Seeking clarity on two oft used terms in dg

[Blobfish]

The first is "upshot". There was a thread here ten (TEN!) years ago, but the answers were somewhat in conflict and so in a more modern time, maybe the definition has standardised? Sidewinding gave a definition about it being a specific type of low risk high reward approach where you loft the disc so that it comes in steep so as to possibly drop in the basket or at worst land close, and he differentiated it from a "run it or layup. But others thought it meant an uphill approach, and still others thought it meant any approach. So is there consensus?

The next ambiguous term is "utility disc". In baseball (or most position sports) a utility player is one with varied skillet, who can be called upon to play many different positions depending on the situation. I thought a utility disc would therefore be a disc you can rely on if say you had to play a whole course with just one disc... But it seems that the term in disc golf is to mean a uniquely specialized disc? I don't mind that it's backwards-after all, "flammable and inflammable" both mean the same thing- I just want to know for my own education.

 

[brutalbrutus]

Upshot is just another way of saying Layup. I used it playing golf for years before taking up DG...

 

[IHearChains]

The first is "upshot". There was a thread here ten (TEN!) years ago, but the answers were somewhat in conflict and so in a more modern time, maybe the definition has standardised? Sidewinding gave a definition about it being a specific type of low risk high reward approach where you loft the disc so that it comes in steep so as to possibly drop in the basket or at worst land close, and he differentiated it from a "run it or layup. But others thought it meant an uphill approach, and still others thought it meant any approach. So is there consensus?

Around my area, upshot is used to mean any approach. Usually referring to safe approaches that are not intended to go in but sit under the basket. Occasionally also used as a sarcastic insult when someone throws a weak low putt that never had a chance to go in. "Nice up"

 

[MarkDSM]

Both are vague and player specific.

For me... upshot is most vague as just getting up the fairway. Layup an attack at the circle and a run being the chains as the target.

Utility generally seems to be a fairway disc really only used in awkward spots. Like an out of trouble oh, fh or exaggerated hyzer.. Tend to be os discs.

 

[DavidSauls]

I've mostly used and heard upshot as any shot from the fairway to the green, other than a putt attempt. It may be an easy layup, or a tough longer shot. Like IHearChains, sometimes used sarcastically when a putt attempt turns out to be a layup.

I don't hear utility disc, but I don't think of many discs as being general-purpose, either. Most midranges would qualify. I think of those discs used rarely, for particular shot, as specialty discs.

 

[takman]

Upshot is just another way of saying Layup. I used it playing golf for years before taking up DG...

Kind of, they are both non-aggressive shots but upshots are specifically approach shots to get to the green. Layups can be from thrown from anywhere, tee, fairway, green, etc. IMO

 

[takman]

A utility disc IMO is a disc a player uses often for specialty shots usually in scramble situations such as thumbers, FH rollers, pancakes, flex FH shots. They are usually overstable which makes them predictable for getting "out of jail".

 

[DrBaartman]

I think a utility disc is a disc that can be used for all kinds of shots.. like I used to bag a Trident, used it for all sorts of shots. Intense flex shors that weave around things, forehand rollers, thumbers, tomahawks, and grenades. Then again, I can do those things with a lot of different discs, like say, my Firebird which I dont consider a utility disc.

 

[BogeyNoMore]

A utility disc IMO is a disc a player uses often for specialty shots usually in scramble situations such as thumbers, FH rollers, pancakes, flex FH shots. They are usually overstable which makes them predictable for getting "out of jail".

Pretty much. I actually think "utility" is a misnomer. In sports, utility players play a variety of different positions, to provide flexibility and depth.

In DG, "utility" discs are typically used for quite specific situations, and are not disc you reach for very frequently.

I think a utility disc is a disc that can be used for all kinds of shots.. like I used to bag a Trident, used it for all sorts of shots. Intense flex shors that weave around things, forehand rollers, thumbers, tomahawks, and grenades. Then again, I can do those things with a lot of different discs, like say, my Firebird which I dont consider a utility disc.

While most players don't use the term like Baartman does, I kinda think his usage ins more accurate.

 

[JC17393]

To me, upshot is a variation of the expression "get up and down", as in the goal is to finish the hole in no more than two more shots from wherever you are. The first one is the "up", the next one is the "down". Doesn't matter if it is a fifty foot lay-up or a full 350 foot throw, if you want to land on the green with it, it's an "up" shot.

Utility disc is like BogeyNoMore suggests...a disc that doesn't get used often but for a specific role or two. Kind of like a utility player. Sure, that player might be versatile, but you only put him to use in certain situations or for specific purposes. You don't carry him/it on the roster/bag to be a workhorse, he/it is there "just in case".

 

[BogeyNoMore]

Utility disc is like BogeyNoMore suggests...a disc that doesn't get used often but for a specific role or two. Kind of like a utility player. Sure, that player might be versatile, but you only put him to use in certain situations or for specific purposes. You don't carry him/it on the roster/bag to be a workhorse, he/it is there "just in case".

Kinda ties it all together.

 

[d11rok]

"varied skillet"....isn't that a hard rock band from the suburbs of Des Moines? If not, it should be!

 

[jfrosty42]

Upshot - A shot that got me safely up to the basket that wasn't my drive. To take it even further - when throwing an upshot from the rough, "nice out" is used frequently - "nice up" can also be used here if it was a nice up AND out.

Utility disc - Generally an overstable disc used to get out of trouble, imo.

 

[trout_smith]

To me, upshot is a variation of the expression "get up and down", as in the goal is to finish the hole in no more than two more shots from wherever you are. The first one is the "up", the next one is the "down". Doesn't matter if it is a fifty foot lay-up or a full 350 foot throw, if you want to land on the green with it, it's an "up" shot.

Utility disc is like BogeyNoMore suggests...a disc that doesn't get used often but for a specific role or two. Kind of like a utility player. Sure, that player might be versatile, but you only put him to use in certain situations or for specific purposes. You don't carry him/it on the roster/bag to be a workhorse, he/it is there "just in case".

I agree 100% with both of these descriptions. that's how they're used around here.

 

[slowplastic]

I agree with utility discs as generally being OS, but the point is that you can use it for tons of shots.

If you have a super OS high speed driver but only use it for headwind hyzers then it's not really a utility disc to me. But if you use your speed 9 OS driver for headwinds, spike hyzers, skip shots, flex shots, FH rollers, overhand shots, etc. then that is a utility disc. You may not use all those shot types all the time, but when you need them it's the disc you trust for any of them.

 

[Shamis]

Utility discs are discs that you only use for a very specific shot that you don't throw often. My super overstable forehand roller disc is a utility disc. That's the only shot I use it for. I also carry a disc that I only ever use for tomahawk pancake upshots. And then I have my backhand roller discs, which aren't nearly as much of a utility disc, because I also use them for other purposes.

 

[curmudgeonDwindle]

My take is the 'general' term for each word is well understood by most due to the golfing context, but the meaning gets refined depending on the in-game context and region during actual usage, or when citing a specific example of same. Most also have their own specific personal meaning for these words.

 

[IHearChains]

So I can call it a utility disc if it has limited utility.

:|

 

[jfrosty42]

So I can call it a utility disc if it has limited utility.

:|

Do you have a disc that can do anything? IE, not flip over and fade hard while also being able to be very flippy and not fade at all?

 

[JTacoma03]

I've mostly used and heard upshot as any shot from the fairway to the green, other than a putt attempt. It may be an easy layup, or a tough longer shot. Like IHearChains, sometimes used sarcastically when a putt attempt turns out to be a layup.

I don't hear utility disc, but I don't think of many discs as being general-purpose, either. Most midranges would qualify. I think of those discs used rarely, for particular shot, as specialty discs.

Yep, this is a great definition of what an "upshot" is.

Utility when describing a disc is something that the pros have twisted the meaning of, and I mean this is pretty recent. Most pros say "utility" when they mean "specialty" disc.