Frisbee
A gliding toy turned sport, trademarked by Wham-O.
A frisbee—pronounced FRIZ-bee—is a gliding toy or piece of sporting equipment, also known as a flying disc or just a disc. It is typically made from injection-molded plastic, measures about 20 to 25 centimeters (8 to 10 inches) across, and has a noticeable lip. People use it for both casual play and organized competition, throwing and catching it in games like ultimate or disc golf. Its cross-section is shaped like an airfoil, which helps it fly by reducing drag and increasing lift compared to a flat plate. Spinning the disc adds a stabilizing gyroscopic force, making it possible to aim accurately and throw long distances.
Many variants of flying discs exist. Disc golf discs are usually smaller and denser than those used in ultimate, and they are designed for specific flight profiles—some for more stability, others for less, and some for greater distance. The longest recorded throw belongs to David Wiggins Jr., who hurled a disc 338 meters (1,109 feet). For disc dog sports, discs are made from softer, slower-flying materials to withstand a dog's bite without causing injury. Flying rings are also available; they typically travel much farther than standard discs. Illuminated discs, made from phosphorescent plastic or containing chemiluminescent fluid or battery-powered LEDs, allow play after dark. Others produce a whistling sound when they reach a certain speed in flight.
The word "Frisbee" is often used generically for all flying discs, but it is actually a registered trademark of the Wham-O toy company. Because of this legal protection, organized sports like ultimate and disc golf avoid using the term "Frisbee."
**History**
The frisbee was invented in 1948 by American inventor Walter Frederick Morrison, who created the Pluto Platter. The idea, however, traces back to a Thanksgiving dinner in 1937, when Morrison and his future wife Lucile started tossing a popcorn can lid for fun. They soon saw a market for a lightweight flying disc when someone offered them 25 cents (about $6 in 2025) for a cake pan they were throwing around on a beach near Los Angeles. In a 2007 interview with *The Virginian-Pilot*, Morrison noted that the pan cost only 5 cents (about $1 in 2025) at the time: "That got the wheels turning, because you could buy a cake pan for five cents, and if people on the beach were willing to pay a quarter for it, well—there was a business."
The Mor
- inventor
- Walter Frederick Morrison
- year_invented
- 1948
- original_name
- Pluto Platter
- trademark_holder
- Wham-O toy company
- typical_diameter
- 20 to 25 centimeters (8 to 10 in)
- longest_recorded_throw
- 338 meters (1,109 ft) by David Wiggins Jr.
- inducted_into
- National Toy Hall of Fame in 1998
Lore & Background
Frisbees were invented in 1948 by American inventor Walter Frederick Morrison, who created the Pluto Platter. The idea traces back to a Thanksgiving dinner in 1937, when Morrison and his future wife Lucile tossed a popcorn can lid and later discovered a market for a flying disc when offered 25 cents for a cake pan they were tossing on a beach near Los Angeles. Morrison served in World War II, and after the war he sketched an aerodynamically improved disc called the Whirlo-Way, later renamed the 'Flyin-Saucer' after UFO sightings. He sold the rights to Wham-O on January 23, 1957.
Wham-O co-founders Richard Knerr and Arthur 'Spud' Melin branded the disc 'Frisbee' in June 1957, after learning college students called the Pluto Platter by that term, deriv
Reader's Guide
The frisbee transformed from a simple toy into the basis for multiple organized sports, including ultimate, disc golf, freestyle, and double disc court. Its aerodynamic design—an airfoil cross-section that reduces drag and increases lift, combined with gyroscopic stabilization from spinning—allows accurate and long-distance throws. The longest recorded throw is 338 meters by David Wiggins Jr. The term 'Frisbee' remains a registered trademark, which has led organized sports to use terms like 'flying disc' instead. The frisbee was inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame in 1998, and its influence continues through worldwide championships and specialized variants for disc golf, disc dog sports, and night play. Ed Headrick, known as the father of Frisbee sports, was cremated and his ashes molded into memorial discs.
Did You Know?
- The longest recorded disc throw is 338 meters (1,109 ft) by David Wiggins Jr.
- The name 'Frisbee' comes from the Frisbie Pie Company, whose pie tins were tossed by Yale students.
- Ed Headrick's ashes were molded into memorial discs after his death.
- The frisbee was featured in what may be the first rock musical, 'Anything & Everything,' in November 1957.
More in Team Ball Sports 1-21
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record