How to choose a disc when playing Ultimate Frisbee

Today I am going to talk about something deeply important to the sport of Ultimate, and that is the disc that you use to play or practice with. Many people will casually call it a “frisbee,” but in Ultimate that word is usually used sparingly. This is partly because “Frisbee” is actually trademarked, which is one reason the sport is officially called just “Ultimate.” But no matter what you call it, the disc you use really does matter in Ultimate, and knowing what to look for when choosing one can make a big difference.

The first thing you want to pay attention to is weight. In Ultimate, the official standard weight is 175 grams. Anything lighter than that may feel flimsy and unpredictable, while anything heavier can make it much harder to practice your throws and catches. The next thing to consider is how balanced the disc is. A good Ultimate disc should feel even in your hand and fly smoothly through the air, no matter what throw you’re using. Finally, it helps to look at whether the disc is officially recognized by Ultimate organizations like USA Ultimate or the World Flying Disc Federation, since that shows it meets the highest standards of the sport.

With all of that in mind, the one disc that I always recommend is the DiscCraft UltraStar. Coming in at the official 175 grams, it has the perfect balance and flight consistency that players at every level need. What’s great is that there’s really no difference between what a pro team uses and what a high school team or casual player would use, everyone trusts the UltraStar. It’s also the official disc of both USA Ultimate and the WFDF, which goes to show just how respected and widely accepted it is around the world as a disc.

If you’re interested in getting one, the DiscCraft UltraStar is easy to find and very affordable. It’s usually priced under $15, and as of September 2025 it’s just $12.99. You can pick one up at Walmart, Dick’s Sporting Goods, or directly through the official disccraft.com site. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to play Ultimate seriously or even just throw a disc around for fun, because it’s reliable, official, and the best choice for any level of play.