How Many Discs Do You Need For Disc Golf?

Disc golf is becoming more and more of a passion of mine as I go out to the local course and start playing more often. When I first started playing, I wasn’t sure where to go, or what to start with so I did like you and searched the internet. One of the first questions that came to my mind and the question that looms in every beginner disc golf players head is “Just How Many Discs Do You Need For Disc Golf?”

This is a very subjective question and if you search enough on the web like I did, you can see that almost everyone has a different answer for this question. I can tell you this, there are distinct advantages, and disadvantages, to carrying a lot of disc golf discs around with you at the course and I will cover all those right here.

The absolute minimum discs you need to play disc golf is…1! If you want to be more versatile then you should have at bare minimum 3 discs, a driver, approach, and putter disc.

I have seen people with bags full of discs bulging out that seemed to just spew out when the player unzipped their bag, and I have seen people that just carry 3 around because they are just there to have a good time. It depends on how serious you take it, and how diverse you want your selection of discs to be. After all, each disc is designed to fly a little different for each situation.

Take a look at this picture to see how each of these Innova discs flys a bit differently depending on their flight ratings and design.

You can also check out the huge selection of discs at Infinitediscs and see how each is a bit different than the next.

Innova Disc Flight Characteristics Drivers

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How Many Disc Golf Discs To Carry And Why

Now comes the topic of debate, and debated it is. Like I said earlier, you will get conflicting answers on how many disc golf discs to carry depending on who you ask but I can guarantee that no one that plays disc golf will ever tell you to only carry 3 discs. That is just asking for a world of trouble, unless you want to spend a lot of time in the inevitable moment you lose sight of your disc and have to search for an hour to find it.

Many people claim that the bare minimum you should carry with you should be 6. They would consist of 2 drivers, 2 approach, and 2 putters. Some of the more enthusiastic players tend to carry anywhere from 15-30 discs around with them at the course. I say, carry what you are comfortable with. I only carry about 6 myself because I am an enthusiast that likes to go play and have a good time. I try not to take it too serious.

Lets dive into why you may or may not want to carry a bunch of disc golf discs around with you at the course.

Advantages To Carrying More Disc Golf Discs

6 discs seems to be the minimum number that disc golfers will tell you to carry around. So why carry 6 discs? Well if you do happen to lose one of your discs and it cannot be found, then you have a spare so you can keep moving on. Hopefully you have your name and phone number on your disc so if it gets found later, that honest soul will be able to return it to you. The same can be said for carrying more than 6, you will always have a spare for you or your buddies should something happen.
Remember when I said each disc flies different than the next? Well that is the exact reason you would want to carry more discs with you, so you can have a disc for any type of hole you may encounter. I have seen people carrying discs that gave them a WIDE range of throwing types including
- 3 distance drivers – over stable, stable, under stable
- 3 fairway drivers – over stable, stable, under stable
- 3 mid ranges – over stable, stable, under stable
- 2 putters- short putt, long putt

This allowed this fella to have as much control as he needed throughout the course and hit that dogleg right, or left, or whatever he wanted. Just like a regular ball golfer chooses his clubs to fit the hole, so do most disc golfers.

Disadvantages To Carrying More Disc Golf Discs

You may be asking yourself, with such variety and versatility, what could possibly be the disadvantages? Well, hauling around a bunch of plastic discs around for 18 holes in a bag on your back can get very tiring and cause you to become sore. If you are fighting back problems already then this may not be ideal for you.

Do I Need A Bag For My Disc Golf Discs?

The answer to this question is unequivocally, yes! I haven’t used a bag at all in any of my outings to the disc golf course and I have regretted it every time. If you are carrying a small amount like me then you probably don’t need to go out and buy yourself a fancy disc bag to hold your 6 discs but a book bag would work perfectly and allow you to carry a couple waters as well.

If you are one of the types of disc golf players that likes to carry 20 or 30 discs around, you might want to opt for a bag to organize all your discs neatly like a disc golf bag will do. With all those discs, there is another option to help keep your back from aching so badly and that is a cart.

Maybe You Need A Disc Golf Cart

A disc golf cart could be just the answer if you really want to carry all without having to strain your back or get even more sore and achy from a long day out on the course. For those that like to have all those discs for variety and versatility, then you should check out a disc golf cart to go with your disc golf bags. While you are looking around Infinitediscs, go ahead and take a look at their carts and see which one fits your style.

Can You Play Disc Golf With One Disc?

I already answered this earlier but I wanted to cover this in a little more depth. If all you are doing is practicing, or you can only afford one disc, or you just love how that one disc flies no matter what type of hole you are on, then by all means, GO FOR IT. You can ABSOLUTELY play disc golf with one disc. You are going to go pick them up and throw them again anyway and nothing is stopping you from going and having fun with only one disc in your possession.

Can You Play Disc Golf With A Regular Frisbee?

When it comes to the official rules of disc golf, no you cannot play disc golf with a regular frisbee but they are great to practice with or to take out to the local disc golf course and have a good time trying to sink a regular frisbee in the basket. If you are casually playing, you can pretty much do anything you want.

Final Thoughts

When it comes down to it, you can carry as many or as few disc golf discs as you want in order to make this wonderful game something you enjoy. If you want to get into the science of the game and really get down and dirty trying to throw a different disc for each type of hole you play, then make sure you get a selection of discs with a wide range flight characteristics and practice every day so you can master the flight of every disc on your bag or cart.

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