Dealing with 30 mph Winds

[jenb]

I played a course today with 30 mph winds (there's a severe wind threat issued for the southeast US today) and even my wind driver (Banshee) couldn't handle the winds. My Roc also, with a super strong hyzer on it, would go right in the headwind. I'm talking about the angle of the roc being more than 45 degrees from the horizontal.

I saw one guy's drive turn around and circle back and land behind the tee a couple of hundred feet.

What can we do to handle this kind of wind? Will a very overstable disc do it, or is it too much to expect of any disc?

From a distance, after the round, I think I saw a couple of guys throw some thumbers or tomahawks that seemed to drill right through the 30 mph headwind. Is that the throw we need to use? Does it work with tailwind as well?

 

[eegor]

A Viper or Whippet may help for strong headwinds. You have to keep them low.

As for strong tailwinds, toss up a Shark or a Buzzz and be amazed how far it will go. If you have a putter with glide, it will fly hundreds of feet with a 30 mph tailwind. Throw them high with the nose down.

 

[GLong]

get a firebird

 

[weeman]

Last tournament I played in, we had conditions similar to this. For headwinds I was throwing the most overstable discs in my bag (Xcal and Firebird). I found that if you just throw them flat, the wind won't affect them as much as say a hyzer flip or a flex shot. Anything thrown nose up is a goner. Throwing in tailwinds make everything fly more overstable. I've found that it is very difficult to throw a turnover or S-shaped shot in a tailwind, the discs just want to take a natural straight or hyzer flight line. Your disc selection may be one source of the bad windy day shots. You need to test out all your plastic in a variety of winds to figure out what works best for you.

This explains it all a bit better - http://www.discraft.com/res_wind06_p1.html

 

[Dthunderchicken]

For headwinds I was throwing the most overstable discs in my bag (Xcal and Firebird). I found that if you just throw them flat,

:thmbup:

To fight a headwind, try to keep the disc on the same plane as the wind, and keep the disc low to the ground. After a few worm burners you'll get the hang of it.

 

[I8URZ28]

Here in Oklahoma, there are more 20-30 mph winds than anything. I don't have the power to bomb a firebird,although I still throw one. I usually hyzer flip a nuke or stable teebird real low and it seems to work out. As for tail winds my rocs are good for about 250-300. Also have a really beaten 10x kc pro eagle that I throw on hyzer and it flips up and goes for days. Also have a drone that will never flip in a headwind.

 

[burt5885]

i like a z drone for the wind. i live in san angelo and we gad 32 mph wind today so i feel ya!

 

[JoshEpoo]

Keep your shots low, realize that everyone else is dealing with the same thing, and play smart. Heavy, overstable discs can help, but your strategy is most important. Taking easy pars is much better than going for risky birdies and carding 4's or higher. Putting in winds like that is where the strokes really start piling up, if you're not careful...try to land on the side of the basket that will have you putting at the basket with the wind blowing whichever direction you are most comfortable with.

 

[I8URZ28]

i like a z drone for the wind. i live in san angelo and we gad 32 mph wind today so i feel ya!

Ya we were blowing about 25-30 with 35+ gusts today.

 

[medicinalfunk]

i deal with 30 MPH winds by staying home and watching tv

 

[dodgeball]

I played a course today with 30 mph winds (there's a severe wind threat issued for the southeast US today) and even my wind driver (Banshee) couldn't handle the winds. My Roc also, with a super strong hyzer on it, would go right in the headwind. I'm talking about the angle of the roc being more than 45 degrees from the horizontal.

I saw one guy's drive turn around and circle back and land behind the tee a couple of hundred feet.

What can we do to handle this kind of wind? Will a very overstable disc do it, or is it too much to expect of any disc?

From a distance, after the round, I think I saw a couple of guys throw some thumbers or tomahawks that seemed to drill right through the 30 mph headwind. Is that the throw we need to use? Does it work with tailwind as well?

I feel ya, I'm in Houston and had the same winds today. I gave up after half a round cuz I didn't feel like fighting it, lol. 20mph is fine, but today was kinda crazy. If ur gonna fight it, u definitely need the right discs. As of yet I don't have any good wind discs, so that's probably another reason I bailed. For today's winds u probably needed the X-Cals, Scream Max, Flick and the like. And then just let the disc do the work for ya.

 

[Thumber]

Keep it low and nose down. Firebirds work well

 

[burt5885]

how would a predator vs firebird compare in the wind?

Keep it low and nose down. Firebirds work well

 

[jenb]

So, let's say I normally use 165 weight DX Fairway drivers, and 170 weight DX midranges. Should I get the same weight and plastic Firebird and/or Viper for use as a wind disc, or should I get max weight and/or go with a plastic that will be less prone to turnover?

I'm tempted to go with a Viper in my midrange weight, but it only comes in DX as far as I can tell. Does it make sense to go with that as a strong headwind disc?

 

[vonDrehle]

Even a lightweight firebird will be very difficult to turn over even if it is beat in pretty good. For me when I play in the wind my gator is my go to midrange. Might not get that great of distance but I feel even in 50mph wind I know exactly what the disc is going to do.

 

[jtbingster]

My advice if you're getting a meathook/wind disc is to go as durable as possible (i.e. Champion, Z, Opto). It will take the most beating of any disc in your bag, and it'll be nice for it to last a while. As to weight, I dunno.

 

[jenb]

Well, I note that the Banshee is the same stability as the gator, and close to as stable as the firebird. It worked OK for me except when I needed to throw uphill into a headwind, or across a stream into a headwind with a higher bank on the other side. I'm guessing that if you can't throw it low and keep it from getting windflipped, then you're doomed, and maybe an overhead throw is the best option.

 

[disc gopher]

if theres a crosswind absolutely do not throw anything overhead. the wind will take the disc and throw it off course by ALOT. dont throw any hyzers, anhyzers, overhead shots when theres a crosswind. just think about the physics of it for a second...

 

[jenb]

Yeah, I'm just talking about headwind. I'm trying to figure out how to throw up a hil with a strong headwind coming over the top, or into a strong headwind across a stream with a higher bank on the other side. Overhead?

 

[GLong]

I would go with a high 160s champ firebird. Viper is a good disc but not much can touch the almighty firechicken.