Thomas Basini

Prof. Adam Padgett

UWRT 1102
3 January 2014
Technology: Disc Golf and its Improvements
Technology is used by everyone on a daily basis. There are very few places
where technology is not abundant. This is true for most things; such as schools,
businesses, and even in sports. It is very rare to find something that technology has not
improved. Among these many improved fields is the sport of disc golf. While being a
lesser known sport, disc golf is growing fast, and is played worldwide every day.
Technology has greatly Improved how the sport has spread, and how discs are made.
Social media and production improvements have ascended the sport to where it is
today.
Disc Golf has jumped on the social media bandwagon. All the major social media
sites have involvement from disc golf. Sites like Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, and Google+
are more widely used for posting pictures and activity. However, companies will often
use these sites for giveaways and promotions. It is relatively easy to get the word out on
these platforms. Facebook, on the other hand, is used for everything the other sites are
used for, along with having easy-to-create pages, that can be made with little prior
knowledge or skill. Many pages have been made specifically for disc golf, and can
become very popular. Auction pages are made for sellers who want to get rid of plastic
quick. They can be specialized or broad. Another popular page to make is a club page.
These can be used to communicate with local or regional areas to grow the community,
and expand the reach of local players. Post on these page vary from players asking if
others would like to join in a round of golf to posting lost and found discs to tournament

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and round updates and alerts. There is a long list of advantages of using social media to
connect the disc golf community. Without this connection, the growth of the sport would
slow down by an astronomical amount.
Along with main-stream social media, the sport has created and is heavily
networked on its own platforms. Disc Golf Course Review (DGCR), is the biggest forum
site in the game. The site has a multitude of members, ranging from veteran pros to kids
and beginners. The main purpose of the site is clear and in the title. The information
provided about the multitude of courses is the best on the internet. Without this site,
only locals know where the courses in the area are. DGCR also has forum posts for
almost every disc golf topic. The main forums include but are not limited to technique
critiques, new discs, and hole of the day. February 3rds hole happens to be Nevin
Community Park Disc Golf Course, hole 7, right here in Charlotte. Another site, Disc
Golf Planet, is used for video. The main purpose of this site is to live stream disc golf
tournaments. With the increase of disc golf popularity around the world, more and more
people want to see their favorite players live in action. In most cases the tournaments
are too far to travel, just to watch some golf. Instead, Disc Golf Planet, started live
streaming tournaments online. Reaching its fifth broadcasting year in 2015, the site has
started streaming more and more events. Included in these events are the US disc golf
championship at Winthrop University, the professional and amateur world
championships, and the National Collegiate Disc Golf Championship, at which UNC
Charlotte placed 13th in the country. These tournaments are sometimes in pretty rural
areas; however with recent technological advancements, Disc Golf Planet, has been

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able to provide them online for free. Technology empowers the world of disc golf. Its
spreading every day.
As time passes companies, make improvements, to their plastic used in making
discs. With new technology comes better plastic. Thats what one would think, but
plastic is all about preference. This is one facet of the sport relatively unchanged by
technology. Plastics can differ greatly in feel, grip, stability, and durability. Each player
has his or her preferences with plastic. Technology cant change that. However,
improvements can be made in other ways. In the design process, technology is used to
finely tune discs to their desired flight pattern. Plastic injection molds cost about $10,000
each. Because of that, companies go through long design processes, shortened by
technology, to insure a new disc is exactly what is wanted before the mold is created.
Another way technology is improving the sport, is with advances to the injection molding
process. Sensors have been added for quality control inside plastic molds, reducing
time needed to ensure a good product is given to the customer, and to reduce labor.
Also in the late 20th century, there were three advances in plastic injection molding
machines. They are the all-electric (1990), the two platen (mid 1990s), and the tiebarless (1989). These new molding types have done some to improve the process,
though not much improvement was made. Inconsistency has been the biggest ongoing
issue molding discs. These inconsistencies include flight plate dome, excess plastic left
over from the mold, and the parting-line height. All of these will affect the flight path of
the disc.
Looking to the future, many companies are experimenting with GPS location
devices within discs. The advantages of using this technology are well worth the work

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and technology being used to create them. Losing discs is a big problem all disc golfers,
even the pros, face at times. These new discs will be easy to find, and unlikely to be
lost. Players will be able to use a phone or a small hand-held device to locate any discs
thrown awry and seemingly lost. This device could also be made to keep track of every
throw, and give accurate distance readings in seconds. To prepare for any technological
advancements, the Professional Disc Golf Association, or PDGA, has adjusted disc
regulations to allow for electronic components to be placed in the rim of the disc. Also
extending the allowable bottom rim thickness, to allow for more room for any
components. The PDGA understands the need for technology in disc golf, and is
preparing for more integration for the betterment of the sport.
With improvements in technology, disc golf has come a long way. The community
now stretches around the globe, with courses in places like Japan, Australia, and
Sweden. There are 71,450 current and past members of the PDGA, every day gaining
more support. However, without the help of the internet and social media, the sport
would, likely, still be in the early stages of development. Technological communication
and technology itself, have been driving forces in the spread of disc golf, and will
continue to push the sport further and further into the future.

WORKS CITED
Bregar, Bill. Three Advancements Have Driven Injection Molding Technology - Plastics
News.
Plastics News. N.p., 21 Nov. 2014. Web. 03 Feb. 2015.

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"PDGA to Allow Electronics in Disc Golf Discs - All Things Disc Golf." All Things Disc
Golf. N.p., 15

May 2014. Web. 03 Feb. 2015.