Disc golf: What’s a thumbtrack? (and why you’ll want one)

I love thumbtracks.

Ricky Wysocki does, too.

Rick’s passion for the Pig and Slammer, however, have limited people to focusing on just those two discs. Yeah, the Harp might be in there, as well, but we’re talking thumbtracks – keep up.

* Note #1: With Innova, it’s “Thumtrac.” Yes, Innova trademarked that – capital letter and all.

Seriously, there’s some WAY good thumbtracks out there far too many people don’t know about. Without taking to Infinite Discs, right off the top of my head, the following five come to mind:

• The Tank – It’s a slower, less overstable Pig – with an extra-wide thumbtrack.
• The Rhyno – It’s slow. It’s overstable. It flies like an absolute brick in the air.
• The Serpent – It’s a point-and-shoot putter. You lead the way – it’ll follow.
• The Armadillo – It’s a speed-one throwing putter that’s worth your time.
• The Banger GT – “Banger? I hardly knew her!” It had to be done …

* Note #2: Don’t even start with me: “Groove-top” discs are part of the thumbtrack family.

I might’ve put the cart before the horse with this one, though …

A thumbtrack is a groove or indentation that runs along the outside edge of a disc’s flight plate. More often than not, the thumbtrack is found on putters and upshot discs – slower-flying stuff. Drivers are all snap. Putters are finesse – the more points of controlled contact, the better. Thumbtracks improve a golfer’s grip. While a disc is thrown, the thumb rests within it.

As I understand it, there’s a 50-50 chance Lucas prays to a stack of Rhynos before going to bed. The guy’s that infatuated with the mold – and its thumbtrack, of course. On my end, I think the Berg is EASILY one of the best-feeling frisbees in all of disc golf, in large part, because of the curved impression running along the flight plate’s edge – it’s buttery goodness at its finest.

Therein lies the genius of the thumbtrack, really …

It’s a “feel” thing.

They don’t do much to alter the flight of discs, but it’s my belief that they DO make it easier to grip them. Many will disagree, but I have to putt with a beaded putter – my index finger needs something to cling to during my stroke. It’s the same thing with thumbtracks, but for thumbs.

Like so many things in disc golf, thumbtracks are of the “love-it-or-leave-it” variety: bags vs. carts, beaded vs. beadless, floppy plastic vs. firm plastic, flat discs vs. domey discs, etc.

They’re 100% worth trying out, though …

Think about it: Ricky forced Dynamic Discs to bring back (and retool) the Slammer from the dead – he was THAT passionate about it. There’s something significant to thumbtracks …

Don’t knock ‘em until you try ‘em.

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Editor’s Suggestions:

• Innova: What’s a ‘zipper-top’ disc?
• Review: The Lone Star Disc Armadillo
• Don’t expect lost discs to be returned (and why that’s okay)

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