Best Disc Golf Beginner Discs for 2019

As we enter the new year it’s the perfect time to discuss the best disc golf discs for beginners! What is a beginner disc? Today we are looking for discs that you would purchase for someone who has never thrown a disc before or maybe only played a handful of times.

Like always, the two key words we use when choosing our best discs are popularity and utility. We want to choose a beginner disc that is popular and can be utilized by many disc golfers. Since this category is beginner discs, the last key word is kind of baked into the name of the category. It is vitally important that the best beginner disc can be utilized by beginner disc golfers (obviously…).

So, without further ado, here are our nominees:

  • Discraft Archer
  • Dynamic Discs Breakout
  • Latitude 64 Diamond
  • Discmania FD
  • Latitude 64 Jade
  • Innova Leopard
  • Innova Mamba
  • Innova Roadrunner
  • Innova Sidewinder

Best Disc Golf Discs for Beginners

Discraft Archer

The Discraft Archer is one of the newest discs on this list as it was recently the disc featured in the 2016 Discraft Ace Race. The Archer is kind of a hybrid between a midrange and control driver featuring a small rim that fits comfortably in all sizes of hands. As will be the case with all of our nominees today, it is an understable disc. The midrange in the disc allows it to glide and hold straight in the air with minimal fade at the end.

Dynamic Discs Breakout

A few of our nominations today are discs that were designed and made specifically with the beginner in mind, and the Dynamic Discs Breakout is one of those discs. The Breakout is available in a few plastic types, but it is only made in lighter weights. It is not the most understable of the beginner made molds, but the lighter weight allows the disc to perform more understable and makes it a great choice for the first driver for newer as well as younger players who do not have the arm strength of an adult.

Latitude 64 Diamond

The Latitude 64 Diamond is also a disc designed for the beginner disc golfer. The Diamond is available in several plastic types but again, it is not available in heavy weights. The Diamond is one of the most understable discs on the market, and when you combine that with the lighter weights it is made in, the Diamond becomes a great choice for people who have never played disc golf before.

Discmania FD

The Discmania FD is a beginner disc that players can grow their game around as it is still a popular disc among experienced disc golfers as well. As mentioned in previous posts, Discmania does a good job of differentiating different runs and plastic blends for each disc, and the D-Line FD is noticeably more understable than the other plastic types, making it a great choice for beginners.

Latitude 64 Jade

The Latitude 64 Jade is kind of the cousin of the Diamond. Both discs are only available in light weights and designed specifically for beginner disc golfers. The Jade offers a little more stability than the Diamond, but it is still a great choice for an understable beginner driver. So if you tried the Diamond and think you’d want to try something with just a hair more stability, the Jade would be a great next disc for you.

Innova Leopard

The Innova Leopard was featured as one of our fairway drivers nominees, and like the FD it is also a disc that players can learn to build their game around. The DX Leopard is featured in the popular Innova Starter Sets, and is one of the most used discs for beginners as it is widely available in sporting goods stores. It is also popular as it is one of the least expensive plastic blends, so folks who are maybe just wanting to give disc golf a try will choose a cheaper disc like a DX Leopard.

Innova Mamba

This is by far the highest speed disc on our list today. Generally distance drivers are not great beginner discs, but the Innova Mamba is so understable it has been a popular choice for beginners for a long time. The Mamba is also a popular second or third disc choice for beginners, and is a great first distance driver for those who are trying out the higher speeds for the first time.

Innova Roadrunner

These final two nominees are pretty similar, and players who haven’t used either of them often get them mixed up. But the Innova Roadrunner is the slightly more understable of the pair of discs, which in some ways could be used to argue that it is also more beginner friendly. Another nice thing about the Innova Roadrunner is beginner disc golfers can learn to continue using this disc as their game improves.

Innova Sidewinder

The Innova Sidewinder has been around for a long time, but has definitely seen a resurgence in the sales charts. Part of this could be because of its increasing popularity as a roller disc. But the Sidewinder also has always been a popular choice as a beginner disc with an easy to use understable flight that is easy to learn and grow with.

And those are all of our nominees! Check back next week to find out our choice for the winner!

THE BEST DISC GOLF DISC for Beginners 2019: Latitude 64 Diamond

This category was difficult to choose a winner in. All of our nominees and many others that were not nominated are great discs for beginners. But the Latitude 64 Diamond is one of the few disc golf discs that is manufactured specifically for beginners, and it has become one of the most popular and loved discs in that category. The Latitude 64 Diamond is one of the most understable fairway drivers on the market, and it is only manufactured in lighter weights which gives it more understability. This in turn makes it one of the easiest drivers to throw for players who are just learning how to throw disc golf discs. It is also a great selection for weaker arms and children who are starting to play disc golf. If you are new to disc golf and have struggled throwing some of the old discs that your friends have let you borrow, grab a Latitude 64 Diamond and give it a try. 

Beginner Sets

Are you looking for a disc golf starter set for beginners? Check out this article highlighting the best starter sets of 2019 or shop our available starter sets for sale here

Share Your Opinion – Best Beginner Discs

When you were a beginner, what golf discs worked best for you? What discs helped you break through to get more distance and take your game to a new level? Share your opinions in the comments below.

Jace Smellie is a poetry expert, writer, and editor at DiscGolfReviewer.com

37 comments

  • The slower and more US the disc the better it is for a beginning player. As a result putters and mids are better for beginners, yet all of the discs listed above are drivers (the Archer is a tweener, but still more driverish than mid.

    Nova – Dead straight on almost any power. It won’t flip crazily, but also won’t fade out a lot, unless you really get it high in the air, which makes it perfect for staying on the fairway, and it isn’t bad as a putter as well.

    Mirage – US putter that is sneaky long higher power players, it’s US nature will make it much more likely to fly straight for a beginner.

    Comet – Slightly US mid that has good HSS but doesn’t fade a lot. Can be putted with if on a budget and only getting 1 disc.

    Shark – The Innova Starter pack mid. Slightly OS when new, but can also double as a putter, while still getting good distance.

    Avair PnA – The Innova Starter pack putter. Nice and straight, a quality that helps both on the fairway and on the putting green, regardless of your throw style.

    The Pearl and Ruby are both included in Latitude 64’s starter pack which also includes the Diamond. They are lighter discs, that are US which makes them great for beginners.

    DX Teebirds are good for beginners that live in windy areas or those that are FH dominant.

    • I have to agree with the Mamba. The first few times I played, I struggled mightily! My friend gave me a Rampage to play with and it’s amazing I kept trying. The Rampage is a fine disc but not so much so for a beginner. A 14 speed disc is just too much for someone just starting out.
      After talking to a guy in the pro shop at a local course, we came to the conclusion that a very understable disc would probably suit me well. So, I bought a Mamba and gave it a try…
      Holy cow! I had had a throw or two that were ok but my eyes were certainly opened after my first toss! My first throw with the Mamba went about 250′ (remember, I just started) while following a beautiful S curve. I had never thrown anything like that before and was instantly hooked.
      That was 5 months ago and I have picked up many discs and played many rounds in an attempt to keep up my progression. I can’t imagine it stopping any time soon because every time I throw a beautiful shot, I am reminded of just how much I enjoy this sport and just how much I want to get better.

  • The Dynamic Discs Breakout is a great beginner disc. It is designed to be light, turns & flips, gets great distance, etc, but it also fades allowing shot shaping and even overhand throws. Since it comes in premium plastics it will stay in the bag for a long time too for rollers and turnover drives.

  • Beginners are going to hit trees lots of trees. I would recommend to stay away from DX and go with the champ or star. Vote: Star Leopard

  • I Like the Leopard3 as a driver and a Roc for mid. Some prefer the Mako if the bead bothers them.

  • I’d give the nod to the Leopard for a few reasons.

    1: It’s Easy to throw for effortless distance. I’d almost call it a hybrid fairway driver/mid.

    2: Leo comes in the freakin starter pack at 150g and as a result it’s easily the most accessible disc on this list.

    3: Check Infinite Discs, the Leopard comes in EVERY plastic & weight you’d want/need so it’s an easy one to learn and stick with as your game progresses. I still bag a max weight, star Leo.

    That’s it. Great disc from start to finish. The availability and versatility edges out the competition in my opinion.

  • A friend gave me a Westside Stag when I started out and it worked great for me. The slight understabilty and generous glide make make it a good beginner disc for people who already know how to throw a regular frisbee well, and want to transition to disc golf.

  • There’s definitely a reason the Buzzz is the most popular disc out there. It’s great for beginners (hello, starter pack!) but I still keep one and an OS Buzzz in my bag to this day. I gave one to a friend just starting out, and he’s really getting the sport down with this easy-to-throw wonder.

    As for a driver, the Sidewinder is a good beginner. Not too fast, and a low enough turn to control easily. I will say kudos to Infinite for the Sphinx. I think that would be great for beginners, too. I recently got one in a mystery box and was immediately impressed! So comfortable and understable. I’d recommend it to any player.

  • Jade!! Been playing a couple years and still use it.

  • Jonathan Pearson

    Great list, I’d have to put the Leopard at the top of it myself, with plenty of plastic choices for any player to find that 7/5/-1/1 fairway driver to suit their needs.

    On an MVP/Axiom side of things, I’d recommend the Theory & Signal for new players. I started a year ago and found the most early success with these rather understable mid/fairway options. Both discs have some good turn out of the box, but in Neutron plastic they beat in really well within a few weeks. By the end of a few months starting the game, these two discs can be shaped into a huge number of lines with little wimpy arms. By the time I had these udner my belt, more stable options opened up.

    So for any newbies interested in MVP/Axiom overmolds, the Theory & Signal are great understable starting discs.

  • Jonathan Pearson

    Leopard has to be my favorite out of this list, with so many plastic/weight options its hard not to find one you like.

    My suggestion to any new players interested in MVP/Axiom is to pick up a Theory & Signal in Neutron. Both discs start out with a hair of turn, new players can find shape early on with these, and they beat into more understable discs to help wimpy arms (like mine). Once I had half a season with these, they were firmly in the touch understable slot of my bag, but as starter discs they’ve helped me stable up at each bag slot. And days when my other fairways just aren’t working, I can still slow down on one of these understable discs and just put something out there safe.

  • love the breakout. as a non-beginner it is still great in the woods and for stand still drives

  • I remember one of my first discs being a dx leopard. Great flying disc and easy to throw. Im going to start my 3 yr old on that and aee where that takes him. Im going to have to go with a leopard.

  • I have to agree with the Mamba. The first few times I played, I struggled mightily! My friend gave me a Rampage to play with and it’s amazing I kept trying. The Rampage is a fine disc but not so much so for a beginner. A 14 speed disc is just too much for someone just starting out.
    After talking to a guy in the pro shop at a local course, we came to the conclusion that a very understable disc would probably suit me well. So, I bought a Mamba and gave it a try…
    Holy cow! I had had a throw or two that were ok but my eyes were certainly opened after my first toss! My first throw with the Mamba went about 250′ (remember, I just started) while following a beautiful S curve. I had never thrown anything like that before and was instantly hooked.
    That was 5 months ago and I have picked up many discs and played many rounds in an attempt to keep up my progression. I can’t imagine it stopping any time soon because every time I throw a beautiful shot, I am reminded of just how much I enjoy this sport and just how much I want to get better.

  • The correct answer here is the pure, so am baffled why it was left off. You can drive with it, approach with it, putt with it. Extremely neutral. Too overstable or understable will hide flaws. Throwing a neutral disc straight will give you the best feedback on your form. Plus, you can get it all kinds of plastic.

  • i see a lit of fairway drivers on here. I would never give a beginner any driver. I always recommend the same underrated disc to beginners, the dx skeeter.
    Not to fast, not to stable, can putt or drive and is cheap. Everything a beginner needs.

  • I didn’t read all the comments to see if anyone mentioned this disc already.

    The first disc mold I truly fell in love with was the WestSide Seer. This odd little mold is perfect for players with small hands like myself. The disc is naturally very understable but with low arm speed would fly straight and true for me back in the day. Now I can’t seem the hyzer flip them enough to not turnover still.

    This is a wonderful disc for new players and one you won’t regret trying out for backhand rollers as an experienced player

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