In disc golf, manufacturers and brands are not always the same thing. A manufacturer is the company that actually molds, produces, and assembles discs. They are the ones who own the physical machinery, plastics, and production facilities that bring discs to life. For example, Latitude 64 in Sweden is a manufacturer that produces not only their own line of Latitude 64 discs, but also molds discs for Dynamic Discs, Westside Discs, and other brands.
A brand, on the other hand, is the label, identity, and marketing strategy that customers recognize. Brands define the look, feel, and culture associated with the discs, even when they don’t own the factory that makes them. Some brands, like Thought Space Athletics and Doomsday Discs, don’t operate their own manufacturing plants. Instead, they partner with multiple manufacturers to bring their designs and plastics to market.
Other brands, such as Infinite Discs, are not manufacturers at all. Infinite Discs partners with Innova Champion Discs to produce molds under the Infinite Discs label. This allows Infinite to offer a unique lineup and branding strategy without running their own production facilities.
This distinction is important when talking about disc golf brands because it explains why two different labels may come out of the same factory, or why a single brand might offer discs that feel and fly differently depending on which manufacturer produced them. Understanding the difference helps players appreciate both the engineering side (manufacturers) and the creative/marketing side (brands) that shape the disc golf industry.
