The Westside Discs Shield is a 3-speed stable putt & approach. With published flight numbers of 3 / 3 / 0 / 1, it is most often described as suited for inside-the-circle putting with a beaded grip, straight, controlled approach shots.
Overview
The Westside Shield is a beaded, deep putter rated 3/3/0/1 — Westside's stable putting workhorse and the next step up in stability from the Swan.[1] It is a little thicker than the Swan, carries a small bead on the rim, and is designed around the tacky grip of Westside's BT plastic line.[1] Westside describes the flight simply: a stable line when thrown as an approach and a straight line into the chains while putting.[1] Its Finnish name is Kilpi — shield — and the PDGA database lists it as Shield (Kilpi1).[1][2]
Flight characteristics
Flight numbers describe the published behavior of the disc when thrown at its design speed. Real-world flight varies with plastic, weight, age, and thrower power. The community-averaged numbers above reflect crowd-sourced observations from real throws — typically slightly more understable than the manufacturer's published values, which is the most consistent pattern across nearly every commercial mold.
Recommended uses
The Shield is first a putting putter: the bead gives a consistent release reference, the modest 3 glide keeps putts from sailing, and the 0/1 finish holds center chains on a straight stroke.[1][3] As an approach disc it flies point-and-shoot stable lines without the hard fade of an overstable approach putter, making it a natural all-conditions choice inside 250 feet.[3][4] The BT line offers hard, medium, and soft feels, with premium VIP and grippy Tournament plastic runs for players who want more durability.[1]
Best for:
- Inside-the-circle putting with a beaded grip
- Straight, controlled approach shots
- Low-glide putts that stay manageable in wind
- Players stepping up from the understable Swan
Community notes — how players actually use this disc
Plastics & variants
The Shield is available in the following plastic blends from Westside Discs:[1]
BT Hard, BT Medium, BT Soft, VIP, Tournament
Plastic blend significantly affects flight character. Premium plastics like Champion, Z, or C-Line generally fly more overstable when fresh and hold their stability over time. Base plastics like DX, Pro, or Active beat in faster and become more understable workhorses with use.
History
The Shield was PDGA-approved on March 24, 2014 (certification 14-26) under Westside's tradition of giving every mold a Finnish name — Kilpi in this case.[2][1] It was designed as the stable companion to the understable Swan in the Finnish-rooted brand's putter lineup, and it launched alongside Westside's tacky BT plastic line, whose hard, medium, and soft blends became the mold's signature pairing.[1] More than a decade on it remains a stock Westside putter, produced in multiple BT firmnesses and premium runs, and a common recommendation for players who want a beaded, neutral putter that putts straight and approaches predictably.[3][4]
Notable throwers
Currently no information
Similar discs
- Dynamic Discs Judge · 2/4/0/1
- Dynamic Discs Warden · 2/4/0/1
- Innova Aviar · 2/3/0/1
References & further reading
- How to read disc golf flight numbers — Discpedia primer
- PDGA Approved Disc List — search for "Shield" to find the Westside Discs Shield entry (PDGA-approved 2014)
- Westside Discs official site — manufacturer product page
Sources
Content on this page has been cross-checked against the following sources. Numbered citations in the prose above link to the matching entry here.
- BT Medium Shield — Westside Discs (official product page: flight 3/3/0/1, PDGA specs, BT plastic, Kilpi)
- Shield (Kilpi1) from Westside Golf Discs — PDGA Equipment Certification (approved 2014-03-24, cert 14-26)
- Westside Discs Shield Review — Disc Golf Puttheads
- Westside Shield — 1010 Discs (stable putt & approach)
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