Prodigy PA-4

The Prodigy PA-4 is a 3-speed understable putt & approach. With published flight numbers of 3 / 3 / -1 / 1, it is most often described as suited for turnover approach shots, short anhyzer lines around obstacles.

Overview

The PA-4 is Prodigy's understable putt and approach disc, published under the flight code 33-11: speed 3, glide 3, turn -1, fade 1.^[1] Prodigy classifies it as understable and describes it as a disc that turns up when thrown hard, then glides out with a gentle turning finish.^[2] The PDGA approved it on March 5, 2013 under certification 13-19, in the same batch as the rest of Prodigy's founding lineup.^[3] The record lists it at 21.0cm across and 1.9cm tall, with a 1.0cm rim and a 174.3 gram cap.^[3]

Flight characteristics

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.

Recommended uses

The PA-4 is the turnover option in Prodigy's putter range. The single point of turn makes it a straight-to-right finisher for a right-handed backhand, which suits touch approaches that need to fade less than a PA-3, short anhyzer lines around obstacles, and flat drives on open holes. It is also a workable roller and a turnover disc for lower-power throwers. Prodigy currently lists it in 200, 300, 300 Soft, 350G and 500 plastics, so the same shape is available in grips ranging from soft and tacky to firm.^[1]

Best for:

• Turnover approach shots
• Short anhyzer lines around obstacles
• Straight putts that need no fade
• Putter rollers

Plastics & variants

The PA-4 is available in the following plastic blends from Prodigy:^[1]

200, 300, 300 Soft, 350G, 500

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

Prodigy submitted its founding lineup to the PDGA in early 2013, and the PA-4 was approved March 5, 2013 under certification 13-19.^[3] The PA numbering runs by stability rather than release order. Prodigy's own catalog codes make the ladder clear: the PA-1 carries the most fade at 2.5 and the PA-2 sits at 2, the PA-3 drops to 1, and the PA-4 held the understable end of the range at 33-11 until the PA-5 arrived with more turn and less fade at 34-20.5.^[1] The mold has stayed in production without a documented retooling, unlike several of Prodigy's drivers, which have separate PDGA records for replacement molds. Stock weights on Prodigy's store run from roughly 150 to 174 grams, giving the disc a genuine lightweight range for players who want more turn.^[1] No individual designer is publicly credited.

Notable throwers

Currently no information

How it compares

How the PA-4 lines up against the discs players most often weigh it against, using each manufacturer's published flight numbers.

References & further reading

• How to read disc golf flight numbers — Discpedia primer
• PDGA Approved Disc List — search for "PA-4" to find the Prodigy PA-4 entry (PDGA-approved 2013)
• Prodigy official site — manufacturer product page

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. PA-4 Putt & Approach Disc — Prodigy Disc
2. PA-4 Putt & Approach Disc — Prodigy Disc dealer site
3. PA4 from Prodigy Disc — PDGA
4. Prodigy PA-4 — Infinite Discs

This is a community page. Spotted something wrong or out of date? Suggest a correction — every edit is reviewed before it goes live.