "shape" and length of the hole and match it as best you can with a disc that flies in the same "shape" and length. As you throw your discs more you will also learn that you can get discs to fly in multiple "shapes" (throwing an overstable disc with anhyzer so it starts off going right, straightens out, then fades left hard, OR throwing an understable disc with hyzer so it starts off left, straightens out, then finishes right). Find the discs that you are most comfortable with and use them for what they do...which brings me to my next point...

Probably the best advice I can give you is to listen for these words: "I hate this disc! Every time I throw it, the piece of crap goes left/right/too far/not far enough/skips/rolls/won't skip/ etc. etc..." AS SOON AS YOU HEAR THESE WORDS TAKE NOTE OF WHO SPOKE THEM, AND IF THEY ARE NOT YOUR FRIEND, BECOME THEIR FRIEND! This is the person you will be getting all of your discounted plastic from. Let me explain, I've said it a thousand times, people spend too much time thinking about how this disc is "supposed" to fly or that disc is "supposed" to fly. It doesn't matter what the heck a disc is supposed to do, or how Billy from down the street throws his Super Duper(insert random disc name here) and why your disc doesn't fly like his. It doesn't matter, people are different. Heck TWO DISCS THE SAME EXACT SAME MODEL IN THE SAME WEIGHT CAN FLY TOTALLY DIFFERENT! It only matters what your disc does when it comes out of your hand, and whatever it does, you should take note, and then use it for those situations. I have seen discs that were supposed to be understable, that only meathook to the ground as soon as it came out of your hand, and I've seen Firebirds that will only  turn over and never come back. I love hearing a guy say "This disc sucks, I just bought it for a turnover disc and EVERYTIME I throw it it meathooks left." I then proceed to offer to take the wretched piece of crap off their hands, and usually they oblige to part with it, for a fraction of what they paid, sometimes they will be so pissed they will GIVE it away. I then take their "supposed to be understable" disc that meathooks left and use it for, you guessed it, holes that meathook left, since that what the disc is going to do anyway, regardless of what stamp is on it, what its marketed as, or what Billy says his does. People say "This disc is useless!", no, using a disc for something that it doesn't do is useless. The only exceptions to this is if a)you just have flat out too much power for the disc and it flips over into the dirt every time you throw it, or b)it does something different every time you throw it. As long as a disc is comfortable to you, does the same thing, every time consistently, and serves a purpose to you, then use it for whatever it is that that disc does. Period.

Find discs that you FEEL comfortable throwing and use them for what they do. If you end up with two discs that are too similar in flight, carry one and keep the other for backup. Keep it simple to start and you will be ahead of most golfers that carry way more than they need, or 5 different models that all do the same thing when they throw them, it's overkill, on top of being energy zapping dead weight on your back.

 

P.S. Beat up flippy discs can be priceless in certain situations, take years to get that way, but can usually be bought for a couple bucks from the local disc dude, a good place to find hidden treasure. 

 

HAPPY HUCKIN!

 

[Justin]

I think the best approach is to find discs you like--fly well for you, feel good in your hand--and then carry two or three of that mold from stable to flippy. This might mean adjusting weights, breaking them in, or using different plastics. 

For example, I really like Big Bead Aviars, Archons, Wraiths, Valkyries, Eagles, Firebirds, Rocs, and Comets. 

I carry a beat KC Pro Aviar to putt, a DX BB Aviar to Anny, and a fresh KC Pro to drive with.

I have two CFR Archons--the light one is for hyzer flips and the heavy one is stable enough to throw fast for distance.

I have one Star Wraith--162 grams. It is my long distance driver.

I carry two Eagles that I can use for flick or backhand shots. One is a Champ 11x Eagle that is super stable and the other is a Star Eagle that is straight until it fades toward the very end of the flight.

I have three Valkyries that I throw for most of my drives. One is a JK Pro--Overstable, one is a JK Pro--Stable, and one is a Champ--flippy.

I have one 150 class Firebird that I use for thumbers.

I have one Comet that I use for straight to flippy midrange shots.

I have one Champ Roc that is fairly stable and reliable.

I have found that my game has improved quite a bit since I stopped trying all of the new discs and switching my bag around a lot. These are my discs and I trust them. I don't have the arm for anything faster than the Wraith so I don't bother with Destroyers or Bosses or Nukes.

 

Barry gives good advice:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IAhN81JqYM

[Corndawg13]

I always like to tell newbies to get a few understable discs, when they start flipping them over, they know they are doing something right. Nothing higher then a speed 10 initially though.

[Jeff Nichols]

Totally Agree! I honestly think Fairway Drivers ( Leopards, Cyclones, Rivers, etc) around 6-7 Speed rating are the Greatest 1st Drivers. Definitely Nothing over 9-10 speed to start though.

[Eric Day]

When I started It was all drivers and a couple putters, then a mid or two made the bag, now I have more mids then drivers.

 

I would really starting off with midrange disc, they really help your game, also stay with understable disc, nothing more overstable then and Orc or Wraith until you master them. 

 

I would say on a day with light wind I would carry about 4 driver, 7 mids, and 2 putters. Keeping the bag light helps me out too. If its really windy out I'll go to 7 drivers, 5 mids and 3 putters.

Set up is, Driver 1 understable I use for right turning shots or straight shots (Sidewinder/Vision) 1 fairway driver for shorter drives (Stalker), 1 slightly overstable I use for most shots (Wraith/Flow) and 1 overstable disc I use for headwind and forehand (Destroyer/Boss) I also may throw in one Max distance driver for open courses (King, Katana, Nuke)

 

Mids I like to have a few understable (Buzzz SS, Fuse, Mako), 2 Buzzz's for straight shots, and a couple overstable mids for forehand or wind shots (Hornet, Gator, Pain)

 

Putters are really personal, more then drivers and mids. I use 2 understable putters Omega SS's, and a overstable Banger GT for really windy days

[Dave Engle]

http://discgolfreview.com/resources/articles/discoverlap.shtml

 

Check out this link for a great condensed version on disc overlap.  It's a simple, yet effective thought process on how to choose the best possible disc setup for your bag! Being written by Blake Takkunen does hurt it's credibility either lolz

[Andrew Sanders]

You seem to have an interesting selection of discs there. I would suggest paring down your bag as soon as possible. My discs that see use every round are an overstable, straight, and understable driver, an overstable and understable mid and putter. I LOVE trying new discs out, but I would very strongly suggest finding yourself a few core discs as soon as possible and really learning them. That being said, There's nothing wrong with having a full bag. There is often space for highly situational discs such as a roller disc or an overhand disc.

[Norm Cole]

Thanks, everyone for the awesome input! To be honest, the different discs are making more sense now! I will say I am initially partial to Vibram discs due to meeting Steve Dodge and his encouragement in my getting into the sport. I will continue to chew on the great input here. I can see a bag centered on vibram but with discs from more than just innova. Can't wait to throw some other discs!