Factory Seconds and Misprints are an excellent way to get golf discs at a discounted price. But what exactly are Factory Seconds? Factory Seconds are discs that have encountered errors during the manufacturing process, but are not totally defective. Instead of throwing them away, brands will sell them as ‘Factory Seconds’ or ‘X-Outs’ at a discount.
The defects found in Factory Seconds are usually entirely cosmetic, like discoloration or when some foreign substances enter the manufacturing process and affect the overall look of the disc.
Usually, a Factory Second is as durable as any other disc, and works just as well. Buying a Factory Second is a great budget-friendly alternative to buying standard discs, and if there is a disc you want that is sold out or is no longer being manufactured, you might be able to find a Factory Second online.
The most common features of Factory Seconds are air bubbles that have formed on the rim, the disc being marred by black specks, or simply discoloration and the finish looking a bit bumpy. But sometimes a disc can be a Factory Second and you won’t even know it!
The errors might not be visible to you or me, but something clearly went awry in the manufacturing process for the disc to be labeled as such.
The discussion of Factory Seconds can get a bit confusing when we take into consideration discs that are made with recycled plastic. Sometimes when discs have serious defects the manufacturers will instead use the plastic to make new discs, and sell them as a unique plastic bend.
Any disc that is labelled as ‘Factory Second recycled’ or sometimes ‘Echo Star’ is a disc made from recycled plastic. These discs are usually cheaper, but are not sold as Factory Seconds.
Recycled plastic is normally used in Trilogy Discs, and you can also find recycled plastic under the names ‘Bio Fuzion’ or ‘Reprocessed.’ Different brands also have ways of marking their Factory Seconds. For example, ‘Latitude 64’ Factory seconds have a silver oval-shaped stamp declaring them ‘Factory Seconds.’
Meanwhile, Innova labels their Factory Seconds (such as the Discmania and Millennium discs) with a large ‘Innova-X’ stamp, much like Prodigy Factory Seconds that are labelled with a smaller ‘Prodigy X’ stamp.
But where do you get these Factory Second discs, what’s the difference between them and Misprint discs, and are they legal to play with? Let’s get into the answers to these questions below!
What Are Misprints?
We’ve talked about Factory Seconds in some detail, so let’s move on to Misprint discs and what they are. Misprint discs are discs that have met all other factors of quality assurance except that the printed stamp is flawed. T
hese can be discs that have more than one stamp on them in different places, or even discs where the foil wasn’t properly set and thus blemished the print.
Again, just like with Factory Seconds, these blemishes might not be visible at first glance, especially if the misprint is as minor as the stamp being a bit faded.
Sometimes discs can be given the wrong stamp, mistaking them for another disc. To determine the actual mold of the disc, always make sure to check the disc name at the bottom of the disc. This will either be engraved or handwritten.
Misprints are probably less notable than Factory Seconds because every disc, no matter how pristine and perfect, is going to have a scratched stamp eventually due to normal wear and tear. Double-stamped discs are often even prized for their uniqueness.
If you’re somebody who likes to get deals on high-quality discs, then opting for Factory Seconds or Misprints is a good idea!
Where Can I Find Factory Second And Misprint Discs?
You can find Factory Seconds and Misprints on any number of Disc Golf sites, such as Infinite Discs. We mention Infinite Discs because they have a handy feature that lets you search for Factory Seconds and Misprints, called ‘Advanced Disc Search.’
To find Factory Seconds on Infinite Discs, click on the ‘Advanced Discs Search,’ next to the main search bar. This will bring up a couple of filters, such as stamps. You can then select ‘Misprint’ or ‘X-Out’ and then narrow down your search by disc brand, type, color, or flight ratings.
This will then take you to a page listing all the criteria for the specific discs you’re looking for. You can cross search many criteria, such as brand and color, and the maximum width of the discs. For example, you can search for orange Innova discs, and it will then bring up the amount of discs available matching this description.
You’ll probably get a couple of pages of results, but you can narrow down the search and make sifting through the discs a bit easier by returning to ‘Advanced Disc Search.’ You can do this by filtering the discs by ‘extras.’ These can be features such as ‘blanks,’ ‘bottom stamps,’ or even ‘glow in the dark!’
You can also cross-reference manufacturers with extra features, and even filter through types of plastic, or recommended discs for different skill levels.
Are Factory Second Discs Legal?
Factory Second and Misprint discs are legal for PDGA play as long as they adhere to PDGA Technical Standards guidelines such as flexibility, rim, sharpness, and weight.
However, just like with any PDGA sanctioned play, players can always question if the discs being used are legal, and it’s up to the TD to make a final ruling on the matter.
The PDGA Technical Standards Working Group tests equipment that is submitted for approval. These tests are carried out either by a PDGA member with the expertise and facilities to measure the attributes of the disc and determine its legality, or the tests will be carried out in an independent laboratory.
Once evaluation is complete the Technical Standards Working Group will produce a report regarding the suitability and legality of the disc and publish its findings to the PDGA Approved Disc Golf Discs and PDGA Approved Disc Golf Targets lists.
Final Thoughts
Despite having manufacturing errors, Factory Seconds and Misprint discs are totally legal to play with and work just as well as your standard discs. These errors are purely cosmetic, with some flaws barely visible and actually lending to the overall look of the disc.
Factory Seconds are a great budget-friendly option for buying discs, and are readily available online.