Why can't I adjust fade in the simulator?

Turn and fade describe the horizontal movement of a disc during its flight. While both turn and fade are commonly used to describe disc flight characteristics, TechDisc simulations primarily focus on turn. This article explains both concepts, and how TechDisc incorporates them.

Turn refers to the initial rightward movement of a disc thrown by a right-handed player (leftward for left-handed players). It occurs at the beginning of the flight due to the disc's high airspeed and low stability. In TechDisc, turn is a direct input that significantly impacts the simulated flight path.

Fade generally refers to the gradual leftward movement of the disc (rhbh) toward the end of its flight. This happens due to the disc's natural tendency to stall and lose lift as its airspeed decreases. While fade is a real-world phenomenon, it is indirectly accounted for in TechDisc's turn calculations.

Both Fade and Turn affect the pitching moment (rotation) of a disc in real life and in the simulation. However, since they're closely linked, and for simplicity, we primarily use Turn as a direct input in TechDisc.

Understanding Turn and Fade:

Both turn and fade are typically measured on a scale of -5 to +5, with 0 being a neutral flight path. 

Discs with lower positive turn values will turn more to the right initially, while those with higher positive values will turn less or even fade early.

Discs with higher positive fade values will fade more dramatically to the left at the end of their flight, while those with lower values will fade less or even continue turning to the right.

Calculating Fade:

While turn and fade are distinct, they are interconnected. The approximate fade value of a disc can be calculated using a combination of its speed and turn ratings. This value is not directly user-adjustable in TechDisc but helps to understand the overall flight path within the simulation's constraints. Essentially, the fade effect is baked into how TechDisc interprets the turn value.