Dictionary

Anhyzer

A release angle where the outside edge of the disc is angled upward, adding to the disc's natural turn and causing it to bank right (for RHBH) more aggressively.

The most common disc golf throwing style, where the disc is thrown across the body using a rotational, torso-driven motion (similar to a discus throw or a baseball swing), released off the same side as the throwing hand's shoulder.

Brace

The action of the lead leg firmly resisting forward momentum at the plant step, converting horizontal speed into rotational power.

Coiling

The winding-up motion of the body (through the shoulders, torso, and hips) during the reach-back and X-step, storing rotational energy to be released during the throw.

Fade (Low-Speed Stability)

The tendency of a disc to hook in the fade direction (left, for RHBH) at the end of its flight as it slows down. Rated 0-5.

Fan Grip

A control-oriented grip where the fingers spread out under the flight plate rather than curling tightly to the rim.

Flight Numbers

The four (or five, for some brands) numbers stamped on a disc describing Speed, Glide, Turn, and Fade (and sometimes a separate overall Stability rating).

Forehand (FH) / Sidearm

A throwing style where the disc is released on the same side as the throwing hand using a whipping, wrist-dominant motion, similar to throwing a sidearm baseball pitch.

Glide

A disc's ability to maintain lift and stay airborne. Rated 1-7.

Hyzer

A release angle where the outside edge of the disc is angled downward, fighting the disc's natural turn and causing it to hold a straighter or more overstable line.

Hyzer Flip

A shot where an understable disc is released on a hyzer angle, "flips" flat during flight as its natural turn cancels out the hyzer angle, and finishes flying flat or slightly turning.

Kinetic Chain

The sequential transfer of force through connected body segments — in disc golf, from the ground, through the legs, hips, core, torso, shoulder, arm, and finally into the disc. Each link should accelerate faster than the one before it, similar to the crack of a whip.

Line of Play

The ideal straight path the disc should travel along during the pull-through, from reach-back to release.

Mid-Range

A disc category (typically speed 4-5) between putters and fairway drivers, valued for control, consistency, and technique development.

Nose Angle

The tilt of the disc's leading edge up or down (independent of hyzer/anhyzer angle) at the moment of release.

Plane of Play

The consistent flat plane formed by the shoulder, elbow, wrist, hand, and disc throughout the pull-through.

Power Grip

A distance-oriented grip where all four fingers curl tightly under the rim and the thumb presses firmly on top of the flight plate.

Power Pocket

The loaded position near the chest, arm bent roughly 90 degrees, where the disc arrives during the pull-through right before final acceleration and release.

Reach-Back

The extension of the throwing arm backward (away from the target) during the X-step or standstill, as part of building the coil for the throw.

Rounding

A technical flaw where the disc swings out and loops around the body in a wide arc instead of traveling on a straight Line of Play, disconnecting the arm from the body's rotation and reducing both power and accuracy.

RHBH

Right-Hand Backhand — the throwing style most flight number systems are based around by convention.

Snap

The sharp, late acceleration of the wrist and forearm through the release zone, which is a major contributor to disc speed independent of overall arm strength.

Speed

The first flight number (1-14), describing how much arm speed and clean spin are required for a disc to fly as its other ratings describe.

Stability

The overall description of how a disc flies relative to the amount of turn and fade it exhibits — categorized as understable, stable, or overstable.

Standstill Throw

A throw performed entirely from a fixed stance with no run-up, used to isolate and train weight shift, rotation, and release mechanics.

Turn (High-Speed Stability)

The tendency of a disc to bank in the turn direction (right, for RHBH) during the fast, early part of its flight. Rated -5 to +1.

Understable

A disc with a strong tendency to turn and a lower fade, requiring less speed to make it flip/turn compared to overstable discs.

Overstable

A disc with little to no turn and a stronger fade, requiring more speed before it will turn at all.

Weight Shift

The transfer of body weight from the back foot to the front (braced) foot during a throw, a primary source of the power that gets converted into rotation.

X-Step

The crossover-step run-up footwork pattern used to build rotational energy before a throw.