Disc Golf Target Build

[jamesemery728]

A few months ago my son asked me if I would make him a Disc Golf Target to practice with in his back yard. I knew nothing about disc golf but said, of course I would. Now you can't just throw these things together any old way you feel like because they have to be made to the correct diemensions and conform to the size that the National Disc Golf Association rules say they have to conform to. Of course, like any project it involved the purchase of some tooling. I already had a HF compact metal bender for about 10 years or so but I needed a ring roller because there are several rings that have to be rolled. I bought the HF tubing roller but because it is designed mainly for rolling large tubing I needed a die set that I could roll 3/8" and 5/16 crs with. I got a combination die set from SWAG Offroad that will roll 1/4", 5/16", 3/8", and 1/2". Next step was that I wanted a stand that I could use for either of these tools that was portable and could be anchored to the floor and then removed and stored away. Well enough boring text here are the pictures of what I came up with. Any comments or questions, fire away.
1 and 2 Combo stand anchored under the back porch.
3 and 4 HF Tubing Roller.
5 HF Compact Bender

 

[jamesemery728]

The basket was probably the greatest challenge because everything needs to fit together reasonable well and come out straight and contain the disc when it catches it. I ended up making a plywood jig to get it together and hold it while being welded.

1 and 2 Plywood jig
3 and 4 Basket

 

[jamesemery728]

Next came the top that holds the 18 chains that slow down the disc and guide it into the basket. The top ring needed to be 4" wide and the tubing roller would only roll a 3" max so I ended up rolling 2-2" rings and welding them together to end up with a 4" ring.

1 thru 5 The 4" top ring and the 18 chain hangers

 

[jamesemery728]

Next is the base to hold the whole thing up. I welded a ring on the main pole to locate the height of the basket. There are 18 outer chains that are held together on the bottom with a 3-1/2" ring that slips over the pole.

1 and 2 The Base
3 Ring welded to pole to locate basket height.
4 18 chains with bottom retaining ring.
5 Finished and painted.

 

[tarbellb]

Wow, this is really interesting. Having played disc golf a few times, I never really thought about how much fabrication went into each "hole" or basket.

Very well executed, looks totally professional. Thats a lot of materials!

Funny this sport has such a intricate piece of equipment for a relatively laid back game.

 

[Fordman7795]

Very nice work. I have been out a few times and being a metal worker was always checking out the baskets and getting ideas on how to make one. Thanks for showing us.

 

[readhead]

Nice job. We have built around 25 for a couple of courses and individuals. There is a lot of work for what they are.

 

[Greg_R]

Truck rims make good bottom basket assemblies but are not PDGA approved. For a backyard target they work fine.

 

[k-os]

Nice job on it. I'm a big disc golfer and always thought it'd be great to have my own practice basket to bring to different parks. Did you just measure a basket from a local course for some of the important dimensions (Height, Diameters, etc?)

 

[jamesemery728]

Nice job on it. I'm a big disc golfer and always thought it'd be great to have my own practice basket to bring to different parks. Did you just measure a basket from a local course for some of the important dimensions (Height, Diameters, etc?)

There are specs on line at www.discgolf.com for all the critical dimensions. There is also a park near our house that has a course and I was able to take some pictures and measurements there also.