Fade is one of the most fundamental concepts in disc golf and describes how a disc behaves at the end of its flight path. To understand what fade means and how it affects your game, it is important to have a good knowledge of the disc's flight characteristics. Fade helps players to predict how a disc will react when it starts to lose speed and fall towards the ground. This is particularly important when planning throws that require precision, for example to land near the basket or to avoid obstacles. In this article, we'll look at what fade means, how it works and how you can use it to improve your disc golf game.
What is fade in disc golf?
Fade is the tendency of a disc to turn sideways at the end of its flight path when it starts to lose speed. In the world of disc golf, fade is used to describe how strongly a disc swings against its 'natural' direction as it slows down. For right-handed players throwing a backhand, this means that the disc swings to the left at the end of its flight, while for left-handed players it swings to the right.
How is fade measured?
Fade is one of four main properties measured on a disk, along with speed, glide and turn. These characteristics are usually described by a number system where the fade value indicates how sharply the disc swings at the end of its trajectory. The fade scale usually ranges from 0 to 5, where:
- 0 means that the disk hardly turns at all and finishes its trajectory without any significant lateral movement.
- 5 means that the disk has a strong, pronounced fade that can produce a strong lateral movement when it slows down.
The fade values are particularly useful when choosing a disc for different situations. For example, a high fade disc may be good in windy conditions or when you want the disc to land in a safe and controlled way.
The difference between fade and turn
It is important not to confuse fade with turn. Turn describes how a disc behaves at the beginning of its flight path and how much it turns in the opposite direction to its natural direction. For example, if the disc has a high turn value, it means that it tends to turn to the right for a right-handed player throwing backhand. The fade, on the other hand, occurs at the end of the flight path when the disc starts to lose momentum. A disc can therefore have both a strong turn and a strong fade, which affects how it flies overall.
Why is fade important in disc golf?
Fade is an important factor in assessing a disc's control and accuracy. When playing disc golf, it is often necessary to predict where the disc will land, especially on narrow courses or when you have to avoid obstacles such as trees and bushes. The fade helps you assess how much lateral movement the disc will make before it lands, which can be crucial to making a good shot close to the basket.
The fade is also a key factor in controlling the landing of the disc. By choosing a disc with the right fade, you can control where the disc will hit the ground and how much it will roll or slide after it lands. A higher fade value will often make the disc stop faster on the ground, while a disc with a low fade will tend to continue rolling or sliding after it lands.
How can fade affect your caste?
Understanding and using the fade can significantly improve your game. The fade is particularly useful for the following types of throws:
- Hyzer Throw: The fade helps create a more pronounced lateral movement at the end of the throw, which is effective when you want to place the disc in a specific part of the lane.
- Stable casts: By choosing a high fade disc, you can control the cast better in windy conditions because the disc will resist the wind and finish its trajectory stably.
- Controlled inputs: Fade helps you place the disc close to the basket by minimizing the risk of it rolling away after it lands.
Fade can be particularly useful when playing on technical courses where precision is more important than length. A high fade disc helps you make controlled throws that stay where you want.
How do you choose a disc based on fade?
When choosing a disc, it is important to think about the types of throws and trajectories you prefer. Here are some recommendations for choosing the right fade value:
- Low fade (0-1): Suitable for beginners or for throws where you want to minimize lateral movement at the end of the flight path. These discs are more forgiving and land straight.
- Medium fade (2-3): Good for players who want a balanced flight path with some lateral movement towards the end. Suitable for all-round throwing and useful on most courses.
- High fade (4-5): For players who want maximum control over the landing of the disc. These discs are good for technical courses and windy conditions where it is important that the disc stays on the ground quickly.
Fade values can vary between different manufacturers, so it's a good idea to try a few different discs to find the fade that best suits your playing style.
Summary: Use fade to improve your game
The fade is a key part of disc golf strategy and can give you greater control over the trajectory and landing of the disc. By understanding how the fade works and how it can be used on different types of courses and in different types of shots, you can plan your shots more effectively and achieve better results. Choosing the right disc with the right fade value can help you maximize the precision of your game and make each throw more controlled and predictable. Fade is a powerful factor that both beginners and advanced players should learn to use to achieve success in disc golf.