What to write on your discs

A disc with nothing on it is gone. A disc with the right marking usually comes back. Here is what works, where to write it, and how to keep it readable.

What players write today

Phone number
The most common marking, and it works. Include the area code. The tradeoff is that anyone who picks up the disc can see it.
Name
Helps when the player who picks it up already knows you or plays the same league. On its own, it rarely gets a disc back from a stranger.
PDGA number
Other players can look it up, but they still have to track you down from a name and a hometown.
Email address
Hard to write small, and hard to read once the marker wears. Most players will not type one out.
disc.id URL
Short, private, and it tells the other player exactly what to do. One URL works on every disc in the bag.

Where to write it

The underside of the flight plate has the most room and is the first place another player looks. The inside of the rim keeps the top clean and is popular on dyed discs, but there is less room, so keep it short. Wherever you write it, write it big.

What to write with

The Sharpie is still king. A permanent marker is fast, cheap, readable, and all most players ever need. It fades on some plastics, so check the bag each season and go over anything that is wearing off. Paint markers last longer on premium plastic, and some players stamp the rim so the whole bag matches.

Keep it readable

  • Write the full URL, such as disc.id/your-name, not just the name.
  • Use lowercase letters. They are easier to tell apart in marker.
  • Avoid characters that look alike, such as a zero next to an o, or a one next to an l.
  • Make hyphens obvious, or skip them.
  • Underline a URL so it reads as a web address.
  • Check it from arm's length before you put the marker away.

Mark every disc, not just the favorites

The disc you lose is the one you skipped. Mark new discs before the first round, and mark the putters too.

Common questions

Should I put my phone number on my disc golf discs?

A phone number with the area code is the most common marking, and it works. The tradeoff is that anyone who picks up the disc can see it. A disc.id URL gives the other player a next step without showing your number.

Where should I write my name on a disc?

The underside of the flight plate has the most room and is the first place another player looks. The inside of the rim keeps the top clean and is popular on dyed discs, but it has less room.

What marker works best on disc golf discs?

A permanent marker. It is fast, cheap, and readable. It fades on some plastics, so check the bag each season and go over anything that is wearing off.

What is a disc.id URL?

A free short URL, such as disc.id/your-name, that you write on every disc. When one goes missing, the player who picks it up opens the URL, leaves the disc somewhere safe, and sends you a photo and pickup note. Your contact information stays private.

Picked one up instead? Read how to return a disc.