A groundbreaking new study has revealed massive performance gaps between male and female disc golfers across all competitive levels.
Researchers Tommy R. Lundberg and Justin Menickelli analyzed publicly available data from the Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) and Disc Golf Pro Tour (DGPT). They examined performance differences in player ratings, throwing distance, accuracy, and putting success among professional, amateur, and junior players.
The findings paint a clear picture of male dominance across virtually every measurable aspect of disc golf performance. In the professional class, which included nearly 17,000 players, the median male player rating reached 936 compared to just 851 for females. Perhaps most strikingly, over 5,000 amateur male players achieved ratings higher than the top-performing female professional.
The most pronounced differences emerged in throwing distance competitions. Male professionals consistently threw 23% to 54% farther than their female counterparts across multiple championship events from 2021 to 2024. In the 2021 Professional World Championships Long Drive Competition, males averaged 601 meters compared to 419 meters for females—a 44% advantage.
These distance disparities remained consistent at the amateur level, where male competitors threw an average of 47% farther than females in both 2023 and 2024 World Championships events.
While differences in precision-based skills proved less dramatic than raw distance, males still maintained clear advantages. Professional male players achieved 70.9% fairway hits compared to 63.4% for females. In putting performance, specifically Circle 1X putts (those between 3.3 and 10 meters from the target), males succeeded 82% of the time versus 69% for females.
The study’s authors note that these accuracy differences, though smaller than distance gaps, remain statistically significant and meaningful for competitive outcomes.
Perhaps most surprisingly, the research revealed substantial performance gaps among junior players, with differences clearly observable by age 10. In the 2023 Junior World Championships, 10-year-old boys achieved a median rating of 775 compared to 529 for girls of the same age.
Twelve-year-old male competitors consistently outperformed their female peers, with median ratings of 840 versus 700 in 2023. During actual tournament play, top male juniors typically finished several strokes under par while top female players scored at or above par.
The researchers attribute these differences primarily to well-documented biological advantages males possess in muscle mass, strength, and skeletal structure. Males typically have 40% to 120% greater muscle strength than females, particularly in upper body muscles crucial for disc golf throwing.
Additionally, males possess longer arm spans even when matched for height, providing biomechanical advantages in generating rotational force and disc velocity. The study notes that release velocities in disc golf can exceed 20 meters per second, making upper body power generation critical for performance.
The findings arrive as disc golf organizations grapple with establishing fair eligibility criteria for women’s competitions. The PDGA currently allows transgender women to compete in female divisions if they maintain testosterone levels below 2 nmol/L for 24 months.
However, the researchers suggest that testosterone suppression may not adequately address the performance advantages revealed in their study. They point to research indicating that hormone therapy produces only modest reductions in muscle mass and strength while leaving skeletal parameters like height and arm span largely unchanged.
The study also challenges age-based transition policies. While some sports organizations allow transgender athletes who began medical transition before age 12 to compete in female categories, the disc golf research demonstrates clear performance differences even among 10-year-olds.
Disc golf has experienced massive growth in recent years, combining elements of traditional golf with specialized disc throwing. As participation expands and professional opportunities increase, governing bodies face mounting pressure to establish clear, evidence-based eligibility standards.
The study represents the first peer-reviewed research on sex differences in disc golf performance, filling a crucial knowledge gap as the sport continues its rapid evolution from recreational pastime to serious competitive endeavor.
With females representing only about 10% of disc golf participants, the findings raise complex questions about how to grow women’s participation while maintaining competitive integrity. The researchers conclude that if fairness remains the primary objective, the data suggests women’s categories should be restricted to female athletes only.
