Disc Golf Beginner Tip: Throw DX Plastic

This article is going to talk specifically about DX plastic — which is a grade of plastic produced by Innova Champion Discs — and why throwing it is a great way for beginners to get hooked on the game of disc golf. Two of the main reasons that beginners are encouraged to throw DX plastics is due to the exceptional feel of the discs and its ability to fly the way it’s supposed to right out of the box.

DX plastic discs are great for beginners due to their exceptional feel and flying on their intended flight pattern right out of the box.

Fly the way it’s supposed to right out of the box? What does that mean?

Innova Champion Discs have four grades of plastic: Star, Champion, Pro and DX. Discs comprised of Star, Pro and Champion plastic, while superior plastics, take a little bit longer to beat in. These types of plastics have more longevity, but don’t consistently hit their intended flight pattern until they are beaten in over a couple of months. DX plastic, on the other hand, has a shorten life span, but hits it’s intended flight pattern of the disc, or “flies the way it’s supposed to” right out of the box.

As a beginner in the sport, starting off with discs made of DX plastic is great because you are trying to learn the flight characteristics of the disc. These discs aren’t like Frisbees, and each one has its own intended flight patterns. While no one expects you to learn all the flight patterns, DX plastic helps with the learning curve since, if thrown properly, beginners can see exactly how that type if disc is supposed to fly. As you learn the overall flight of the disc(s) — while throwing as a righty or left, forehand or backhand — you will eventually begin to learn which discs are overstable and which are understable.

You can tell a disc is DX plastic if there is a picture of the make of the disc — for example, a DX Wolf will have a picture of a Wolf on it.

Something worth knowing about the DX plastics, however, are that due to their soft, exceptional feel, that warp and lose their intended flight patterns after only a couple of seasons. A perfect example: one of my first drivers was a Beast, an understable disc that broke to the right off the tee and hyzer back out at the end of its flight. As I got the snap of my wrist down — and after multiple seasons of wailing my Beat of trees — I couldn’t keep that Beast straight for the life of me. I would have to start it on an extreme hyzer line and it would still flip up and break HARD right. While this had a lot to do with my wrist snap, it was partly due to the fact that the disc was so beaten up and mangled that it didn’t fly the way it did when I bought it new.

While it’s sad to have to put one of your favorite discs to rest, you can always by up — like a Star Beast that will take a while to beat in and find its path, but will last you for years to come. We always think of Star plastic like a new guitar string — initially, it keeps falling out of tune, but after multiple uses, it finds its groove and stays in tune forever. That being said, purchasing discs like Star and Champion plastic aren’t best for beginners, as they take multiple rounds to beat in and will likely discourage players more so than not.

Champion discs aren’t best suited for beginners, as they take the longest to break in and have a very slick feel, which isn’t great for playing in rainy or snowy conditions.

While it takes Champion plastic a long time to beat in, it’s a perfect example in selling DX plastic to beginners. Champion plastic is extremely slick, a stark contrast to the rubber, almost velvety feel of DX plastic. This comes into play especially in times when rain is a factor. When you are playing in adverse conditions, having a good grip on your disc is extremely crucial, and DX plastic should be your go to. That being said, when it is a bright, beautiful day, we also encourage you to try that DX disc as its exceptional feel is what brings players coming back for more.

We encourage you to go to your local disc golf shop, or borrow multiple types of plastic from your friends. Grab a Star, Champion, Pro and DX discs and see the difference. While you can’t see how the fly without using them time and time again, you can get a difference in the feel and slickness of the discs. Even when you become a seasoned player, you will still have some DX plastic in your bag due to its feel. While our bag, personally, is made up of almost all Star discs, we have 3 DX plastic discs that we wouldn’t take out for the word. They come in handy when it’s rainy or cold, or when need that perfect “feel” shot. DX plastic is the cheapest plastic, typically running about $10 per disc, but it’s a great way to start your career in this wonderful sport!