Can there be just one best disc golf driver?

Welcome back to our “Best” series of articles where we outline the best disc golf gear in a variety of categories using data.  Data may be a bit of an overstatement, but we certainly didn’t make our selections out of thin air - more on that later.

Today’s article is about the eternally-revered disc golf driver.  Despite the fact that many inexperienced players would be well-served NOT using drivers until they reach a certain skill level, people still love to buy and use drivers.  

Don’t get me wrong! I’m not “anti-driver.”  I love an exquisitely-crafted driver that soars down the fairway as well as the next person. I just think that players should work their way up to drivers as their skill level improves. And I wish somebody would have told me that when I started playing.

While I typically recommend that new players stick with putters and midranges when they first start playing, I’ve included a list of the Top 10 Best Disc Golf Drivers for Beginners in this article.

Let’s get into it! It’s a long article, so if you know what you’re looking for, use the navigation below.

Best Disc Golf Driver Methodology

I mentioned before that we compiled this article using data. 

It’s not a perfect science, however we consulted a number of top-selling and top-rated lists from a variety of sellers worldwide to determine which discs were consistently ranking high.

We counted the number of times a driver appeared on each of these lists and came up with a ranking of what the data tells us are the ten best distance drivers, ten best fairway drivers, and ten best beginner drivers on the market right now.

Since some people don’t bother to write reviews, and instead put their money where their mouth is, we used both highest-rated and top-selling lists.

Here are the lists we consulted:

Infinite Discs Top Selling of All Time (U.S.)

Infinite Discs Highest Rated Discs of All Time (U.S.)

Gotta Go Gotta Throw Top Selling Distance Drivers (U.S.)

Gotta Go Gotta Throw Top Selling Fairway Drivers (U.S.)

DiscSport.com Most Sold Distance Drivers in 2024 (Europe)

DiscSport.com Most Sold Fairway Drivers in 2024 (Europe)

DiscSport.com Best Rated (Europe)

Amazon Top Rated (Worldwide)

Amazon Best Sellers (Worldwide)

Disc Republic All-time Top Selling Drivers (Canada)

We’ll start with the Best Disc Golf Drivers for Beginners, then outline the Best Fairway Drivers Disc Golf, and finally we’ll list the Best Distance Drivers Disc Golf.

Here we go.

Best Disc Golf Driver for Beginners

Choosing the best disc golf driver for beginners required us to analyze the data a little more than the other categories.  We simply looked at the master list of all top-rated and highest-selling drivers, sorted according to how many times they appeared on all the websites we consulted, and then picked drivers based on criteria we know to be good for beginners.

Those criteria were:

• The discs should have lower speed 

• The discs should have moderate to high glide

• The discs should have some turn

• And the discs should not have too much fade

(If these terms seem foreign to you, check out our article Disc Golf Flight Numbers where we explain, speed, glide, turn, and fade)

All of these criteria allow players with lower arms speeds to get the drivers in the air, keep them there longer, and ultimately achieve longer and more accurate throws.

I’ll list them here in reverse order, from the least amount of appearances to the most. Keep in mind that doesn’t necessarily mean #1 is the best choice for every player.  Read through the descriptions, consider your own game and decide which disc might be best for you. 

As a beginner, your decision might be based mostly on hypothesis rather than course experience, but that’s ok. Use this list as a starting point.

#6 - Discmania FD
(7, 6, 0, 1)

The Discmania FD is a classic disc loved by beginners and seasoned players alike.  It is well known for its incredibly straight flight path. 

For a beginner, it’s a great option as a first driver because it has a lower speed, high glide, and minimal fade.  Its high glide allows it to fly further than a typical 7 speed.

#5 - Latitude 64 River
(7, 7, -1, 1)

The Latitude 64 River is a disc I’ve seen plenty of beginners throw as their first driver, with much success.  It has low speed, high glide, some turn, and minimal fade.  It’s the perfect recipe for a straight-flying driver that allows beginners to get some distance off the tee.  

It’s also a great option for more seasoned players in the woods where powered-down control shots are important.

#4 - Axiom Crave
(6.5, 5, -1, 1)

Axiom’s Crave is another disc that I’ve frequently seen used by beginners with good results.  It’s a great combination of low speed, high glide, turn, and minimal fade.

Notably, this disc is available in lower weights (as low as 155g), which is even better for newer players.

#3 - Latitude 64 Saint (9, 7, -1, 2)

The Latitude 64 Saint is like the River’s older sibling.  It has slightly more speed and a little bit more reliable fade at the end.  

This disc has higher speed than is typically recommended for beginners, however its high glide rating might make it more accessible to new players.

If you are a beginner on the more athletic side, the Saint might be a good option for you as you might have a faster arm speed than the typical beginner.

#2 - Innova Leopard (6, 5, -2, 1)

Innova calls its Leopard “everyone’s first fairway driver”--and for good reason; it has everything a beginner needs: low speed, high glide, turn, and minimal fade.

The Leopard has been a long-time favorite of new players and is a disc that tends to stay in the bag of seasoned players.

It was highly popular in the data we consulted and will be a great disc for any beginner.

#1 - Innova Leopard3
(7, 5, -2, 1)

And beating out it’s little brother to claim the #1 spot is Innova’s Leopard3. The Leopard3 has the same flight numbers with one point of added speed. Innova says the disc is flatter (presumably how it feels in your hand) and slightly faster (hence, the higher speed rating) than the regular Leopard.

This disc was more popular according to the data we consulted, but either option should be a fine choice for beginners.

While I do recommend that most beginners start with a putter and a midrange, I also understand that new players love the excitement of drivers (I did, too!) and most are not going to start out throwing just a putter and a midrange. Therefore, if you are going to start play with a driver, these discs are excellent first drivers and can stay in your bag as you improve your skill level.

Best Fairway Drivers Disc Golf

I’ll start by saying that I realize the English grammar in that heading is a little off.  This is the way people search the internet and we want people to find this article, so we use headings that match people’s search queries.

Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s talk about fairway drivers.

Fairway drivers are the stop-gap between midranges and distance drivers.  Every manufacturer categorizes discs differently, but for the purposes of this article, we will consider fairway drivers any disc from 6-speed to 9-speed.

You may also notice that some discs in this list were also in the Best Disc Golf Driver for Beginners list. That’s because while they are good for new players, they are also the type of discs that can be used by more advanced or intermediate players.

Again, these discs are listed according to how many times they appeared on all the lists we consulted, in order from least- to most-mentioned.  I’ll reiterate that just because a disc ranked higher here, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it's the right disc for you.  Consider each one in relation to your game and make an informed decision.

#10 - Latitude 64 River (7,  7,  -1, 1)  

As we mentioned earlier in the article, the River is a fairway driver made for accuracy shots with good control. It is easy to throw, so it’s great for newer players or for those with lower arm speeds looking to get more straight distance.  

It’s also great in the woods, where more advanced players need to power-down to achieve straight, controlled shots.

#9 - Innova Firebird (9, 3, 0, 4)

The Innova Firebird, while being a classic, very popular fairway driver, isn’t one I would recommend as a first fairway driver.  It’s a niche disc used for specific applications. 

It’s great in really strong headwinds, when you need something to fade hard around an obstacle, or when you want to use a big skip off the ground to achieve your shot.

#8 - Innova Thunderbird
(9, 5, 0, 2)

The Innova Thunderbird however, is one I would recommend as a staple fairway driver (for intermediate to advanced players). 

It’s considered a very reliable disc that won’t turn over if you give it too much power or throw it into a headwind, but it’s not so stable that you can’t control it or throw it straight for distance.

It flies straight with a reliable fade at the end.

#7 - Discraft Heat
(9, 5, -3, 1)

The Discraft Heat is a disc that could have made our Best Disc Golf Driver for Beginners list, but its speed was a little too high to be considered.  

That being said, because of its high glide (5) and high turn rating (-3), it is more accessible for new players than its speed suggests.

Discraft describes this disc as a “...breakthrough in delivering improved distance for new and developing players.

This might be a good disc to try if you’re graduating from one of the lower-speed (6 or 7) fairway drivers we recommended above.

#6 - Axiom Crave (6.5, 5, -1, 1)

Here’s another disc that made our beginners list, but is still a great option for more experienced players.  

This straight, stable flyer is perfect for hitting tight lines in the woods, or in the open where precision is required.

#5 - Latitude 64 Saint
(9, 7, -1, 2)

Also on our beginner’s list, the Latitude 64 Saint is not just for beginners.  

This high-glide disc is a great option for an intermediate player upgrading from their first 6- or 7- speed driver.  

It’s also great for more experienced players who want a disc that they can power-down in order to achieve a long, straight shot that stays in the air, likely in the woods. 

#4 - Innova Valkyrie
(9, 4, -2, 2)

For newer player’s the Valkyrie might be a great option for those looking to graduate from 6 or 7-speed fairway drivers to achieve a little more distance.

The balance of the -2 turn and the 2 fade will give newer players that nice S-line flight path responsible for longer drives.

For more experienced players, the Valkyrie can be used for long turnovers, tailwind shots, or downhill drives.

#3 - Innova Leopard
(6, 5, -2, 1)

The Innova Leopard was on our Best Disc Golf Driver for Beginners as well, but it remains hugely popular among players of all skill levels.

For new players, it’s a great way to graduate from midranges to achieve more easy distance.

For intermediate players, it can turn into a great turnover or hyzer flip driver.

And at the advanced level, players can power this down for precision and control, even using it as a roller once it gets sufficiently beat in.

#2 - Innova Leopard3
(7, 5, -2, 1)

There’s not much more to say about the Leopard3 than we didn’t say about the Leopard. 

It is great for beginners for easy distance, great for intermediate players for turnovers and hyzer flips, and great for experienced players for more advanced shot types.

The Leopard3 is even more popular than the Leopard, according to the data we consulted. That could be for a number of reasons. Perhaps it's more reliable, or lives up to its flight numbers better. 

Innova describes it as flatter and faster.  Flatter presumably means the feel in hand, so that might be an important consideration for you when deciding between the two.  Flatter is generally better for forehands.

#1 - Innova Teebird
(7, 5, 0, 2)

The big winner in the category of “Best Fairway Drivers Disc Golf” is the Innova Teebird. This fairway driver appeared more times in the highest-rated and top-selling lists than any other.

It’s a great mix of being easy to throw, having a straight flight path, and demonstrating a reliable fade at the end. It’s also the favored fairway driver of 12-time world champion Ken Climo.

It’s a great disc to occupy the all-around, staple fairway driver slot in your bag.  

What’s more to say? The data has spoken! 

Best Distance Drivers Disc Golf

Now it’s time to talk about the big girl/big boy discs: the distance drivers.

For the purpose of this article we define distance drivers as discs with 10 speed or higher.

I want to start by saying that distance drivers are not recommended for beginners as they require high arm speed.  Heck, some of them probably shouldn’t even be used by intermediate level players.  

As a personal anecdote, I recently started tracking my distances in a field and discovered that my 9-speed discs were going just as far as my 12-speed discs, but with more accuracy.  For reference, I consider myself an intermediate player and I have a low-to-mid 800 PDGA rating.

So if you’re in the same boat as me, you may want to revisit distance drivers after your game progresses.

On the other hand, some distance drivers that made this list are designed for intermediate-level players dipping their toes in the distance driver pond.  

I’ll outline which ones are good entry-level discs and which ones are best for advanced players and pros. Keep in mind that I’m using the data from the lists we consulted, the flight numbers, my knowledge of the industry, and customer reviews as my guide, since I do not often throw distance drivers myself. (If you have some knowledgeable input, please leave it in the comments!)

I’ve also included a few honorable mentions in this list. These are discs that had a similar amount of mentions and have similar flight characteristics. 

#10 - Discraft Nuke
(13, 5, -1, 3)

While Discraft advertises this disc as one suitable for “moderate to expert” players, the flight numbers do suggest it is pretty advanced.

Having a wide, heavy rim, it is intended to be used for effortless max distance. 

I personally do not have any experience with this disc, however the data suggests it is highly-reviewed and top selling.

#10 Honorable Mention:
Discraft Zeus (12, 5, -1, 3)

#9 - Innova Beast
(10, 5, -2, 2)

The Innova Beast is one of those discs that would be a good option for an intermediate player experimenting with distance drivers.

It has a lower speed than some of the other discs in this list and more turn. Innova advertises it as having a “gliding, predictable finish” and being suitable for advanced and intermediate players.

#9 Honorable Mentions: 

Innova Tern (12, 6, -3, 2)
Discraft Hades (12, 6, -3, 2)

#8 - Innova Boss
(13, 5, -1, 3)

The Innova Boss is the current Distance World Record holder at 338 meters, with a throw from David Wiggins Jr. 

This one is an advanced-level disc, designed for max distance, and works great for both forehand and backhand.

Note: Most Boss discs have a flight rating of 13/5/-1/3 across various plastic types. However, those made from Champion plastic tend to fly more overstable and are often marked with a 13/5/0/3 flight rating.

#7 - Axiom Time-Lapse
(12, 5, -1, 3)

Made popular by pro disc golfer and YouTuber Simon Lizotte, the Time-Lapse is an advanced distance driver. 

It’s the first 12-speed featuring Axiom’s GYRO overmold technology. 

In simplest terms possible, GYRO technology involves having a different piece of plastic for the flight plate and the rim. This is designed to achieve more distance.

#6 - Discraft Anax
(10, 6, 0, 3)

The Anax (pronounced 'aa·nuhks') is described as an overstable driver that combines the sharp rim of a distance driver with the comfortable, thinner rim and precision of a fairway driver.

This driver excels in windy conditions, delivering a straight flight down the fairway with a dependable fade at the end.

It’s a reliable choice for shorter fairway drives for those with slower arm speeds. For players with more power, the Anax provides outstanding distance.

#5 - Innova Shryke
(13, 6, -2, 2)

The Innova Shryke is another great option for those just starting out with distance drivers, or simply for experienced players with less arm speed.  

It has a 6 glide, which is a bit more than the typical distance driver.  

It is a popular mold in the Female Professional Open Division (FPO), but don’t let that dissuade you from choosing this driver if you’re a dude–not all of us have the arm speed of an Anthony Barela or an Albert Tamm.

#4 - Discraft Avenger SS
(10, 5, -3, 1)

Discraft describes the Avenger SS as a distance driver “for the rest of us”, meaning us non-pros or big-bombing amateurs.  

The reason being is its high turn rating of -3, combined with its lower speed rating of 10.  More turn and less speed gets this disc up in the air and keeps it there longer allowing for longer bombs with lower arms speeds.

#3 - Innova Mamba
(11, 6, -5, 1)

The Innova Mamba might be the most extreme in the “distance drivers designed for less experienced players” featured in this list. Innova describes it as “designed to give maximum distance for minimal effort.”

It has the highest glide and most turn of any of the distance drivers we’ve talked about so far.

For more experienced players, it can be used for anhyzer tailwind drives.

#2 - Innova Destroyer
(12, 5, -1, 3)

The Innova Destroyer has been a staple distance driver for a long time. It is a serious distance driver and perhaps one of the most popular among professional players. 

When pro players have “open bags” (when they are not sponsored by one manufacturer and can throw whatever brand discs they want), they tend to opt for the Destroyer.

It’s considered fast and very stable and suitable for those with powerful forehand and backhand drives.  

This driver is for top-level amateurs and pros.

#1 - Innova Wraith (11, 5, -1, 3)

The number one driver in our “Best Distance Drivers Disc Golf” category is the Innova Wraith.  The Wraith is hugely popular, appearing 19 times across all the different lists we consulted.

The Innova Wraith is like the Destroyer Lite. Why is that a good thing, you say? Well, because it has all the great features of the Destroyer, but it is more accessible to the average player.

Don’t get me wrong, this disc is still a very stable, high-speed distance driver for fast arm speeds. However, it is more throwable by upper-intermediate and advanced players that don’t quite have the arm speed for a Destroyer. It’s lower speed may also give it a touch more control.

Best Disc Golf Driver for You

And there you have it! The best disc golf drivers across a number of categories.

If you’re a very new player, we recommend you stay away from drivers and throw putters and midranges for a while to develop good form.

Once you feel you’re ready to upgrade, give a 6- or 7-speed driver a try (something from our “Best Disc Golf Driver for Beginners” section) to see if you can throw it farther than your midrange while maintaining control.

Then, once you feel you are throwing a 6- or 7-speed well, try one of the 9-speed drivers from the “Best Fairway Drivers Disc Golf” category, ensuring you’re still able to get more distance than your 7-speed while maintaining control.

Once you’ve gotten the hang of that disc, you can dip your toes into the “Best Distance Drivers Disc Golf” category by choosing one of the discs designed as an entry point into distance drivers. Be sure to do the same thing and test whether or not it gives you any additional controllable distance.

Finally, from there you can give a serious distance driver a try, like the Destroyer, the Wraith, the Time-Lapse, the Boss, or the Nuke.

If you’re a more experienced player, I hope this article gives you some insight into discs you’ve been thinking about adding to your bag.  All of these discs are highly-reviewed and sell very well, so you can rest assured that you’ll be adding a quality disc to your lineup.

I hope this article has helped you on your journey to rounding out your disc golf bag. If you have any experiences with these discs or have some hidden gems to share, please do so in the comments.

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