3 more new PDGA approved discs!
Updated: Oct 3
Hello again my disc golfing friends,
Yep, you read the title of this blog correctly, the Professional Disc Golf Association has yet again approved more discs for sanctioned tournament use. Three new discs this time. I am a few days behind on this one because life is life, so you may have already learned about these approvals, but if not, I am here to help. If you have already heard of these molds and wish to continue reading, I appreciate you. I apprecaite any of you who have taken the time to read this or any of my other blog post. Without further ado, let's break down these new molds to the best of my ability. As a reminder, there will be relevent links sprinkled along the way if you are interested in learning more about the subjects that are underlined.
Discmania - Premier Essence
PDGA Specifications Max Weight: 176.0gr
Diameter: 21.2cm
Height: 1.9cm
Rim Depth: 1.2cm
Rim Thickness: 1.9cm
Inside Rim Diameter: 17.5cm
Rim Depth / Diameter Ratio: 5.7%
Rim Configuration: 31.75
Flexibility: 7.39kg
Discmania - FD4
PDGA Specifications Max Weight: 176.8gr
Diameter: 21.3cm
Height: 1.5cm
Rim Depth: 1.1cm
Rim Thickness: 2.0cm
Inside Rim Diameter: 17.3cm
Rim Depth / Diameter Ratio: 5.2%
Rim Configuration: 31.25
Flexibility: 5.34kg
Climo Disc Golf - Apogee
PDGA Specifications Max Weight: 176.0gr
Diameter: 21.2cm
Height: 1.7cm
Rim Depth: 1.2cm
Rim Thickness: 2.4cm
Inside Rim Diameter: 16.3cm
Rim Depth / Diameter Ratio: 5.7%
Rim Configuration: 28.75
Flexibility: 11.36kg
I have fun typing these blog posts, but even more fun when it is molds that I am really excited about. Not that I am not exited about every disc that hits the market, but a couple of these really intrigue me. I personally believe that it's a good thing to have hundreds of brands having disc golf molds approved because it shows that passion is still a constant in the sport. It's always great to see that much like myself having a huge passion for disc golf with constantly creating disc golf videos, creating disc golf graphic designs, and doing disc golf photograpy, (yes, all of those link to examples) there are many other disc golfers out there with a passion to grow the sport in their own way.
With my digitaly long-winded introduction out of the way, let's talk about the Premier Essence from Discmania. Not to down on any other disc approved in my recent PDGA Approved Discs Blogs, but this is probably the one I am most excited about to date since typing these blogs. Some of you may know that for more than half a decade, in addition to running BDGC, I have also worked in disc golf as a shop employee and currently Website Manager of Throwmore.com. Throwmore Morristown, where I work, has always had a HUGE used disc selection. This has not only allowed me to try more molds than your average casual disc golfer, but has also been somewhat of the backbone for my Throwing EVERY Disc Possible series.
The reason I am mentioning this, is because the shop is the reason I had the chance to try out the Essence from Discmania. Once upon a time, at our old location, a customer had a lost and found disc (Essence) that he had yet to pick up yet. Knowing the customer, I asked if he minded me giving the Essence a toss because I was really intrigued by the flight numbers of 8 | 6 | -2 | 1. Previously, I had scoffed at the mention of a "6 glide" from companies brushing it off as mostly a marketing scheme. This one glides farther, so you must get it! I should have that line trademarked. The Discmania Essence, however, officially changed my opinion on that matter. This disc truly does have more glide than the majority of the 8 speed discs I have thrown.
Why is this important? Because the Discmania Premier Line, with molds currently released in Q-Line and Swirl Q-Line plastics, has been widely been accepted in disc golf as having more glide than their counterparts outside of the Premier Line. So how can an already extremely glidey disc have the potential for more glide? Discmania and the PDGA have announced the Premier Essence with the flight numbers 8 | 7 | -1 | 1. If I had to guess, low powered amatuer disc golfers (like myself) are about to have the exact disc they have been tirelesly searching for. The one that "goes farther" and "flies straighter" for lower arm speeds. If I had to guess how this thing is going to fly, I am assuming you are going to throw this thing once and never see it again.
Not only is this release exciting for the potential the mold has, but it is also exciting because the Essence has previously been part of the Discmania Evolution Line in such plastics as baseline GEO, and premium NEO and Meta. Every Premier Line mold released up to this point has been Discmania Originals Line molds. Does this mean that the Essence will stay in the Evolution Line and the Premier Essence will be in the Originals Line? Or does it mean that they will both find a new home in the Originals Line and the Essence may find it's way to S-Line and C-Line plastics outside of special runs? I don't have the answers to these questions and only time will tell, but one thing is for certain. Discmania is still constantly evolving. This is an extremely exciting release! If y'all can talk Discmania into releasing a Premier Essence with some sort of bird related stamp, I just may bag this mold! But until then, check out the video below of me throwing the Discmania Evolution Line Essence.
Next up, let's talk about the Discmania FD4. I promise this section, much like the flight of this disc, will be much shorter than the later. After typing that, I realize that that sounded rather rude. It's not meant to be however, because sometimes less glide is a good thing. I bag the RPM Discs Kiwi for that exact reason. Much like the mention of Discmania discs being rehomed from one line to another, the FD4 is indeed one of those shifted molds. First released in the Discmania Evolution Line as the Splice, this mold has been shifted to the Originals Line and renamed as the FD4.
It was announced in 2025 (I believe) that the Discmania Active line, as their more beginner friendly line has been discontinued. Knowing there is a market for more beginner friendly molds, Discmania smartly started shifting any overstable molds in their Evolution Line over into there more pro-geared Originals Line. The Enigma became the DD2, the Razor Claw / Tactic became the P4 and several other molds were slated to being moved over and renamed. Now, the beef monster known as the Splice has been shifted to the Originals line and is now the FD4. A low-glide and highly overstable fairway driver. If you are a fan of such molds as the Firebird, Felon, and Captain's Raptor for their known overstability, you will be a fan of this one. I don't have a whole lot of information reguarding the FD4 at this time other than knowing that it will first hit the market in C-Line plastic. It will be hitting the marked very soon but until then, check out this video of me throwing the Discmania Evolution Line Splice.
Last, but certainly not to be least, let's talk about the Climo Disc Golf Apogee. Professional players shifting from one brand to another in disc golf have proven to be an unquestional proponent for the growing the sport. Paul McBeth to Discraft, Simon Lizotte to MVP, Josh Baysinger to RPM Discs, and more recently, Ken Climo to Discraft with the inception of Climo Disc Golf. One of those examples doesn't quite fit, but I will let you be the judge of that. haha! Ken Climo is one thing and one thing only... THE goat! His incredible records and accomplishments aside, his complete and utter dominance in disc golf for over a decade matched with his continued desire to push disc golf with a new brand is second to none. This is the part where I am supposed to qualify my previous statement with examples, but I won't do that. It is okay for you to disagree with me. I am completly fine with you being wrong. Just don't forget that all of your new favorite pros grew up learning the sport with discs that had Climo's name plastered all over them. Rant over.
Reguardless of how you feel about that last paragraph, you would be insane to say that Climo isn't one of the most infulential disc golfers of all time. As a long-time Climo fan, I was beyond excited when the Climo Disc Golf brand was first announced. I was even more excited when I learned that the line would have a disc called the Osprey which is an understable 9 speed with flight numbers that suit my level of "skill". I tried this disc out when it first came out, and I still bag it to this day! A flippy 9 speed from the champs brand that is named after a bird? Come on y'all, you knew I was bagging it before I did!
Up until this point, I have thrown every Climo Disc Golf mold besides the Cliff and the newly approved Apogee and I will be completely honest here... I have yet to throw a mold that I didn't like. So if the Cliff and Apogee are good, which I have no reason to believe they won't be, Climo Disc Golf is batting 100. Or batting a thousand. Whatever the kids are saying these days. The Apogee has the flight numbers 12 | 5 | -2 | 1 and is currently availible as a prototype in a LE Special Blend. If you are a Discraft thrower and a fan of the champ, I definitely recommend you giving some Climo Disc Golf molds a try. Check out this playlist below of me throwing many of the Climo Disc Golf molds.
In closing, I would like to ask that if you made it this far in this blog post, please leave a comment for me here on the post so I can see who is reading. Let me know in the comments which of these three newly approved molds you are most excited about trying out. Until next time, go out and throw some discs and if you are in need of some new plastic, please consider checking out the shop where I work at Throwmore.com.
Love,
Baysinger
Comments