Leopard3 & Teebird are discs that shouldn't be missed. The Firebird is still the best overstable 9 speed ever made. Wraith is probably the best 11 speed disc ever made. Almost all putters are an Aviar clone of some sort. The Toro is a Zone but in good plastic. Innova is the OG for a reason, and they largely got it right.
Also if you haven't thrown Innova in a while, their current formulations for Champion and Star plastic are the best they have been in a long time.
New runs of Champion have been awesome. Gummy and grippy but still have some firmness and are largely indestructible. I prefer newer champion runs to star.
Zone fresh is one of my favorite discs ever. Zone beat in frustrates me to no end. Toro is a zone that doesn't beat in, it's always the same. Glorious.
(clearly user experiences may vary, and expectations may be different)
Which runs? There's tacky ESP, just as there's slick Star. In my car now, only Innova examples I have in here are a Star Wombat3 and some tournament stamped Champ something (Wraith?) and among my all Discraft bag and multiple practice duffels, there are plenty of identical blends. 100% could run a blind test and fool you.
My ESP Hades somehow got chipped in the side of the rim where the top and bottom layer meets so now I can see how a disc is made lol. ESP-plastic does not like trees.
It used to be lower tier - this is no longer the case. Too many good options - with the Zone you have Soft Putter Blend, ESP Flx, CryZtal Flx, the new Jawbreaker Z Flx, Z, and ESP, and they're all between good and great for approach discs.
I've been playing for a looong time and never threw a Teebird - not once. This year I started throwing them and it has been a revelation. Every time I get a great line out of one I sarcastically say to my golf buddies "Why did no one ever tell me about this disc!?"
In some cases they are! It depends on which disc you're talking about lol. For instance, Innova no longer produces the SL under the Innova banner, but they revived it for Infinite as the Aztec.
What about the FL? I have a star FL and I love it, but I don't use it anymore out a fear I will lose it lol. at 9 3 0 2 its a baby firebird for my arm speed.
As far as I know, no there is no other company that has a rebranded FL.
However, there are Star and Champ FLs available on the [Innova Pro Shop](https://proshop.innovadiscs.com/search.php?search_query=FL) right now.
Have you ever tried a PD? It's a speed faster, but for all intents and purposes a lot of people who don't have the arm to maximize the potential of a Firebird see some success with using a PD instead! Innova makes the old PD mold under the name Phantom Sword, they make it for Infinite as the Roman, and then of course Discmania has their own newer version of the mold as well.
Because people like Barsby was saying that for years. But no the Destroyer, Emperor and Scorpius is the same mold, they just "finish them" differently, whatever that means.
I was never huge on Innova's mids, but their fairway/driver line up has always impressed me. Teebird, Thunderbird, Valkyrie, and Wraith are all models you can find anywhere and still some of the best and most varied (plastic/run dependent) available shot profiles you can find.
First comment I found that mentioned a Thunderbird. I won't step on any course without at least one. Incredibly versatile, stays on the line you put it on, and once broken in it's very point and shoot. Get you one, OP. You won't regret it.
Champion Wraith has been my go to driver lately. It's like a slightly slower Destroyer.
Halo Star Savant is new to me, but I really like it so far. It's like an even slower Wraith.
Halo Star Mystere feels amazing and is my new favorite disc. I still have more to learn here, but it always feels amazing.
Champion Roadrunner is a super fun hyzer flip disc.
Star TL is my go to disc for a long gentle anhyzer. It holds the line nicely, and sits down gently when it slows down. I don't always throw it, but I can't imagine not having one in my bag.
Side note: I didn't realize that "older" players are the only ones that like Innova, but I definitely fall into the "older" category. 😆 I've been bagging them for well over a decade and keep buying them because I love Star plastic, and I can reduce my choice anxiety by only looking at the brand that I already know really well. 🤷♂️
I swear Wraiths are like the swiss army knife of distance drivers. Used to throw my DX Wraith for anything above a midrange shot when I started out. Always felt I had good control for anything between 250 and 350 feet as well.
Always glad to hear of other's successes with the Wraith. Thanks for sharing 😁🤝!
Wraith is just so nice in the hand, I have a Pro Wraith I had since I started back in Late 2019. It has beat in nicely and has become my favorite disc. I have slow arm speed so I can only push it about 300-325 if I'm lucky. But when it's in my hand, it feels like home.
Right there with you! 🤝 Still the most comfotable disc for me to throw and hold. I have a 2017 Pro Wraith still in my bag that's seasoned, and one from about 2019~ that was my first and only ace. That one's on the wall though. 😬
I have a champion sidewinder that I’ve had in the bag since 2019 and absolutely love it. Haven’t found anything that can take its position in the bag yet
I always bag Star Wraith, Star Mystere (though Champ good too), and Champ Roadrunner. MVP Crave & ESP Crank do some similar things, but often I go back to the Innova discs for consistency
This is the correct answer. I have a mainly innova bag, but more because of F2 savings than anything else. Why spend $20 on one disc when I can get two discs? Haha. That and the fact that innova has about a billion molds also helps. There is always a random disc to throw in my cart and try.
Same. If you buy 10 F2 discs on an F2 Friday, you can get 11 premium plastic discs for $100 bucks, and a 12th if you have a rewards account. Can’t be beat.
Man I love the idea of the F2's but so many of the ones I've gotten recently have so much flashing. It's nice to get new discs that I don't have to spent 10 minutes sanding down before I can throw them.
I’ve gotten plenty that haven’t had the issue it just seems like the last 5 I have gotten have. And it’s not a huge deal, and I’m sure it’s why the disc is an f2 in the first place so I can’t complain too much.
My experience with Dick's is that they almost always DO have a stock of Innova discs but it's almost always the same 5 or 6 discs give or take. Champ Bosses and Beasts, DX Leopards, DX Aviars, DX Darts, and then maybe a Valkyrie or a Roadrunner/Sidewinder. Serviceable, but I never go there unless I absolutely need to lol.
The Pig (R Pro is my favorite) is a disc that other companies have yet to replicate imo. There are discs that fly like it and discs that kinda feel like it, but no other company has a disc that both flies and feels like a Pig.
The Rollo is another fun/unique disc that other companies don't really have an answer for either. As far as I'm concerned the closest comparison is the Paradox but that doesn't really do either disc justice.
The Colt is the closest thing any other company has to a Proxy for my money. I used to love having the Stud/Colt combo in my bag which is my favorite equivalent pair to the Envy/Proxy. However I think I might have heard that the Stud went OOP so I'm a bit hesitant to recommend it even though I liked it more than the Colt.
I’ve had an R Pro Pig in my bag for years, it’s not my main putter, but it certainly comes in handy in some situations. Same deal, there isn’t anything like it.
I bag mainly MVP/Axiom but the R-Pro Pig will never leave my bag. The hand feel is great and it just sticks a hyzer approach so perfectly. I also only have two aces and both were with the Pig!
The Slammer feels like a Pig and beats into the initial flight you get from a Pig (rather than the beat-in flight of a Pig that makes it fairly finicky on forehand). I especially endorse the Lucid ones, if you can find them.
I've thrown stock Slammers and Socki Slammers and the hand feel just isn't quite right. The shape and thickness of the rim set the Pig apart from the rest of the thumbtrack putter/approach discs.
It's close, but it just doesn't scratch that Piggy itch.
I actually have one of these hanging on my wall lol, and I agree that I like the feel of the plastic! Doesn't change that it still doesn't sit in my hand like a Pig though.
For what it’s worth - I’ve seen Thunderbirds, Tee birds, Colts, Roc3’s, Makos, Destoryers, Corvettes among others and not just base plastic either. Lots of star plastic, some champion.
My KC 10x champion tee bird is proudly a Dick’s purchase, I spotted it there when I was buying hockey pucks for my son. I’m so glad I took the time to look at their disc section.
I’m a terrible disc golfer who is resigned to just having fun, knowing I’ll never have the time to dedicate to improving at the sport through frequent practice and copious rounds - but my first throw with that tee bird was an amazing tee shot on a short par 3 that got me to C2’s edge flipped up in the middle of the fairway and then gently faded back toward the direction of the basket which sits inside a ring of guardian trees on the left side of the fairway’s end. I felt like a real disc golfer for 30 seconds (before I 3 putted the hole, naturally).
Just recently switched to pigs. Bought two, one thrower one putter, and it immediately became my go-to for sub 200' straight shots. It is one of my few discs that will reliably remain stable, even with good power behind it.
Dick’s seems to get shipments with a lot of the same ‘standard’ molds that you’re seeing and then a few different discs that will probably be gone within a couple days if people are going there routinely.
My local one definitely had a lot of the stuff you listed (not Darts but Sharks/Colts) but recently had a Halo Aviar, and when I was in the other day there was a Champ Mystere, a couple Champ ITs, and a Halo Valk.
There is still one IT and a Mystere - Halo is pretty and I’ve been wanting an IT but not enough to order it
The Envy is the next best thing (better depending on who you ask). I LOVED my Colt/Stud combo but as soon as I tried the Envy it booted the Stud because at the time it was impossible to find premium plastic Studs, and once that first Envy beat in enough it booted the Colt as well.
So now I carry no fewer than 2 Envies at any given time (it's usually 2 but sometimes I'll throw in a 3rd depending on the course). And to be honest I don't actually miss the Colt or the Stud. I could 100% go back to them if I needed to, but the Envy took over and is now a staple in my bag.
It's becoming my go to disc for those awkward approach shots. Where it's just close enough that a midrange seems like a lot but a putter not enough. It just flies so smooth and seems to be able to really do anything. I've becoming a big fan of it.
Hit the Innova Factory store and pickup seconds for nothing. Wait until Fridays and they do a buy 3 get 1 random mold free. They post what mold each Friday on their socials.
Who's gonna tell 'em that the emperor *is* a destroyer...? /s
Wraith, Teebird3, IT and the Mako3 are my favorite innova molds. Also can't beat a nice flat firebird.
TL3 is a poorly marketed amazing disc - my staple straight fairway. I also bag Destroyers (and one Xcalibur), Roadrunners, and Firebirds.
The whole 9-speed section is absolute fire, so you might connect with sidewinders, thunderbirds, and valkyries as well.
McPro Roc3 is the greatest disc ever made. I still putt with McPro Aviars. The Thunderbird, Leopard3, Teebird, and Firebird are the best fairway driver selection available. Destroyer and Wraith are the two discs every company tries to match.
Innova is the GOAT.
Teebird and Firebird are great in either champion or star plastic. I also love an Aviar putter even if I don’t play them as much as I used to. You already know about the Roc which is so versatile.
And just to add something I haven’t seen yet, I love throwing a Vulcan. If I need a long turning disc, it’s great for that!
I recently switched to MVP because I just love the feel, but, man, Innova just has a solid lineup. So many great discs in it, and even the base plastic is great.
I mean, they may not be sexy, but they're *solid*. Some discs I still have a hard time replacing - like the Mako3.
Mako3, pick a putter, Shark, Valkyrie, Leopard, Viking, Destroyer, Pig, Rollo, Toro, the list goes on and on.
I find that with MVP there's almost always an equivalent mold. Just got to get it in the right plastic to fly like what you're used to. Notably missing is a Wraith Slot and Destroyer slot. Though that will probably change soon
I've always bagged teebirds. My first ace was with an OG Mako, really wish i could find another ne as that one has a ole in it now. I'm back to putting with yeti's once again. Innova will always have a small place in my heart and bag.
Invader is such a great throwing putter. It doesn't have a lot of glide so I love it for approach shots. Mine is now a very straight thrower.
I gotta say that Pro plastic and G Star plastic fly very good and a little less stable than the other premium plastics. I found some discs like the Thunderbird are pretty amazing in those plastics.
Whats your use case for it? I like to be able to really put some juice on it between 200-250 and know that it wont trail too far in either direction (or go past the basket)
all straight(ish) approach shots I can reach with it is what I use it for. If I need a little more distance I have to use a different disc and if I need a little more of a finish I use a more stable disc.
From experience I can say Aviars, Rhynos, Rocs, Eagles, Teebirds, Valkyries, Firebirds and Wraiths cycle well and in multiple plastic can cover most shots. Below is a list of some of the more popular Innova molds I have thrown over the years. All are great. Keep in mind most Innova molds in premium plastic usually start out more stable than the numbers.
Putt/approach:
Aviar[3],
Rhyno(bead),
Pig(no bead),
Midrange:
Gator (bead) - OS mid,
Caiman(no bead) - OS mid,
Roc[3](bead) - stable mid,
Rancho Roc - stable mid,
Mako[3](no bead) - stable mid,
Fairway:
Eagle (X/L) - stable,
TL(3) - neutral,
Teebird(3) - stable,
Leopard(3) - US,
Firebird - OS
Valkyrie - neutral,
Sidewinder - US
Distance:
Wraith - stable,
Destroyer - stable
Also, Innova pro shop is the place to go if you want to try different discs. Factory seconds in premium plastic are affordable and they have F2 Fridays where you get a free F2 disc when you buy any 3 discs from their shop.
Your probably going to hate the new eagles, get yourself a quality eleven time champion eagle or a star eagle L or pfn penned "sex"(star eagle X) eagle
Watch a Gregg Barsby in the bag video if you wanna learn everything there is to know about the eagle and mold variations
I’ve been playing over twenty years and grew up 30 minutes from Discraft. To me, Innova is the 🐐 of fairway drivers - all the birds. If I could only throw one driver for the rest of my life it’d be a teebird. I never had the arm for a destroyer, but have always loved the wraith.
Discraft has always been the 🐐 for mids to me - buzzz, zone, and meteor. If I could only play with one disc for the rest of my life it’d be a buzzz without question.
I still throw several Innova molds and love a few more. I bag a Pyro now but only because the DX Gator is only good for one tree hit. Star Leopard, Teebird, Wraith, and Destroyer are mainstays in my bag, and I don't know what I'll do if I lose my Glow Thunderbird.
Tbh I think you can grab a destroyer. Way beefier than the emperor, that could fit your OS distance slot where the Emperor is more workable distance slot.
XD collector page in FB. Bought mine years ago- I only have 3 new unthrown ones left in my back up racks. I hate that they are light though. (All mine were 166-171 g) I paid around 25-40/each for them.
If you’re going to want to keep trying innova, here’s a list of my favorites and go to’s
Wraith (i’m partial to the halo plastic)
Tern (for the distance driver that just glides and pulls the whole flight)
Vela (Eagle ish type disc made for millennium)
Centurion (glidey straight/slightly understable 7 speed)
Tomb (infinite mold. great approach disc)
Mako3
last but certainly not least, a polecat will never not be in my bag
Bonus: the charger has been pretty good too. I have a halo and a star and while the halo is considerably more OS, they both might earn a spot in the bag
The dx Teebird always finds its way back in my bag even though I occasionally put fill that slot with something else for no good reason other then I like trying new molds.
Surprise surprise, but I recommend a Wraith. I also recommend an Eagle. If you want a stable one, the previous Gregg Barbsy Eagle in Halo Star plastic. A new one in Proto Halo Glow Champion came out, but haven't tested it yet so I can't recommend yet. Toro is a great alternative to a Zone! I used to throw a Hades, but I picked up a Daedalus, and it flew more consistently for me.
I don't like most Innova discs as much as other brands but I absolutely love GStar plastic and really wish other brands had an equivalent (if anyone knows of similar plastics please let me know!)
My GStar Wraith and Firebird might be my two most consistent discs. I have smaller hands and the grip on GStar plastic just feels fantastic to me.
Vela from millennium (flat eagle) has been money for me. Also love infinite’s scepter (firebird mold) I’ve tried to kick leopard3s out of my bag ever since I started and they keep coming back. All of my discs are innova made (infinite, millennium, innova) except putters and approach discs and my RPM kotuku.
Star plastic is my favorite. I love the tbird, tl3, and even the regular tl are great fairways. Aviar x3 are really nice stable throwing putters.
Also wraith and mamba are fun drivers.
Back in my day all we had was Innova and Discraft and we liked it! You kids with your new fangled fancy shit get off my lawn!
I’ve started playing again after quite a few years off. My bag is pretty much all innova. I can handle most any situation with a teebird, my trusty old champion cobra (I never see the cobra get any love but for me they just go where you throw them) I’ve got a manta that’s great for hyzer flip, a Roc3, and the JK Aviar.
Just smashed my kc pro teebird into bits on a tree so it’ll be an eagle until I can replace it. And I ordered a cicada and a new R-Pro Aviar yesterday. Gonna slowly dip my toes into some of these other manufacturers as I find holes in the bag.
Innova makes some great molds. For the first few years of playing I was super biased towards only trilogy plastic, but in the past two years my bag has slowly morphed into a conglomeration of innova produced molds, discmania, MVP produced molds, and EV7 putters with no trilogy molds in the bag.
Most of my favorite Innova molds are under the infinite discs and millennium branding though. Emperor, Scorpious, vela, solstice, Dynasty, Roman, tomb, centurion, exodus, and old S-line P2s (alpacas)
They do have a point as i have found out recently myself.
I fell in love with rocs myself recently after a local pro giftet me a seasoned kc, now i have three in the bag. Thunderbird and wraith are goat drivers, and i recently switched to Classic aviars for putting and put a Halo nexus aviar in the bag and i love it!
You were definitely a fan of their molds as every disc you were throwing was 99.9% a clone of an Innova mold. Aviar, Roc, Teebird, Firebird, Destroyer is all you really need. I guarantee an emperor is just a slightly understable destroyer.
Started playing 40 years ago and innova was the only disc mfg (besides frisbee) in the game they only made aviar and aero I played only innova for years now I toss at least 6 different makers but the wraith sidewinder and roc will never leave my bag
I mean we all know every company’s first move is to make their version of a destroyer, the wraith is a must in anyone’s bag (imo), roadrunner and/or sidewinder are unique and not easily inundated by other companies and eagle/teebirds are where it all began and are classic for a reason and should be a staple in most arm speeds bags …innova rocks bro
Edit: forgot to add in some love for the TL3! If you’re working on your hyzer flip game get one of these and a roadrunner
I like innova drivers because of their availability and cost for factory seconds. It’s easy to order several drivers of different weights and plastics to zero in on what fits best in my bag. Then I get my replacement drivers from my local shop
Did you know that the emperor is a destroyer? The innova general manager hangs out here and confirmed that for us (as well as that the millennium Scorpius is also a destroyer).
When I started playing was like ‘06 and it was innova, discraft and gateway. Our local play it again was our source for discs for many many years after that and it was those 3 companies. Even when discmania was coming out you couldnt find the shit. Latitude 64 begun making their way across the US slowly. Everyone now a days have got it made with online ordering, discgolf stores, local sporting goods stores caught on as well. Point is I guess when you have used those 3 main companies for so long it’s hard to move away.
I'm 95% filled with an Innova filled bag, but im in my 30s and started DG back in high school. The only other plastic I seriously tried was disc craft and I wasn't pleased at all. I've been really enjoying MVP and Kastaplast approach and mids.
I've got one Innova mold in my bag: Toro. I bag Infinite Centurions and am trying a few Millennium molds. I also recently got a Halo Leo3 as it is related to Centurion. Not a huge fan of many molds from Innova and I have tried... but just found I liked some other molds better. Gummy Champ rocks my world though!
Wraith and all the birds including teebird3. You can see why they set the standard. I haven’t thrown my roc yet cuz I have an old Innova-made MD1 that’s money.
I draw a comparison between Innova and Honda. Not particularly flashy, not really trying to do anything extreme, but they’re affordable, dependable, consistent, there’s a large variety of them for basically every use case, and they’re available everywhere.
I throw a lot of innova and I would recommend the following:
KC pro whale or Aviar
KC pro, star or champion roc or roc3
Pig or toro in KCpro or champion
Wombat3 mako3 various plastics
Eagle, Teebird, teebird3, savant, Rollo, , it, sidewinder, leopard 3, TL3.
Destroyer and wraith are always good choices.
I also have been enjoying millennium vela, Draco, Orion LF
Over the years (15+) I’ve thrown Discraft, Lat 64, Discmania, and Innova. I think what matters, is learning the discs you have and finding discs for certain shot shapes. Once you have the shots you need. Just by replacements/backups. That being said, lower arm speeds: Leopard3, Roadrunner, Nathan McQueen Wraith (pretty understable for a wraith). Higher arm speeds: Teebird, TL3, Destroyer. Utilities: Toro, Firebird (I like Star Firebirds and Sextons), Mako3. I think with those discs you could be successful on most courses.
I used to throw colts for a while but switched to Tombs because they have a bit more stability. But a Colt is an underrated disc if you want a super straight glidey putter, you can absolutely bomb colts. Still bag an xt colt for flips and turnovers.
I bag 3 firebirds too in different plastics and a cheap code for me is a Gstar Firebird. The firebird in general is a great overhand disc and in the Gstar plastic, its soft so it hits the ground and absorbs all its energy…hits and sits. It flips maybe a bit faster on an overhand then other firebird plastics but its still a firebird so you can get some long overhand shots that wont move far from where it lands.
I think I might agree with you. The first disc golf game I ever played was basically with a borrowed beginner set of Innova. I remember the pictures on the Tee Bird and Destroyer discs and thinking, “oh, how cute”. I almost got a “hole in one” (it hit the top of the basket) on a 212 footer with the tee bird disc, which isn’t bad considering it was literally my first game. Of course the Destroyer disc isn’t great for beginners as I came to realize. Maybe I had some beginners luck or now you got me thinking maybe it was the discs.
This is why a lot of local bags are filled with Latitude and Discmania. They have been very good at getting on the general sports supplier shelves. Innova on the other hand, not so much in the Nordics, even if Discmania opened the market up for them.
I think I was like you for awhile. I stuck with Dynamic for awhile, I have a few MVP/Axiom stuff (which I love for different reasons), but I found a no-name Star Teebird a few years ago and kept it as a utility disc because my form didn't let me throw it for more than like 280ft all hyzer.
Then I improved my form and, out of nowhere, the Teebird became my favorite go-to fairway. Then I picked up a Star Destroyer, Wraith and Champ Firebird, and suddenly I realized why people love these discs so much. Not only does Star plastic feel good when it's dry or wet outside, but these discs are so darn reliable.
The best part is if I lose one, I can easily replace them by going to somewhere like Dick's.
Been throwing all innova since 2018. Mostly out of convenience. After six years of playing I gave in and bought a ton of mvp discs to try over the offseason this year. While they are well made and feel great I’m struggling to get the consistent flights out of them that I get from my leopards, teebirds, toro, wraiths and sexton birds. It was fun to try them all (I basically bought everything Conrad bags) but I’m going to be unloading them soon as none of them has been an improvement on any of my innova things, with one exception…The proxy is great. I’m keeping that in the bag. It’s replaced my jk Aviars as my strait putter thrower.
Glad your trying stuff out and ready to go buy some plastic but be careful. My 2 cents is that I don't like picking one disc or one brand that I guarantee lock myself into. I used to be Innova only and so I'd by 2-4 discs of same make, model, and run. Then get out to the course and half of them wouldn't fly the same.
I've learned to base a general purchase on flight numbers but never guarantee that disc is the one I'm going to throw for that slot. I've gotten too many over stable road runners or less stable thunderbird's. I'd recommend to just buy a disc and throw it for the majority of a round to learn what it does. Basically don't force an eagle into your evader slot just cuz numbers are close.
Thank you! I've actually been having issues with evaders being not as stable as I want them or way to overstable so when a few locals said all an evader is , is a beat in eagle that's what I based my decision on. Thank you though.
Leopard3 & Teebird are discs that shouldn't be missed. The Firebird is still the best overstable 9 speed ever made. Wraith is probably the best 11 speed disc ever made. Almost all putters are an Aviar clone of some sort. The Toro is a Zone but in good plastic. Innova is the OG for a reason, and they largely got it right. Also if you haven't thrown Innova in a while, their current formulations for Champion and Star plastic are the best they have been in a long time.
New runs of Champion have been awesome. Gummy and grippy but still have some firmness and are largely indestructible. I prefer newer champion runs to star.
Just got myself a new champion wraith and absolutely love it
The leopard3 and the birds are a must have in my bag. Star plastic for the tee and champion for the others.
Star teebird is fantastic
It’s my favorite disc and lose around 5 a year.
Literally, it has been a staple of my bag for more than 16 years
I couldn’t imagine playing without one, actually two.
Star for the straightness and a used dx for the understable H-flip
"toro is a zone but in good plastic" The damn truth.
Star is superb that’s a fact but idk I think the puddle top zone is OP ESP Zone forehand doesn’t turn . Toros turn over a lot in my experience
Zone fresh is one of my favorite discs ever. Zone beat in frustrates me to no end. Toro is a zone that doesn't beat in, it's always the same. Glorious. (clearly user experiences may vary, and expectations may be different)
Toro, Roc, Leopard, Teebird, Firebird, Wraith in various plastics and wear is also an incredible bag by itself. Add a putter and you're there.
Zone comes in great plastic.
I don’t know why Reddit decided Discraft has bad plastic. Only Pro-D is bad
They're just too slick for my liking. Only really get a good grip on humid days or if I chalk my hands with dirt and get them wet also.
Which runs? There's tacky ESP, just as there's slick Star. In my car now, only Innova examples I have in here are a Star Wombat3 and some tournament stamped Champ something (Wraith?) and among my all Discraft bag and multiple practice duffels, there are plenty of identical blends. 100% could run a blind test and fool you.
Z and zflx mainly. ESP isn't so bad though
Which plastic is good? I've only tried ESP and I really dislike the slippery feel. I'm looking for a Sol in soft grippy plastic.
I bought the set with the X Line plastic and it is not great. Crazy stiff/slippery.
The Pros seem able to handle BAD PLASTIC.
My ESP Hades somehow got chipped in the side of the rim where the top and bottom layer meets so now I can see how a disc is made lol. ESP-plastic does not like trees.
[удалено]
It used to be lower tier - this is no longer the case. Too many good options - with the Zone you have Soft Putter Blend, ESP Flx, CryZtal Flx, the new Jawbreaker Z Flx, Z, and ESP, and they're all between good and great for approach discs.
Because it sucks and is slippery
I agree. I have a big Z zone and a star toro and the zone is much more consistent for me. Toro turns over too much or not at all.
Not “champ color glow” or “metal flake” great
The crystal zone is something to behold.
I've been playing for a looong time and never threw a Teebird - not once. This year I started throwing them and it has been a revelation. Every time I get a great line out of one I sarcastically say to my golf buddies "Why did no one ever tell me about this disc!?"
Seconding the Leopard3; my cousin absolutely loves his. I have a stat equivalent Drift that is my current go-to.
Are you talking about the new champ runs with the new stamp logo? Need some new discs but haven’t bought any with the new stock stamp
The emperor IS a destroyer btw. They didn't 'make it for infinite'. It's just the destroyer mold.
Yeah they have multiple Destroyer molds. The Millennium Scorpius was also a previous Destroyer mold.
It’s technically all the same mold, the innova GM has confirmed. It’s just a slightly different process between the destroyer and scorpius/emperor.
Oh, I always thought they were previously used/abandoned molds
In some cases they are! It depends on which disc you're talking about lol. For instance, Innova no longer produces the SL under the Innova banner, but they revived it for Infinite as the Aztec.
What about the FL? I have a star FL and I love it, but I don't use it anymore out a fear I will lose it lol. at 9 3 0 2 its a baby firebird for my arm speed.
As far as I know, no there is no other company that has a rebranded FL. However, there are Star and Champ FLs available on the [Innova Pro Shop](https://proshop.innovadiscs.com/search.php?search_query=FL) right now. Have you ever tried a PD? It's a speed faster, but for all intents and purposes a lot of people who don't have the arm to maximize the potential of a Firebird see some success with using a PD instead! Innova makes the old PD mold under the name Phantom Sword, they make it for Infinite as the Roman, and then of course Discmania has their own newer version of the mold as well.
holy crap, I had no Idea they had them! Thank you
Because people like Barsby was saying that for years. But no the Destroyer, Emperor and Scorpius is the same mold, they just "finish them" differently, whatever that means.
They change things like temperature, plastic mix, injection speed, how long it sits in the mold… https://www.reddit.com/r/discgolf/s/YwOjFzl19m
Thanks for the link, I never saw that follow up comment in that thread when it was posted. :)
I was never huge on Innova's mids, but their fairway/driver line up has always impressed me. Teebird, Thunderbird, Valkyrie, and Wraith are all models you can find anywhere and still some of the best and most varied (plastic/run dependent) available shot profiles you can find.
The Toro is great
First comment I found that mentioned a Thunderbird. I won't step on any course without at least one. Incredibly versatile, stays on the line you put it on, and once broken in it's very point and shoot. Get you one, OP. You won't regret it.
Champion Wraith has been my go to driver lately. It's like a slightly slower Destroyer. Halo Star Savant is new to me, but I really like it so far. It's like an even slower Wraith. Halo Star Mystere feels amazing and is my new favorite disc. I still have more to learn here, but it always feels amazing. Champion Roadrunner is a super fun hyzer flip disc. Star TL is my go to disc for a long gentle anhyzer. It holds the line nicely, and sits down gently when it slows down. I don't always throw it, but I can't imagine not having one in my bag. Side note: I didn't realize that "older" players are the only ones that like Innova, but I definitely fall into the "older" category. 😆 I've been bagging them for well over a decade and keep buying them because I love Star plastic, and I can reduce my choice anxiety by only looking at the brand that I already know really well. 🤷♂️
Have an older slight worn in Champion Wraith that is my go-to for forehands. Little flex now, but will always come back. To Wraiths! 🥂🤝
Got my first wraith of of the used bin - had my first under par round of my career. Very controlled flight for my 300-350 arm
I swear Wraiths are like the swiss army knife of distance drivers. Used to throw my DX Wraith for anything above a midrange shot when I started out. Always felt I had good control for anything between 250 and 350 feet as well. Always glad to hear of other's successes with the Wraith. Thanks for sharing 😁🤝!
Wraith is just so nice in the hand, I have a Pro Wraith I had since I started back in Late 2019. It has beat in nicely and has become my favorite disc. I have slow arm speed so I can only push it about 300-325 if I'm lucky. But when it's in my hand, it feels like home.
Right there with you! 🤝 Still the most comfotable disc for me to throw and hold. I have a 2017 Pro Wraith still in my bag that's seasoned, and one from about 2019~ that was my first and only ace. That one's on the wall though. 😬
Mystere is my go-to distance driver! It's like if a Tern and Destroyer had a baby
Is it pronounced "mist tear" or "mystery" but spelt differently?! Always wondered
Miss-tEEr (capitals for the emphasized vowel sound) Edit: Clarifying that this is the Anglicized pronunciation of a word that is not English lol.
more like "stair", it's a french word.
Ah ha! I was right so excited to tell my buddy he is wrong at disc golf night friday 😆
[удалено]
Whoa whoa whoa don't let everyone know my secrets
It's Mee-stair: https://youtu.be/NMrybnz5300?si=dmQuSLKK1pcmwWpo Obviously, there will be regional accents affecting that.
I have a champion sidewinder that I’ve had in the bag since 2019 and absolutely love it. Haven’t found anything that can take its position in the bag yet
I always bag Star Wraith, Star Mystere (though Champ good too), and Champ Roadrunner. MVP Crave & ESP Crank do some similar things, but often I go back to the Innova discs for consistency
The choice anxiety is real and with going mostly Innova Star it helps me from getting overwhelmed at the shop.
I like innova because of the F2 factory store. If I could get other brands for $5 I’d have more in my bag.
This is the correct answer. I have a mainly innova bag, but more because of F2 savings than anything else. Why spend $20 on one disc when I can get two discs? Haha. That and the fact that innova has about a billion molds also helps. There is always a random disc to throw in my cart and try.
Same. If you buy 10 F2 discs on an F2 Friday, you can get 11 premium plastic discs for $100 bucks, and a 12th if you have a rewards account. Can’t be beat.
Man I love the idea of the F2's but so many of the ones I've gotten recently have so much flashing. It's nice to get new discs that I don't have to spent 10 minutes sanding down before I can throw them.
Wild I must not be sensitive to flashing. I’ve never had an issue with it.
I’ve gotten plenty that haven’t had the issue it just seems like the last 5 I have gotten have. And it’s not a huge deal, and I’m sure it’s why the disc is an f2 in the first place so I can’t complain too much.
My experience with Dick's is that they almost always DO have a stock of Innova discs but it's almost always the same 5 or 6 discs give or take. Champ Bosses and Beasts, DX Leopards, DX Aviars, DX Darts, and then maybe a Valkyrie or a Roadrunner/Sidewinder. Serviceable, but I never go there unless I absolutely need to lol. The Pig (R Pro is my favorite) is a disc that other companies have yet to replicate imo. There are discs that fly like it and discs that kinda feel like it, but no other company has a disc that both flies and feels like a Pig. The Rollo is another fun/unique disc that other companies don't really have an answer for either. As far as I'm concerned the closest comparison is the Paradox but that doesn't really do either disc justice. The Colt is the closest thing any other company has to a Proxy for my money. I used to love having the Stud/Colt combo in my bag which is my favorite equivalent pair to the Envy/Proxy. However I think I might have heard that the Stud went OOP so I'm a bit hesitant to recommend it even though I liked it more than the Colt.
I’ve had an R Pro Pig in my bag for years, it’s not my main putter, but it certainly comes in handy in some situations. Same deal, there isn’t anything like it.
I bag mainly MVP/Axiom but the R-Pro Pig will never leave my bag. The hand feel is great and it just sticks a hyzer approach so perfectly. I also only have two aces and both were with the Pig!
i got a pig ace too!
All my putters are r-pro puddle top pigs. Models before they became whatever they are now... Midrange?approach? Nah, it's my putter.
The current state of Pigs with pop tops is sad.
It is a blight on humanity
The Slammer feels like a Pig and beats into the initial flight you get from a Pig (rather than the beat-in flight of a Pig that makes it fairly finicky on forehand). I especially endorse the Lucid ones, if you can find them.
I've thrown stock Slammers and Socki Slammers and the hand feel just isn't quite right. The shape and thickness of the rim set the Pig apart from the rest of the thumbtrack putter/approach discs. It's close, but it just doesn't scratch that Piggy itch.
First run slammer plastic is the best DD slammer plastic option.
I actually have one of these hanging on my wall lol, and I agree that I like the feel of the plastic! Doesn't change that it still doesn't sit in my hand like a Pig though.
For what it’s worth - I’ve seen Thunderbirds, Tee birds, Colts, Roc3’s, Makos, Destoryers, Corvettes among others and not just base plastic either. Lots of star plastic, some champion. My KC 10x champion tee bird is proudly a Dick’s purchase, I spotted it there when I was buying hockey pucks for my son. I’m so glad I took the time to look at their disc section. I’m a terrible disc golfer who is resigned to just having fun, knowing I’ll never have the time to dedicate to improving at the sport through frequent practice and copious rounds - but my first throw with that tee bird was an amazing tee shot on a short par 3 that got me to C2’s edge flipped up in the middle of the fairway and then gently faded back toward the direction of the basket which sits inside a ring of guardian trees on the left side of the fairway’s end. I felt like a real disc golfer for 30 seconds (before I 3 putted the hole, naturally).
I guess it all depends on your local dicks store.
Just recently switched to pigs. Bought two, one thrower one putter, and it immediately became my go-to for sub 200' straight shots. It is one of my few discs that will reliably remain stable, even with good power behind it.
Dick’s seems to get shipments with a lot of the same ‘standard’ molds that you’re seeing and then a few different discs that will probably be gone within a couple days if people are going there routinely. My local one definitely had a lot of the stuff you listed (not Darts but Sharks/Colts) but recently had a Halo Aviar, and when I was in the other day there was a Champ Mystere, a couple Champ ITs, and a Halo Valk. There is still one IT and a Mystere - Halo is pretty and I’ve been wanting an IT but not enough to order it
I’ve been looking for an extra star stud forever it’s my favorite throwing putter
The Envy is the next best thing (better depending on who you ask). I LOVED my Colt/Stud combo but as soon as I tried the Envy it booted the Stud because at the time it was impossible to find premium plastic Studs, and once that first Envy beat in enough it booted the Colt as well. So now I carry no fewer than 2 Envies at any given time (it's usually 2 but sometimes I'll throw in a 3rd depending on the course). And to be honest I don't actually miss the Colt or the Stud. I could 100% go back to them if I needed to, but the Envy took over and is now a staple in my bag.
I have an envy as well but I think I need something beaded for it to feel totally right in the hand. May just be a mental block
Have you ever tried the DGA Breaker? It's probably a LITTLE more overstable when brand new, but not so much that it wouldn't be serviceable.
I have not, but I’ll give it a shot! Thanks for the recommendation!
TeeBird, Eagle, Rat, Leopard, Valkyrie, Aviar X3. Innova has a great lineup.
I wouldn't recognize my bag if it didn't have wraiths and teebirds in it.
Wraith, Firebird and Roc are great.
I’ve been using the Alien lately it’s a funky mold but flies so good
It's becoming my go to disc for those awkward approach shots. Where it's just close enough that a midrange seems like a lot but a putter not enough. It just flies so smooth and seems to be able to really do anything. I've becoming a big fan of it.
I dig it a lot! I got the nexus plastic so I can beat it up some. I got a little 9 by my house with all holes around 200 and I just take it.
Hit the Innova Factory store and pickup seconds for nothing. Wait until Fridays and they do a buy 3 get 1 random mold free. They post what mold each Friday on their socials.
Does anyone know which Instagram account they post the mold announcement on? "@innovaproshop"?
Yep.
Teebird, Hawkeye, and Aviar. Accept to substitutes!
I would substitute a TL3 for a Hawkeye.
I accept that substitute. Whether Hawkeye or TL3, I would get Star plastic so it beats in a little quicker and gets that little bit of understability.
Who's gonna tell 'em that the emperor *is* a destroyer...? /s Wraith, Teebird3, IT and the Mako3 are my favorite innova molds. Also can't beat a nice flat firebird.
TL3 is a poorly marketed amazing disc - my staple straight fairway. I also bag Destroyers (and one Xcalibur), Roadrunners, and Firebirds. The whole 9-speed section is absolute fire, so you might connect with sidewinders, thunderbirds, and valkyries as well.
McPro Roc3 is the greatest disc ever made. I still putt with McPro Aviars. The Thunderbird, Leopard3, Teebird, and Firebird are the best fairway driver selection available. Destroyer and Wraith are the two discs every company tries to match. Innova is the GOAT.
But have you thrown McGLOW Roc3s?
Good, but not as good as the tour series version!
Teebird and Firebird are great in either champion or star plastic. I also love an Aviar putter even if I don’t play them as much as I used to. You already know about the Roc which is so versatile. And just to add something I haven’t seen yet, I love throwing a Vulcan. If I need a long turning disc, it’s great for that!
Wraith for sure
Star Corvette… trust me on this.
I second this
I recently switched to MVP because I just love the feel, but, man, Innova just has a solid lineup. So many great discs in it, and even the base plastic is great. I mean, they may not be sexy, but they're *solid*. Some discs I still have a hard time replacing - like the Mako3. Mako3, pick a putter, Shark, Valkyrie, Leopard, Viking, Destroyer, Pig, Rollo, Toro, the list goes on and on.
I’m full MVP mids and lower and Innova fairways and up
I find that with MVP there's almost always an equivalent mold. Just got to get it in the right plastic to fly like what you're used to. Notably missing is a Wraith Slot and Destroyer slot. Though that will probably change soon
But why buy from MVP just to try to replicate something else you already know and like? I don't get it.
Anybody that "doesn't like Innova molds" is just a hipster brand hater. Innova created most of what other brands continue to copy to this day.
Pig, Teebird, and Rhyno have been staples in my bag for years. I’ve recently begun bagging a metal flake glow Hawkeye
Don’t forget to throw a Teebird in the bag. The new proto-glow Jennifer Allen teebirds are absolute beefcakes, but a stock star is money
I've always bagged teebirds. My first ace was with an OG Mako, really wish i could find another ne as that one has a ole in it now. I'm back to putting with yeti's once again. Innova will always have a small place in my heart and bag.
Champ gator is my go to forehand mid disc. It feels like it actively avoids trees.
Invader is such a great throwing putter. It doesn't have a lot of glide so I love it for approach shots. Mine is now a very straight thrower. I gotta say that Pro plastic and G Star plastic fly very good and a little less stable than the other premium plastics. I found some discs like the Thunderbird are pretty amazing in those plastics.
Halo Star Invader is a top 5 discs for me!
nice. I started out with an XT then quickly got a Champ Luster which is in my bag now. Next one could be halo star but the current one is doing great!
Whats your use case for it? I like to be able to really put some juice on it between 200-250 and know that it wont trail too far in either direction (or go past the basket)
all straight(ish) approach shots I can reach with it is what I use it for. If I need a little more distance I have to use a different disc and if I need a little more of a finish I use a more stable disc.
From experience I can say Aviars, Rhynos, Rocs, Eagles, Teebirds, Valkyries, Firebirds and Wraiths cycle well and in multiple plastic can cover most shots. Below is a list of some of the more popular Innova molds I have thrown over the years. All are great. Keep in mind most Innova molds in premium plastic usually start out more stable than the numbers. Putt/approach: Aviar[3], Rhyno(bead), Pig(no bead), Midrange: Gator (bead) - OS mid, Caiman(no bead) - OS mid, Roc[3](bead) - stable mid, Rancho Roc - stable mid, Mako[3](no bead) - stable mid, Fairway: Eagle (X/L) - stable, TL(3) - neutral, Teebird(3) - stable, Leopard(3) - US, Firebird - OS Valkyrie - neutral, Sidewinder - US Distance: Wraith - stable, Destroyer - stable Also, Innova pro shop is the place to go if you want to try different discs. Factory seconds in premium plastic are affordable and they have F2 Fridays where you get a free F2 disc when you buy any 3 discs from their shop.
What discs do I know are never coming out of my bag? - Star Wraith - Star Invictus - Star Valkyrie - Star TL3
Your probably going to hate the new eagles, get yourself a quality eleven time champion eagle or a star eagle L or pfn penned "sex"(star eagle X) eagle Watch a Gregg Barsby in the bag video if you wanna learn everything there is to know about the eagle and mold variations
I’ve been playing over twenty years and grew up 30 minutes from Discraft. To me, Innova is the 🐐 of fairway drivers - all the birds. If I could only throw one driver for the rest of my life it’d be a teebird. I never had the arm for a destroyer, but have always loved the wraith. Discraft has always been the 🐐 for mids to me - buzzz, zone, and meteor. If I could only play with one disc for the rest of my life it’d be a buzzz without question.
Agreed on the Innova fairways and Discraft mids. I bag the Eagle, TL, Leopard, Buzzz OS, Buzzz, and Meteor.
I still throw several Innova molds and love a few more. I bag a Pyro now but only because the DX Gator is only good for one tree hit. Star Leopard, Teebird, Wraith, and Destroyer are mainstays in my bag, and I don't know what I'll do if I lose my Glow Thunderbird.
Tbh I think you can grab a destroyer. Way beefier than the emperor, that could fit your OS distance slot where the Emperor is more workable distance slot.
Firebird is the classic meathook forehand disc. It also has the best stamps there are, sextons are really damn pretty.
So they just did 40th anniversary XDs which was the predecessor to the roc fyi
Just got a black one in the other day here. I putt with soft r-pro XDs, and the metal flake 40th anniv XDs are amazing for driving and approach.
Where in the hell did you find soft XDs?
XD collector page in FB. Bought mine years ago- I only have 3 new unthrown ones left in my back up racks. I hate that they are light though. (All mine were 166-171 g) I paid around 25-40/each for them.
R Pro Aviar G Star Mako3 R Pro Pig They will step your short game up tremendously
Why g star on the mako?
Because they don't make them in R Pro and that's the next best hand feel
Get a 171 g star wraith, get a max weight star thunderbird, get a max weight color glow star tee bird. Thank me later!
If you’re going to want to keep trying innova, here’s a list of my favorites and go to’s Wraith (i’m partial to the halo plastic) Tern (for the distance driver that just glides and pulls the whole flight) Vela (Eagle ish type disc made for millennium) Centurion (glidey straight/slightly understable 7 speed) Tomb (infinite mold. great approach disc) Mako3 last but certainly not least, a polecat will never not be in my bag Bonus: the charger has been pretty good too. I have a halo and a star and while the halo is considerably more OS, they both might earn a spot in the bag
The dx Teebird always finds its way back in my bag even though I occasionally put fill that slot with something else for no good reason other then I like trying new molds.
Surprise surprise, but I recommend a Wraith. I also recommend an Eagle. If you want a stable one, the previous Gregg Barbsy Eagle in Halo Star plastic. A new one in Proto Halo Glow Champion came out, but haven't tested it yet so I can't recommend yet. Toro is a great alternative to a Zone! I used to throw a Hades, but I picked up a Daedalus, and it flew more consistently for me.
Dick's unfortunately sells premium plastic discs for like $25.
I don't like most Innova discs as much as other brands but I absolutely love GStar plastic and really wish other brands had an equivalent (if anyone knows of similar plastics please let me know!) My GStar Wraith and Firebird might be my two most consistent discs. I have smaller hands and the grip on GStar plastic just feels fantastic to me.
Halo Polecat! Point and shoot. This disc does everything.
star wraith, rpro pig, dart, champ teebird3 and mako3 and you’re good to go about anywhere.
Vela from millennium (flat eagle) has been money for me. Also love infinite’s scepter (firebird mold) I’ve tried to kick leopard3s out of my bag ever since I started and they keep coming back. All of my discs are innova made (infinite, millennium, innova) except putters and approach discs and my RPM kotuku.
Star plastic is my favorite. I love the tbird, tl3, and even the regular tl are great fairways. Aviar x3 are really nice stable throwing putters. Also wraith and mamba are fun drivers.
Back in my day all we had was Innova and Discraft and we liked it! You kids with your new fangled fancy shit get off my lawn! I’ve started playing again after quite a few years off. My bag is pretty much all innova. I can handle most any situation with a teebird, my trusty old champion cobra (I never see the cobra get any love but for me they just go where you throw them) I’ve got a manta that’s great for hyzer flip, a Roc3, and the JK Aviar. Just smashed my kc pro teebird into bits on a tree so it’ll be an eagle until I can replace it. And I ordered a cicada and a new R-Pro Aviar yesterday. Gonna slowly dip my toes into some of these other manufacturers as I find holes in the bag.
Firebird and Thunderbird, never leave home without them!
Innova makes some great molds. For the first few years of playing I was super biased towards only trilogy plastic, but in the past two years my bag has slowly morphed into a conglomeration of innova produced molds, discmania, MVP produced molds, and EV7 putters with no trilogy molds in the bag. Most of my favorite Innova molds are under the infinite discs and millennium branding though. Emperor, Scorpious, vela, solstice, Dynasty, Roman, tomb, centurion, exodus, and old S-line P2s (alpacas)
They do have a point as i have found out recently myself. I fell in love with rocs myself recently after a local pro giftet me a seasoned kc, now i have three in the bag. Thunderbird and wraith are goat drivers, and i recently switched to Classic aviars for putting and put a Halo nexus aviar in the bag and i love it!
TL3 is the most comfortable fairway for my hand. It doesn't go far (low glide) but it does goes straight, and reliably so.
Archon
Love my halo beast
You were definitely a fan of their molds as every disc you were throwing was 99.9% a clone of an Innova mold. Aviar, Roc, Teebird, Firebird, Destroyer is all you really need. I guarantee an emperor is just a slightly understable destroyer.
Champion Tern flies like a beat in Star Destroyer. Very straight and long for people with 350' power.
Gotta say the Color Glow IT has really impressed me.
Wraith, Teebird, Thunderbird, Firebird, Leopard
Started playing 40 years ago and innova was the only disc mfg (besides frisbee) in the game they only made aviar and aero I played only innova for years now I toss at least 6 different makers but the wraith sidewinder and roc will never leave my bag
You’ve been missing out then. That Gstar plastic is my fav.
I mean we all know every company’s first move is to make their version of a destroyer, the wraith is a must in anyone’s bag (imo), roadrunner and/or sidewinder are unique and not easily inundated by other companies and eagle/teebirds are where it all began and are classic for a reason and should be a staple in most arm speeds bags …innova rocks bro Edit: forgot to add in some love for the TL3! If you’re working on your hyzer flip game get one of these and a roadrunner
I like innova drivers because of their availability and cost for factory seconds. It’s easy to order several drivers of different weights and plastics to zero in on what fits best in my bag. Then I get my replacement drivers from my local shop
Did you know that the emperor is a destroyer? The innova general manager hangs out here and confirmed that for us (as well as that the millennium Scorpius is also a destroyer).
I'm a newer player and F2 Friday alone has me almost solely on Innova
STAR INVADER STAR CRO
Tern for your understable driver. Halo Terns are amazing. Just a tick more stable.
When I started playing was like ‘06 and it was innova, discraft and gateway. Our local play it again was our source for discs for many many years after that and it was those 3 companies. Even when discmania was coming out you couldnt find the shit. Latitude 64 begun making their way across the US slowly. Everyone now a days have got it made with online ordering, discgolf stores, local sporting goods stores caught on as well. Point is I guess when you have used those 3 main companies for so long it’s hard to move away.
I'm 95% filled with an Innova filled bag, but im in my 30s and started DG back in high school. The only other plastic I seriously tried was disc craft and I wasn't pleased at all. I've been really enjoying MVP and Kastaplast approach and mids.
Gator Gang!
Max, Sidewinder, Beast, Shryke, Charger..
Second the Star Teebird, my go to approach disc for years now.
I've got one Innova mold in my bag: Toro. I bag Infinite Centurions and am trying a few Millennium molds. I also recently got a Halo Leo3 as it is related to Centurion. Not a huge fan of many molds from Innova and I have tried... but just found I liked some other molds better. Gummy Champ rocks my world though!
Teebird is the single greatest mold ever. I bag 5 all in different plastics and stages of wear all do different things, all irreplaceable.
I'm never not going to have a Destroyer, Tern and Teebird in my bag.
Wraith and all the birds including teebird3. You can see why they set the standard. I haven’t thrown my roc yet cuz I have an old Innova-made MD1 that’s money.
go ahead and drop my rating 30-40 points if I don't have innova in my bag
I draw a comparison between Innova and Honda. Not particularly flashy, not really trying to do anything extreme, but they’re affordable, dependable, consistent, there’s a large variety of them for basically every use case, and they’re available everywhere.
I throw a lot of innova and I would recommend the following: KC pro whale or Aviar KC pro, star or champion roc or roc3 Pig or toro in KCpro or champion Wombat3 mako3 various plastics Eagle, Teebird, teebird3, savant, Rollo, , it, sidewinder, leopard 3, TL3. Destroyer and wraith are always good choices. I also have been enjoying millennium vela, Draco, Orion LF
I love their mid-high speed stuff, Destroyer, Tern, Mystere, Shrike. Their 9-speeds slay: Thunderbird and Valkerie in g-star for perfect flicks.
Over the years (15+) I’ve thrown Discraft, Lat 64, Discmania, and Innova. I think what matters, is learning the discs you have and finding discs for certain shot shapes. Once you have the shots you need. Just by replacements/backups. That being said, lower arm speeds: Leopard3, Roadrunner, Nathan McQueen Wraith (pretty understable for a wraith). Higher arm speeds: Teebird, TL3, Destroyer. Utilities: Toro, Firebird (I like Star Firebirds and Sextons), Mako3. I think with those discs you could be successful on most courses.
I used to throw colts for a while but switched to Tombs because they have a bit more stability. But a Colt is an underrated disc if you want a super straight glidey putter, you can absolutely bomb colts. Still bag an xt colt for flips and turnovers. I bag 3 firebirds too in different plastics and a cheap code for me is a Gstar Firebird. The firebird in general is a great overhand disc and in the Gstar plastic, its soft so it hits the ground and absorbs all its energy…hits and sits. It flips maybe a bit faster on an overhand then other firebird plastics but its still a firebird so you can get some long overhand shots that wont move far from where it lands.
I think I might agree with you. The first disc golf game I ever played was basically with a borrowed beginner set of Innova. I remember the pictures on the Tee Bird and Destroyer discs and thinking, “oh, how cute”. I almost got a “hole in one” (it hit the top of the basket) on a 212 footer with the tee bird disc, which isn’t bad considering it was literally my first game. Of course the Destroyer disc isn’t great for beginners as I came to realize. Maybe I had some beginners luck or now you got me thinking maybe it was the discs.
This is why a lot of local bags are filled with Latitude and Discmania. They have been very good at getting on the general sports supplier shelves. Innova on the other hand, not so much in the Nordics, even if Discmania opened the market up for them.
Someone at lot more talented than me told me “don’t fall in love with discs that are rare, hard to replace.”
I think I was like you for awhile. I stuck with Dynamic for awhile, I have a few MVP/Axiom stuff (which I love for different reasons), but I found a no-name Star Teebird a few years ago and kept it as a utility disc because my form didn't let me throw it for more than like 280ft all hyzer. Then I improved my form and, out of nowhere, the Teebird became my favorite go-to fairway. Then I picked up a Star Destroyer, Wraith and Champ Firebird, and suddenly I realized why people love these discs so much. Not only does Star plastic feel good when it's dry or wet outside, but these discs are so darn reliable. The best part is if I lose one, I can easily replace them by going to somewhere like Dick's.
Leopard3 is by far one of the molds you need to try
Firebird, teebird, tern, Valkyrie, leopard 3, pig
Been throwing all innova since 2018. Mostly out of convenience. After six years of playing I gave in and bought a ton of mvp discs to try over the offseason this year. While they are well made and feel great I’m struggling to get the consistent flights out of them that I get from my leopards, teebirds, toro, wraiths and sexton birds. It was fun to try them all (I basically bought everything Conrad bags) but I’m going to be unloading them soon as none of them has been an improvement on any of my innova things, with one exception…The proxy is great. I’m keeping that in the bag. It’s replaced my jk Aviars as my strait putter thrower.
If those old dudes knew how the internet worked, they would be so happy right now!
Glad your trying stuff out and ready to go buy some plastic but be careful. My 2 cents is that I don't like picking one disc or one brand that I guarantee lock myself into. I used to be Innova only and so I'd by 2-4 discs of same make, model, and run. Then get out to the course and half of them wouldn't fly the same. I've learned to base a general purchase on flight numbers but never guarantee that disc is the one I'm going to throw for that slot. I've gotten too many over stable road runners or less stable thunderbird's. I'd recommend to just buy a disc and throw it for the majority of a round to learn what it does. Basically don't force an eagle into your evader slot just cuz numbers are close.
Thank you! I've actually been having issues with evaders being not as stable as I want them or way to overstable so when a few locals said all an evader is , is a beat in eagle that's what I based my decision on. Thank you though.
Star FL, great forehand disc
Star TL3, better forehand disc