I love cold-weather disc golf.
With fall right around the corner, I’m stoked out of my eyeballs. I’m all but ready, too: gloves, hoodies, beanies, extra towels, hand-warmers, etc. I’ve even got a fresh set of batteries in my flashlight for future glow rounds. If you live in a cold-weather place, you know the drill.
There’s one more preparatory step I plan to make, but haven’t yet made …
I’ll switch out my putting putters.
You MIGHT want to do the same.
When the temperature drops, discs harden – they become more brittle. For this reason, if you’ve got a DX Roc in your bag, consider opting for a premium-plastic counterpart. Otherwise, should it hit the first-available off tee, it might very well explode into a million pieces. If it’s happened to you, you know the pain. And if it hasn’t, and you don’t believe it can, trust me on this …
It will.
Colder discs often feel slicker, too.
This is awful for circle-one putting duties, as grip is a big deal.
If your regular, year-round putting putters are firm, strongly consider making a change. For example, I putt with KC Pro Aviars. I have for over a decade now, and I don’t plan on changing. But when the temperature drops, they get WAY stiff and slick – like, more than you’re thinking.
- They easily slip out of my hand.
- There’s no “pop” on ‘em off my fingertips.
- They cut through the chains like none other, too.
It’s infuriating.
And, yes …
On occasion, they’ll crack in half after smacking the “chastity belt.”
To rectify the situation, I switch to Yeti Pro Aviars or JK Pro Aviar-Xs come late October. In mild, warm or hot weather, they’re much too soft for me. Come the fall and winter months, they feel perfectly normal – just like a KC Pro Aviar. If your go-to putting putter gives you problems, without even deviating from the same mold, go with a softer polymer – it’s an INSTANT fix.
As far as temperature specifics are concerned, it’s really a matter of personal preference. KC Pro plastic is intended to be firm and smooth, so I make the switch at around 40 degrees – earlier than most. Fortunately, the colder it gets, the more pronounced the putting benefits become.
The good news?
Don’t feel like you need to do this for ALL your discs.
Your putting putter is your money-maker, though …
Pamper it.
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Going into my first fall/Winter as a disc golfer and have been wondering about this, exactly. I guess it’s good that I already use yeti pros but I do love my DX and KC Rocs. I’m in Tennessee… Not necessarily a cold weather state but we do see temps right around freezing consistently. What other changes and/or difficulties should I expect as the temps start dropping?
The DX and KC Pro Rocs are in danger, for sure …
I know Tennessee weather, and those winters can get cold enough.
As much as it pains me to say this, GStar Rocs aren’t a bad option in the winter.
Also, regular-old Star Rocs can get the job done, as well.
Apart from disc selection, the biggest thing you need to be prepared for?
SLOW. DOWN.
Fingers are cold. Legs are frigid.
A cold body is a slower-moving body.
Take that into account when shredding 🙂