Best Disc Golf Retrievers For Getting Your Discs Back
No matter how good you are at playing disc golf, there will inevitably come a time when one of your discs goes flying off in a direction you didn’t mean for it to go.
Maybe you’ve been practicing so hard lately that your forehand throws are getting so powerful, or maybe you need even more practice to perfect that anhyzer.
Whatever the case, you don’t want to leave your disc stuck in a tree or lost in a pond, especially if it is your favorite or most expensive one. Luckily, you can just reach for your disc golf retriever and save yourself an unplanned dip in the murky water.
Most importantly, you avoid the heartbreak of losing your limited edition unique plastic blend beauty.
Why Do You Need a Disc Golf Retriever?
Most disc golf courses have natural or manmade obstacles, such as lakes, wooded areas, and a collection of signposts intentionally placed in front of a basket. And, as previously mentioned, even if you do your best to avoid these obstacles when aiming for the holes, your putter, midrange, or driver won’t always land where you want it to.
Some courses also have wild animals residing on the landscape and you want to do your best not to disturb these non-human locales. You know you don’t want to fight with a grumpy alligator for your prized fairway driver!
Even PDGA champions and long-time disc golf pros fall victim to the disc-in-the-poison-ivy situation. That is why a smart player will invest in a reliable disc golf retriever. This tool will help you rescue your hard-to-reach runaway putter, driver, or midrange and avoid potentially dangerous and funny situations.
Well, funny to your friends who see you accidentally fall into the pond in your futile attempt to save your disc golf disc.
Types of Disc Golf Retrievers
Your renegade putter could end up high on a tree, in a clump of poisonous shrubs, or in the middle of a lake. No matter the situation, there is a certain type of disc golf retriever that can make it easier for you to collect your disc.
There are two main types of disc golf retrievers:
- Pole Retriever – This pole serves as an extension of your arm and can reach up to several feet in length with some going about 20 feet. Before or after using it, you can retract it and pack it neatly into your disc golf bag. It has a type of hook or grabber attached to the end, and that attachment is what will latch onto your disc as you attempt to pull it back.
- String Retriever – This is designed to function like a grappling hook, in that the “hook” (in some cases it looks more like a cage) is attached to the end of a rope. You will throw the hook end into the water and try to get that latched onto your disc. Once it has a good hold of your disc golf disc, you pull the rope towards you.
Some disc golf retriever brands include an assortment of attachments so your retriever is versatile enough to be used in different obstacles.
You want to make sure you have a reliable disc retriever to get you out of a sticky situation safely and with your dignity intact. So which disc golf retriever should you buy?
To make it a bit easier for you to decide, here are four of the best disc golf retrievers available in the market today.
Top 4 Best Disc Golf Retrievers
- InZone Kwik-Stick XXL Disc Golf Retriever Pole
- WHAT IS A KWIK-STIK? - Kwik Stik is the original disc golf retriever that has a unique patented design. Kwik-Stik has been the most trusted disc retriever for years
- EXTENDS TO 22 FEET LONG - The XXL Kwik Stik is the longest disc golf retriever available. The telescopic pole extends to 22 ft and down to just 18 inches when not in us! It can easily fit in most bags
- PATENTED FRAME HEAD - Kwik-Stik XXLs come with a patented frame head. This frame head can be adjusted horizontally to drag through water, or it can be adjusted vertically to be used as a hook
- NEVER LOSE A DISC AGAIN - With the Kwik Stik XXL, you will never lose another disc again. Kwik Stiks collapse down to 18 inches so that it can easily fit in almost any bag and be ready for emergencies
- FETCH DISCS OUT OF TREES & WATER - The Kwik-Stik is great for getting discs out of trees, and even out of water. The unique design of the Kwik-Stik helps it to pick up discs and float to the surface
Is your precious plastic ring stuck in a bush, a giant tree, or in the middle of a pond? The InZone
Kwik-Stick Disc Retriever will save it!
This is one of the most well-known pole retrievers and even some major names in the disc golf world, like Paul McBeth and Ricky Wysocki, use the Kwik-Stick (according to the InZone website).
The pole reaches up to 22 feet, but you can collapse it down to only 18 inches and pack it neatly in your bag. It has a patented frame head that is adjustable and removable and can be swapped with a hook attachment. This allows for more versatility in getting the right grip, length, and angle when retrieving discs.
It is light enough that your arms won’t tire too easily and strong enough that it can push branches blocking your reach.
- Bird Dog Disc Golf Retriever Pole
- 15 Feet Extension Pole - Made of Surgical Stainless Steel, RED head is easily screwed on & off to make it easier to carry in Disc Golf Bags. Birdi Disc Golf Grabber for water hazards is a great gift to expand your disc golf equipment.
- Never Lose Discs Again - With this Disc Golf Retriever Stick for water or any hazard, you will have all disc golfers asking where you got your Bird Dog
- Comes with 3 Screw on Attachments - The Patented Bird Dog attachment, double hook, as well as a small hook attachment. Be prepared for any situation while out on the course!
- Great Disc Golf Accessory- The Pole will pay for itself with all the discs that are saved using it.
- Bird Dog Retriever Pole - Is Easily Transportable in Disc Golf Bags & Carts
This stainless steel pole extends up to 15 feet and comes with three different attachments although some models come only with two.
Many disc golfers who have used the Bird Dog commend how easy it is to locate and retrieve their discs even in murky waters. And, even when it is fully extended, it doesn’t snap and can steadily manage the weight of different kinds of disc golf discs.
The Bird Dog retriever is also easy to install and disassemble and comfortably fits in almost all types of bags.
- Hive Disc Claw Disc Retriever
- Easily retrieve your disc from a hazard
- Heavy duty metal construction
- Easily folds into a compact unit
- Safety ring to help prevent slippage
When you need to fish your disc out of the water, it is time to bring out your Hive Disc Claw retriever. This string retriever is unique because it uses claws instead of a full-width frame to grab the disc. This design allows you to try more angles and you won’t end up raking in as much mud, silt, or debris from the water. Plus, the safety ring at the end of the rope (where you hold it) gives you a better grip so you don’t end up losing the rope, retriever, disc, and your dignity altogether.
The compact and collapsible design makes it easy to pack even on the go.
- Infinite Discs Rescue Retriever
- Extended Length is 16 Feet
- Collapsed Length is 22 Inches
- Comfortable Grip Handle
- Bright, Double-Hook Head
While it tends to be a bit heavier compared to other pole retrievers out in the market today, Infinite Discs pole retriever makes up for it in stability and durability. The stainless steel pole has a double hook attachment that is handy when grabbing discs from trees, shrubs, and even water hazards. The hook can snag the disc from the top by snagging the edge or from underneath by holding on to the rim’s underside.
It has a good reach of 16 feet when fully extended. Even when stretched to its full length, you can still have a good grip on this pole retriever thanks to its comfortable handle.
Which Disc Golf Retriever Should I Buy?
As you can see in the above list of the best disc golf retrievers, each type of retriever has its pros and cons. Assess which retriever type and model gives you the most versatility, durability, and reliability.
Your putters, drivers, and midranges won’t go flying askew just once. So if you don’t want to resign to losing your favorite disc golf disc to a tree or some poison ivy, invest in the best retriever. You want to have the best disc golf retriever that can save as many discs as many times as possible.
If you are a bit tight on the budget, then you and your disc golf buddies can buy one type and model each. This way, when you go to a course, you are prepared for any sort of scenario where one of your discs goes flying off and gets stuck.
