[Help] How do you decide what to bag and keep it in there?

[armiller]

Yeah.
I wonder if there is a life cycle that pretty much all dgcr members go through. Where the typical member will increase their number of molds at first due to learning so much new stuff, and kinda going wild with all the joyous plastic. But, over time, they learn from other forum members that they are supposed to reduce their number of molds, and become lean mean killing machines. The next step is a dignified disdain for any of that overzealousness that newer members exhibit.

Eventually one becomes whatever it is that you would call the old timers in these forums.

Meh... I agree with most of that, i.e. increasing molds and trying plastic at first. But I hereby boldly predict that I will never be a mold minimalist. I have no desire to reduce the number of molds in my bag and doubt it would help me. I'll readily admit, however, that the number of molds I try has been steadily decreasing, even if the number of molds in my bag does not.

 

[BrotherDave]

I think of discs in slots. If it fills the need of "neutral fairway" or "OS wind fighter" or whatever it doesn't matter to me what the stamp is on it. That stops me from needing to keep tweaking things, just knowing it would take that same slot as something I already have and use.

If I'm between two discs then I see if one is better for both BH and FH for me since I throw 50/50. I also compare wind resistance or effective power range. Then I look at plastic durability, especially to compare if it's something I want to stay the same for a long time like a beefy driver, or if it's for a slot that would pick up a ton of distance so a bit of a beat in would be ok.

Basically I just feel like I need to look forward to throwing whatever disc is right for the line in front of me. If I am worried about it doing something weird when I take it out of the bag, then I get the itch to try something new in that slot. Otherwise I know that a new stamp won't change how I throw.

I could've written this. Once you assess what shots/slots/roles you need in your game to be successful, it all rolls downhill from there. This isn't the same for everybody b/c people have different hands, arm speeds, form variance, and style variance (i.e. BH vs FH). I find my slots based on how often these things come up in given round. For me my slots are:

•Putting putter: Almost assuredly the most important slot to fill and not **** around with.
•Throwing putter: Same mold as above or different molds to better fill niches (i.e. FH or lid)
•Go-to mid: For most people this is the stable mid, i.e. Roc, Buzzz, EMac Truth etc.
•Flippy mid: For carving up woods.
•OS specialist: For me this is a Banshee/EXP-X. OH, spikes, skips, flexes, HW, FH rollers, etc
•US specialist: For me this is a Seer (think Leopard). Rollers, uphill turnovers, hard turns, etc.
•Go-to FW driver: For most this is a Teebird/Eagle type disc.
•Control drivers: These double as precise distance drivers and FH distance
•Max D driver: For open bombs

Those are my essentials. Course-dependent essentials:
•HW D driver: For bombs into wind, big flexes, long hyzers, etc.
•OS mid: Useful mostly on wooden and short, open holes.
•Big D roller: A fast, flippy driver (i.e. King)
•stable-US FW: Beat version of your go-to FW or a TL, Crave, Rival type.

I throw a lot of trick shots like rollers and I'm almost 50/50 BH:FH these days so my essentials are rather varied.

 

[zendragon]

A couple thoughts.

When I was going through a phase of trying a lot of different molds, it struck me that, when I would take even just 1-2 new discs to a course, because I also still had most of my old discs with me, I really only got 3-4 good throws in with said new discs, so I wasn't really learning them. I made the decision that if I was auditioning a new disc, then it would be the only disc I carried for that slot for the round. If it did well, I played a few more audition rounds with it, or even a one disc round, if it was the type of disc to be versatile enough for that. It gave me a more realistic opinion of the disc than the few throws were giving me, or even what field work gave me, as I got to throw it on multiple lines in game. I highly recommend this type of approach for trying out something new.

Second, I agree with those who said to think of slots, and not so much discs. Then just find what is most comfortable/reliable/consistent/insert whatever feature is important to you for said slot. However, I also recommend seeing if you can drop slots. For instance, I used to play with US, S, and OS for putters, Mids, Fairways, and Drivers. So I always had at least 12 discs. Again, going back to the previous point of 18 holes, how often was I throwing each of these? I didn't really need all those slots to begin with. I slowly eliminated these to alternate between US and OS. For instance, I found an US mid paired well with an OS FW, and a S Driver. I could use the US mid where I would an US FW, and the OS FW in place of an OS mid quite easily. And more throws with those fewer discs equalled more trust in them for me.

For about 2 years now I've been down to a 6 disc bag and shooting my best scores. I have 3 core discs that I sometimes switch out various weights of the same molds. The others mostly don't change with the exception of one that I like to make my course dependent utility disc.

 

[nrihan]

I will say that I do love trying new discs, and I'll frequently play with multiples in a certain slot to see what I like. E.g. I recently played a few rounds with a Pro Leo, Gibson Leo3, C-FD, Pro Pipeline, and Pinnacle Patriot. That's when the Pro Leo jumped into the bag.

I like doing this too. Leo3, FD, Patriot or PDs, Thunderbirds, Stable Teebird3s

 

[krooster]

I think the answer is that this is an iterative process and you just have to play a lot of disc golf.

Over time, you notice "hey I have trouble with that type of shot, I need something a little more/less stable". So you try some new options for that speed/stability slot. Eventually you find something you prefer.

Or you might notice "hey whenever I'm faced with this type of situation, I can't decide between these two discs, maybe I don't need to be carrying both".

Eventually you get to the point where you don't encounter either of those situations anymore. But it takes a lot of experience, and if your distance is improving over this time then your bag will have to be a work in progress.

 

[jjmiller]

A big part of my problem with settling on a bag setup is that I grew up playing traditional sports, so a backhand is still kinda foreign feeling to me. So I end up with fairly neutral mids to throw backhand, and then a Justice for forehands that I literally have never once thrown a backhand with. Fairways to throw backhand, and then something stable like a Thunderbird/PD for my forehand that can also work as an overstable backhand disc, as well as a Firebird that I never throw backhand. A super flat Firebird or similar is nice for thumbers. I also like to carry a Sidewinder or something for hyzer-flip forehands that don't finish right because I still don't trust my backhand in certain situations. Then maybe a Wraith or Trespass for max distance backhands on days when I might actually be getting them noticeably further than a neutral fairway. Then Destroyer/Defender/Force/PD2 for distance forehands, even though I'll never throw a backhand with them. And for a wide open course, I could carry a Nuke for even longer forehands, and again never throw a backhand with it.

It's fun to try new discs. I've amassed quite a few that are redundant. And I also keep trying to find magical discs that work equally well for my backhand AND my forehand. But I really need to figure out how to maintain forehand distance with less stable discs, or have the backhand come together where I'm throwing them 450'+. That last part sure would be nice, but I'm getting to the age where it's looking unlikely to ever happen.

 

[mostlynorwegian]

Kona Panis has the answer. Follow her advice

 

[McCready]

2 bags. Set a main bag and keep it. I play all tag/tourney/doubles/casual w/ friends rounds with this bag. Cycling or not have your slots set with discs you like and trust.

Have an academy bag for testing/fun/whatever. New molds or new discs of the same molds. I won't push anything from this bag until it's advantageous over a disc in my main. Or if I lose a disc, one gets too worn, or just no longer clicks with me.
This bag doesn't come out as often but it's usually lunch rounds, field work, or just "test" rounds for the fun of trying different discs.

I still have my main bag set and ready. When I reach for any disc in there, I know how it's gonna fly and I trust it since it worked it's way there.

This is a cool idea and I'm going to try it. I have so many random discs that made the bag either briefly or never, and could probably fill every slot or close to it. Off the top of my head: Sheriff, King, Katana, Wraith, Mamba, PD, TD, FD, Culverin, Escape, Eagle, Seer, Underworld, Leopard, Roc/Roc3, Cobra, Gator, Mako3, Tursas and about 70 putters. Would be a blast to play a completely different bag every once in a while and spice up those weekday lunch rounds that can get a little mundane. Great tip!

 

[Mike C]

I have a very indecisive personality and really like to try way too many different types of discs from whatever manufacture. I can't keep my bag the same for more than a round and obviously I would play better if I kept my bag the same for an extended period of time. With so many viable options these days how do you keep your bag the same and how do you decide what to bag?

I throw them and make my decision based on how consistently a disc performs its intended role, how easy they are to find for purchase, how comfortable the mold is in my hand, and what sort of plaatics they're available in.

 

[Noill]

I try to pick a putter and stick with it...my putter is the least changed out mold in my bag...

consistent "class" discs like firebirds stay in because they are very predictable (for me, YMMV)

I also try to work any disc before getting into a "specialty" class disc...a disc that only gets used for very particular scenarios and otherwise is unused...

many molds can be thrown multiple ways covering multiple slots...

fyi - I am a mold minimalist

 

[Casey 1988]

I try to pick a putter and stick with it...my putter is the least changed out mold in my bag...

consistent "class" discs like firebirds stay in because they are very predictable (for me, YMMV)

I also try to work any disc before getting into a "specialty" class disc...a disc that only gets used for very particular scenarios and otherwise is unused...

many molds can be thrown multiple ways covering multiple slots...

fyi - I am a mold minimalist

I have that with most molds having at least 2 uses except my putting putters 3 in same mold including the separate uphill/downhill putter mold though in a pinch I can use the uphill downhill putter as my approach disc if I really need to if I lost the Star or Pro Shark in my bag, the discs with the most uses in my bag.

 

[ThomasOrion]

I'm the same way, I make a switch every round or 2 or 3 --- but its usually just like, 3-5 discs I swap out and that all depends on the weather/conditions/the course.


I would say if you want to avoid this, just put together the best set that you like that you feel comfortable at any course (long or short) and try to stick with that for at least 3-4 rounds. See how it goes. For sure consistency and confidence will improve because of this, BUT a big part of the fun for me is to mix things up. I have been playing long enough where If I make a switch or two its for a similar disc anyway so its not a HUGE difference to me. I just have preferences for Long courses, Short courses, Heavily wooded courses, Windy conditions, Calm conditions, Super Hot, Super Cold.

my core bag of like 15 discs almost always stays the same but yeah like 7 discs could be alternated if I felt like it. And Im OCD and a plastic addict so its a bad combo if I'm going for consistency haha.