Whenever someone asks me about a reliable fairway driver, I always tell them to look at the stag flight numbers to see if it fits their game. The Westside Discs Stag has been a staple in many bags for years, but if you're just looking at the stamps and the cool Elk-inspired artwork, you might be missing out on what this disc actually does in the air. It's one of those discs that occupies a bit of a "tweener" space—it's not quite a slow fairway driver, and it's not quite a long-distance bomber, but it somehow manages to do a little bit of everything.
If you're staring at a rack of plastic and trying to decide if the Stag is right for you, understanding those four little numbers on the front is the best way to save yourself some frustration on the course. Let's break down what 8, 6, -1, and 2 actually mean when you're standing on the tee pad.
The Speed: Why 8 is a sweet spot
The first of the stag flight numbers is an 8, which represents the speed. Now, in the grand scheme of disc golf, an 8-speed is relatively modest. We live in an era where everyone wants to throw 13 and 14-speed drivers, but for the average player, an 8-speed is often where the real magic happens.
A speed 8 rim is usually thin enough to be comfortable for almost any hand size. If you've got smaller hands, those massive wide-rimmed drivers can feel like you're trying to throw a dinner plate. The Stag, however, feels manageable. It doesn't require a professional-level arm to get it up to its intended cruising velocity. Because it's an 8, it's remarkably easy to control. You don't have to "muscle" it to get a straight flight, which usually leads to better form and more consistent releases.
That legendary Glide 6
This is where the stag flight numbers really start to get interesting. Westside gave the Stag a glide rating of 6, which is about as high as it gets for a fairway driver. If you aren't familiar with glide, it's basically the disc's ability to stay in the air while it's moving forward.
A glide of 6 means this thing wants to stay aloft forever. It's like the disc has its own little set of wings. This is a huge benefit for players who don't have massive power. When you throw a disc with high glide, you get "free" distance because the disc resists falling to the ground for just a second or two longer than a lower-glide rival.
On a calm day, the Stag is a beauty to watch. It just carries and carries. However, it's worth noting that a glide of 6 can be a bit of a double-edged sword when the wind picks up. Because it wants to stay in the air, a stiff headwind can get under it and take it on a journey you didn't plan for. But for woods golf or low-ceiling shots where you need the disc to keep moving forward without a lot of height, that 6 rating is a lifesaver.
Understanding the -1 Turn
The third of the stag flight numbers is the turn, which is rated at -1. On paper, this suggests a very slight high-speed turn. In the world of disc golf physics, "turn" is how much the disc wants to bank to the right (for a right-handed, backhand thrower) during the initial part of the flight.
A -1 rating usually means the disc is "stable-straight." It isn't flippy like an Underworld, but it isn't a brick like a Firebird either. When you give the Stag some power, it will gently drift to the right before the fade kicks in.
However, there's a bit of a running joke in the disc golf community that Westside's flight numbers are a little more "optimistic" than other brands. Many players find that a brand-new Stag might feel closer to a 0 turn, while a slightly seasoned one or one thrown with a lot of torque might feel more like a -1.5 or -2. It's a very workable number that allows for beautiful S-curves if you've got the touch for it.
The reliable 2 Fade
Finally, we have the fade, which sits at a 2. The fade is what happens at the end of the flight when the disc slows down and naturally hooks to the left. A 2 is a very middle-of-the-road number. It's enough to ensure the disc doesn't just turn over and roll into the bushes, but it's not so aggressive that it "dumps" out of the sky.
When you combine that 2 fade with the 6 glide, you get a very predictable finish. The Stag doesn't just crash; it sort of drifts left as it loses speed. This makes it a fantastic tool for placement shots. If you know you have a gap 300 feet away that finishes slightly to the left, the stag flight numbers tell you that this disc is designed exactly for that shot.
How plastic types change the numbers
It's important to remember that the stag flight numbers aren't set in stone; they change based on the plastic you choose. Westside offers the Stag in a few different blends, and each one tweaks the flight characteristics slightly.
- VIP Plastic: This is the translucent, durable stuff. In VIP, the Stag tends to be a bit more stable. You might find that the turn feels closer to 0 and the fade feels like a solid 2. It's great for holding its flight characteristics for a long time.
- Tournament Plastic: This is opaque and a bit gummier. Usually, Tournament plastic beats in faster. A Tournament Stag will eventually become more "flippy," meaning that -1 turn might start feeling more like a -2 after a few months of hitting trees.
- Origio/BT Plastic: These are the base-level plastics. They offer great grip but wear down quickly. If you get a Stag in these plastics, the flight numbers will change rapidly as the disc gets "seasoned."
Who should be throwing the Stag?
Given the stag flight numbers, this disc is a bit of a chameleon. If you're a beginner, the Stag is likely going to be your primary distance driver. Since you might not have the arm speed for a 12-speed Destroyer, the Stag's speed of 8 and glide of 6 will actually give you more distance than the "faster" discs will.
For intermediate players, the Stag is the perfect "point and shoot" fairway driver. It's great for those long, straight tunnel shots where you need something that won't deviate too much from the line.
Pros often use the Stag for massive turnover shots or hyzer-flips. Because it has that high glide and subtle turn, a pro can throw it on a slight hyzer (tilted downward), watch it flip up to flat, and let it carry for 400 feet with almost no effort.
Comparing the Stag to its siblings
If you're looking at the Westside lineup, you'll notice the Underworld and the Hatchet sitting nearby. Comparing the stag flight numbers to these two can help you figure out where the gaps are in your bag.
The Underworld is a 7 | 6 | -3 | 1. It's much more understable. If you find the Stag is staying too straight or fading too early, the Underworld is the "easy" version. On the other hand, the Hatchet is a 9 | 6 | -2 | 2. It's slightly faster and has a bit more "wiggle" in the flight.
The Stag sits right in the middle. It's more dependable than the Underworld and more controlled than the Hatchet. It's the "reliable older brother" of the group.
Final thoughts on the Stag
At the end of the day, the stag flight numbers tell a story of a disc designed for maximum airtime and controlled finishes. It's not a disc that's going to break distance world records, and it's not a disc you'd want to throw into a 30 mph gale. But for the everyday rounds, the wooded courses, and the players looking to bridge the gap between their mid-ranges and their distance drivers, it's hard to beat.
If you haven't tried one yet, don't let the "speed 8" label fool you into thinking it's a short disc. That glide 6 is the real deal, and it often results in the Stag outperforming discs that are supposedly much faster. Grab one in VIP plastic if you want it to stay true to the numbers, or Tournament if you want something a little more "mellow" right out of the box. Either way, it's a classic for a reason.