🔎 The misconceptions surrounding PDGA approved discs

MVP's Heist, 5 More Days, and Tree Trigonometry

Nov 30, 2022

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If you missed the T-giving edition, then I got you: Are you scared of life, Eagle?

Let’s get into it.

The FAQs of Disc Approval

Top and bottom view of a disc with a strangely spoked rim and a spiral ridge on its bottom — The unapproved Turbo Putt (Source: Flying Disc Museum)

On the PDGA Radio podcast, Jeff Homburg - Chair of the PDGA Technical Standards Working Group - explained how he personally approves each disc. He cleared up misconceptions surrounding the “mysterious” process.

Approval is based solely on measurements
- Diameter between 21cm - 30cm (Ultimate lids are 27.5cm)
- Max weight = 8.3g/cm of diameter (Rocs are 21.7cm => 180.1g max weight)
- Rim depth must be >5% of the diameter (you can’t throw vinyl records)
- Can’t be too sharp (Discraft Eclipse is the sharpest approved)
- Rim thickness limit = 2.6cm. The Aerobie Epic has been grandfathered in and is the only disc with variable rim thickness
Most of the time, he doesn’t see the disc design until it’s delivered to his door
Discs must be plastic (rubber and silicon are allowed)
Never ever throws the disc
Doesn’t decide flight numbers
Most manufacturers cut a new disc and see what it does without planning (e.g. Innova)

Going back 30 years, these standards were put in place to level the playing field and keep people safe. Disc tech changed rapidly and without PDGA approval players could have a big advantage.

Nowadays, you can get a Teebird, Firebird, or Destroyer clone in any company’s plastic. So are those revolutionary days over?

MVP’s Thanksgiving Heist

Every year, the MVP GYROpalooza box is the gateway drug for disc golfers to become GYROnauts. Seemingly, the box gets larger and more coveted.

This year, the small Michigan-based company teased a 2nd box with even more unique runs (i.e. the Fission Trace). It was called “The Heist” and dropped on Black Friday.

With only 385 available, the hype train fell off its rails. Thousands of GYRO lovers and resellers waited as the release flopped and boxes were nowhere to be found.

Their webpage couldn’t handle the load which resulted in a postponed release, an apology discount (25%), and disappointed fans. But this isn’t new for MVP drops.

They’re notorious for unstable releases and have been rebuilding their site. With the Covid boom, manufacturers have caught up to demand but bad customer experiences still plague them.

And MVP isn’t the only company apologizing for a botched release. Discmania issued a statement yesterday (11/29) for unfair discounts on their boxes that have yet to sell out.

Whether these are signs of decreased demand or unprepared companies, mystery boxes may be going out of style. Let’s see if next season comes with less drama or lowered prices.

Fresh Plastic

Random Triples

1️⃣ It’s the season of giving, and what better way than to “invest in communities and young people around the world.” Through the end of 2022, UDisc is matching all donations to the Paul McBeth Foundation.

If you think the foundation is his ploy to further his legacy, then you’re right but it’s also much more. In JomezPro’s latest mini-doc, he’s impacting communities where DG doesn’t exist or where accessible extracurriculars are rare.

He’s growing the sport in ways that many can’t. And in 5-10 years, it won’t be surprising to see a Colombian touring pro who trained on a McBeth course.

2️⃣ Earlier this month (11/11-13), the inaugural 3DISCGolf Course Designers Conference was held in Austin, TX. This event was 5.5 years in the making with designers from 14 states and Canada.

Created by Dee Leekha-Houck (yes - THE John Houck’s wife), 3DISCGolf is a FB group with 850+ members. The group brings stakeholders together to promote greater sustainability in course design/build.

Over those 3 days, the future of courses was discussed in excess. Dee & John Houck don’t only put amazing courses in the ground, they've created a platform for shared best practices and innovation.

3️⃣ The Glass Blown Open is back. But not in the same way that pre-Covid disc golfers remember.

Once a year, Emporia, KS doubles in size and becomes a disc golf haven. It’s known as the Dynamic Discs Open where thousands take part in an A-Tier, block parties, and spectate the Pro Tour.

As for 2023, the spectacle is split into 2 events 3 weeks apart with GBO as amateur-only and DDO as the DGPT stop. With this change, pros will play 3 rounds at the Emporia Country Club only.

The new Jones Supreme (showcased at Worlds) will no longer appear on Tour. Course designer - Eric McCabe - explained the change was driven by the limited spectator accommodations on the property.

Even with the change, the absence of an amateur A-Tier could mean record-low gallery numbers.

Meme of the Week

Your 30 seconds start now (Source: u/ksjeffreys)

Thanks for reading today. Get out and hit trees this weekend!

- Charlie

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