From backyard picnics to pro leagues, the Frisbee has been the ultimate flying disc for more than 60 years. The optimal way to throw a Frisbee? Grip the lip and give it a flat, backhand toss. Snap your wrist when you let go—the more spin, the smoother the flight. | $9 AND UP Marcus Nilsson
The best thing about a Frisbee: It’s easy. It sails effortlessly, and it’s so stable that you don’t need a shortstop’s coordination to catch it.
The inventor, Walter Morrison, a carpenter with a knack for tinkering, came up with the idea for the simple toy by tossing empty cake pans. His breakthrough improvement, after switching from metal to molded plastic, was curving the disc’s outer edge like an airfoil. In 1955 he sold his invention to Wham-O—manufacturer of slingshots and Hula-Hoops—where a product designer named Ed Headrick made the final tweak of rippling the top with concentric ridges. These add turbulence, which holds air against the surface for a longer flight.
Engineers have since validated those design choices. (For instance, ridges add turbulence, holding air against the surface for longer flight.) And the rest of us have validated the Frisbee’s power as a social lubricant. Bring a disc to the beach, toss it out, and make a few new friends on the return flight.
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