If you only owned one disc \u2014 like, desert island scenario, one disc forever \u2014 it should be a midrange. I will die on this hill. Drivers are fun but inconsistent. Putters don’t go far enough. Midranges do everything.
And if you’re asking me which midrange, I already know my answer because I’ve had this conversation probably 200 times and my answer is always the same and I’m not changing it.
It’s the Buzzz
The Discraft Buzzz is the perfect disc. I know that’s a big statement. I’m making it anyway.
Here’s why: the Buzzz goes exactly where you throw it. That sounds simple but it’s actually rare? A lot of discs have opinions \u2014 they want to fade, they want to turn, they want to do their own thing. The Buzzz is like, nope, wherever you pointed me, that’s where I’m going. Throw it flat, goes flat. Put it on hyzer, holds hyzer. Anhyzer, holds anhyzer.
For a beginner this is huge. Because when your disc does what you told it to do, you can actually learn from your mistakes. Like oh, that went right because I released it wrong, not because the disc randomly decided to turn on me. It’s honest. It gives you feedback.
I carry two of them. Have for years. ESP plastic for when it’s wet (grippier), Z plastic for summer. Between them I can cover probably 60% of the shots I need on any given round.
Brendan Thinks I’m Obsessed
My husband gives me a hard time about the Buzzz thing. “You have like fifteen discs that do the same thing as a Buzzz,” he says, which is \u2014 okay first of all that’s an exaggeration, it’s maybe eight \u2014 but also he throws forehand only and doesn’t even use midranges that much so what does he know.
Point is: yes, I talk about the Buzzz a lot. Because it works.
Other Options If You Insist
Fine, maybe you want to consider alternatives. That’s valid I guess. Here’s what else is good:
Innova Mako3 \u2014 even straighter than the Buzzz, basically zero turn and zero fade. Incredibly neutral. Some people prefer this because there’s literally nothing to account for, it just goes dead straight. Good for learning form because it really exposes your release angle. If you’re not sure why your shots are going where they’re going, throw a Mako3 for a while and you’ll find out fast.
Latitude 64 Fuse \u2014 tons of glide, slightly understable. This thing floats forever. If you’re struggling to get distance with your midrange throws, the Fuse might add 20-30 feet just because of how glidey it is. Downside is it’s a bit flippy so you need decent form or it’ll turn on you.
Innova Roc3 \u2014 the overstable option. More fade at the end, which is good for when you need something that’ll reliably hook left at the finish. I wouldn’t recommend it as your FIRST midrange because overstable mids can mask form issues. But once you’ve got a straight mid figured out, adding a Roc3 for the overstable slot makes sense.
Dynamic Discs Truth \u2014 kind of between Buzzz and Roc3 on the stability spectrum. Straighter than overstable but more fade than neutral. Some people like having something in that middle zone. Fine disc, nothing wrong with it.
Discraft Buzzz SS \u2014 the understable Buzzz. Same hand feel, more turn. Good specifically for turnover shots or if regular Buzzz feels too stable for your arm speed. But if you’re a true beginner I’d start with regular Buzzz and get this later.
What About the [Insert Disc Here]
There are like 500 midranges on the market. I haven’t thrown them all. MVP Hex is good. Mint Lobster exists. Kastaplast Gote has fans. Whatever.
They’re probably fine. Most neutral-to-straight midranges in the speed 4-6 range are gonna work. The differences between them are honestly pretty subtle. If you’re reading this trying to decide between a Buzzz and a Hex like it’s a major life decision, just pick one. Either will teach you to throw. The disc matters less than you think it does.
Plastic Types Matter Kind Of
Same mold in different plastic flies a little different:
Base plastic (DX, Pro-D, etc) \u2014 cheap, beats in fast, gets more understable over time. Good for learning but you’ll replace them more.
Premium plastic (Star, ESP, Z) \u2014 more durable, more consistent over time. Worth it for a disc you’re gonna throw a lot.
Gummy stuff (Jawbreaker, K1 Soft) \u2014 softer feel, some people love it. Flies similar to premium.
My take: buy your first midrange in base plastic because it’s cheap and you might lose it. Once you know you like the mold, get one in premium plastic for the long haul.
How Many Do You Need
One. Seriously. Start with one neutral midrange \u2014 Buzzz, Mako3, whatever \u2014 and throw it until you really understand it. Like really. People want to buy variety before they’ve learned anything, and then they have six discs that all confuse them instead of one disc they actually know.
Eventually you’ll want:
One neutral (Buzzz)
One overstable (Roc3, Buzzz OS)
One understable (Fuse, Buzzz SS)
That covers all your midrange situations. But you don’t need three on day one. You need one, and reps.
Okay That’s It
Get a Buzzz. ESP or Z plastic. Throw it several hundred times. Learn it so well you can hit exact lines with your eyes closed.
Then if you want to branch out, branch out. But the Buzzz is where to start and honestly it might be where you stay. It’s perfect. I’m not taking follow-up questions.