Disc Golf Terminology Explained: A Comprehensive Guide

Let's break down some common disc golf terms and sayings:

The Course & Basic Concepts

1. Basket / Target / Pole Hole: The end goal for each hole. Typically a metal basket with hanging chains designed to catch the disc.

2. Tee Pad / Tee Box: The designated area where you must start each hole. Can be concrete, turf, gravel, or even just a marked patch of ground.

3. Fairway: The intended path from the tee pad to the basket, usually clearer than the surrounding areas.

4. Rough: Areas off the fairway, often with taller grass, denser trees, or other obstacles that make shots more difficult.

5. OB (Out of Bounds): Areas designated by the course where your disc is considered unplayable (e.g., water hazards, roads, specific lines). Landing OB usually incurs a penalty stroke, and you play from where the disc was last in bounds.

6. Mando (Mandatory): A designated obstacle (like a specific tree or pole) that your disc must pass on a certain side of, indicated by an arrow. Missing a mando usually requires re-throwing from a designated Drop Zone or your previous lie with a penalty stroke.

7. Lie: The spot where your disc comes to rest after a throw. Your next throw must be made from behind this lie.

8. Mini Marker / Mini: A small disc used to mark your lie before picking up your thrown disc. You place it directly in front of your disc (touching it, on the line towards the basket).

9. Drop Zone: A designated area where play resumes after certain situations, like going OB or missing a mandatory.

Types of Throws & Techniques

10. Drive: The first shot from the tee pad, typically aiming for maximum distance.

11. Approach / Upshot: A throw made from the fairway or rough towards the basket, intended to set up an easy putt.

12. Putt: A short throw, usually within 10 meters (Circle 1), aimed directly at the basket.

13. Backhand: A common throwing style where the player reaches back across their body (like a traditional frisbee throw), generating power through rotation.

14. Forehand / Flick / Sidearm: A throwing style where the player leads with their throwing elbow, snapping the wrist to propel the disc. Often used for different shot shapes or to get out of trouble.

15. Hyzer: Releasing the disc with the outer edge tilted downwards. For a right-handed backhand (RHBH) thrower, this causes the disc to curve left. For a right-handed forehand (RHFH) thrower, it curves right.

16. Anhyzer: Releasing the disc with the outer edge tilted upwards. For a RHBH thrower, this causes the disc to initially curve right. For a RHFH thrower, it initially curves left.

17. Flat Release: Releasing the disc parallel to the ground.

18. Roller: An intentional throw where the disc lands on its edge and rolls along the ground, often used for distance in open fields or getting under low ceilings.

19. Tomahawk / Thumber: Overhand throws (like throwing a baseball) that cause the disc to flip and fly in a high, vertical arc. Useful for getting over obstacles. A Thumber is gripped with the thumb on the inside rim; a Tomahawk is gripped more like an axe handle.

20. Grenade: An overhand shot thrown with the disc upside down, usually to go straight up and come straight down with minimal ground play, often to get out of thick trouble.

Scoring Terms

21. Par: The expected number of throws it should take an expert player to complete a hole.

22. Stroke: A single throw. Your score on a hole is the total number of strokes taken.

23. Birdie: Completing a hole in one stroke less than par (-1).

24. Eagle: Completing a hole in two strokes less than par (-2). Typically occurs on Par 4s or Par 5s.

25. Albatross (or Double Eagle): Completing a hole in three strokes less than par (-3). Extremely rare, usually on Par 5s.

26. Bogey: Completing a hole in one stroke more than par (+1).

27. Double Bogey, Triple Bogey, etc.: Completing a hole in two, three, or more strokes over par (+2, +3, etc.).

28. Ace / Hole-in-One: Completing the hole with just one throw from the tee pad. The ultimate shot!

29. Tap-in: A very short putt that requires minimal effort.

Disc Flight & Types

30. Stability: The tendency of a disc to resist turning over (flying right for RHBH) at high speed and its tendency to fade (hook left for RHBH) as it slows down.

* Overstable: A disc that wants to resist high-speed turn and fade hard left (RHBH) at the end of its flight, even when thrown hard. Good for hyzer shots and fighting wind.

* Stable: A disc that flies relatively straight when thrown flat with the correct power, with a predictable forward-penetrating fade at the end.

* Understable: A disc that tends to turn right (RHBH) when thrown at speed, and has minimal fade. Good for beginners, rollers, anhyzer shots, and hyzer flips.

31. Flight Numbers: Four numbers typically found on discs, representing their flight characteristics: Speed | Glide | Turn | Fade.

* Speed: (1-14) How fast the disc must be thrown to achieve its intended flight. Higher numbers are more aerodynamic and require more power.

* Glide: (1-7) The disc's ability to stay aloft. Higher glide means more time in the air.

* Turn: (+1 to -5) The disc's tendency to turn over (curve right for RHBH) during the high-speed portion of its flight. More negative numbers mean more turn.

* Fade: (0-5) The disc's tendency to hook left (RHBH) as it slows down at the end of its flight. Higher numbers mean a stronger fade.

32. Driver: Discs designed for maximum distance, usually with sharper, more aerodynamic edges (includes Distance Drivers and Fairway Drivers).

33. Mid-range: Discs designed for control and accuracy on approach shots or shorter drives, typically with more rounded edges than drivers.

34. Putter: Discs designed for putting, usually slower, straighter flying, and made with grippier plastic. Often have blunt, rounded edges.

Common Sayings & Slang

35. "Nice shot!" / "Great shot!"Standard compliments for a good throw.

36. "Parked" / "Park Job": A throw that lands very close to the basket, setting up an easy tap-in putt.

37. "Chained Out" / "Spit Out": When a putt hits the chains well but somehow bounces or flies out of the basket. Agonizing!

38. "Tree-jected" / "Tree Love" / "Tree-nied": Terms for when a disc hits a tree. "Tree-jected" or "Tree-nied" implies it knocked the disc down badly. "Tree Love" usually means the tree deflected the disc favorably (e.g., towards the basket or back into the fairway).

39. "Get in the basket!" / "Go in!": What players often yell (hopefully) at a disc heading towards the chains.

40. "Run It": To attempt a long putt or approach shot with the intention of making it into the basket, rather than playing safe.

41. "Lay Up": To intentionally throw a shorter, safer shot to leave an easy next shot, rather than risking going OB or having a difficult putt.

42. "Death Putt": A putt where missing could have bad consequences, like the disc rolling far away down a hill or going OB behind the basket.

43. "Noodle Arm": A self-deprecating (or sometimes teasing) term for someone who doesn't throw very far.

44. "Grip Lock": Accidentally holding onto the disc too long during a backhand throw, causing it to spray off far to the right (for RHBH).

45. "Hyzer Flip": Throwing an understable disc with a hyzer angle. The disc initially follows the hyzer line, then "flips up" to fly flat (and potentially turn right) before fading slightly at the end. Used for straight shots or shaping lines.

46. "S-Curve" / "Flex Shot": Throwing an overstable disc on an anhyzer angle. The disc initially follows the anhyzer line (right for RHBH), then fights out of it due to its overstability, fading back left (RHBH) at the end, creating an 'S' shape flight path. Used for distance and shaping shots around obstacles.

47. "Star Frame": When every player on the card (group) gets the same score (usually a birdie or par) on a hole during a tournament.

48. "Cali" (California Rules): Often used in casual doubles play. If there's an odd number of players, one person plays as a "Cali" player, getting an extra throw per hole (rules vary - sometimes only on drives, sometimes one extra anywhere).

49. "Circle 1" / "Circle 2": Informal (but now official in rules) terms for areas around the basket used for statistics and specific putting rules. Circle 1 is within 10 meters (approx 33 feet). Circle 2 is generally considered 10-20 meters (approx 33-66 feet). You must maintain balance behind your lie after releasing a putt within Circle 1.

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This list covers many common terms, but there's always more slang and regional variations. The best way to learn is to get out and play, listen to other players, and not be afraid to ask questions.

Now you're better equipped to understand the chatter on the course. Enjoy the flight!

So, you've discovered the joy of watching a disc soar through the air, weaving through trees, and hopefully, crashing into chains. Welcome to the world of disc golf! Like any sport, it has its unique language. Understanding the terminology can help you follow tournament coverage, talk shop with fellow players, and improve your own game.