Disc Golf vs. Frisbee

Last updated on September 21st, 2023 at 02:37 am

Last updated by Maredith Damasco

People often compare Disc Golf vs. Frisbee, thinking they resemble each other as recreational sports. However, these two sports differ significantly, primarily in the type of disc used and the way the game is played.

In this article, we will explore the differences between Disc Golf and Frisbee. We will address questions such as the distinctions in disc structure and the suitability of using a Frisbee disc in a disc golf game. We aim to provide answers to these inquiries while comparing these two exciting outdoor sports.

Frisbee and the Flying Disc Sports

Generally, people employ the term “frisbee” to describe a flying disc used for recreational and competitive throwing or catching. Manufacturers developed the disc in 1948, and it has since found applications in various flying disc sports.

In 1957, the American toy company Wham-o acquired the rights to the flying disc and later released it with the trademark name Frisbee. Over time, people have used the term Frisbee to refer to any flying disc.

In the 1960s, the popularity of flying discs led to the development of different recreational activities which involved throwing frisbees. Some of these flying disc sports activities are still very much alive today such as disc golf, ultimate frisbee, double disc court, dodge bee, and kan jam.

All of these recreational sports use flying discs as their primary equipment but usually differ in structure, shapes, sizes, and other features.

Disc Golf

The disc in disc golf is smaller than other flying discs, designed to achieve longer distances, and capable of surviving impacts with hard objects after a throw.

Ultimate Frisbee

The flying disc in Ultimate Frisbee is generally bigger and stiffer when you compare it to a disc golf disc. It usually flies very slowly and is much more glide than a disc golf disc. When it comes to the distance, it will not go the same distance a disc golf disc will.

Double Disc Court

This flying disc game uses the 110-gram Wham-O pro model as the official disc of this sport. Although, there are practitioners who use similar discs using gameplay. This disc is easy to throw and consistently flies great for advanced throwers.

Dodge Bee

This game takes inspiration from dodgeball but substitutes a disc for a ball. In Dodge Bee, players use a very soft disc, enabling them to throw it at opponents quickly without causing injury.

KanJam

Kanjam is another recreational sport that uses a flying disc to play. A Kanjam disc weighs only 168 grams and isn’t primarily designed for long-distance flight. Due to the nature of the game, a Kanjam disc earns its reputation for durability and heavy-duty performance.

What is the Difference Between Disc Golf vs. Ultimate Frisbee

Disc golf is an individual sport, while ultimate frisbee is a team sport. The two sports have other notable differences sports are listed below:

Teams

As I mentioned earlier, disc golf is basically an individual sport similar to professional golf but uses a disc during the game. On the other hand, ultimate frisbee comprises a team sport with seven players on each team during a game.

Playing Venue

A significant difference exists between disc golf and ultimate frisbee regarding the playing location. Ultimate frisbee is played on a field resembling an American football field, which is approximately 100 meters long.

On the other hand, disc golfers play on a vast course featuring multiple holes in the form of disc golf baskets. Course designers strategically place these holes throughout the field to create challenges and obstacles for disc golf players during the game.

Game Rules

The way these two sports are played also differs. Ultimate frisbee, comparable to American football, involves the team’s efforts to advance the disc to the endzone. The other team will try to stop the offensive team while getting the disc back to its position.

On the other hand, disc golf is comparable to regular golf, where a disc golfer will try to get the disc to the basket in the fewest amount of throws. Scoring is pretty similar to traditional golf, it even uses the same terms.

Discs

Frisbee’s flying disc is used in ultimate frisbee, while the disc golf disc is used in disc golf. In terms of physical appearance, those unfamiliar may think that the discs of these two sports are just the same. But actually, they are not.

In terms of size, frisbees are large recreational discs that manufacturers build wider and produce using lighter plastics. It comes with rounded edges and does not fly as far.

Meanwhile, the golf disc is smaller and highly dense, designed for high-speed, long-distance flights. These two discs differ significantly, with all their distinctions listed below:

Disc Dimensions

As mentioned earlier, the most notable difference between these two discs is size. In general, frisbees are larger than disc golf discs. Disc golf discs are also thinner and probably more durable than frisbees.

The Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA), which is the sport’s governing body, requires that all discs must pass the required standards they set. One of which the disc should be 21.1 cm in diameter. Other factors such as weight, height, and rim depth vary depending on the disc type to determine the disc’s flight characteristics.

Meanwhile, recreational users throw and catch frisbees, resulting in a variety of shapes and sizes. They are generally larger than disc golf discs, typically measuring 8 to 10 inches in diameter.

Type of Plastic Used

Manufacturers use stiffer plastics to construct Frisbees, distributing weight in various locations. Manufacturers use a wide range of plastics to produce these discs, as they are typically used in recreational play.

On the other hand, a disc golf disc is made with softer and harder plastics. The disc golf discs provide more grip and are more flexible than frisbees.

Density and Weight

A disc golf disc is denser than a frisbee which often results in the disc feeling heavier when compared to a frisbee. They are practically the same in terms of weight, but frisbees are lighter in proportion to the diameter.

Regarding the disc golf disc, which is heavier, designers concentrate the mass on the rim. The purpose of this weight distribution is to enhance stability and enable the disc to achieve longer flight distances.

Flight Characteristics

While people can throw both discs, designers engineer disc golf discs for extended flight distances and stability, even at high speeds. Engineers create them to endure impacts and remain intact.

In fact, if you employ a similar frisbee throwing technique when using a disc golf disc, it will probably fall to the ground right away after a very short flight. You will probably spend more time practicing to be familiar with how disc golf flies.

Speed

Disc golf discs are fast flyers, while frisbees are generally slow flyers. The speed of these two is night and day if you try to compare them side by side. It’s the nature of the disc golf disc to fly very fast and get a longer distance.

Conclusion

There is a big difference between disc golf vs frisbee. Although they do the same thing, they are different in size, dimensions, and flight characteristics. The sport itself is completely different in so many factors, making these two sports distinct from one another.