Disc Golf Terminology Explained: 60+ Terms, Slang & Meanings
Learn 60+ common disc golf terms, from hyzer, anhyzer and fade to C1, parked, first available and other disc golf slang every player should know.
10/8/202618 min read
Disc golf has a wonderfully simple objective: throw the disc toward the basket and try to get there in as few throws as possible.
The vocabulary is considerably less simple.
Play a few rounds and suddenly people are discussing hyzer flips, C1X, mandos, flippy discs, tree kicks and whether somebody just got “niced.”
This glossary covers the disc golf terminology beginners are most likely to encounter, including official rules language, throwing and flight terms, scoring vocabulary, statistics and the stranger bits of disc golf slang that develop when people spend enough time throwing plastic through trees.
Some terms have precise definitions. Others are informal and vary between regions, leagues and groups of friends.
We’ll tell you which is which.
Disc Golf Basics & Scoring
What Is an Ace?
An ace is completing a hole in one throw from the tee.
It is disc golf’s version of a hole-in-one.
Aces made during practice throws or casual extra throws may still be exciting, but whether players consider them a “true ace” can become the sort of discussion best avoided if everyone would like to finish the round before sunset.
What Is a Birdie?
A birdie is completing a hole one throw under par.
If a hole is par 3 and you finish in two throws, you made a birdie.
What Is an Eagle?
An eagle is completing a hole two throws under par.
On a par 4, finishing in two throws would be an eagle.
What Is Par?
Par is the score assigned to a hole representing the expected number of throws for a skilled player under the course’s scoring setup.
Players also describe their round relative to par.
If you are five throws under par overall, you are five down.
What Is a Bogey?
A bogey is completing a hole one throw over par.
A double bogey is two over par, a triple bogey is three over, and from there the terminology becomes less important than figuring out what just happened.
What Is an Approach or Upshot?
An approach, often called an upshot, is a controlled throw intended to leave the disc near the basket for an easier next shot.
Approaches prioritize placement over maximum distance and are commonly thrown with putters, approach discs or midranges.
A 450-foot drive attracts attention.
A boring 170-foot approach parked underneath the basket quietly saves the score.
What Does “Lay Up” Mean?
To lay up means deliberately throwing safely near the basket rather than aggressively attempting to make the shot.
Players often lay up when a miss could create a roll-away, OB penalty, water shot or difficult comeback putt.
What Does “Run It” Mean?
To run it means making an aggressive attempt to put the disc in the basket rather than laying up safely.
“Run everything” is the considerably less cautious philosophy.
Sometimes it produces chains.
Sometimes a 25-foot putt becomes a 48-foot comeback putt with astonishing efficiency.
Disc Flight & Stability
What Do Speed, Glide, Turn and Fade Mean?
Most golf discs use four flight ratings in this order:
Speed | Glide | Turn | Fade
They are comparison tools intended to describe how a disc is designed to fly. Actual flight also depends on throwing speed, technique, release angle, disc wear, wind and other factors.
Speed describes how fast the disc is designed to travel and how much throwing speed is generally needed to produce its intended flight.
Glide describes the disc’s tendency to remain aloft.
Turn describes the disc’s high-speed tendency to move right during a flat right-handed backhand throw. More negative numbers generally indicate greater turn.
Fade describes the disc’s low-speed tendency to finish left during a right-handed backhand throw.
For left-handed backhand throws and many forehand throws, those left-right directions reverse.
Flight numbers are useful.
They are not legally binding promises from the disc.
Trees retain veto power.
What Does Understable Mean?
An understable disc tends to turn more readily during the high-speed portion of its flight.
For a flat right-handed backhand throw, that generally means greater movement to the right.
Understable discs are often useful for beginners, turnovers and hyzer flips.
What Does Stable Mean?
A stable disc tends to remain comparatively straight without excessive high-speed turn or low-speed fade.
Exactly how stable a disc appears depends on throwing speed, release angle and the individual disc.
What Does Overstable Mean?
An overstable disc strongly resists high-speed turn and generally produces a stronger fade at the end of flight.
For a right-handed backhand player, that usually means a stronger finish to the left.
What Does “Flippy” Mean?
Flippy is informal player slang for a disc that turns easily.
The disc may be understable by design, worn through use or simply being thrown fast enough to produce substantial high-speed turn.
“Flippy” is not an official flight-rating category.
Exactly how flippy a disc feels depends heavily on who is throwing it.
Hyzer and anhyzer describe release angle. Turn and fade describe how the disc behaves during flight.
Throwing & Shot-Shaping Terms
What Is a Hyzer?
A hyzer is a release angle where the outside edge of the disc is tilted downward relative to the edge held by the thrower.
For a right-handed backhand player, a hyzer release commonly creates a flight that moves or finishes left.
Technically, hyzer describes the release angle, although players sometimes use the word casually when describing the resulting flight shape.
What Is an Anhyzer?
An anhyzer is the opposite release angle: the outside edge of the disc is tilted upward.
For a right-handed backhand player, an anhyzer release encourages the disc to move right.
Depending on stability, power and angle, the disc may continue right, flatten or eventually fade back left.
What Is a Hyzer Flip?
A hyzer flip is a throw released on hyzer that turns or “flips” toward flat during flight.
Understable and seasoned discs are commonly used for hyzer flips.
A well-executed one can produce an unusually straight flight through a narrow fairway.
What Is a Turnover?
A turnover is a shot intended to turn away from the disc’s normal fading direction and hold that turning line for much of the flight.
For a right-handed backhand player, that normally means traveling to the right.
Turnover is common player terminology rather than a special rules category.
What Is a Flex Shot?
A flex shot intentionally uses a turning portion of flight followed by the disc fighting back toward its fade.
For a right-handed backhand player, that often produces an S-shaped flight moving right before finishing left.
What Is a Spike Hyzer?
A spike hyzer is a steep, high hyzer intended to descend sharply rather than continue gliding forward.
Players use it to clear obstacles or reduce forward ground movement at landing.
The disc may arrive at an angle close to vertical.
Hence “spike.”
Subtle, this sport is not.
What Is a Roller?
A roller is a throw intentionally designed to land on the disc’s edge and continue traveling along the ground.
Rollers can provide distance or navigate underneath obstacles where an airborne route is difficult.
What Is a Forehand Roller?
A forehand roller is a roller produced using a forehand throwing motion.
The disc is intentionally landed on edge, and both disc stability and landing angle strongly affect how it rolls.
What Are Backhand and Forehand Throws?
A backhand throw crosses the body before release, while a forehand uses a sidearm-style motion.
Common abbreviations include:
RHBH: Right-Hand Backhand
LHBH: Left-Hand Backhand
RHFH: Right-Hand Forehand
LHFH: Left-Hand Forehand
RHBH is commonly used as the reference when explaining turn and fade.
What Are a Tomahawk and Thumber?
Tomahawks and thumbers are overhand throws where the disc travels through the air on a steep rotating flight.
A tomahawk commonly uses a forehand-style grip.
A thumber places the thumb inside the rim.
Players use them for escape shots, obstacles and unusual flight shapes.
What Is a Touch Shot?
A touch shot is informal terminology for a controlled throw emphasizing finesse, angle and placement rather than maximum power.
Approaches, soft turnovers and technical wooded shots often require good touch.
Brute force has been asked to wait outside.
What Is a Sky Anhyzer?
A sky anhyzer is a high throw released on an anhyzer angle.
The extra height allows the disc to travel along a large sweeping flight before descending.
Putting Terminology
What Is a Push Putt?
A push putt is a putting style emphasizing a forward lifting or pushing motion with comparatively less wrist-driven spin.
Real putting styles exist on a spectrum, so many players combine characteristics of both push and spin putting.
What Is a Spin Putt?
A spin putt relies more heavily on wrist action and disc rotation to propel the disc toward the basket.
Spin can help maintain speed over longer putting distances.
It can also help a missed putt continue enthusiastically beyond the basket.
What Is a Straddle Putt?
A straddle putt uses a stance where the feet are spread apart instead of one being positioned substantially behind the other.
It is useful around trees and other obstacles and is also some players’ normal stance.
What Is a Jump Putt?
A jump putt is a putting technique where the player's momentum carries them forward after the disc has been released.
It is normally used outside the 10-meter putting area.
The player must still have a legal stance at the instant of release.
What Is a Step Putt?
A step putt is a putting technique where the player steps forward through the motion after releasing the disc.
Like jump putting, it is generally used outside the 10-meter putting area.
The stance must remain legal at the exact moment of release.
This distinction has generated enough slow-motion internet analysis to qualify as a small film genre.
What Is a Turbo Putt?
A turbo putt is an unconventional putting style where the disc is held high near or above the shoulder or head and propelled toward the target with an overhand-style motion.
It can also be useful when obstacles interfere with a conventional putting stroke.
What Is a Comeback Putt?
A comeback putt is the next putt faced after a missed attempt finishes beyond the basket.
Aggressive putting creates more comeback putts.
Confidence occasionally sends invoices.
What Is a Tap-In?
A tap-in is an extremely short putt expected to be made with little difficulty.
There is no universal official distance for a casual tap-in.
It simply means the putt is close enough that missing will immediately make everyone else on the card extremely attentive.
What Is a Death Putt?
A death putt is informal slang for a putt where missing could create a dramatically worse result.
Examples include baskets near steep hills, water, OB or large drop-offs.
Making the putt is excellent.
Missing it by six inches and watching the disc roll another 80 feet is educational.
Course & Rules Terminology
What Is a Teeing Area or Tee Pad?
The teeing area is the designated area from which the first throw of a hole is made.
A constructed concrete, turf, rubber or similar surface is commonly called a tee pad.
Not every teeing area is literally a constructed pad, so teeing area is the more precise rules term.
What Is a Lie?
The lie is the place where the player must establish their stance for the next throw.
For a marked lie, PDGA rules define it as a rectangle 20 centimeters wide and 30 centimeters deep extending behind the marker along the line of play.
What Is a Mini Marker?
A mini marker, usually called a mini, is a small disc used to mark the lie.
The player may place the mini immediately in front of the thrown disc on the line of play and then remove the thrown disc.
What Is OB?
OB means out of bounds.
Under PDGA rules, a disc is out of bounds when its position is clearly and completely surrounded by an OB area.
The OB line itself is also out of bounds.
An OB throw normally adds one penalty throw, and the next lie is established according to the applicable OB rule or course instructions.
Checking the tee sign before throwing remains the preferred order of operations.
What Is a Mando?
Mando is common shorthand for a mandatory route.
Current PDGA rules use a restricted plane to determine violations.
If part of the thrown disc clearly enters the restricted plane, a penalty applies and play continues according to the mandatory-route rule, generally using the designated drop zone or previous lie if no drop zone exists.
Players will continue saying “mando left of that tree.”
The rulebook simply brought geometry.
What Is a Drop Zone?
A drop zone is a designated place from which a player throws under specified conditions.
Drop zones may be used after certain mandatory-route violations, OB situations or other course-specific rules.
What Is a Hazard?
A hazard is a specially designated area where landing normally results in a penalty throw without relocating the lie.
That is an important difference from most OB situations.
What Is an Island Hole?
An island hole is a course-design term for a hole where the intended landing area or green is surrounded by OB or another restricted area.
There is no single universal “island rule.”
The tee sign or event rules determine exactly how the hole is played.
What Is a Stance Violation or Foot Fault?
A stance violation occurs when a player does not have a legal stance at the moment the disc is released.
Players frequently call this a foot fault, but the official rule can involve any supporting point, not just a foot.
What Is a Lost Disc?
Under PDGA rules, a disc becomes lost when it cannot be located within the allowed three-minute search period after the player reaches the area where it is believed to be and the search begins.
A lost disc results in a penalty and the next lie is established according to the lost-disc rule.
Casual groups may search much longer if the disc was expensive, sentimental or approximately nine minutes old.
What Is a Provisional Throw?
A provisional is an alternate throw or sequence of throws used in certain rules situations when playing both possible outcomes can prevent unnecessary delay.
The player must declare the provisional and identify why it is being played and which sequence applies to each possible ruling.
It is not simply a free second throw when something feels questionable.
Statistics & UDisc Terms
What Is Circle 1?
Circle 1, usually shortened to C1, refers to the 10-meter putting area around the target.
Under PDGA rules, a throw is considered a putt when the lie is within 10 meters of the target, measured from the front of the lie to the base of the target.
Inside this putting area, the player must demonstrate full balance behind the lie before advancing toward the target.
What Is Circle 2?
Circle 2, or C2, commonly describes the area between 10 and 20 meters from the basket, approximately 33 to 66 feet.
Unlike Circle 1, Circle 2 is not a special putting-rule zone in the PDGA rules.
It is primarily a statistical and descriptive convention.
What Does C1X Mean?
C1X measures putting performance from Circle 1 while excluding the shortest tap-ins.
UDisc defines C1X as putts from approximately 3.3 to 10 meters, or 11 to 33 feet.
What Does Circle in Regulation Mean?
Circle in Regulation measures whether a player reached a putting position with enough throws remaining to complete the hole in par using two putts.
UDisc tracks both C1 in Regulation and C2 in Regulation.
What Does “Parked” Mean?
Parked means landing extremely close to the basket, leaving what should be a very easy putt.
Casually, there is no universally enforced parked distance.
For UDisc statistics, parked means finishing within approximately 3.3 meters or 11 feet of the target.
Apparently “that landed really close” eventually required analytics.
What Does “On the Fairway” Mean?
In UDisc statistics, On the Fairway describes a drive that finishes in the intended fairway rather than off the intended landing area.
UDisc uses these results when calculating Driving Accuracy.
What Is a Scramble?
A scramble is a successful recovery from a poor position such as rough, obstacles or an off-fairway lie.
In UDisc statistics, scrambling measures how often a player still scores par or better after being off the fairway or OB during the hole.
What Is a Throw-In?
A throw-in is a made shot from well outside normal putting range.
For UDisc statistics, a throw-in comes from outside Circle 2, more than 20 meters or about 66 feet away.
An ace also qualifies statistically.
Nobody is likely to celebrate your first ace by calmly saying, “Excellent throw-in.”
Circle 1 is the official 10-meter putting area. Circle 2 commonly describes the 10-to-20-meter range used in statistics and broadcasts.
Disc & Equipment Terms
What Does “Disc Up” Mean?
Disc up is informal player language for choosing a faster or more distance-oriented disc than you would otherwise use.
A player might move from a midrange to a fairway driver because of distance, elevation, wind or shot shape.
What Does “Disc Down” Mean?
Disc down means choosing a slower, more controllable disc instead of a faster one.
Accuracy sometimes benefits from admitting that the answer is not always “throw the fastest thing harder.”
What Does “Beat-In” Mean?
A beat-in disc is one whose flight characteristics have changed through repeated use and wear.
Many discs become more understable as they beat in.
Players sometimes carry several copies of the same mold at different stages of wear because each provides a different flight.
This is one of several paths from owning three discs to owning thirty.
What Does “Seasoned” Mean?
Seasoned is another common term for a disc whose flight has changed through regular use.
A seasoned disc is not necessarily damaged or undesirable.
Experienced players often prize them because their flights have become familiar and useful.
What Does “Domey” Mean?
Domey describes a disc whose flight plate rises noticeably above the rim, creating a more rounded profile.
It describes physical shape rather than one guaranteed flight characteristic.
What Is a Flat-Top Disc?
A flat-top disc has a comparatively flat flight plate rather than a noticeable dome.
Flatness can affect feel and flight, although the precise effect depends on the mold and individual disc.
What Is a Power Grip?
A power grip is a backhand grip commonly used for distance, with the fingers curled firmly underneath and against the rim.
There are multiple variations.
What Is a Fan Grip?
A fan grip spreads some or all of the fingers beneath the flight plate instead of curling every finger tightly against the inside rim.
Many players use fan-style grips for putters, midranges and controlled throws.
What Is Nose Angle?
Nose angle describes how the leading edge of the disc is oriented relative to its direction of travel.
Small changes in nose angle can substantially affect height, drag and distance.
What Does “Nose Up” Mean?
Nose up means the leading edge is tilted upward relative to the direction of travel.
Too much nose-up angle commonly causes drives to climb, slow down and fade earlier than intended.
What Does “Nose Down” Mean?
Nose down means the leading edge is oriented lower relative to the direction of travel.
An appropriate nose-down orientation can help a drive penetrate forward rather than climbing excessively.
It does not mean deliberately throwing the disc into the dirt.
Small changes in nose angle can produce very different flights, particularly on longer throws.
Wind & Playing Conditions
What Is a Headwind?
A headwind blows toward the player and against the general direction of the throw.
Relative to the flying disc, a headwind increases effective airspeed.
That generally creates more high-speed turn and makes a disc behave more understable than it would in calm conditions.
What Is a Tailwind?
A tailwind blows in the same general direction the disc is traveling.
It reduces effective airspeed and generally creates less turn, making the disc behave more overstable relative to the same throw in calm conditions.
What Is a Crosswind?
A crosswind blows across the intended flight path.
Crosswinds interact strongly with the angle of the disc and which surface is exposed to the wind.
The underside can catch wind dramatically.
The top can be pushed downward.
Wind turns basic disc selection into applied aerodynamics with trees nearby.
What Is a Skip?
A skip occurs when a disc contacts the ground at speed and continues moving instead of stopping.
Players sometimes intentionally use skips for movement around obstacles or added distance near the end of a shot.
What Does “Ground Play” Mean?
Ground play describes what the disc does after contacting the ground.
This includes skipping, sliding, rolling, bouncing and stopping.
Landing is sometimes merely the opening act.
Headwinds generally create more turn, while tailwinds generally reduce turn. Crosswinds depend heavily on which surface of the disc is exposed.
Tournament & Event Terms
What Is a Card?
Card is common player shorthand for the group of competitors playing together.
Official rules generally refer to them simply as the group.
What Is a Cardmate?
A cardmate is another player in your playing group.
Cardmates may observe throws, confirm scores and participate in certain group rules decisions.
What Does CTP Mean?
CTP means Closest to the Pin.
It is commonly used in leagues and tournaments for a side competition rewarding the throw finishing closest to the target on a designated hole.
What Does DZ Mean?
DZ is shorthand for drop zone.
You may see it on tee signs, course maps and tournament instructions.
What Is a Shotgun Start?
A shotgun start is an event format where different groups begin on different holes at approximately the same time.
Instead of every group starting on Hole 1, players are distributed around the course before play begins.
No firearms are involved.
The name nevertheless continues to sound unnecessarily dramatic.
What Is a Pin?
Pin is common informal terminology for the basket or basket location.
Players may say:
“The pin is behind those trees.”
The official target is a basket target, but traditional golf vocabulary occasionally sneaks through the fence.
What Is a Pin Position?
A pin position is one of multiple possible basket locations available on a hole.
Courses with multiple positions can change distance and shot shape simply by moving the basket.
Disc Golf Slang & Course Talk
What Does “First Available” Mean?
First available is slang for the first major obstacle immediately along the intended flight path, especially after your disc hits it.
On wooded courses, this is usually a tree.
“I hit first available” roughly translates to:
“I released the disc and approximately eleven milliseconds later the forest rejected my proposal.”
What Is a Tree Kick?
A tree kick occurs when a disc hits a tree and is redirected from its original path.
A fortunate one moves toward the basket.
An unfortunate one begins an entirely different adventure.
What Does “Nice” Mean?
Usually, nice simply means somebody liked your shot.
Disc golf also has a running superstition that praising a disc while it is still flying can somehow jinx the result.
If somebody says:
“Don't nice me.”
they are jokingly accusing your compliment of interfering with physics.
This is culture.
Not regulation.
What Does “Two Off the First” Mean?
Two off the first is an informal casual-round tradition where players throw two tee shots on the opening hole, often because nobody warmed up.
Groups vary on exactly how they treat the two throws.
It is not a normal tournament rule.
It is a diplomatic agreement that the first throw of the morning should not necessarily be entered into evidence.
What Does “One More for Science” Mean?
One more for science is slang for throwing an extra practice shot to see whether a different disc, angle or decision would have worked better.
The extra attempt generally does not count toward the score being played.
Players may simply announce:
“Science.”
The scientific method remains undefeated whenever the second throw is dramatically better than the one that counted.
What Does “Noodle Arm” Mean?
Noodle arm is humorous slang for a player who does not throw particularly far or powerfully.
Players frequently use it about themselves rather than as a serious insult.
Everyone has a noodle arm compared with somebody.
What Is a Chain-Out or Spit-Out?
A chain-out or spit-out happens when the disc contacts the chains but fails to remain supported by the target.
Players use slightly different terms depending on exactly how the disc escaped.
The emotional response requires no translation.
What Does “Cage” Mean?
Cage is informal player language for the lower metal basket portion of the target.
“I hit cage” usually means the putt struck below the chains instead of going in.
What Does “Band” Mean?
Band is common player terminology for the upper metal ring or support above the chains on many basket designs.
“Hitting band” normally means the putt was too high.
What Is an Ace Run?
An ace run is a throw aggressively aimed at the basket with a realistic chance of going in for an ace.
A miss may leave a difficult comeback.
A make becomes a story you are required to tell repeatedly.
What Is a Patent-Pending Shot?
Patent pending is informal slang for an awkward recovery stance commonly used when the lie is obstructed.
The player typically faces partly away from the target and extends a leg sideways to create room for a backhand escape.
No actual patent appears to be involved.
Are All Disc Golf Slang Terms Universal?
No. Disc golf slang varies by region, club, generation and individual playing group.
Terms such as hyzer, OB, lie and C1 have standardized or broadly recognized meanings.
Expressions such as one more for science, tree love, player B and countless others may be common in one group and completely unfamiliar in another.
Disc golf has official terminology.
It also has dialects.
The short version: enough disc golf terminology to survive your first few rounds without nodding politely while understanding absolutely nothing.
What Disc Golf Terms Should a Beginner Learn First?
You absolutely do not need to memorize this entire glossary before playing.
Start with par, birdie, ace, lie, OB, mando, hyzer, anhyzer, turn, fade, stable, understable, overstable, approach and parked.
Then go play.
The rest becomes considerably easier once you have actually seen the throws and situations those words describe.
If you are completely new to the game, start with our Disc Golf for Beginners: How to Play, What You Need, and What to Know.
Looking for Disc Golf Shirts?
Once phrases such as first available, hyzer flip and run everything begin making perfect sense, congratulations.
The transformation has begun.
Our Disc Golf Graphic Tees collection is built around the game, its language and the peculiar collection of decisions that happen between the tee and the basket.
Because sometimes explaining disc golf terminology is easier when you're already wearing it.
References
Professional Disc Golf Association — Official Rules of Disc Golf
Innova Disc Golf — Glossary of Disc Golf Terms
Innova Disc Golf — Flight Ratings System
UDisc — Disc Golf Disc Numbers: What They Mean
UDisc — Hyzer Meaning, Origin & How to Throw It
UDisc — Scorecard Statistics & Definitions
Disc Golf Pro Tour — A Beginner’s Guide to Disc Golf Terminology
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