Discraft has traveled a long and windy road through the history of disc sports. Not only have they been innovators in disc golf but they have been the leading manufacturer of Freestyle and Ultimate discs for decades. From an unlikely start in Canada to the suburbs of Detroit, Discraft has taken the hero’s journey of rising from difficult and unforeseen circumstances to reinvent themselves in our modern era of disc golf. Let’s unpack the story of Discraft and how they have contributed to our wonderful sport.
History
Discraft Products was started in London, Ontario in 1978 by husband and wife Jim Kenner (PDGA #292) and Gail McColl (PDGA #240). They were unsatisfied with the quality of discs due to their inconsistent flight patterns. The competitive side of frisbee was growing to a point where it was time to innovate.
A bit about the competitive accomplishments of both McColl and Kenner. Gail McColl was a 6 time Canadian Women’s Disc Golf Champion, 1978 World Disc Golf Champion, 1976 World Freestyle Champion, and has been inducted into both the Freestyle and Disc Golf Hall Of Fames in 2015. Jim Kenner co-invented freestyle, was a disc golf course designer and promoter, and was inducted into the Disc Golf Hall Of Fame in 1997. They were both very well known and respected throughout the world of frisbee sports in the 1970s.
The first disc they created for disc golf was called the Sky-Pro. The disc was based on the 40 Mold by Wham-o and was a moderate success. In 1979 Kenner and McColl moved their company to Westland, MI, and formed what is now known as Discraft Inc. (they have since moved a few miles away to Wixom, MI in the Detroit suburbs). They sold 3,000 discs in their first year. While it wasn’t initially a rousing success, it was enough to get the fire stoked and make plans for more discs.
Throughout the 1970s disc golf was merely one of multiple frisbee disciplines held at tournaments. Kenner and McColl brought this knowledge with them into their decision-making process at Discraft, “We appeal to three main sports — Disc Golf, Freestyle, and Ultimate.” They stayed true to their passion to this day by continuing to be the leading disc manufacturer of all three disciplines. They both continued to compete but Kenner began to focus more on the disc manufacturing side of the business. This led to many molds produced throughout the 1980s, ’90s, and to this day. They have continuously gained PDGA approval for discs since 1979.
Disc Golf Discs
Sky-Pro – Their first ever PDGA approved disc from January 1, 1979. This slow-flying disc is similar to an ultimate frisbee flight.
Sky-Streak – This was their first popular disc golf disc and was PDGA approved on January 1, 1983.
Phantom – This was the first beveled edge disc from Discraft and it began an arms race to create even faster and more stable discs. This disc was also PDGA approved on January 1, 1983.
Buzzz – Quite possibly the greatest midrange disc ever produced. This disc will be your workhorse and can hold angles with maximum glide. The Buzzz was first PDGA approved on September 30, 2003.
These are some of the classic discs from the Discraft lineup. Head over to the Rogue Discs website to check out all of their new plastic including the Zeus, Hades, Malta, Luna, and much, much more.
Ultimate Frisbee Discs
Ultra-Star Sportdisc – This is the greatest throwing disc of all time. Discraft’s 175-gram Ultra-Star Sportdiscs was created and introduced to Ultimate tournament play in 1981. Ten years later, the Ultra-Star was selected as the official disc of USA Ultimate, a position that it has held ever since.
Freestyle Discs
Sky-Styler – Built in 1980 specifically for freestyle, Discraft’s 160-gram Sky-Styler is the preferred disc for a majority of world champion competitors and continues to be hailed as “the best freestyle disc ever made.”
Players and a Momentous Change
Discraft has been one of the main sponsors of professional disc golfers since the beginning of the sport. Their dedication to progressing disc golf throughout its history is paralleled only by Innova. Throughout the years Discraft has sponsored many great players and world champions including Scott Stokely, Juliana Korver, Ron Russell, Eric McCabe, Cam Todd, and Nate Doss. These players have all been wonderful players as well as ambassadors for the sport. These early players paved the way for current Discraft sponsored players.
Then, in 2013, Discraft was hit particularly hard by the “Player’s Revolution.” This was a year when players joined together and founded the brand Prodigy Discs. Discraft lost many sponsored players to Prodigy including World Champion FPO players Paige Pierce, Catrina Allen, and Sarah Hokom. On the MPO side, they lost Cale Leiviska and Jeremy Koling. This migration from Discraft left the company with few top touring pros amongst their ranks. They spent a few quiet years before beginning their journey back to the forefront of disc golf.
In 2017, a change was in the air at Discraft. A few events occurred that led to a change in strategy for their marketing and media. First, Jim Kenner semi-retired and passed leadership on to his nephew, Mike Wagner. Then came the untimely deaths of co-founder Gail McColl and longtime marketing director Brian Sullivan. New ideas were afoot and in 2018 they made the biggest splash in the sport by signing Paul McBeth to a 4-year $1 million contract. This was later amended to 10 years worth $10 million!! This is still the largest contract in the history of disc golf. They gave McBeth his own brand under their name and signed many top pros to support their venture. These pros included Paige Pierce and Brodie Smith as well as already signed players such as Ezra Aderhold, Adam Hammes, and Paul Ulibarri.
Of all these signings Brodie Smith may have been the most significant for growing their brand. Smith already had a relationship with Discraft due to his history in Ultimate. He brought his 2.2 million YouTube subscribers with him to Discraft and did what he knows how to do best, promote and sell things. Smith has taken fans on a journey through his early disc golf career and has provided a looking glass into the world of disc golf for millions of new eyes. Discraft just so happens to be the discs of choice for many of these newcomers.
He spent much of his early days in the sport learning from Paul McBeth and promoting new discs. McBeth even mentored Smith at the Discraft headquarters. These two have mutually helped each other across multiple professional landscapes all under the umbrella of Discraft.
Bringing It All Together
Discraft continues to carry disc golf into the future via its advertising campaigns, disc production, and support for players. Via a history of trials and tribulations and perseverance, they now find themselves at the forefront of our game. From an original vision to make a better and more stable disc to inking the largest contract in the history of disc golf, Discraft is synonymous with progressing disc sports. Whether you throw Discraft plastic or not, it is easy to respect what they have done for all disc sports.
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