Do you know what fade refers to in disc golf? Are you using disc golf fade to your advantage? Is fade costing you strokes on the course? Have you been using a disc with low fade because you think you need a straighter throw?
If you are interested in answering these questions and more, keep reading.
In this article, I’m going to cover everything you need to know about fade.
We’ll discuss what fade is and how to tell how much fade a disc has. We’ll also cover when you should choose a disc with more fade verse one with less fade.
What Does Fade Refer To In Disc Golf?
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Fade refers to the tendency of the disc to turn at the end of its flight.
If you are familiar with disc golf or have thrown a disc golf disc before, you may have noticed that at the end of a disc’s flight the disc tends to turn and doesn’t continue flying straight.
For a right-handed player throwing the disc backhanded, the disc will usually turn to the left. For a left-handed player, it tends to turn right.
This isn’t always the case but it usually is.
In disc golf, fade is how much or how little the disc will turn as it loses speed.
How Can I Tell How Much Disc Golf Fade A Disc Has?
You could throw a disc and watch how much it turns but an easier way to find out is by referencing the flight rating system.
If you aren’t familiar with the system, most discs have a four numbered rating system printed on them.
The last number in the numbered system is the fade rating.
Fade is measured between 0 and 5.
Discs with a 0, meaning they have no fade, should not turn at the end of flight and should continue straight. Discs with a fade rating of 5 will fade the most.
Using Discs With High Fade
Discs with a lot of fade can be very useful.
One use for these discs is shot shaping. Taking advantage of the disc tendency to hook at the end of its flight might be the only way to set yourself up for a good putt.
For instance, you might find yourself on a hole that has a sharp turn to the left before you reach the basket. If thrown right, discs with high fade will naturally turn here and head toward the basket.
They work great in a headwind.
When thrown in a headwind, discs will usually act more understable than when thrown in no wind.
This usually means that for a right-handed backhanded player, the disc will likely turn more to the right.
Using a disc with more fade will counteract this effect.
Use them for distance control.
This may not be the first thing you think about when you consider high fade discs.
It may even seem like a drawback for throwing these types of discs but in the right situation, it makes sense.
Fade can be very predictable and I you are familiar with the disc you are throwing, knowing when it will fade will help you make better judgments about the throws you take.
A good example of distance control with fade is a hole that has a hazard.
If you throw too far you risk landing in the hazard, so using a disc with high fade could reduce this risk.
Take advantage of the hyzer.
Having extra fade can be beneficial for any type of hyzer shot. Disc with high fade will tend to hold the hyzer line better than low fade discs.
This is true for regular hyzer throws, spike hyzers, and flex shots.
Because you are throwing discs with more fade, you can trust them to hyzer out at the end of their flight.
They also tend to skip more so if you need a shot to skip toward the basket, consider using a disc with more fade.
Using Discs With Low Disc Golf Fade
Discs with low fade could be used for two main reasons: extending the distance of the flight and achieving a straight finish.
When it comes to distance, throwing a disc will low fade makes sense.
Instead of the disc hooking one way or another and cutting the throw short, the disc will continue flying straight.
This means the disc will stay in the air and continue to move forward, archiving a longer flight.
Another great reason to throw discs with low fade is to take advantage of the straight finish.
For instance, if you find yourself staring down a tunnel shot, you’ll want to grab a low fade disc. Even if you manage a clean, straight shot, if the disc fades too much you run the risk of hitting an obstacle.
Final Thoughts
I hope this article was a great resource to enhance your understanding of fade.
Knowing when to grab a disc with a lot of fade or a disc with very low fade will come in handy out on the course.
Fade can be a useful tool if you know how to use.
Whether you are using a high fade disc so it finishes left and skips toward the basket or you are going with a low fade disc because you are throwing down a tunnel.
I recommend you take to a field and grab some discs with varying levels of fade so you can see the difference in how they fly.
You can thank me later.
Happy fading.
Flickr Image Creative Commons – IMCBerea College
