The Best Roller Discs for Maximum Distance
Almost all disc golf players use roller shots to get out of trouble, but only a few know that well-thrown rollers will travel 10-15% farther than aerial distance drives.
But how do you do it, and what are the best discs for rollers?
In this guide, we’ll show you the best discs and techniques for maximum distance rollers, and also help you understand which discs are the best for you based on your release velocity.
Before you Read This: Watch This Distance Roller Video Guide
This complete guide will teach you everything you need to know about how to throw rollers for maximum distance:
Distance Roller Shot Technique
Maximum distance rollers can be thrown using either a backhand or forehand motion, whichever provides you with the most distance when driving normally.
Key Steps:
- Throw an understable disc straight toward the basket, using an anhyzer release.
- The disc will fly toward the right side of the fairway, turning all the way over and landing on its side.
- The disc will initially bend its roll back to the left before slowing at the end and hooking back toward the right.
The degree of bend from left to right while rolling will vary based on the angle at which the disc lands. The more the disc is leaning to the left when it makes contact with the ground, the more strongly it will pull left.
The ideal landing angle is 45 to 75 degrees.
With too low of an angle the disc will never straighten out, hooking in a continuous “C” and ultimately traveling back towards the thrower! If this is happening to you, either increase you anhyzer angle or use a more understable disc.
With too high of an angle (approaching vertical) the disc will not bend left during the early roll stage and instead simply roll off of the fairway to the right.
The Keys to a Good Roller Disc
There are two main features of maximum distance roller discs:
Feature 1: Understable Flight
Understability is needed to help the disc turn all the way over and land on its side at an optimal angle.
The specific required level of disc understability will depend on your release velocity. For players with very high release velocity, a moderately understable disc will provide a sufficient amount of turnover, but for players with moderate (or low) release velocity, a more understable disc will be needed to ensure a proper landing is achieved.
Feature 2: High Speed, Wide Rim
High Speed (wide rim) drivers are critical for maximum distance because their wide rims put a significant percentage of total weight around the perimeter of the disc.
Why does this matter? Perimeter weighting helps the disc hold more rotational inertia, and more rotational inertia equals more rolling distance.
Roller Disc Weight: Does it Matter?
Many players assume that heavy discs make the best rollers, but data shows that while the distribution of weight (toward the perimeter) is critical, the total weight of the disc has little or no impact on actual performance.
Why?
If a player throws a heavy disc and a light disc at the same speed, the heavy disc will roll farther. However, when throwing for maximum distance, players’ release velocities with light discs are always faster than they are with heavy discs.
In fact, when calculating a rolling disc’s linear momentum the inverse relationship between disc weight and release velocity offset each other almost exactly.
Because of this, while having a high percentage of the disc’s weight around the perimeter does matter, the total disc weight does not impact roller distance when throwing for max distance.
Putting it all Together
Now that we know that the best disc options are high-speed, wide-rim, understable drivers, we have a problem: wide rim discs are typically overstable.
As a result, players will need to find the right balance between their need for understability (to get a good landing) and their desire for a wide-rim (to maximize distance).
Here are the two best options we have found:
The Best Roller Disc for Beginners and Intermediate Players
![INNOVA Star Mamba Distance Driver Golf Disc [Colors May Vary] - 170-172g](https://i0.wp.com/m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51S46acplDL._SL160_.jpg?w=800&ssl=1)
- Colors may vary
- Star Plastic
- Flight Ratings: Speed 11, Glide 6, Turn -5, Fade 1
Mold: Mamba
Manufacturer: Innova
Description: Moderately High Speed, Extremely Understable
Optimal Weight: 165-169g
Optimal Plastic Type: Star
Analysis: Provides players throwing at moderate release velocities with the turnover needed to ensure a good landing, while also possessing a reasonably wide rim. If your typical aerial drive is under 300′, this disc is for you.
The Mamba paired with Star plastic provides the durability needed for rollers without the overstable impact Champion plastic brings.
Get a Star Mamba with These Exact Specs Here
The Best Roller Disc for Advanced Players
- Best choice for: Fast, Long and easy Distance Drives off the Tee
- Recommended down wind distance driver
- Star material offers great grip and performance
- Speed 11, Glide 5, Turn -2 and Fade 2
- Colors May Vary
Mold: Katana
Manufacturer: Innova
Description: Extremely High Speed, Moderately Understable
Optimal Weight: 165-172
Optimal Plastic Type: Pro
Analysis: Excellent turnover at high velocities provides a solid landing angle, with a very wide rim (Speed 13) providing maximum rotational inertia. If your typical aerial drive is over 300′, this is the disc for you.
The durable Pro plastic is also very rigid, minimizing disc deformation upon impact with the ground and preventing high/unusual bounces.
Get a Katana with These Exact Specs Here
Conclusion
It is important to remember that the best roller discs are understable. This provides the player with the longest possible time for the disc to turn over and roll along its edge. Each players roller disc will be different due to arm speed and preference, but always remember to release on an anhyzer angle. If your a newer player just remember to choose a disc suitable for your arm speed. You do not want to choose a disc that is to fast that you can not effectively get it to turn over the way it needs to roll.
