The short answer: Discs come in four types: putters, midranges, fairway drivers and distance drivers. Putters are the slowest and are used at the basket, distance drivers are the fastest and are used for the longest throws. The faster the disc, the more speed you need to give it before it flies the way it is built to. As a new player you will get a long way with a putter, a midrange and a fairway driver.
What sets them apart?
The biggest difference is the rim. The wider and sharper the rim, the faster the disc and the more speed it needs. Putters are deep with a narrow, rounded rim, while distance drivers are flat with a wide, sharp rim. That is what the speed number tells you, and the four types sit roughly like this:
What speed and the other three numbers mean is covered in What do the numbers on a disc mean?
Putter
The putter is often the disc you throw the most. It is for putts at the basket and for short throws in towards it, known as approaches. It is slow and flies straight, so it is easy to control, and many players also use it for short drives. Our picks are in Which putter should you choose?
Midrange
The midrange sits between the putter and the driver. It is for approaches, drives on short holes and throws where accuracy matters more than distance. It is faster than a putter but still easy to control. Our picks are in Which disc golf midrange should you choose?
Fairway driver
The fairway driver is for drives where you want both distance and control. It has a wider rim than a midrange and flies further, but does not need as much speed as a distance driver. As a new player, a fairway driver will often give you longer and more accurate throws than a distance driver.
Distance driver
The distance driver is built for the longest throws. It has the widest rim and needs a lot of speed to fly the way it is built to. That is why it is best to wait until your fairway drivers fly the way they should. Our picks for both fairway and distance drivers are in Which disc golf driver should you choose?
Which should you start with?
Start with a putter, a midrange and a fairway driver. With those you can play every hole on a regular course. The easiest way is a set where they work together, often with a bag included. Read more in Which disc golf set should you choose as a beginner? and Which disc golf discs should you buy?