How Long Does a Disc Golf Disc Last?

A disc golf disc’s lifespan heavily depends on its usage. Discs can last for multiple years under normal use, but their lifespan can be affected by factors such as the material they are made of, the frequency of use, how they are stored and the conditions they are used in.

However, it’s also important to note that disc golf discs tend to lose their stability over time and may not fly as well as they once did. This can happen due to wear and tear from being thrown, as well as from being exposed to extreme heat or cold and sunlight (UV radiation). If a disc golf disc becomes too worn and starts flipping over too much or damaged, it may need to be replaced.

In general, a disc golf disc is made out of plastic which can last an entire player’s career, but it’s good to keep in mind that they may need to be replaced eventually due to wear and tear. For example, I’ve been playing disc golf for over 7 years and I still have some of my first discs that I bought a long time ago stored away in a bin somewhere, but due to wear and tear those discs are pretty much useless.

Tips on how to prolong disc golf discs lifespan

This might come as a surprise … But try to avoid hitting objects, such as trees!

Crazy thought, right? I know, this one’s a toughie and kind of obvious, but trees are the #1 reason why our discs get beat in or in some extreme cases even break in half or shatter!

Here’s a video of an insane example of a disc shattering once it hits the basket’s rim:

Smart & proper storage of your discs

Store discs in a cool, dry place to prevent warping or cracking from extreme temperatures. Furthermore, I’d even cover discs from direct sunlight, because UV radiation is one of the primary causes of plastic degradation.

In addition, if you want to store your discs by stacking them on top of each other, I’d recommend putting a piece of paper between every single disc. Why you ask? If you’ve ordered multiple discs from a decent enough disc golf online store such as Infinite Discs, you might’ve noticed that some of them use paper or cardboard between discs. Brand new discs have smooth surfaces and when two discs are pressed together they will create suction. To avoid that and potential warping of a disc it’s wise to place a small paper or cardboard pieces between discs to let the air in and out.

Avoid rough surfaces

Similarly to trees try to avoid from hitting your disc against hard or sharp objects like road or tee signs, rocks, protruding tree limbs and rough surfaces like concrete or asphalt roads, as this can cause damage and affect the disc’s flight characteristics.

Additionally, as the disc rips out of your hand while driving it, any cuts and deformations in the plastic may cause lacerations and bruises on your hands and fingers. So if a disc feels weird in your hand and you constantly need to rotate the disc because of a cut in the plastic, it’s better to retire the disc for your own safety.

Wash and clean your discs regularly

Washing and cleaning your discs is fairly simple and you should do it more often!

Just use lukewarm water, add dishwasher detergent to remove oily substances and let them soak for a good 5-10 minutes. After that use your regular dishwasher sponge or towel to remove any particles of dust and mud left on the disc. Then rinse and dry them off before storing or putting them back into your bag.

PS1! Disc’s plastic is extremely sensitive to hot water and hot water may cause warping, hence I recommend using lukewarm water!

PS2! I really don’t recommend using a dishwasher to wash your discs, just do it manually using the tips I mentioned above.

Why should you wash your discs regularly?

Mainly because of the sweat we produce while playing disc golf. In addition, human sweat has traces of fat in it and fat has a greasy feel and is slippery. You don’t want your discs to slip out of your hand, don’t you?

In addition, there’s a lot of other substances that our discs pick up along the way to the basket. Dirt, mud, tree sap and much more. These substances are oftentimes either sticky or slippery and we don’t want that.

Have several backup discs incase of trouble

Imagine the horror if you lose your perfectly seasoned go-to distance driver and you don’t have a spare one … Is your game going to suffer? Most probably.

To avoid such scenario I always recommend on having 2 or even 3 discs with pretty similar beat in levels and flight characteristics. Just rotate them from time to time and voilaa! Instead of 1 you’ll have 2 or 3!

Or if you don’t want to rely on seasoning your discs you can just buy new ones off the shelf and replace them once they start flipping too much.

There it is! By following these easy tips, you can help to prolong the lifespan of your discs and enjoy the disc’s flight characteristics for longer.