Ping – The Trackable Disc Golf Disc

In May 2014, the PDGA approved revisions in the technical standards that allows manufactures to add electronic devices to discs. There has been a lot of speculation as to what could possibly come of these new revisions. Many people expect some variation of the following:

• Permanent LED lights
• Flight tracking technology (RPM, distance, speed, etc)
• GPS tracking
• Sound devices to assist in finding lost discs
• Heating elements
• and more…

It did not take long for a company to gather their resources, and begin putting together a prototype disc with built in electronic components. From January 6 to February 5, 2015, TOBU Discs ran a Kickstarter campaign to fun $10,000 in order to assemble and produce their disc, PING. PING will be the world’s first trackable disc golf disc. TOBU was able to meet their Kickstarter goal, and funding was achieved for the disc prototypes.

Rather than adding electronic components to an existing disc, which would alter the established flight pattern, the disc golfers and engineers at TOBU decided to start from scratch with disc design, and incorporated the weight distribution of the electrical components into the disc’s mold. Additionally, the PING disc will have three different textured sections on the flight plate in order to ensure grip in a variety of conditions. I have not felt the disc yet, so I am not sure what all that entails. My initial thought when hearing about a textured flight plate is either the dimple technology of the now out of business Quest Advanced Technology discs, or the the hexagon pattern of the newer Latitude 64 Missilen which I used in a recent one disc round of disc golf. TOBU describes the three textured sections in the following ways:

1. A smooth section that disc golf players will be familiar with. This is similar to every other disc on the market.
2. A slightly textured section similar to fine grain sandpaper. This will assist you with your grip on any type of throw.
3. A rough section that will be invaluable to you while throwing the disc when it’s wet.

TOBU is incorporating Android and iPhone apps that will communicate with the PING disc in order to help players find their discs. The disc will also beep to help in finding it.

In order to help the Kickstarted campaign to be funded, I contributed at the level of “The Whole Shebang.” The Whole Shebang was for those that “want everything we have to offer.” This reward level includes a heartfelt “Thank You” email, your name added to our “Contributors List”, a TOBU T-Shirt, TOBU stickers, and Ping – the world’s first trackable disc!

The disc is expected to be shipped in April 2015. Once the disc arrives, I will be sure and provide a video review, and complete a one disc challenge with the new disc. If you could create a disc with electrical components within it, what would you want it to do? Do you feel that we even need a disc like PING with built in lights, bluetooth technology, etc?