You’re not gonna like this …
There’s not much you can do.
Here’s what the PDGA’s “Official Rules of Disc Golf” says:
“Allowed modifications to a disc after production are limited to wear and tear from usage during play, moderate sanding to address wear and tear or small imperfections [and] marking with dye or permanent marker ink.”
Sexy stuff, huh?
So, by the book, here’s what you can do to a disc, Dr. Frankenstein:
- Option No. 1 – You can play with it.
- Option No. 2 – You can lightly sand it.
- Option No. 3 – You can dye or Sharpie it.
* Note: Keep a small piece of sandpaper in your bag – it helps with on-course scuffs.
There’s more here than meets the eye, though …
I’m no attorney, but I’ve stayed at a Holiday Inn Express before – that counts for something. Reading between the lines and conveniently interpreting the PDGA’s language in a favorable way, if you’re willing to get creative, there are a few methods for getting what you want …
Employ them at your own risk:
- Method No. 1 – Play heavily rocky or wooded courses.
- Method No. 2 – Leave a disc on your dashboard on a hot day.
- Method No. 3 – Cycle your preferred molds in baseline plastics.
- Method No. 4 – Buy the understable (or overstable) equivalent of what you need.
- Method No. 5 – Abandon discs in your practice basket – let Mother Nature take charge.
Here’s a juicy little nugget …
Rumor has it that, during his more competitive days, Ken Climo would intentionally store all of his KC Pro Aviars in his backyard practice basket. Stationed in Clearwater, if it wasn’t hot and humid, it was dumping rain. Apparently, he liked what the elements did for his putter grip …
He’d do this for an entire year.
At that point, they were counted “worthy” to be bagged.
Of course, if there’s a naughty bone in your body, do your dirty work in the dark …
Stacked books can help flatten a flight plate. A glass pie pan filled with boiling water can do the same thing – I’ve written about it. By the same token, boiling water can also add more dome to a disc. Heck, people get full-blown dryers, lighters and witch doctors involved in this stuff.
And just for the record, golf discs AREN’T dishwasher-safe …
You’ve been warned.
Listen, I’m a stickler for the rules – just keep ‘em.
If you feel like cheating, however, with NO inspection process in place, you’ll get away with it. Or, you could do as The Champ did and comfortably modify discs in the sport’s “gray area.”
Go crazy.
Have anything to add? Take to Twitter to let us know – we’ll actually (for real) get back to you.
Editor’s Suggestions:
- Disc golf: Be patient with new plastic
- 5 of the worst-named discs in disc golf
- Gripe No. 2: Groups of 5-plus disc golfers
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