I just recently bought and tried two of the new Star Max's by Innova.I purchased 1 at max weight and another at 172 grams. While throwing them I noticed that the max weight flew a further and a more predictable path than the 172. Since my main distance driver is the Star TeeRex at 169 grams I figured that the 172 gram Max would be easier to throw for distance and would have a less overstable and more predictable flight pattern than the max weight one. Does anyone have any ideas on why the max weight Max flies better for me?

Discs vary, whether w/in a run or a manufacturer. Find what a disc does for you, then decide if it is useable for your game...
.02 // YMMV

From my experience, heavier discs will tend to glide a little more. Lighter discs can fly farther of course...but I think they do because you can 'muscle' them more...not because lighter discs make your technique better. That may not be a very good explination, but heavier discs do glide a little farther for me

I could just be full of ka-ka too :D

From my experience, heavier discs will tend to glide a little more. Lighter discs can fly farther of course...but I think they do because you can 'muscle' them more...not because lighter discs make your technique better. That may not be a very good explination, but heavier discs do glide a little farther for me

I could just be full of ka-ka too :D



No offense, but I doubt that heavier weight leads to more glide. Case in point: I once had a 210g Super Puppy. I would compare its glide to that of a concrete block.

I think I would look for other variables than purely weight. For example, is one disc domier or flatter than the other?

From my experience, heavier discs will tend to glide a little more. Lighter discs can fly farther of course...but I think they do because you can 'muscle' them more...not because lighter discs make your technique better. That may not be a very good explination, but heavier discs do glide a little farther for me
I could just be full of ka-ka too :D


I think you mean "fly" when you say "glide". As in, "...heavier discs do fly farther for me...".

There is no way a heavier disc will have more "glide" then a lighter disc of the same mold, it contradicts science.

To simplify it....heavier weights tend to hold their original line longer while lighter weight discs lose velocity faster.
Its some sort of physics thing that I cant really explain cause I'm dumb.

...into a wind a well thrown heavy/heavier disc will travel farther/longer than a light/lighter disc...

Here is part of my delimma. I understand that the max weight MAX will fly further but I also throw all discs at the 172 weight. I am just wondering if that will effect my throw and release point if I throw the heavier disc or should I go with the 172?

Has anyone ever thrown a disc that had the wrong weight on it.Say for example I was throwing a 175 gram Roc.Then found out later it was a 165.What i'm getting at is this.The weight of the disc sometimes just doesn't matter.It's what you think that heavier or lighter disc will do in certain conditions.Do this.Give your buddy a disc he likes to throw.Change the weight on the back.Hand em a 165 and write 175 on it.9 times outta 10 they'll never know the diffrence.Alot of this is in your head.Throw one disc the first time just perfect and it'll be the one you hang onto come h or high water.Like I said.(And this is from my own experience)It's in your head.I had a guy last night tell me he couldn't throw one disc without letting go of it early.So he changed discs',Same type of plastic ,Same weight.Now he lets go ok.Yeah Right.I didn't say anything to him.Too many choices today.They can mess with a beginners head.I sell a beginner three discs.Tell em not to throw anything else.Never paying attention to the weight.(Only to the stature of the player)Small kid.Light weight.etc etc etc.Now weight is a factor don't get me wrong.But sometimes we focus more on that than what the disc is designed to do.

heavy discs will pull out of your hand

heavy discs will pull out of your hand



The expert has spoken. :D

I think your right....I wasn't using the right verb :p

I find that heavier weights create more fatigue when playing multiple rounds, especially on long courses, where you repeatedly have to throw very hard. Lighter weights (for me that means high 160's low 170's) generally alleviate that fatigue, and allow me to concentrate on play instead of on disc weight. It's different for everybody though, some folks are perfectly comfortable throwing max weight everything - all the time. That really is the key - find what's comfortable for you and stick with it. The technique is more important than the weight.

I find that heavier weights create more fatigue when playing multiple rounds, especially on long courses, where you repeatedly have to throw very hard. Lighter weights (for me that means high 160's low 170's) generally alleviate that fatigue, and allow me to concentrate on play instead of on disc weight. It's different for everybody though, some folks are perfectly comfortable throwing max weight everything - all the time. That really is the key - find what's comfortable for you and stick with it. The technique is more important than the weight.



Have to agree with you there.

heavy discs will pull out of your hand



I'm sure weight makes a difference in the flight, but these are fractions of a difference. Over a long flight, you'll see a bit of a change, or in a strong headwind, but that is all personal preference. Out of the hand, it is highly unlikely you can tell the difference between a 175 and 171. That's 4g, or 2.2% of the weight. Can you tell a 2% difference in a disc weight? Would you bet on that Pepsi Challenge?

I notice a big difference between a 165 and a 175 as far as my arm goes. My arm gets tired when I use heavier discs all day. However, a lower weight disc is effected more by the wind. I find that lighter discs glide much more than heavier discs and, in the wind, it may get air under it a glide 75 feet past where I was aiming. A heavier disc is easier to control in the wind and when there is no wind but the distance is reduced.

I wouldn't be fooled if someone changed the weight written on a disc. I've occasionally reached into my bag and grabbed the wrong disc - heaveir than the one I intended to grab. I notice the weight immediately. However, I have mid 60 and mid 70s so there's a 10 gram difference. I don't notice the difference of a couple grams - as far as disc go anyway.

The technique is more important than the weight.



That's it in one sentence. Technique is more important than weight. Heavy discs are "easier" to throw because the weight masks poor technique. You can muscle a heavy disc and it's not as "flippy".

Lighter plastic will fly farther (less weight means more arm speed) but if not thrown flat and snappy, it will not fly correctly.

I go heavier for my headwinders/overstables...and lighter for my down-winders/understables. Mids and putters are always max, or near max wt. For Tee Birds, I have both light and heavy...and tend to prefer these for crosswind control shots outside my midrange D.

Even I move up in weight for the typical Kansas gail force winds. :)

More often, I'll move up in stability more than weight when it gets stupid windy.

Me too! I can get light overstable plastic (e.g., 150 Firebird or Whippet) to ride a headwind a mile (message board distance).

I have read that most top pros use max weight (or close to max weight) discs for consistancy purposes. I have even read that Avery Jenkins uses max weight discs in distance comps if he is only allowed 5 throws for that reason.

I don't think the top pros have any technique issues. They all throw 150 class when they play in Japan.

Not consistany in technique, consistancy in flight.

I don't think the top pros have any technique issues. They all throw 150 class when they play in Japan.



I think your absolutely right Anita. There is a easy transition , going from heavy plastic to light plastic.

There is a transition phase though , going from Light plastic to Heavy plastic. Well for myself anyway. Takes a few days.