The Best Disc Golf Discs for Beginners

Walking into a disc golf shop can be overwhelming when you see racks upon racks of discs and have no idea what to choose. When I started more than twenty years ago, I picked a driver, a midrange, and a putter that fit my hands and looked cool. I hope these pointers help your decision process and get you on the course confident you’re throwing sensible plastic.

TL;DR

• Build a three-disc bag: putter, midrange, and fairway driver (skip high-speed drivers at first).
• If you’re worried about losing your first few discs, choose DX (or another base plastic)—they’re inexpensive to replace.
• If you want something that feels nicer in the hand or holds its flight longer, Champion and Star (and similar premium blends) are more durable—and you can find some great stamp art.
• Can’t find these exact models? Search for the same flight numbers or ask the shop for “something like” each disc below.

The four basic types

Discs are grouped into four broad categories: putter, midrange, fairway driver, and distance driver.

Avoid max-distance drivers when you’re new. With typical beginner form, you’ll often get more distance from a fairway driver or even a midrange than from a wide-rim speed-13 driver. High-speed discs need more snap and nose angle control; until that’s in place, they tend to fade early and feel “dumpy.”

Putter: feel first

Your putter should feel right in your hand for grip style (spin putt, push putt, etc.). Hand size is a useful starting point:

• Larger hands often gravitate toward deeper rims or slightly larger diameters—examples people commonly try include the Latitude 64 Judge, Discraft Challenger, Innova Pig (approach putter), or a tall bead like the Rhyno.
• Smaller hands often prefer shallow rims or smaller-feeling profiles—good discs to try include the Latitude 64 Pure, Discraft Magnet, MVP Atom, or a classic P2-style putter.

None of that is a rule—hold several and buy what you’ll reach for on hole 18.

The MVP Glitch is a blast for catch; throwing catch with a friend is a great way to build touch and timing. Most players find the Glitch too light and too sensitive to wind to be their only putter in real rounds, but it’s a fun training disc.

Midrange: straight is your teacher

Solid first midranges include the Innova Mako3, Innova Roc, Discraft Buzzz, or—if you want the MVP/Axiom family—search for “MVP disc similar to Buzzz”; the Reactor is often suggested as a stable, workable mid in that line (always compare flight numbers and ask the shop).

I carry a Mako3 (very straight) and a Buzzz (a touch of turn for my line). The Mako3 is excellent for field work: when it flies straight, your release is probably reasonable; when it consistently drifts left or right, it’s a hint that form—not the disc—is worth a look.

Fairway driver: control before speed

Good beginner-friendly fairways include the MVP Signal (easy turnover for many arms), Innova Leopard or Leopard3, Latitude 64 River, Discmania Essence, or Axiom Crave (stable to slightly overstable depending on plastic and wear).

Look for lower speed (roughly 6–8), enough glide to carry, and turn/fade that match whether you want a hyzer flip, a straight shot, or a reliable fade.

Plastics: what you’re paying for

• DX and similar base plastics are usually the cheapest and beat in the fastest—they’ll pick up scuffs and turn more understable over time. That’s fine when you’re still losing discs in ponds and rough; replacing a DX disc hurts less.
• Champion, Star, and similar premium plastics cost more and last longer; they hold their intended flight longer. If you splurge on one disc, a putter or midrange is a practical choice—you throw them often and they’re less likely to vanish on a full-power rip.

Flight numbers (the basics)

Most discs are stamped with four numbers: speed, glide, turn, and fade. For a right-handed backhand (RHBH) throw:

NumberMeaning (simplified)

Speed

How fast the disc must move to behave “as designed.” Higher numbers need more power and clean form.

Glide

How long the disc wants to stay in the air (all else equal).

Turn

High-speed stability. Negative = tendency to drift right early in the flight (for RHBH). 0 or positive = more resistant to turning.

Fade

Low-speed hook. Higher fade = more left finish (for RHBH).

Use these numbers to compare discs across brands—they’re not perfectly standardized, but they’re a shared language in the shop. When in doubt, slower and straighter discs give clearer feedback while you learn.

Closing

You don’t need a full bag on day one. Putter, midrange, fairway—plastic you’re okay losing at first, then upgrade where it matters. Get out, throw, and adjust as your arm and your taste catch up.