If you have been scouring the secondary market or digging through old bins at your local pro shop, you've probably stumbled across the discraft nuke plus and wondered what the heck makes it different from the standard version. It's one of those discs that carries a bit of a legendary, almost mythical status among Discraft fans, mostly because it isn't something you see on the shelves every day anymore. For a lot of us, the original Nuke was the first "big boy" driver we ever tried to throw—and likely the first one we saw fly thirty feet before diving headfirst into the dirt because we didn't have the arm speed.
But the "Plus" version is a different beast entirely. It's not just a tweak to the plastic or a fancy stamp; it's a physical redesign of the rim that changes how the disc leaves your hand. I wanted to dive deep into what this disc actually is, how it flies, and why some people swear by it while others can't stand the feel of it.
What Exactly Is a "Plus" Rim Anyway?
Before we get into the flight numbers or the distance potential, we have to talk about the physical design of the discraft nuke plus. In the world of disc golf, a "Plus" mold usually refers to a specific change in the inner rim. On a standard disc, the inner wall of the rim is mostly vertical—it's a 90-degree angle to the flight plate. On a Plus mold, that inner wall is slanted or sloped outward.
The idea behind this design was to create a cleaner release. Theoretically, if the wall is sloped, your fingers won't get "stuck" on the rim during a high-power rip, which should reduce the chance of griplock. When Discraft applied this to the Nuke, they created a driver that felt significantly wider in the hand. Now, the Nuke is already a speed 13 driver with a massive 2.5cm rim. When you add that slant, it makes the grip feel even chunkier.
For guys with big hands, this is a dream. It fills the palm and feels like you can really put some force into it. But for people with smaller hands, the discraft nuke plus can feel a bit like trying to throw a dinner plate. It's a polarizing design, but that's part of its charm.
The Flight: Stability and Distance
When it comes to the actual flight, the discraft nuke plus is generally considered a bit more overstable than the stock Z Nuke. If you look at the flight numbers, you're looking at something around a 13, 5, -1, 3, though those numbers are always a bit subjective depending on the run.
In my experience, the Plus mold tends to hold a line a little longer before that big, booming fade kicks in. Because the rim is slanted, you might find yourself getting a bit more "snap" on the release, which translates to higher RPMs. More spin usually means the disc wants to stay on its intended path longer before the low-speed stability takes over.
If you've got the arm speed—and let's be real, you need a lot of it for this disc—the Nuke Plus is a total bomber. On a nice, slight anhyzer release, it will pan out beautifully, hold that turning flight for a long time, and then finish with a very predictable, strong fade. It's not a "finesse" disc. You don't pull this out for a 250-foot touch shot. You pull this out when there's a wide-open field and you want to see how close you can get to the 450-foot mark.
Handling the Wind
One of the things I've always appreciated about the discraft nuke plus is how it handles a headwind. Standard Nukes can sometimes be a bit touchy; if you get a nasty gust, they might turn over and never come back. The Plus mold feels a bit more robust. Maybe it's the way the air interacts with that slanted rim, or maybe the ones I've thrown were just particularly beefy runs, but I've always felt more confident throwing this into a breeze than a standard Z Nuke.
Why Did It Become So Rare?
You might be wondering why, if it's such a great distance tool, you can't just go to a website and buy ten of them right now. The truth is that "Plus" molds never really took over the industry. While some players loved the easy release, a lot of professional players and seasoned amateurs found the slanted rim to be inconsistent.
If your grip isn't perfectly tight, that slant can actually cause the disc to slip out early. It requires a specific type of pressure to get the most out of it. Because of that, Discraft eventually moved away from making the discraft nuke plus a staple of their production line. These days, you mostly find them in limited LEDGESTONE drops or as older "Z Plus" runs that collectors hoard like gold.
It's worth noting that if you find one in Titanium plastic, you've basically found a unicorn. The Z plastic versions are the most common, and they are incredibly durable, which is good because a disc this fast is bound to hit a tree or a rock at some point.
Comparing the Nuke Family
To really understand where the discraft nuke plus fits, you have to look at the rest of the siblings in the Nuke family. It's a crowded house, and each one has a very specific job.
- The Standard Nuke: The baseline. Fast, relatively stable, but can be flippy once seasoned.
- The Nuke SS: The "Super Stable" (which actually means understable in Discraft-speak). This is for people who want the Nuke distance but don't have the 400+ foot power.
- The Nuke OS: A literal brick. It's designed to fight the hardest winds imaginable and fade hard no matter what.
- The Nuke Plus: The middle ground with a grip twist. It sits somewhere between the standard Nuke and the OS in terms of stability, but with that unique rim feel.
I think the Nuke Plus is actually the most "honest" of the bunch. It doesn't hide your mistakes. If you throw it poorly, the rim will let you know. But when you hit it right, it feels smoother than almost any other high-speed driver on the market.
Is It Right for Your Bag?
Honestly, the discraft nuke plus isn't for everyone. If you're a beginner, stay away. I'm not being a gatekeeper; I'm just trying to save you the frustration. Until you can consistently throw a fairway driver like a Teebird or an Undertaker at least 300 feet, a 13-speed driver with a slanted rim is just going to be a source of headaches.
However, if you're an intermediate or advanced player who feels like your current drivers are "sticking" in your hand, or if you've been looking for a Nuke that has just a little more bite than the stock version, it's absolutely worth trying.
The grip is the deciding factor. If you can, try to hold one before you buy it. Some people instantly hate the feel of the sloped inner wall. It feels "shallow" even though the disc is thick. But for others, it feels like the disc was custom-molded for their hand.
Finding a Nuke Plus Today
Since they aren't in regular production, finding a discraft nuke plus takes a bit of legwork. You'll want to check out disc golf auctions, Facebook exchange groups, or specialized retailers that carry older stock.
When you do find one, check the weight. A lot of these were produced in the 173-174g range, which is heavy for a speed 13 disc. If you can find one in the high 160s, it might actually be a bit more accessible for the average player.
Just a heads up: be prepared to pay a bit more than retail. Because they aren't making these every day, the price for a brand-new, unthrown Nuke Plus has definitely crept up over the years. Is it worth $30 or $40? If it adds thirty feet to your drive and gives you a clean release every time, then yeah, it's probably the cheapest way to buy "distance."
Final Verdict
The discraft nuke plus is a relic from an era where manufacturers were experimenting heavily with ergonomics. While the industry mostly settled on the standard vertical rim, the Plus mold remains a fascinating outlier. It's a powerhouse of a disc that demands respect and a lot of power to operate.
It's one of those discs that reminds us that disc golf equipment is incredibly personal. There is no "perfect" disc, only the disc that works for your specific hand and your specific swing. For a small but dedicated group of throwers, the Nuke Plus is the ultimate distance tool. For the rest of us, it's a cool piece of disc golf history that's a blast to rip in an open field on a Saturday afternoon. If you ever get the chance to throw one, take it—just make sure you've got plenty of room, because this thing wants to move.