Is it worth buying the good stuff?
Here is part of one the articles that I wrote (I spared you the boring description of each plastic, not exactly necessary for this audience
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There has been a massive evolution of the quality of plastic that manufacturers like Innova and Discraft have been using over the last several years, and with it has come steady price jumps at each level. One common question is whether it is worth $17 to get a state of the art driver, or whether the models at $14, $11, and $7 are up to snuff.
Pros and Cons
DX Plastic, aside from being the cheapest, actually has merits that the more expensive lines cannot boast. DX discs tend to get dinged and scratched up, which over time will make them more understable and produce a unique flight pattern that a player can utilize for specific shots. In fact, it is very common for pros to carry multiple basic level discs of the same type worn in at different levels for slightly different feel and flights. The DX line works especially well for this, because they tend to wear very evenly (as opposed to Discraft Pro D).
The Pro line disc was the next improvement to the basic level and offered improved durability and grip in normal conditions. In wet conditions, though, the intermediate level plastic can become pretty slippery. These can be great all around discs that have a long lifetime.
The champion plastic line was the first that I really remember having a significant impact. These discs are practically indestructible, even in cold weather when DX and pro plastics can get brittle. Champion plastic was wildly popular when it came out, especially for drivers, which could finally take the brunt of a head on collision with a tree without suffering for it. Again, this line offers excellent grip in normal conditions but becomes slippery when wet.
Finally, star plastic truly is state of the art. It is also all but indestructible and features an improved grip that is comfortable for all weather play. It is difficult for me to imagine how any of the major manufacturers will be able to improve on the current top of the line plastic. Of course, that was said of the previous improvements as well
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One Solution
That said, is it worth it for the average player to buy discs from the more expensive lines of plastic? A great time out on the course is perfectly achievable using DX discs, and that is what almost all players start out playing with. As you improve and inevitably get hooked however, a desire remains to upgrade disc golf equipment in a quest for better throws.
I think that for the practical player, each line of plastic has its place in the bag. For drivers, I think that it really is worth buying high quality plastic. Durability is the key issue for drivers because you have to throw them very hard, and one bad collision for a basic level disc could leave it significantly warped. You want a driver to be able to fly far and straight (or at least on the line that you put it on) without ever changing its flight path over time.
I actually find champion plastic to be a little bit floppy and have had trouble controlling premium drivers, so I try to avoid them when possible. Pro, while revolutionary when it came out and the stepping stone to the higher grade plastics available now, is really just that, a stepping stone. It has been outclassed by the higher grades and just doesn't offer anything that another line can't.
Mid-range and putting shots are more about feel, so I think that it is good to have well worn discs that you have used for a long time and know the unique flight path that they have developed. Worn in discs are also more understable and will have less of a fade at the end, which really helps with trying to find the chains.
Therefore, I prefer to use star plastic for drivers and DX discs for mid-range and putting. I feel that the top of line discs will last and perform consistently until I manage to lose them through no fault of their own, and wearing in mid-range discs and putters gives them a unique feel that gives me confidence in choosing the right shot.
Personal Preference
Picking your discs is really about personal preference though, and while I have outlined mine here, yours may be significantly different. In choosing which lines of plastic to plastic to play with, I think it is more important to think about them in terms of shot making rather than from best to worst. Buy whichever disc will be right for you for each shot (driving, mid-range, and putting) instead of thinking that it is necessary to have the best equipment or prudent to save money on equipment.
Disc golf is a comparatively cheap sport, anyway. There are no green fees and many people play with only one or two discs. Those that start to get into it have chosen a cheap, fun, healthy hobby, so I think you might as well have whatever equipment will give you the most enjoyment out of a round.
