frisbees

A Frisbee is a circular plastic disc used for throwing and catching games, commonly associated with casual recreation but also central to organized sports such as Ultimate and disc golf. Although the term Frisbee is widely used to refer to any flying disc, Frisbee is a registered brand that became a generic term.

Frisbees originated from the practice of tossing pie tins from the Frisbie Pie Company in Bridgeport, Connecticut, in the early 20th century. In 1957, Wham-O popularized a plastic flying disc derived from those tins and began selling it under the name Frisbee. The product quickly became a cultural phenomenon, spreading through parks, schools, and youth leagues.

Most Frisbees are disk-shaped with a diameter near eight to ten inches (roughly 20 to 25 cm) and a rim that stabilizes flight. They are typically made of durable plastic and weigh about 150–180 grams. Flight is influenced by the disc’s aerodynamics, including lift created as air flows over the top and bottom surfaces and by throwing technique.

Recreational play includes casual tosses to teammates or pets. In organized play, the term Frisbee often refers to three main disc sports: disc golf (throwing discs into baskets), Ultimate Frisbee (team sport focused on passing and scoring in an endzone), and freestyle or indoor versions of disc manipulation and routine throws.

Wham-O produced the original discs; since then many manufacturers produce generic flying discs and sport-specific variants, such as Innova and Discraft for disc golf, and various brands for Ultimate. Safety considerations emphasize avoiding head and eye injuries, using open spaces, and keeping spectators clear. Environmentally, discs are durable but can be lost; some makers offer recycled or alternative-plastic options.