Has there ever been an official ruling of "speed weathering" discs. Such as placing them in a dish washer? I need an official PDGA word on this please. Thank you.

If you need an official word, use the link to send email to the RC. You will get at least one response that way. Posting here typically only gets conjecture.

C. Players may not make post-production modification of discs which alter their original flight characteristics. This rule does not forbid inevitable wear and tear from usage during play or the moderate sanding of discs to smooth molding imperfections or scrape marks. Discs excessively sanded or painted with a material of detectable thickness are illegal. See sections 802.01 D, E and F.



My playing with my discs in the dish washer caused inevitable wear and tear

: ) :

[QUOTE]
C. Players may not make post-production modification of discs which alter their original flight characteristics. ( .... )



Does the dishwasher cycle actually "alter their original flight characteristics", or just waste money?

This is a non-issue unless the treatment changes the flight of the disc, and don't I see how that would happen (temperature + action of the water + detergent=???). Now, putting discs in the clothes drier would be a different story. I think I'd go throw a round while that cycle is running as the noise could be ugly.

Here was my question to the RC...


I have a question that has been brought up on the board....

Say you have what should be an understable disc, such as a Star Sidewinder, but as it is Star plastic it tends to be more stable than it is intended. This would be true until it is broken in. So, if rather than waiting for a year or two of play, you throw it against a wall, at the ground or throw it is a pillow case and beat it against a tree or throw it in a washer or dryer-all with the intention of 'speed seasoning' the disc to its intended flight characteristics, is that a violation of the rules in...

802.01.C. Players may not make post-production
modifi cation of discs which alter their
original fl ight characteristics.

Would this be any different than tuning a disc? Why?

Thanks!


Here was the response...

The "final legality" of any disc is made by the TD when/if a disc is questioned by another competitor, so we believe that any player can seek assistance if they run into a questionable disc.

From a Rules Committee perspective, we were more concerned with the application of heat/hot water/etc that would change the shape on the disc and possibly it's performance.

From your "actions" list we think that anything that involves throwing the disc (into a wall, tree, the ground or down the street) is okay. We're don't think that the pillow case or washer/dryer scenarios are legitimate methods of "speed seasoning".

We do realize that "speed seasoning" is an issue (player's want to do it) and that there's no way for a TD to tell if you used a pillow case to break in a disc, so our next version of the rules will likely see this area's restrictions loosened. We'll probably remove the no "post production modifications" clause. We also don't think that anyone can gain a true competitive advantage through disc modification.

Here was my question to the RC...


I have a question that has been brought up on the board....

Say you have what should be an understable disc, such as a Star Sidewinder, but as it is Star plastic it tends to be more stable than it is intended. This would be true until it is broken in. So, if rather than waiting for a year or two of play, you throw it against a wall, at the ground or throw it is a pillow case and beat it against a tree or throw it in a washer or dryer-all with the intention of 'speed seasoning' the disc to its intended flight characteristics, is that a violation of the rules in...

802.01.C. Players may not make post-production
modifi cation of discs which alter their
original fl ight characteristics.

Would this be any different than tuning a disc? Why?

Thanks!


Here was the response...

The "final legality" of any disc is made by the TD when/if a disc is questioned by another competitor, so we believe that any player can seek assistance if they run into a questionable disc.

From a Rules Committee perspective, we were more concerned with the application of heat/hot water/etc that would change the shape on the disc and possibly it's performance.

From your "actions" list we think that anything that involves throwing the disc (into a wall, tree, the ground or down the street) is okay. We're don't think that the pillow case or washer/dryer scenarios are legitimate methods of "speed seasoning".

We do realize that "speed seasoning" is an issue (player's want to do it) and that there's no way for a TD to tell if you used a pillow case to break in a disc, so our next version of the rules will likely see this area's restrictions loosened. <font color="red">We'll probably remove the no "post production modifications" clause. We also don't think that anyone can gain a true competitive advantage through disc modification.</font>



ok rhett...soon you'll have the green light to make your chinese star disc and you can thank garnett and the crew for it!! :D

GREEN LIGHT!! I've had this triangular putter idea in the work's for 10 years...it sure as heck ain't gonna roll away.

ROFLMAO!!! A triangular putter!!! That might not be a bad idea.....

If the rules committee sees fit to discard the post production modification clause - they will need to make some other changes that they may find more cumbersome.

In the early 80's, Jan Sobel made a 19.9cm disc called the Silver Bullet. And on one model, hotstamped directions on how to change the flight of the disc by sanding it on the pavement. Soon after came a revision of technical standards that addressed the three essential parts of what discs are available for play.
1) Minimum size requirements - i.e. diameter,
2) Shape requirements/constraints - rim depth/shape, &amp; weight/cm diam.
3) Quantity requirements - a minimum # of discs in a given mold must be produced in sufficient qty, as to be available for play by all. (I think the minimum is either 1500 or 2500, I forget).

This is why post production modification is not allowed - because what you do to your disc, is not generally available to others (as I understand it).

I'm not sure the argument over whether it provides competitve advantage or not is even relevant. If you allow post production modification - you may as well ditch the technical standards as well. In 20 years of tournament play -I can't remember seeing a disc questioned by another player. But I've seen many players stopped (because the rule was there) from making significant changes to discs - just because they asked if it was allowed. Losing this provision in the rules would be a step in the wrong direction IMO.

1. conjecture
2. more conjecture
3. repeat

dont get too carried away with the shapes. there's a move underfoot to review what it means to be a disc. "perfectly round" enjoys an early lead. :)

(well, perfectly round within a small tolerance)

dont get too carried away with the shapes. there's a move underfoot to review what it means to be a disc. "perfectly round" enjoys an early lead. :)

(well, perfectly round within a small tolerance)



I wonder if some simple def wouldn't be sufficient? I tend to agree with the RC in general, I fail to see how any post production modification would really give you an advantage - with one exception, bottle rockets... one on each side. :D

I do think they will probably, and should, keep the solid flight plate part, otherwise I'm getting me a flying ring.

Superflight offers a $1,000 reward to the first person to set a new Guinness World Record for throwing an Aerobie Pro flying ring. The current record Aerobie throw was 1,333 feet and was accepted by the Guinness Book of World Records as the "longest throw of an object without any velocity-aiding feature."

The throwing guidelines are quite simple:

* A throw is measured as the straight line distance between the point of release and the point of first impact with the ground.
* The impact point cannot be lower in altitude than the release point.
* the object must not have been put through the rinse cycle.

As is customary with disc records, wind aided throws are permitted. The current record was set at Ft. Funston, San Francisco - an updraft area favored by hang gliders