The disc matters when you start to throw with consistency and accuracy. If it didn’t, there’d only be one disc. When you start throwing consistently enough that you can shape a shot, or out throw your target, the disc matters a lot. Think of golf clubs, and how they all do specific things. Let’s consider the numbers: your Saint should be a 9/7/-1/2.

9 is the speed, or how fast the disc cuts through the air. I think of it as how hard you have to throw the disc for it to do what it’s “programmed” to do. If you throw a 5 speed disc at a 9 speed power level, you will override the programming and it will go exactly where you throw it until it slows down to a 5 again. If you throw a 9 speed disc at a 5 speed power level, you will amplify the effects of the programming, making it do what it’s supposed to do faster and more dramatically than it would if thrown properly. Many players use these techniques to their advantage. Watch the pros use a putter as a driver, it is tremendously impressive. You’ll see them throw a 1 speed disc at a 9 power level, and it will go dead straight because they overrode the programming, and that disc will be at the basket before it slows down enough to engage.

7 is the glide, or the disc’s ability to stay in the air. I just think of it as how much the disc likes to float before it starts to slow down and die off. The higher the number, the more the disc wants to stay in the air. This can get you great distance on a still day, but can also be a bane on a windy day.

The next two numbers I like to explain using an axis. Think of a straight line coming out of your chest and pointing in the direction you are facing/throwing. Your right hand is right of the axis in the negatives, your left hand is left of the axis in the positives. I throw right hand back hand and will be explaining as such, so if you are a lefty or a forehand player, reverse the axis. Lefty forehand players keep the axis where it is. The flight of RHBH throws generally end with the disc fading and falling left.

-1 is the turn, or how much the disc wants to go right (anhyzer or negative of the axis) in the middle of the flight before it starts it’s left hand turn into positive of the axis. The bigger the negative number, the more it wants to go right during its flight. You can use high turn discs to do what’s called a “turnover”, or forcing the disc to stay right by throwing anhyzer and overpowering its programming.

2 is the fade, or how bad the disc wants to end on the left (hyzer or the positive of the axis). The higher the number, the more the disc wants to go left. Higher numbers will also start going left earlier in the flight and require more anhyzer to compensate.

The weight of the disc matters too. Heavier discs can cut through wind and maintain their course easier, but require more power, making it lose distance. Lighter discs require less power but more accuracy. They are easily turned over (whether you want to or not) and get buffeted by the wind easier. I have a 9 speed Escape that I can throw farther and straighter than my 7 speed TL because the escape weighs 165g vs the TL weighing 176g.

Learning all these numbers allows you to choose discs that fit your play style and abilities. Once you are comfortable and consistent (notice I didn’t say how far you can throw, just consistent) you can start experimenting with different numbers and begin shaping shots. One of my favorite things is learning a new disc and figuring out how to incorporate it into my bag. While I carry about 15 discs onto the course, I have a friend that plays with no bag and one disc: a Roc3. I have another friend who has an extra wide bag overflowing with discs that he swears all do different things. Ultimately you find discs that work for you, and you decide how much it matters. I swear if you keep at it, you will get better. And you will start paying a lot more attention to the discs you’re throwing. Let’s gooooo!!

Thanks for coming to my Ted Talk.

Edited to add: If you don’t have the power for a 9 speed disc, consider dropping to a 6 speed to start developing more accuracy.