By disc type
Best Innova Discs (2026)
Innova's catalog is enormous and most of it is not for you. These five cover a complete bag, and we say which level each one is actually for.
By Selena H. Published October 17, 2026
Hyzer & Chain is reader-funded. We earn a commission when you buy through a link here, at no extra cost to you. Picks come from published manufacturer specs and current retailer availability, never from who pays most — here is how we pick.
The best Innova disc for most players is the Aviar — the putter that has been in more bags than any other mold in the sport, and the one Innova disc nearly everyone should own. Beyond that, “best Innova disc” depends entirely on how far you throw, because Innova’s catalog runs from speed 2 to speed 14 and the fast end of it is unusable below roughly 350 feet of arm speed. Below are five molds that cover a complete bag, each tagged with the level it genuinely suits. Every flight number here was read from Innova’s own factory store listing and linked at the bottom.
Quick picks
| # | Product | Best for | Key spec | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Innova Aviar Best Innova disc overall | a brand-new player who needs one disc that does exactly what they aim it at, and for every level above that as a putting disc | 2 / 3 / 0 / 1 · Putter | |
| 2 |  Innova Leopard Best Innova disc for a developing arm | a beginner taking their first step beyond a putter and midrange — at speed 6 it is slow enough to actually fly for a new arm | 6 / 5 / -2 / 1 · Fairway driver | |
| 3 |  Innova Mako3 Best Innova midrange | a beginner or intermediate player who wants a midrange with literally no built-in curve in either direction | 5 / 5 / 0 / 0 · Midrange | |
| 4 | Innova Teebird Best Innova fairway driver | an intermediate player who has outgrown understable drivers and wants one fairway disc that goes exactly where it is aimed | 7 / 5 / 0 / 2 · Fairway driver | |
| 5 |  Innova Destroyer Best Innova distance driver | an advanced player who throws over 350 feet and wants the sport's benchmark high-speed driver | 12 / 5 / -1 / 3 · Distance driver |
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1. Best Innova disc overall
Innova Aviar
- Flight numbers
- 2 / 3 / 0 / 1
- Speed
- 2
- Glide
- 3
- Turn
- 0
- Fade
- 1
- Disc type
- Putter
- Stability
- Neutral
- Plastics
- DX, Pro, Star, Champion, GStar
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If you own one Innova disc, own this one. At speed 2 with 1 point of fade, release errors barely change the line, which is why it works identically for a first-week player and a tournament player. Its other advantage on an Innova-specific page is plastic range: DX for cheap grippy practice, KC Pro for a firmer feel, Star for durability. Same mold, three different putters, and you can buy all three for less than one premium driver.
How it flies
Speed 2 with 3 glide and a flat 0 turn means the Aviar goes where you point it at any arm speed. The single point of fade shows up only at the very end, so from inside 30 feet it drops almost straight down rather than drifting left. That predictability is the whole reason it has been the most-bagged putter in the sport for decades.
Best for a brand-new player who needs one disc that does exactly what they aim it at, and for every level above that as a putting disc.
Look elsewhere if you want a putter that fights a headwind — the Aviar's 1 fade gives you very little resistance when the wind picks up.
What works
- Flies the same line for a 150-foot arm and a 500-foot arm
- Available in DX (cheap, grippy) all the way to Star (durable) so you can buy the same flight in whatever plastic suits you
- Low speed means a bad release barely changes the line
What does not
- 1 fade is not enough to hold a line in real wind
- DX plastic wears noticeably after a season of tree hits
Specs read from Innova’s own published product page.
2. Best Innova disc for a developing arm
Innova Leopard
- Flight numbers
- 6 / 5 / -2 / 1
- Speed
- 6
- Glide
- 5
- Turn
- -2
- Fade
- 1
- Disc type
- Fairway driver
- Stability
- Understable
- Plastics
- DX, Pro, Star, Champion, GStar
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The disc that stops a new player wasting money on a Destroyer. Speed 6 is reachable, and the -2 turn flips it up and runs it right before 1 point of fade eases it back, which reads as a long shallow S. On an Innova page it matters that this is a DX-plastic disc: it is one of the cheapest molds in the catalog and it outthrows the expensive ones for anyone under about 300 feet.
How it flies
-2 turn with only 1 fade is the classic beginner driver shape. At modest arm speed the turn gets the disc moving right and the single fade point brings it gently back, so the result is a long, shallow S that reads as straight. The low speed 6 means you do not need power to get it up to flight — the most common reason a new player's drives go nowhere.
Best for a beginner taking their first step beyond a putter and midrange — at speed 6 it is slow enough to actually fly for a new arm.
Look elsewhere once you are throwing over 300 feet; the -2 turn will start rolling the disc over on you.
What works
- Genuinely flies at beginner arm speed, unlike a speed-11 driver
- The shallow S-curve adds real distance without demanding technique
- DX plastic is cheap enough to lose
What does not
- Turns over once your arm speed grows past it
- 1 fade gives nothing in a headwind
Specs read from Innova’s own published product page.
3. Best Innova midrange
Innova Mako3
- Flight numbers
- 5 / 5 / 0 / 0
- Speed
- 5
- Glide
- 5
- Turn
- 0
- Fade
- 0
- Disc type
- Midrange
- Stability
- Neutral
- Plastics
- DX, Pro, Star, Champion, GStar
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0 turn and 0 fade is rare in any catalog and it is what earns the Mako3 the midrange slot here over the Roc or the Shark. It holds whatever angle you release it on and adds nothing of its own, which makes it both the most accurate midrange Innova sells and the best diagnostic disc in the lineup. If your throws finish in places you cannot explain, a month with a Mako3 explains them.
How it flies
0 turn and 0 fade with 5 glide: the Mako3 holds whatever angle you release it on for the whole flight and then lands. Release it flat and it flies flat. Release it on a 20-degree hyzer and it rides that hyzer down. That makes it the best disc on this page for learning what your own release angle actually is, because the disc adds nothing of its own.
Best for a beginner or intermediate player who wants a midrange with literally no built-in curve in either direction.
Look elsewhere if you want a midrange that finishes left to settle under a basket — the Mako3 will not do it.
What works
- Truly neutral — the flight is entirely your release
- 5 glide carries well for a midrange
- Excellent teaching disc for diagnosing your own release angle
What does not
- No fade at all, so it will not tuck in at the end of a shot
- Neutral stability is a liability in wind
Specs read from Innova’s own published product page.
4. Best Innova fairway driver
Innova Teebird
- Flight numbers
- 7 / 5 / 0 / 2
- Speed
- 7
- Glide
- 5
- Turn
- 0
- Fade
- 2
- Disc type
- Fairway driver
- Stability
- Stable
- Plastics
- Champion, Star, Pro, DX
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Here because it is the control driver the rest of Innova's fairway range is measured against. 7 / 5 / 0 / 2 means no turn to manage and a fade you can aim at, so a Teebird thrown flat goes exactly as far as you threw it and finishes left by a predictable amount. That predictability is why it has survived decades of newer, faster molds. It needs an intermediate arm to work properly.
How it flies
0 turn and 2 fade at speed 7 is the definition of a control fairway driver. Given enough power it holds a dead-flat line for most of the flight then finishes left with a predictable, modest hook. It will not flip over on a hard release and it will not need you to aim right. This is the disc that teaches most players what a repeatable drive feels like.
Best for an intermediate player who has outgrown understable drivers and wants one fairway disc that goes exactly where it is aimed.
Look elsewhere if your drives are under 250 feet — without enough power the 2 fade takes over early and you lose distance to the left.
What works
- 0 turn means no surprise flips, in any wind
- The most repeatable fairway line in the registry
- Champion plastic holds these numbers for years
What does not
- Needs genuine arm speed to show its straight line
- 2 fade costs distance at lower power
Specs read from Innova’s own published product page.
5. Best Innova distance driver
Innova Destroyer
- Flight numbers
- 12 / 5 / -1 / 3
- Speed
- 12
- Glide
- 5
- Turn
- -1
- Fade
- 3
- Disc type
- Distance driver
- Stability
- Stable
- Plastics
- Star, Champion, GStar, Halo Star
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The disc most people mean when they say they want a Destroyer, and the one most people should not buy yet. Speed 12 with -1 turn and 3 fade is a genuine tournament distance driver, and it rewards an arm that can already get a speed-9 driver to full flight. It is on this page because it is the correct end point of an Innova progression, not the starting point.
How it flies
Speed 12 with -1 turn and 3 fade. Given enough power it holds a long flat line, drifts gently right at full speed and finishes left firmly. Underpowered, it does none of that — it simply fades out left early, which is why it is the single most commonly over-bought disc in the sport.
Best for an advanced player who throws over 350 feet and wants the sport's benchmark high-speed driver.
Look elsewhere unless you are genuinely past 350 feet — below that the Destroyer never reaches flight and you lose distance to a speed-9 disc.
What works
- Benchmark distance driver at tournament arm speeds
- Dependable finish for a speed-12 disc
- Beats in gradually into a straighter flight rather than going flippy
What does not
- Needs 350-plus feet of arm speed to do anything at all
- A wasted purchase for most beginners and many intermediates
Specs read from Innova’s own published product page.
Every Innova mold in our registry, by speed
Innova’s range is the broadest in disc golf, and the single most useful way to read it is by speed, because speed is what decides whether a mold will work for you at all. The table below is every Innova disc we have checked against the factory store, sorted slowest first. Each name links to the Innova listing the numbers came from.
| Disc | Speed | Glide | Turn | Fade | Type | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Innova Aviar | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | Putter | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
| Innova Aviar3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | Putter | Intermediate, Advanced |
| Innova Dart | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | Putter | Beginner, Intermediate |
| Innova Pig | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | Putter | Advanced |
| Innova Roc | 4 | 5 | 0 | 2 | Midrange | Intermediate, Advanced |
| Innova Shark | 4 | 4 | 0 | 2 | Midrange | Beginner, Intermediate |
| Innova Jay | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | Midrange | Beginner, Intermediate |
| Innova Mako3 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | Midrange | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
| Innova Roc3 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 3 | Midrange | Intermediate, Advanced |
| Innova Leopard | 6 | 5 | -2 | 1 | Fairway driver | Beginner, Intermediate |
| Innova Leopard3 | 7 | 5 | -2 | 1 | Fairway driver | Beginner, Intermediate |
| Innova Teebird | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | Fairway driver | Intermediate, Advanced |
| Innova Firebird | 9 | 3 | 0 | 4 | Fairway driver | Intermediate, Advanced |
| Innova Sidewinder | 9 | 5 | -3 | 1 | Distance driver | Beginner, Intermediate |
| Innova Thunderbird | 9 | 5 | 0 | 2 | Fairway driver | Intermediate, Advanced |
| Innova Valkyrie | 9 | 4 | -2 | 2 | Distance driver | Beginner, Intermediate |
| Innova Beast | 10 | 5 | -2 | 2 | Distance driver | Intermediate |
| Innova Mamba | 11 | 6 | -5 | 1 | Distance driver | Intermediate, Advanced |
| Innova Wraith | 11 | 5 | -1 | 3 | Distance driver | Intermediate, Advanced |
| Innova Destroyer | 12 | 5 | -1 | 3 | Distance driver | Advanced |
| Innova Shryke | 13 | 6 | -2 | 2 | Distance driver | Advanced |
Read the Suits column before the numbers. A speed-13 Shryke and a speed-2 Aviar are both excellent discs; only one of them is going to fly for you this year.
Innova plastics, and which to buy
Innova sells most molds in several plastics, and the plastic changes the disc more than players expect. The short version:
- DX. Base plastic. Cheapest, grippiest, and it wears fast — which is a feature while you are learning, because a beat-in DX disc turns more and becomes easier to throw.
- Pro and KC Pro. Mid-grade. More durable than DX with a firmer feel. KC Pro putters are a distinct feel worth trying if DX feels too soft in the hand.
- Star and Champion. Premium. Star is grippier, Champion is slicker and more overstable. Both hold their numbers for years, which is what you want once your form is repeatable.
- GStar. Star’s more flexible sibling. Slightly less stable than the same mold in Star, and better in cold weather.
Note that the published numbers themselves can differ by plastic — Innova list the DX Roc at 4 / 5 / 0 / 2 and the KC Pro Roc at 4 / 4 / 0 / 3. Our plastic types guide covers the families across all four brands.
Innova molds we did not pick, and why
The Roc and Roc3. Both are excellent and both lost the midrange slot to the Mako3 on accuracy. The Roc’s appeal is that it becomes three discs as it beats in; if that appeals, read our Roc versus Buzzz comparison.
The Firebird. Not a general pick because it is a specialist: 9 / 3 / 0 / 4 is the most overstable fairway driver here and it exists for headwinds and forehands, not for everyday fairway shots. We set it against the Zone in our Zone versus Firebird comparison.
The Mamba and Shryke. Speed 11 and 13 with -5 and -2 turn. Spectacular in the right hands and uncontrollable in the wrong ones. They belong on the advanced driver page, not here.
The Pig. A 4 / 1 / 0 / 3 overstable putter for approach shots that need to stop dead. A real tool, but a third or fourth putter rather than a first one.
Building an Innova-only bag
You can play a complete round out of Innova alone, and plenty of players do. The sequence that works, in the order to buy it:
- Two DX Aviars. One to putt with, one to approach with. Matching putters make a repeatable routine possible.
- A Mako3. Your straight midrange and your release angle diagnostic.
- A DX Leopard. Your driver until you are throwing past about 300 feet.
- A Teebird. The control-driver upgrade from the Leopard once you can get speed 7 to full flight.
- A Firebird. Added when wind and forehands start costing you strokes, not before.
That is five molds and six discs, and it covers every shot in a round. For how the slots fit together regardless of brand, see how to build a disc golf bag.
Ready to move up?
Gear that suits you depends far more on how far you actually throw than on how long you have played. If these picks are starting to feel wrong in either direction, the matching page one level away is the better place to shop.
Common questions
What is the best Innova disc?
The Aviar. At 2 / 3 / 0 / 1 it is slow and forgiving enough to work for any arm speed, it is the most-bagged putter in the sport, and it is sold in DX, Pro, KC Pro, Star and GStar so you can pick the feel you like.
What is the best Innova disc for beginners?
A DX Leopard (6 / 5 / -2 / 1) as a driver and a DX Aviar as a putter. Both reach full flight at a developing arm speed, and both cost a fraction of a premium-plastic distance driver.
What is the best Innova midrange?
The Mako3 at 5 / 5 / 0 / 0. Zero turn and zero fade means it holds the angle you release it on and adds nothing of its own, which makes it the most accurate midrange in Innova's range.
Which Innova plastic should I buy?
DX while you are learning, because it is cheap and grippy and beats in toward easier flight. Star or Champion once your form is repeatable, because they hold their published numbers for years.
Should I buy an Innova Destroyer?
Only once you can already get a speed-9 driver to full flight, which is roughly 350 feet of arm speed. Below that a speed-12 Destroyer fades out early and lands shorter than a midrange.
Every flight number and spec on this page was read from the manufacturer’s own published product page, linked beside each pick. We do not throw these on a course — here is how we pick.
Sources
- Innova Discs — Flight Ratings System (the published Speed/Glide/Turn/Fade scales)
- Innova Factory Store — DX Aviar (2 / 3 / 0 / 1)
- Innova Factory Store — DX Leopard (6 / 5 / -2 / 1)
- Innova Factory Store — Star Mako3 (5 / 5 / 0 / 0)
- Innova Factory Store — Star Teebird (7 / 5 / 0 / 2)
- Innova Factory Store — Star Destroyer (12 / 5 / -1 / 3)
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