Beginner disc

[Miller]

We are starting a DiscGolf Club at CyFair College and I'm in charge of buying stuff. With my funds I have enough money to buy everyone a starter disc. It has to be DX plastic and they only get one. I would like something that is good for beginners, can also be used for putting, and as "long" as possible. So right now I'm leaning towards Valkeries. Anyone else have input for me?

(I will have a bag of discs that they can check out from so if they want to try a putter, mid-range, distance driver, etc they can before they go buy one for themselves.)

[tarazarr]

check the websites for Discraft and Innova. If your club is going to be made up with a majority of beginners - then Discraft says their "Skeeter" is a great disc drives, mid drives, approach and putting" I almost bought one yesterday but already had 61.00 dollars worth of plastic on the counter.

Also maybe go with a classic ROC - It's a great flying disc and easy to putt with

Besides beginners probably won't be throwing 300' right off the bat. So getting them excited about the game will be easier if they are able to throw straight and accurate - as apposed to farther but way off the fairway.

Just my thoughts. Welcome to the board

[Miller]

True, but I remember learning with a Viper or Cheetah and being so frustrated that it just didn't seem to go very far. Then I went to a Wraith (it had just come out when I started playing) and was amazed by how much "better" I had become. I just wanted to avoid that frustration for my players. So I was trying to think of the straightest, easiest to throw driver. That's why I was thinking Valkerie. Do you think I'm just off here, that it's better to learn with something like a Roc or a Skeeter?

Also what about weight. I started off with 172, but I think that may be a bit heavy for most beginnners. Thoughts there?

[Miller]

I don't play with much Discraft, but I was reading about the Buzzz and the Comet. Anyone any experience with it or other Discraft they would recommend for this situation?

http://www.discraft.com/prod_buzzz_e.html
http://www.discraft.com/prod_comet_e.html

[bmugwump]

I would just recommend that you encourage people (if they have any interest at all to play occasionally) to get a putter. I went for years using drivers to putt with because the putters felt so much different...what a huge mistake that was! Once I finally started using one & got used to it I could kick myself for not having used one before. As far as a multi-use disc (for both driving & approaching) I like the Cobra...they may not go as far as the Valk, but they tend to fly pretty straight or even to the right if you pull it right on the release. Cobras are cheap & they usually have them at Academy.

[ThePatrick]

You can't go wrong starting with something a little on the understable side. It'll fly straighter for them. So the valk, a teebird, an eagle, an avenger ss(discraft) or xs (discraft) all are slower(typically shorter distance) than a wraith. Suggest something like that for the first one, and encourage them to pick up a putter to supplement. When they start cranking over one of those discs move 'em up to a wraith or destroyer, or any of the great discs by discraft. I started with an Eagle, a Shark (mid) and an Aviar putter, and that was plenty for a long time.

[tarazarr]

my experience has been a little different, I started out with the most max distance drivers sold and all I really accomplished was throwing it a maximun distance out of the fairway and into trouble, so I've since gone back and bought more understable disc that don't neccesarily go as far but are far more forgiving when thrown with less than perfect form.

I tend to like Innova disc - but the "Buzz" disc from discraft is a great disc, don't see how you could go wrong with that one as a first disc, it will fly as far as any "distance driver" for a new disc golfer, it's very forgiving and has a putter feel to it - so the transistion to a true putter is a smooth one.

The "Buzz" would be my personal recomendation for a first disc.

[ThePatrick]

Originally Posted by Miller

I don't play with much Discraft, but I was reading about the Buzzz and the Comet. Anyone any experience with it or other Discraft they would recommend for this situation?

Both those are good mainly for mid ranges. Enter the arguments here______. I live by my buzz for mostly mid range shots, but as the arm developes, most holes in houston can be parred with a buzz of the teebox. It's probably a little short for beginners. The comet is maybe a little longer disc, but it's fairly understable. Most seasoned players keep on in their bag for turnover midrange shots. I would suggest either as a midrange, but not for drivers.

[Mr. Blue]

IMHO, best starter beginner set you could use would be Valkyrie, Leopard, Buzz, Wizard. Very controlable driver, very conjtrolable fairway driver, very controlable midrange, and very controlable and steady putter.
Leopards and Buzzes are great for learning a multitude of shots including beginning rollers. Plus, as far as speed, glide, and other factors, most of these suggestions are right in the "middle" of the spectrum. It shouldn't take long to figure out what you need after these.

[ERicJ]

If you're buying discs for kids who've never thrown discs before then your best educational tool would probably be to get them putters. At that skill level for most people I've seen it doesn't matter what disc you throw, they'll all go about the same distance. I think that's especially true for drivers vs. mids when first starting. Getting them something that's easy to control that they'll have success with would be more likely to get them "hooked" on the sport.

If they're really newbies and you want to get a non-putter stick with an understable mid-range. Most newbies get out on a course with a driver they have no business throwing and get frustrated as to why "everything goes off to the left".

Anyway, that's my $0.02.

ERic