Lone Star Discs was founded by the Dillard family in Conroe, Texas—led by company president Terry Dillard. Their background was in injection molding, primarily producing parts for the oil rig industry. But when the COVID-19 pandemic brought that business to a halt, Terry’s sons, Travis and Synjin, suggested putting the machines to use for something they actually cared about: disc golf.

So, in 2020, Lone Star Discs was born—right in the middle of a global slowdown. With a few early molds and a lot of Texas pride, the brand quickly exploded in popularity. By 2021, they had several PDGA-approved discs, and by the end of 2022, they were pushing past 50 molds. As of today, Lone Star has released more than 55 different disc molds and has established itself as one of the fastest-growing disc golf manufacturers in history.

Their branding has stayed true to their Texas roots, with disc names like the Guadalupe, Tombstone, Crockett, Wrangler, and Jackrabbit. Whether you’re playing a casual round or a tournament shootout, it’s clear Lone Star wants your bag to look like it came straight off a Texas ranch.

From a family machine shop to nationwide shelves in just a few years, Lone Star’s rise has been fast, bold, and undeniably Texas-sized.

Lone Star’s rapid growth brought excitement—but also criticism. As they scaled up, several issues within the disc golf community created backlash and fueled negative sentiment, especially on Reddit and disc golf forums.

First, there was the launch of their “Ranger Team.” At first glance, it seemed like a generous opportunity: hundreds of amateur players were accepted onto the team. But the model raised eyebrows. Team members were given only a few free discs, but were required to throw a bag made up of 90–100% Lone Star Discs. To comply, most players had to purchase large amounts of plastic themselves. Many in the disc golf world saw this as a disguised marketing strategy rather than true sponsorship. It was like being invited to dinner, then being handed the check.

Second, there were growing concerns about quality control. Some players noted significant inconsistencies in plastic feel and durability, even within the same plastic type. Others received discs with warps, bubbles, or other physical defects—discs that seemed like they should have been labeled factory seconds, but instead showed up in stock orders. These issues led to frustration, especially among retailers and repeat customers who expected more consistent product standards.

Finally, the professional sponsorship fallout made headlines in the disc golf community. Lone Star signed multiple high-profile players to endorsement deals—only to reportedly drop some mid-season, with little to no explanation. This created a lot of distrust, especially among fans and smaller pros who had once seen the brand as an exciting new option.

All of these missteps added up quickly in a small, tight-knit sport like disc golf. Reddit threads and Facebook groups lit up with frustration. What started as a feel-good family company story soon faced skepticism from players and retailers alike.

There’s one silver lining to all the Lone Star drama: great deals. When Lone Star was riding high in popularity, retailers across the country—including big ones like Infinite Discs—loaded up on inventory to keep up with demand. Discs were flying off shelves.

But when the controversies hit—team issues, inconsistent plastics, and sponsorship problems—interest declined sharply. Suddenly, retailers found themselves sitting on pallets of unsold stock. We’re talking hundreds of Warbirds, Mad Cats, Armadillos, and Rangers just waiting for a second shot.

At Discount Disc Golf, we stepped in and scooped up some of those overstock deals at liquidation-level pricing. That means you can get brand-new Lone Star discs for some of the lowest prices online—even if the brand's image took a hit, the plastic still flies just fine.

So yes, the brand has had its bumps, but if you care more about performance than PR, this is your chance to try quality molds without emptying your wallet. And hey, if you ace a hole with a $7 Lone Star disc, it still counts the same on the scorecard.