I had a pro wraith that I used for overhand shots and some escape shots and I just noticed that it had acquired what could be described as a knife cut about 1/4 to 1/2 an inch deep in the rim. It occurred during regular play and my guess is that it came down on a rock or something after an overhand shot. Is this disc legal or would this be considered a crack in the disc? It doesn't seem like this sort of thing would really affect the flight of the disc because it is in the rim and is small enough and stiff enough that the two sides of the cut can't really be pushed apart but it is more than just a a general gouge or ding generated by normal use.

If you were reading carefully and noticed that I used the past tense when I started this post you will not be surprised to learn that I promptly lost the disc in some trees and grass after discovering the cut because a few of us were throwing after weekly doubles and it was getting fairly dark. Thus it isn't really an issue for me anymore but I am curious about the answer nonetheless. One of my buddies said something about the cut needing to be a certain depth into the rim before it became illegal but I didn't see anything about this in the rules. Below are what seem to me to be the applicable rules for this situation.

802.01
B. A disc which is cracked or perforated is illegal. See sections 802.01 D, E and F. A disc which is cracked during a round may be carried by the player, but not used, for the balance of the tournament. The player must immediately declare his intention to carry the newly cracked or broken disc to the group or be subject to penalty under 802.01 E.

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.

What do you all think?

But what exactly is a crack? does it count as a gouge as well?

A crack, or even a small hole, is fairly easy to repair with a hot knife.

A crack, or even a small hole, is fairly easy to repair with a hot knife.



While perhaps a common practice - this is illegal. Using a hot knife, flame, or other tool to "repair, or fix" a damaged disc would constitute post production modification under most anybody's interpretation of the rule.

Let's quote the whole thing shall we, "Players may not make post-production modification of discs which alter their original flight characteristics"

Repairing a crack does not alter the original flight characteristic. In fact, it restores it.

I'd agree, I remember this argument being real important back in the day. The interpretation I most commonly heard around Texas was taking a lighter to the nasty chunks on the rim and smoothing them out was not illegal, simply for the reason you stated.

What's the logic behind making a cracked disc illegal? I can't imagine it's a performance edge. Danger also seems unlikely.

What's the logic behind making a cracked disc illegal? I can't imagine it's a performance edge. Danger also seems unlikely.



I'd wager that a cracked disc is likely to behave less like you expect in certain situations, which means you're more likely to lose control of it. This increases the danger factor for others.

What's the logic behind making a cracked disc illegal? I can't imagine it's a performance edge. Danger also seems unlikely.



Because someone would try to throw it if you didn't make it illegal.
At least now you are allowed to carry it off the course with you.

What's the logic behind making a cracked disc illegal? I can't imagine it's a performance edge. Danger also seems unlikely.



There were a couple of problems with cracked discs. Mainly larger cracks were the problem. If tiny cracks were allowed, a limit to the size would have had to be set. Cracks were the precursor to splits and pieces. When a disc separated into pieces problems with marking and holing out came up. Do both pieces have to be in the tray? etc. Will the cracked disc change the intended flight characteristic? Yes, if it is large enough. It won't make the disc go farther, but it will fly differently. Also, putters which have larger cracks work better at close range, as they will not bounce off the pole. All these things taken together brought the rule about.

Danger could be an issue, incidentally. A cracked disc is more likely to split, as mentioned, and split (and potentially sharp) pieces of a cracked disc thrown full-force into a tree right in front of a tee pad are not something I would like to have potentially rebounding toward me on the bench behind the tee...

I guess that living where it is hot all the time this is something that is hard to imagine. Disc shrapnel isn't going to happen here.

Let's quote the whole thing shall we, "Players may not make post-production modification of discs which alter their original flight characteristics"

Repairing a crack does not alter the original flight characteristic. In fact, it restores it.



Yeah...but hitting a tree right off the tee-pad could effectively make a post-production alteration to a disc.

You are correct, however, that is normal wear and tear and 'unintentional' wink, wink.......

As for cracks, there has to be a dividing line and any cracks or holes is it. Now we do not have to argue about the size of a crack or hole.



Yeah...but hitting a tree right off the tee-pad could effectively make a post-production alteration to a disc.