How fast (in mph) do discs travel?

[jchoate7]

I was explaining disc golf to coworker and he said, "Oh, like frisbees you catch". I told him you definetly do NOT want to try catching these discs as they are harder plastic than catch and throw frisbees and they travel at ?___? mph. I said 70 mph but I was just making a random guess.

Driving for max distance, how fast (in mph) does the average person who regularly plays disc golf throw?

And for those who want to prerube me I did a forum search for "mph" and it came up with no results :\.

 

[notroman]

Speeds are usually measured at the release, and the discs gradually lose velocity as they fly.

Most people that throw 350-400 release at about 50-55mph. The guys with bigger arms that throw 500+ usually have release speeds of 70-75mph.

 

[freezermink]

that sounds about right... i remember a video or a post (can't remember which) a while back that claimed an average of ~60mph for the experienced amateur

 

[michael_c]

The Will Schusterick and Dave Nesbitt throw and catch record is 129kph (80mph), so your estimate of 70mph, probably isn't too far off

 

[notroman]

Yep, I think back when my max D was at about 400-420 my release speed was in the high 50s.

My buddy that was struggling to reach 400 was in the 54-55 range. Another guy that was throwing 450-500 was measured at 72mph. I think Avery Jenkins was also measured in the 72-74mph range at some point.

 

[notroman]

The Will Schusterick and Dave Nesbitt throw and catch record is 129kph (80mph), so your estimate of 70mph, probably isn't too far off

Discs with narrower rims (putters, catch discs) are easier to get a stronger grip with so you can get a higher release speed with them.

When throwing for max D, you usually don't use the slower discs though.

 

[gwillim]

Speeds are usually measured at the release, and the discs gradually lose velocity as they fly.

Most people that throw 350-400 release at about 50-55mph. The guys with bigger arms that throw 500+ usually have release speeds of 70-75mph.

This is pretty accurate. A few years ago we put a speedometer on a distance competition and most guys were throwing 70-80. I had a drive that was just under 500' and it was 59mph. My average speeds were 55-60 but I throw with my torque and less power than most ppl.

I think the speed was measured about 25' after release or really close to that at least. I think Avery's been clocked over 100mph but I can't remember the circumstances. He throw's hard though!

 

[sidewinder22]

This is pretty accurate. A few years ago we put a speedometer on a distance competition and most guys were throwing 70-80. I had a drive that was just under 500' and it was 59mph. My average speeds were 55-60 but I throw with my torque and less power than most ppl.

I think the speed was measured about 25' after release or really close to that at least. I think Avery's been clocked over 100mph but I can't remember the circumstances. He throw's hard though!

I'm pretty sure you mean k/mh for Avery, and a radar gun not a speedometer. I doubt most were actually throwing 70-80mph either, maybe 60-70mph at most. Your average golfer throwing 300-350' is probably around 50mph.

 

[michael_c]

Discs with narrower rims (putters, catch discs) are easier to get a stronger grip with so you can get a higher release speed with them.

When throwing for max D, you usually don't use the slower discs though.

That makes sense, I wasn't really thinking about it like that.

 

[beagleboy241]

This thread is very interesting... Please continue the "disc"ussion for my interests and enjoyment :3

Edit: This is actual something I never even thought of, now that at is brought to attention it's awesome! So someone that throws about 350ft~, I would be throwing about 50mph?

 

[sidewinder22]

This thread is very interesting... Please continue the "disc"ussion for my interests and enjoyment :3

Edit: This is actual something I never even thought of, now that at is brought to attention it's awesome! So someone that throws about 350ft~, I would be throwing about 50mph?

Correct, there's some variation dependent on how you throw in regard to speed vs spin to get that distance as well so it could be 45mph-60mph for 350'. Height, wind, and spin rate can make a big difference on the distance thrown, so you could have one person throwing 60mph that travels 350', and another person throwing 60mph that travels 600'.

IIRC Chris Max has one of the fastest, if not the fastest recorded distance throws at about 80mph. Most the other guys in that competition (Ken Jarvis and Stokely)were around 70mph.

I think 100mph is in the realm of impossible when you consider baseball speeds. Anything over 70mph is very impressive with a disc.

 

[jchoate7]

Now this could lead to a whole other thread but how many rotations per second does the average person get on the disc on release? I wonder what the absolute best ratio of spin vs speed is to produce the most distance.

 

[gwillim]

I'm pretty sure you mean k/mh for Avery, and a radar gun not a speedometer. I doubt most were actually throwing 70-80mph either, maybe 60-70mph at most. Your average golfer throwing 300-350' is probably around 50mph.

Yeah, meant radar gun, thank you. The 100k/h sounds likely as well. Thank you for the corrections.

 

[BrotherDave]

I heard MVP's new distance driver is called the Flux Capacitor and disappears if you reach 88 mph.

 

[jchoate7]

I heard MVP's new distance driver is called the Flux Capacitor and disappears if you reach 88 mph.

I guess the problem would be actually throwing the disc that fast lol. Wait a minute, we would have already seen this disc then wouldn't we have? Think about it...

 

[Hampstead]

If Avery is like the Nolan Ryan of DG then I'm more like the Tim Wakefield.

 

[mj20300]

they have done radar guns/speed tests at Vibram before and the fastest people were throwing was just getting into the 70s

 

[mashnut]

I thought I saw that some overhand shots had been clocked at 80+, but I don't remember where I saw that. You don't get the same spin, but it seems possible that you could get a little faster release speed right out of the hand with that.

 

[KniceZ]

Now this could lead to a whole other thread but how many rotations per second does the average person get on the disc on release? I wonder what the absolute best ratio of spin vs speed is to produce the most distance.

I'm curious about this as well - opcorn:

I've got a vibram with very distinct colors and I can see it rotating. But I know I don't have "snap".

 

[mashnut]

I would be very interested in the RPM differences between putters, mids and drivers, as well as the diferences in FH, BH and OH throws.