In this post I hope to give you ideas, as well as specific discs, to help you in your move from a beginning disc golfer to an intermediate one. There are some important factors we will consider. As your game evolves, so too will your discs. So let’s take a look at 27 discs that are perfect for intermediate disc golfers! Enjoy!
We started out with 13 Discs and now it’s 27. There are a lot of different shot shapes that intermediate players make and we wanted to capture that in our post and give you more options to up your game. Enjoy1
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Moving from Beginner to Intermediate in Disc Golf – Introduction
When you are first starting out in disc golf, the common advice is to get the “flippiest”, most understable discs you can find.
So that’s exactly what you do.
You probably also hear that you should not get discs that are “too fast”. The logic being that your arm speed, as a beginner, is not nearly high enough to get the discs to behave as they should.
If you are like me, and you felt the need for speed, you disregarded that advice and got them anyways. “Eventually,” I reasoned, “I’m going to need this speed. I might as well get it now…”
We’re very much alike, you and I…
But now, there’s a good chance if you are reading this, that you have put in the work, and your game has naturally progressed. There are shots that you are ready to execute, but you don’t necessarily have the right discs to pull it off.
And, even thought we don’t say it out loud, we think there’s a little more distance to be had as well. I’m right there with you.
I had those same thoughts, and I found some discs that really helped me take my game to that next level. With that in mind, here are 13 discs I found that will help disc golfers make the move up from a beginner disc golfer to an intermediate one! Let’s start with putters and go!
Go From Beginner to Intermediate – PUTTERS
Recently, I just completed a post entitled “Best Putting Putters You’ve NEVER Heard of!” It briefly reviews some of the go-to classics but mostly highlights, some great, lesser-known yet highly rated putters, that may very well help you in your putting game. Definitely give it a look!
For this post, however, I am thinking more about driving putters and approach putters.
For approach shots, many times you want something that you can throw forehand and backhand. Something that is also stable enough to handle that forehand torque…
I can’t tell you how many times I turned and burned a forehand approach shot because my discs weren’t stable enough. Now I have a few options I can go to, and I feel so much more confident executing that forehand approach without worrying the disc will dive bomb out of control, costing me strokes and pissing me off in the process!
Here are some rock solid recommendations to fill that overstable approach disc in your bag.
Approach Discs!
The Zone!
The Zone, by Discraft, is a very highly rated disc. It gets 4.9 out of 5 stars (with hundreds of reviews) as of this posting. It’s got a nice slow speed so you don’t overshoot the basket, and can really hold the torque of a forehand flick. It also holds up great in headwinds.
I really like my zone in the Big Z FLX plastic. It’s stable, durable, but also soft, so it’s less likely to roll away.
You can read reviews for yourself and choose which works for you here!
Find The Zone on Amazon here! (paid link)
The Harp!
The Harp, by Westside Discs, is another tried and true mold. Perhaps slightly less stable than a zone (thus slightly more beginner friendly), but still performs similarly. It is also a bit deeper than the zone for those that prefer depth in their discs.
It can fight wind, hold hyzer lines, and uphold the torque of a forehand approach.
The Harp is another nifty disc for landing close to the basket and making sure you’re not tested too much on your putts!
Play with The Harp!
Find The Harp on Amazon Here! (paid link)
Throwing Putters!
The Envy by Axiom!
The Envy, by Axiom, is another incredibly popular throwing putter. Perhaps the most popular. Does it hurt that it was made instantly famous by James Conrad and his Holy Shot? Probably not.
Nevertheless, this putter does it all, depending on what angle you release it on. It can stand up and turn over. It can hold hyzer lines and it can go straight as an arrow and finish straight as well. You really won’t regret having this amazing throwing putter in your bag.
Find The Envy on Amazon Here! (paid link)
Against conventional wisdom, I even use a C-Blend Tomb as a putting putter. But it also doubles as an exceptional throwing putter as well.
The Infinite Discs Tomb
Against conventional wisdom, I even use a C-Blend Tomb as a putting putter. But it also doubles as an exceptional throwing putter as well.
It has a shallow depth and a bead, both of which I like. You can pipe it up the middle but it can also handle a whole lot of different angles and torques. It does a lot, and is a great disc to grow into.
And as always, discs from Infinite can be had at a great price.
Check out The Tomb!
Get The Tomb!
Intermediate Discs with High Glide!
I love a disc with a lot of glide on it. In fact, I love them so much, I dedicated an entire post to Discs with High Glide! Be sure to give it a look.
But apart from the obvious added boost in distance, a high glide disc is going to give you more options with shot shaping as well. If you are doing a turnover shot that can’t get close with a forehand, you’ll want that extra glide to put the disc close.
With that in mind, here are some great options for you as you look to take your game to the next level.
The MVP Ohm!
The Ohm, from MVP, is a highly workable, high glide disc.
You can use it to assault the basket from circle 2 and out, or just watch it glide straight down a narrow fairway with a subtle finishing fade.
I can also put it on a lot of angles and watch it hold the line for getting out of binds.
Check out The Ohm!
Find The Ohm on Amazon Here! (paid link)
The Lat64 Fuse!
The Fuse, from Latiitude 64, is a gliding, workable phenom!
With a glide of 6, and a turn of -1, this midrange is begging to be flipped to straight or sailed gracefully around difficult bends.
It’s a perfect fit for players looking to level up and it can stay in your bag for life.
Get The Fuse!
Find The Fuse on Amazon Here! (paid link)
The Lone Star Guadalupe!
The Guadalupe, from LSD, is wonderful fairway driver that checks a lot of boxes.
It’s great for hyzer-flips, anhyzer shots, and shot shaping. And with its high glide it is good for some easy distance as well. All told, this is a very versatile disc that will stay with you as you improve.
Get The Guadalupe!
Find The Guadalupe on Amazon Here! (paid link)
Move from Beginner to Intermediate – MIDRANGES!
I absolutely love my Buzzz SS! I recommend it for beginners and put it in my post called Ageless Disc Golf Starter Set for Beginners. I’ll keep it in my bag forever. Nevertheless, it has it’s limitations.
Because it’s naturally understable, one such limitation is it’s “flickability”. There are more than a few approach shots I’ve attempted with it that turned over and left me outside of my putting range.
With that in mind, I’ve got a few midranges I’ve added to my collection that can handle the torque of the forehand and serve other important roles for me as well…
If you are into Midranges as much as I am, try this post called Best Midranges by Every Category!
The Quake!
The Quake, by DGA, is an incredibly popular midrange. I’ve had mine for a few months and it has more than earned its spot in my bag.
It’s overstable and can easily handle the torque I put on it with a forehand. But, surprisingly, it also flies straight for me with nice glide and without excessive fade at the end (but still a good amount).
I like mine in pro line plastic for its grippiness and durability. Check it out here!
The next 2 Discs are also featured in a post for Best Glow Discs in Disc Golf! Check it out if you get a chance!
The Reactor
The Reactor, by MVP, is straight and true. You can throw it forehand and backhand and expect a nice straight flight.
It has a really nice feel to it, and you don’t have to be shy about it when there is a stiff headwind.
In addition, if it’s in stock, it has to be the brightest glow disc on the market if you get it in the eclipse 2.0 plastic. Kind of fitting for a name like The Reactor. Either way, it’s a great disc to own and won’t disappoint! View it here!
View it on Amazon Here! (paid link)
The Järn!
With a speed rating of 4.5, I wasn’t sure whether to put the Järn in the midranges or up with the putters like the Zone.
Perhaps this disc, could be both for you and you would just have one less disc to carry? Honestly, it’s not a bad idea. I’m a huge proponent of knowing thy disc, so by getting this disc more action you can learn it really well.
However you decide to handle it, this disc is up to the task! Forehand, backhand, headwinds. No problem! And it ahs that sweet Kastaplast plastic to boot! It’s a great disc!
Check it out here!
View it on Amazon Here! (paid link)
Beginner to Intermediate – FAIRWAY DRIVERS!
As a former beginner, fairway drivers were the highest speed I was “allowed” to use. But as we progress in this game, so too does our arm speed. That means we can start dabbling with some slightly higher disc speeds and begin to experience different shot shapes as well.
Below, I have highlighted some discs that fill some much needed slots in your bag and help take your game to the next level. Let’s look!
the Innova Eagle
The Eagle, by Innova, fills a very specific slot in my bag. I pull it out a ton, and it rarely disappoints!
The Eagle, for me, is for shots that are too far for a midrange and too short for my other drivers. If I don’t want to absolutely huck a midrange or overthrow the basket with another driver, I go to the Eagle. Surprisingly, this comes up quite a bit!
In addition, The Eagles is stable enough to handle forehands and headwinds as well. It’s great for taking that next step! Check it out here!
View it on Amazon Here! (paid link)
The Mantra!
I’m just going to say it. I absolutely love this disc! The Mantra, by Thought Space Athletics, flies like a dream.
And unlike some of the other discs featured in this post, The Mantra is actually understable. But with a speed of 9, you might not have been able to access this disc’s beautiful flight path. And oh what a flight it has!
Personally, I use this disc for backhand drives. I release it on a slight hyzer and let it flip up, turn over and glide for miles! I love mine in the ethereal plastic found here!
The Terra!
The Terra, by MVP, fills that 8-speed slot in my bag. It’s an overstable disc, that can easily handle headwinds, forehand torque, and flies nice and straight on the backhand as well
In addition, The Terra is an underrated thumber disc as well! So if you don’t have your go-to thumber disc, you might have just found it in the Terra!
A great, all around, versatile disc. Check it out here!
View it on Amazon Here! (paid link)
Great Discs for Turnovers!
The turnover shot is a great one to have in the bag so to speak.
It takes practice but can absolutely become a weapon in an intermediate player’s arsenal.
But you also need the right disc. Here are some discs I love for turnover shots.
The TSA Mana!
The Mana, from Thought Space Athletics, is an extremely versatile midrange that you’ll love having in your bag.
Its flight numbers are 5, 5, -2, 1. Perfect for turning over.
It is great for hyzer-flips that go straight. Or, with a little more power, it will keep turning over and gliding towards the basket. It’s also pretty forgiving so you won’t burn it over too much
I have mine in TSA Glow, and I appreciate the extra stability it provides (plus, the glow is second to none. Check out these Best Glow Discs in Disc Golf!)
Get The Mana!
The TSA Mana!
The Clash Discs Soda!
I have tried a lot of discs over the years, and The Soda is an all-time favorite!
This disc certainly does turnovers, but it also hyzer-flips to straight, anhyzers for distance when you are in a bind, and can hold plenty of torque as well.
In addition, Clash Discs puts out a very clean, well-manicured disc that feels great in the hand. Check out this Review of Clash Discs.
Get The Soda!
Intermediate Discs for Straight Shots!
We have an entire post dedicated to the straight shot. It’s Called Best Straight Flying Discs in Disc Golf. Be sure to check it out!
The Glitch
Others will undoubtedly try to replicate it, but there’s only one Glitch!
This disc could fit in almost any category. It’s got super high glide, it’s a circle 2 heat seeker, it holds all sorts of lines, it’s a great disc for beginners and kids, it’s got tons of buzz surrounding it, and it might be the most fun disc in anyone’s bag.
And yes, it goes laser straight if you ask it too.
Get The Glitch!
Find The Glitch on Amazon Here! (paid link)
The Glitch!
The Infinite Centurion!
The Centurion is a do-it-all workhorse that also flies nice and straight, backhand or forehand.
This disc holds lots of lines and can handle plenty of power as well. It’s a disc that beginners can bag as well as advanced players. As an intermediate player there is plenty of room for growth, so grab a Centurion!
Find The Centurion on Amazon Here! (paid link)
Great Discs for Flex Shots!
The flex shot can come into play quite a bit when you are out on the course. Sometimes you need to start a disc one way to get around an obstacle and have it flip over and finish the other way.
Usually, for the flex shot, you are going to need a fair amount of stability.
So, here are some great overstable discs that will fight out of steep angles and flex back for you!
The Innova Toro!
The Toro can give you a flex and then some!
This midrange can give you some shorter range flexes and can also hold up for some longer distance, controlled flex shots as well.
It’s got plenty of torque-resistance and can get you out of some tight spots on the course!
Get The Toro!
Find The Toro on Amazon Here! (paid link)
The Raptor!
The Raptor, to me, has that perfect amount of stability.
You can put it on steeper flex angles and know that it’s going to fight back. It’s also great for fighting headwinds.
On the flip side, it’s not an absolute monster of a meat hook that you can’t work with at all. It’s a real nice flex option that will stay in the bag!
Get The Raptor!
Find The Raptor on Amazon Here! (paid link)
The Raptor!
Forehand-Friendly Discs!
If you are serious about disc golf, you’ll probably want to be able to throw forehand (though some elite players do not!).
Personally, I throw a lot of forehand shots, and have tried more than a fair share of forehand-friendly discs.
For a complete list, check out this post on Best Forehand Discs in Disc Golf!
Here are a few that I think you’ll really enjoy!
The Alfa Discs Cosmic!
With Flight Numbers of 8, 6, 0, 2 The Cosmic is a forehand-friendly, high-glide, torque-resistant, workhorse of a disc.
It’s very forgiving as well. If you happen to turn your wrist over too much, the Cosmic fights out with a nice finishing fade.
It’s an excellent forehand disc that stays in the bag!
Get The Cosmic!
The RPM Kahu!
RPM is an underrated disc golf company. Maybe it’s because they hail all the way from New Zealand that people know less about them, but they put out great discs at very good prices. Here’s a post and review on RPM Discs of New Zealand for your reading pleasure.
The Kahu, from RPM, is a no-nonsense, high-speed (speed 13), forehand-blazing gem of a disc! It’s got a perfect balance of stability to know it will hold up to the torque, and get you some great distance in the process.
Get The Kahu!
Find The Kahu on Amazon Here! (paid link)
The RPM Kahu!
Great Discs for Hyzer-Flips!
The Hyzer-flip is a great shot for some easy distance and some measured control out on the course.
You release the shot on a bit of a hyzer and watch it flip up to flat, sail a good ways, before fading back.
Like any disc, you have to find the right one for you, but here are a few that a lot of people find success with! For other discs with similar profiles, check out this post on Beginner-Friendly Discs that STAY in the Bag!
The Infinite Sphinx!
With Flight Numbers of 9, 6, -3, 1, you can see why The Sphinx is a great candidate for some hyzer-flip distance. It has the understability to flip up and the glide to stay airborne!
The Sphinx is not just for hyzer-flips either. It can also handle long turnover shots and get you around corners or out of jams.
Get The Sphinx!
Find The on Amazon Here! (paid link)
The Lone Star Growler!
The Growler is another disc that flips up for easy distance.
Even for players with slower arms, the understability of this disc will allow you to see it flip up, turn, glide and settle back down farther away than you can get with most discs.
Check out The Growler!
Find The Growler on Amazon Here! (paid link)
Beginner to Intermediate – DISTANCE DRIVERS!
I don’t think I’m really supposed to be using the high-speed distance drivers yet. I’m quite certain my arm speed isn’t to those levels yet… But the truth of the matter is, they go farther for me, and I like that.
But, from what I’m hearing, I’m probably learning bad form, so proceed with caution!
The Construct!
The Construct is another gem from Thought Space Athletics. If, like me, you enjoy the Mantra, then you’ll probably also enjoy this 10-speed disc.
I find it to be slightly more stable than the Mantra and obviously it is also a higher speed (10 vs. 9) as well.
And with the extra stability I find that I am able to flick it with my forehand and not turn it over excessively. The Construct can handle a lot of shot shapes and is a fun disc to bag. I have mine in ethereal plastic, but having read the reviews it sounds like you can’t go wrong with any of them! Check it out here!
Find The Construct on Amazon Here! (paid link)
Try out The Construct!
Clash Discs Vanilla!
Vanilla is easier distance as far as 11-speeds go. For a lot of intermediate players, it could even be their most consistent distance driver.
It’s a very dependable disc that feels good in the hand and eats up distance very consistently.
As you grow with it, you can use it to shape even more shots!
Enjoy Vanilla!
The Apex!
The Apex, by Gateway, is a wildly popular disc for those that know it! It’s a 12-speed, with a ton of glide, and holds up well for forehands and backhands.
This disc has a nice balance to it, and i.s definitely manageable for an intermediate player looking for easier distance.
And as a bonus, it can usually be got at a great price as well. Give it a look here!
The Shryke!
A lot of people will disagree with me on this one. It’s fine. And truthfully, I only use this for forehand. But The Shryke is, by far, my farthest distance disc. I get 40 feet longer with The Shryke, than any other disc I own.
It’s a 13-speed which I probably shouldn’t throw, and it’s got loads of glide, so it just carries farther. I also find it to be quite controllable. I enjoy mine a great deal. If you want to give it a look, you can do so here!
The Pharoah, from Infinite, is very similar and can found at an excellent price.
Check out The Shryke!
Find The Shryke on Amazon Here! (paid link)
Crush with The Shryke!
Beginner to Intermediate discs – In Summary
As our game progresses so too should our discs. Usually this can equate to more arm speed and asking the disc to hold up to more torque.
Could I pull off some of those shots with my beginner stuff? Certainly! But the results will probably be far more sporadic.
For me, I like knowing that I have tried and true discs that can handle what I ask of them. This is why I recommend the previous 13 discs to you as well. I sincerely hope they help you gain the confidence in your game and allow you to cut strokes from your score like they did for me!
Get some great discs in your hands and confidently level up to intermediate and beyond!
Thanks for reading everyone! As always, I welcome your feedback. Are there any discs on my list for intermediate disc golfers that were new to you? Any that interest you? Any you think I should have included? Let me know in the comments below! And while you are here, I welcome you to subscribe to my site. It’s obviously free and I’m just trying to continue to build a community. When you subscribe, you simply get an email per month with my latest disc golf content. You are ALSO permanently entered in a contest to win $50 gift cards to Infinite Discs. It’s win – win! Thank you again and enjoy disc golf’n around your local courses!
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