The Discraft Wasp is a 5-speed overstable midrange. With published flight numbers of 5 / 3 / 0 / 2, it is most often described as suited for hyzer-finish midrange approaches in the 250–350 ft window, forehand approaches that need a flat-finishing fade.
Overview
The Discraft Wasp is a beaded 5/3/0/2 midrange that Discraft calls its most popular overstable mid.[1][2] Discraft says it gives consistent flight on shots in the 250–350 ft range, on windy days and on hyzer finishes.[2] Ledgestone notes that the Buzzz OS is more overstable than the Wasp, while the standard Buzzz (5/4/-1/1) is more neutral.[3] Team Discraft member Wesley Shinevar says a well-used Wasp still holds a straight line and won't turn over.[2]
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
Reach for the Wasp when a midrange shot needs a dependable fade: controlled hyzer approaches, forehands, headwind lines and spike-hyzer skips near the basket.[2] Z is the most popular run for its durability and grip. ESP has more dome and a slightly softer feel, Jawbreaker grips best in cold or wet weather, and Big Z and Ti come in limited tournament runs.[2][3] The bead helps players keep the nose down on power approaches.
Best for:
- Hyzer-finish midrange approaches in the 250–350 ft window
- Forehand approaches that need a flat-finishing fade
- Headwind midrange shots that resist turning over
- Beaded touch upshots with a controlled fade
- Spike-hyzer skip shots near the basket
Community notes — how players actually use this disc
Plastics & variants
The Wasp is available in the following plastic blends from Discraft:[2]
Z, ESP, Jawbreaker, Big Z, Titanium (Ti)
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 Wasp was PDGA-approved on September 29, 2002 (certification 02-13).[1] Discraft had spent years working toward an overstable midrange, and the Wasp was the result. It didn't catch on at first because most players in the early 2000s were beginners and amateurs, and the Wasp was too fast for their arm speeds.[3] Discraft used the Wasp mold as a starting point, removed the bead and tweaked the wing to make a more neutral midrange, the Buzzz, which the PDGA approved on September 30, 2003.[3] Because the Buzzz was cast from the modified Wasp tooling, the first run of Buzzzes had "WASP" stamped on the inner rim and a bar stamp reading "First Run Discraft Mid Range BUZZZ Super Straight Modified Wasp."[3] The Wasp-tooled mold came back for limited Buzzz runs in 2006, 2013 (the 10-year anniversary) and 2023 (the 20-year anniversary, a one-time run of 20,000 discs).[3] The Wasp itself is still in production as Discraft's overstable midrange.[2]
Notable throwers
Paul McBeth, Chris Dickerson, Adam Hammes
Frequently asked questions
Is the Wasp overstable?
Yes, the Wasp is an overstable midrange. Discraft lists it at 5/3/0/2 and calls it its most popular overstable midrange, built for windy days and hyzer finishes.[2]
Is the Wasp good for beginners?
Not usually. Discraft rates the Wasp for experienced players, and Ledgestone notes it failed to catch on in 2002 because it was too fast for most newer players' arm speeds.[2][3] Discraft built the more neutral Buzzz from the Wasp mold for that market.[3]
What is the difference between the Wasp and the Buzzz?
The Wasp is the more overstable of the two, flying 5/3/0/2 against the Buzzz's 5/4/-1/1. Discraft made the Buzzz by removing the Wasp's bead and tweaking its wing, and the first-run Buzzzes even had "WASP" stamped on the inner rim.[3]
What discs are similar to the Wasp?
The Innova Cro has the same 5/3/0/2 flight numbers as the Wasp. Within Discraft, Ledgestone notes the Buzzz OS (5/4/0/3) is more overstable.[3] The Malta (5/4/1/3) and Drone (4/3/0/4) are other overstable Discraft mids with bigger fades.
How it compares
How the Wasp lines up against the discs players most often weigh it against, using each manufacturer's published flight numbers.
| Disc | Speed / Glide / Turn / Fade | Stability | Rim width |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discraft Wasp | 5 / 3 / 0 / 2 | Overstable | 1.3 cm |
| Discraft Buzzz OS | 5 / 4 / 0 / 3 | Overstable | 1.3 cm |
| Discraft Drone | 4 / 3 / 0 / 4 | Very Overstable | 1.5 cm |
| Discraft Malta | 5 / 4 / 1 / 3 | Overstable | 1.3 cm |
| Innova Cro | 5 / 3 / 0 / 2 | Slightly Overstable | 1.3 cm |
References & further reading
- How to read disc golf flight numbers — Discpedia primer
- PDGA Approved Disc List — search for "Wasp" to find the Discraft Wasp entry (PDGA-approved 2002)
- Discraft 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.
- Wasp — PDGA Equipment Certification
- Wasp — official Discraft product page
- "The History of the Buzzz" — Ledgestone (Jacob Arvidson, 2024)
- Discraft Wasp — 1010 Discs review
This is a community page. Spotted something wrong or out of date? Suggest a correction — every edit is reviewed before it goes live.