Frisbee
It seems strange that a plastic disc, measuring eight to ten inches across, could bring so much enjoyment to the world but the Frisbee is a terrific success story. It was invented in 1948 and the toy company, Wham-O marketed it from 1957, taking it over as their registered trademark. From the 1950s, these flying discs, as they are also known, became a familiar sight on beaches and in parks. It caught on because you don’t need any other equipment to play and you can throw in a small or large space.
The physics of throwing the disc and the design has been studied by experts. It’s no accident that the Frisbee glides superbly. Most people look on it as a bit of fun, something to do on vacation or a day out. However, there are others who take it a lot more seriously. There are different types of Frisbee games, with their own set of rules and objectives. Some are considered to be sports and even have governing bodies to oversee them. It’s not a contender for inclusion in the Olympic Games yet but there are competitions.
The game begun in 1968, called Ultimate, is the most popular of these games. It’s played in teams and the winner scores the most points from throwing the disc into the opposition endzone and they are not allowed to run. There are several other games that are based on Ultimate with different variations. Goaltime is played on a half court, Hot Box is another team game, Schtick is played with two discs, Stop the Chump is an indoor version and Mini Ultimate is another variation on Ultimate.
Other sports and games have inspired versions of flying disc games. Frisbee Golf, known also as Disc Golf, takes its rules from golf and the disc is denser and smaller, Frickert is based on cricket, Dodge Frisbee is a version of dodgeball and Guts Frisbee is a team sport, inspired by murderball. There is also Fris-Nok, which is a game formed in Iceland and Canada. Even dogs get into the act and they have proved to be fine players. A special Disc Dog was made from a more durable material to withstand the dogs biting down on it.
Other specially made variations of disc are made. The Aerobies are designed to fly further than the standard Frisbee and there are discs designed for games that go on after dark, made from phosphorescent plastic or fitted with light diodes.
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