If you have looked at a disc and seen four numbers like 7 | 5 | -1 | 2, you are not alone in wondering what they actually mean. Flight numbers are meant to describe how a disc is designed to fly, but they can be confusing at first.

This guide breaks down disc golf flight numbers in plain language so you can understand what speed, glide, turn, and fade really do and how to use them to choose discs that make sense for your game.

Most disc golf discs have four flight numbers listed in this order: speed, glide, turn, and fade. Together, these numbers describe the general flight characteristics of the disc.

It is important to know that flight numbers are not guarantees. They are best used as a comparison tool between discs, not a promise of exactly how a disc will fly for every player.

Speed describes how fast a disc needs to be thrown to fly as intended. Higher speed discs are usually wider and require more arm speed to control properly.

For new players, high speed discs often do not fly farther. Instead, they tend to fade early or fly unpredictably. Lower speed discs are generally easier to throw cleanly and are more forgiving while learning.

Glide describes how well a disc stays in the air. Discs with higher glide will carry farther with the same amount of effort.

For beginners, glide can be extremely helpful. A disc with good glide can make up for lower power and help achieve smoother, longer flights without throwing harder.

Turn describes how a disc moves during the early and middle part of its flight. For a right-handed backhand throw, turn refers to how much the disc drifts to the right when thrown with speed.

Discs with more turn are often easier for beginners to get straight flights from, while discs with very little turn can feel more overstable and harder to control early on.

Fade describes how a disc finishes at the end of its flight as it slows down. A disc with more fade will hook back more strongly at the end.

Fade is useful for control and predictability, but too much fade can make a disc feel difficult for newer players. Gentle fade is usually easier to work with while learning.

Flight numbers are most helpful when you use them to compare discs rather than chase big numbers. Lower speed discs with moderate glide, some turn, and gentle fade are often easier to throw well early on.

The most important factor is still comfort and consistency. A disc you can throw smoothly will almost always perform better than a disc that looks impressive on paper.