If you are new to disc golf the terminology can be hard to get used to. This disc golf terminology resource can help.
Below you’ll find a dictionary of commonly used disc golf terms and their definitions.
You can use it to find a word’s meaning or study up to make sure you know what your disc golf buddies are talking about.
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Ace – Throwing a disc into the basket from the tee in one throw. The same as a hole in one.
Anhyzer – For a right-handed player, releasing the disc at an angle to force it to turn to the right once it leaves the player’s hand. This is accomplished by having the left side of the disc higher than the right when releasing. Sometimes referred to as an Anny.
To learn more about this throw check out our article here.
Approach – Throwing the disc to a safe position for a putt. Sometimes referred to as an upshot.
Backhand – A style of gripping and throwing a disc, where the back of the player’s hand faces the direction of the throw.
Bagger – A term given to a player that competes in a tournament division below their ability to increase their chance of winning.
Basket – The main target in the sport of disc golf. It consists of a pole with chains and a basket to collect discs.
For great options on a permanent basket read our article here.
Birdie – Finishing a hole one under par.
Card – Refers to a group of players that start on the same hole during tournament play.
Casual – When landing in a hazard doesn’t result in a penalty stroke. If a disc does land in a casual hazard, it is customary for them to mark their lie behind the hazard.
Circle – The invisible 10-meter circle surrounding the basket. Putting rules change depending on if the disc lands inside or outside this invisible circle.
Come Back Putt – Putting after a missed putt. Usually when the first putt travels some distance past the basket.
Cut Roll – When a roller doesn’t stand up all the way and rolls left or right instead of traveling straight.
Death Putt – Attempting a tricky putt. In most cases, the basket has a hazard or out of bounds behind it and if the putt is missed the result will be a stroke.
Distance Driver – A disc designed to be thrown long distances. These discs are characterized by their high-speed ratings and wide rims.
Drive – The first throw done by players on a hole. It’s usually from the tee pad but could include a long second throw.
Driver – A disc designed to be used for driving or other long distance throws.
Drop Zone – A designated area on a hole to be used when a player goes out of bounds or misses a mando.
Eagle – The term used for when a player finished a hole two under par.
Fade – Refers to how far the discs turns at the end of its flight. Sometimes referred to as low-speed turn.
Check out our great post on fade here.
Fairway Driver – A disc designed to be used for shorter holes off the tee or for the second throw on a longer hole.
Find out the best fairway drivers by reading our post.
Flex Shot – A term used to describe a throw that turns over of a player’s hand and then flexes back the other direction before finishing. This throw is commonly achieved by releasing an overstable disc on an anhyzer angle.
Check out our quick guide to the flex shot here.
Flick – A word used to describe a sidearm or forehand throw.
Flight Plate – The top circle part of a disc enclosed inside the rim.
Flight Rating – The four number rating system that is used to describe how a disc flies. The four numbers consist of the speed rating, turn rating, glide rating, and fade rating.
Take a look at our full article on the flight rating system here.
Flippy – A word used to describe an understable disc or a disc that is easy to turn over.
Foot Fault – The term given to a rule violation of where a player’s foot must be placed when putting or throwing.
Forehand – When a player throws the disc in a similar manner to a sidearm baseball throw. Also referred to as a sidearm.
Frolf – Another term for disc golf or may refer to the game of disc golf played with a frisbee. It combines the words frisbee and golf.
Frisbee Golf – Another term for disc golf.
Glide – Refers to a discs ability to maintain loft while in flight.
Grip Lock – A term used to describe a late release or holding onto a disc too long before releasing.
Hyzer – For a right-handed player, releasing the disc at an angle to force it to turn to the left once it leaves the player’s hand. This is accomplished by having the left side of the disc lower than the right when releasing.
Hyzer Flip – When a player releases an understable disc at a hyzer angle and the disc flips to flat. This usually results in a very straight flight path.
If you want to know how to throw a hyzer flip check out our article here. For great hyzer flip discs read this one.
Jump Putt – A putting technique that consists of a player jumping toward the basket while putting. This always the player to putt a farther distance and can only be used outside the 10-meter putting circle.
Kick – When a disc hits an obstacle in flight and results in a change of direction. A kick can be good or bad.
Lay-Up – Throwing the disc close to the basket instead of going for a long putt. Usually results in an easy putt on the next throw.
Lie – The position the disc comes to rest after its flight.
Mando – A term used to describe the route a disc must take. This is usually around a tree or another object. A shortened version of the word mandatory.
Midrange – Discs desgined to be thrown for medium distances. Midrange discs or Midrange drivers as they are sometimes referred to are slower than drives but faster than putters.
If you want to know the best midrange discs in disc golf check out this article.
Mini Marker – A small disc used by players to mark the lie of their discs.
OB – Stands for Out of Bounds. The area of a course that’s not intended for disc golf play. If a disc lands in the OB area a penalty stork is earned.
Overstable – A disc that is more lightly to hyzer. These discs commonly have a high turn and/or fade rating and are intended to be used for more advanced players.
If you want to know what actually makes a disc overstable, check out our article here.
Par – The intended number of throws it should take a player to complete a hole.
Parked – When a player throws a disc that lands close to that basket leaving them with an easy putt.
Penalty Stroke – An extra stroke given to a player for a rule violation. This could be from landing out of bounds, missing a mando or another type of violation.
Push Putt – A style of putting where the player puts little to no spin on the disc. Instead, the disc is propelled toward the basket by pushing or tossing it.
Check out our great resource on the push putt here.
Putt – A disc golf throw that is intended to land in the basket.
Putter – A disc desgined to be used for putting. They are the slowest disc available but also the most accurate.
Read our recommendations for the best putters in disc golf here.
Rim – The part of the disc around the edge. Higher speed discs tend to have wider rims.
Roller – A disc golf throw where a player lands a disc on its side getting it to roll instead of flying through the air.
Sidearm – When a player throws the disc in a similar manner to a sidearm baseball throw. Also referred to as a forehand.
Speed – How fast a disc is desgined to fly. Measured by the speed rating which is the first number in the flight rating system.
Spin Putt – A disc golf putting technique that uses spin to propel the disc toward the basket.
Found out why you should be spin putting here.
Spit Out – A putt that seems like it should have gone in but comes out. Usually as a result of hitting the chains and falling out.
Stability – Refers to the tendency of the disc to turn when it leaves a players hand. This disc golf terminology is used to describe high-speed turn. A disc’s stability can be understable, stable or overstable.
Stable – Describes a disc the flies straight or doesn’t turn when leaving a players hand.
Straddle Putt – When a player has their legs spread apart while putting. Can be a normal putting style or used to stretch out from an obstacle so a player has a look at the basket.
Star Frame – When all players on a card birdie a hole.
Tee Pad – The beginning area of a hole used by players to drive from.
Thumber – An overhand throwing style in which a player holds the disc by placing their thumb on the rim.
Tomahawk – An overhand throwing style in which a player holds the disc similar to a forehand grip.
Turbo Putt – An overhand putting style in which the player holds the disc like they might hold a pizza or a tray. The disc is held flat and the player’s thumb is placed at the disc’s center.
Read our resource on the turbo putt here.
Turn – Refers to the tendency of the disc to turn when it leaves a players hand. This disc golf terminology is commonly referred to as high-speed turn and is the third number in the disc golf flight rating system.
Understable – Describes a disc that will turn over when leaving a players hand. This disc could be described a flippy.
Learn how to throw an understable disc here.
Upshot – When a player throws the disc toward the basket to step themselves up for a putt. Another disc golf terminology for an approach shot.
Flickr Image Creative Commons – Steve Ganz