GCF

kinda funny how you mention "champion" level plastic and then Discraft XL/Buzz, opps.

TeeBird/Stingray
Wraith/ROC
Starfire/Cobra

those are all quality combos in my book .. those aren't specific matches either, obviously you can mix-and-match ..

XL/Buzz would also do good, maybe a XS might be better

might be better to step down to pro instead of champ for the driver - better grip..?

I would use DX discs, so that they beat in and help the kids learn about different stabilities, and I'd use a midrange and putter rather than a driver and midrange. DX is best for learning the natural flight path of discs, and you gotta crawl before you can walk. I'd recommend a DX Shark and a DX Aviar. A Leopard could replace the Shark if you want to go slightly more driver-ish. A Stingray would work as well. Anything faster than a Leopard is too much for beginners in my opinion. An R-Pro Dart could be a good learning disc that doubles as a putter/midrange if you wanted to go with a driver rather than a midrange.

This is definitely the kind of feedback i was hoping to hear. I Appreciate hearing the logic thoughts going into it too.

I wondered if a disc like the Dart (R-Pro, thanks) might work as a one disc option for the class? I haven't thrown a Dart.

That is a good tip to consider letting them have discs that get beat up easier than the champion type of plastic.

My thought was that eventually, the champion plastic sort of settles down to its own level of beat up, but then seems to remain at that level of beat up for quite a while.

The DX? Aviar is probably a strong choice for the putter midrange. Almost could just count on that one.

Which leaves the driver-ish disc still for us and others to kick around.

Shark vs Leopard...

I suppose an Eagle is the next step towards driver beyond Leopard?

I would not use the Starfire in DX because that is the overstable mold. I am guessing what Bobd is referencing is actually the SL (Starfire-Long aka understable mold) which is only made in STAR and Pro Plastic (regular production line anyway). The STAR Starfire, Champion Starfire, and DX Starfire are all the x-mold or overstable version whereas the STAR SL and Pro Starfire (aka SL) are of the understable variety. I can see how a Leopard or Eagle in DX would be a great choice if a player insisted on having a driver but I agree with CD in that a mid and putter would be better. I also think a DX TeeBird would wear in just fine if someone was insistent on throwing a driver. I still prefer my TeeBirds over my faster molds.

Christian is on the right track. Whenever I bring out beginners, they always do best with baseline plastic. I remember when a 167g Champ Valkyrie seemed like a meathook to me...

I think having a disc that doubles as a mid/putter is a good idea. Buzzzes, Darts, XDs, and Magics all fit this bill well enough for beginners.

As for a driver, a baseline plastic Leopard or Stratus will work well. I've known a few beginners that could throw a beat Stratus on a very straight line very early on. Lightning makes some very favorable beginner drivers, as well. The first driver that I could ever throw straight was a #4 Driver.

Basically, avoid anything that is overstable. Even if you are teaching sidearm and overhand, you should lean toward middle of the road stability at worst.

Yup..

Okay, this gives me the idea to sidestep the official driver sets and put a mid range in their hands to start to give them a feeling of something that can be driver-like, if someone happens to overpower it, he/she is just going to learn to deal with adding hyzer or height and dealing within its best ranges for distance. Which ARE pentiful.

Go with the grippier plastic. (Champion is to slippery)

Mid Range Choices:
Dart, Shark , Buzz, (and Magic, XD I am not familiar with at all-what many more discs there are for me to learn about)

Let's say Dart

Putter:
Aviar

--

Do you think that with these mid range discs, that the students will get that feel for making a disc turn over, which makes one go "aha!" when experienced while attempting it.

I'd almost like to see a transition day for the DG class where the students have new games with these DG discs, like "turn over, is this".. and "by the end of this class, you will be 'turning over' this () driver."

(XL was the first disc I got that experience with in '98, and it was clearly a universal aha for great DG play for everyone.)

I would really recommend a Shark over a Dart, unless you really want to give them 2 putters (Dart/Aviar).. just my .02

I think that is good advice.

Shark
Aviar

I think giving them a jack-of-all-trades mid/putter like a Dart and then an understable fairway driver like a DX Leopard will give them the most variation and flexibility and teach them the most about disc flight.