Contents
  1. Overview
  2. Flight characteristics
  3. Recommended uses
  4. Plastics & variants
  5. History
  6. Notable throwers
  7. Similar discs

The Discmania MD5 is a 5-speed very overstable midrange. With published flight numbers of 5 / 3 / 0 / 4, it is most often described as suited for utility approach shots that must fade hard and stop, headwind midrange shots inside 300 ft.

Overview

The Discmania MD5 is a small-diameter, very overstable midrange from the Originals line, rated 5 / 3 / 0 / 4.[1] Discmania called it 'the most overstable midrange in our lineup to date' at release and said it was 'designed to handle the utmost power and always provide that reliable fade at the end of the flight.'[2] The company describes the shape as having a small dome, a blunt nose, and a slightly convex bottom wing, which it argues makes the mold 'one of the most comfortable midranges available.'[2] Discmania's current copy positions it as 'the steadfast, trustworthy midrange ... there is no job too small or headwind too strong.'[1]

Flight characteristics

Flight numbers: manufacturer vs. community
SourceSpeedGlide TurnFade
Discmania (mfg) 5 3 0 4 Published spec
Discpedia community Loading ratings…

Flight numbers describe the published behavior of the disc when thrown at its design speed. Real-world flight varies with plastic, weight, age, and thrower power. The community-averaged numbers above reflect crowd-sourced observations from real throws — typically slightly more understable than the manufacturer's published values, which is the most consistent pattern across nearly every commercial mold.

The MD5 is a utility midrange: chip-shot approaches, shots that need to get around an obstacle close to the basket, and headwind midranges where a neutral mold would flip.[2] Discmania also argues it is more than a utility disc — during development the company found it gained 'surprising distance' on tight flex shots 'without sacrificing control,' fighting out of an anhyzer angle while continuing forward before flexing back and fading.[2] Thrown flat it holds the release line and then fades hard.[2] It is sold in S-Line, C-Line, Glow C-Line, Horizon C-Line, and Hard Exo Vapor.[1]

Best for:

  • Utility approach shots that must fade hard and stop
  • Headwind midrange shots inside 300 ft
  • Tight flex lines that flex back and finish left (RHBH)
  • Getting around obstacles close to the basket
  • Forehand midrange shots under heavy torque

Plastics & variants

The MD5 is available in the following plastic blends from Discmania:[1]

S-Line, C-Line, Glow C-Line, Horizon C-Line, Hard Exo Vapor

Plastic blend significantly affects flight character. Premium plastics like Champion, Z, or C-Line generally fly more overstable when fresh and hold their stability over time. Base plastics like DX, Pro, or Active beat in faster and become more understable workhorses with use.

History

The MD5 was first PDGA-approved on March 29, 2018 under certification number 18-35, with measured dimensions of 21.1 cm diameter, 1.9 cm height, 1.3 cm rim depth, and a 1.4 cm rim.[3] The C-Line MD5 went on sale on November 21, 2018, a release Discmania called 'one of the most anticipated ... from Discmania in quite some time.'[2] The mold was later retooled: a separate PDGA record, 'MD5 (new),' was approved on February 13, 2023 under certification 23-46 with slightly different measurements — 21.2 cm diameter, 2.0 cm height, 1.3 cm rim depth, 1.5 cm rim, and a 176.0 g maximum weight.[4] Discmania's own product page publishes the 2023 certification as the disc's specification block, so the newer figures are used here while the 2018 approval is treated as the mold's debut.[1][3][4] Discmania's current lineup also lists the Mutant with identical 5 | 3 | 0 | 4 numbers, so the two molds are distinguished by feel and diameter rather than by published flight ratings.[1]

Notable throwers

Gannon Buhr, Kyle Klein

Similar discs

References & further reading

Sources

Content on this page has been cross-checked against the following sources. Numbered citations in the prose above link to the matching entry here.

  1. MD5 — Discmania Store (official collection page: flight numbers, PDGA spec block, plastics, Gannon Buhr and Kyle Klein signature runs)
  2. "New Release: Discmania C-Line MD5" — Discmania (2018-11-20 release article: design intent, flight description, on-sale date)
  3. MD5 (Midrange Driver) — PDGA Equipment Certification (approved 2018-03-29, cert 18-35, original dimensions)
  4. MD5 (new) — PDGA Equipment Certification (approved 2023-02-13, cert 23-46, retooled dimensions)
  5. Discmania MD5 — OTB Discs product page (retailer cross-reference on flight and plastics)

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