Best Disc Golf Drivers for Beginners
Summer is here and disc golf courses are becoming overcrowded throughout the country. During this annual flock to the courses the great sport we call disc golf is being discovered by thousands of new rookies. As beginning disc golfers learn about the complexities of the game, the first thing they typically want to know is, “what are the best disc golf drivers?”
To a new disc golfer, the ‘best’ driver typically means the one that will fly farthest — It’s all about getting distance. Beginners rarely want to start out with a “slow” midrange or putter.
When a new disc golfer first glances the many varieties of available drivers, they often assume that high speed discs will go farther. Experienced disc golfers know this is rarely the case. Until a player develops sufficient technique, other discs are best.
True, not all new players to the sport will start be at the same skill level. Define beginner as you would like. What we want to know is which disc is the best for your typical beginner.
Best Discs for New Players
We’ve asked the following questions to our site visitors:
- What prior disc-throwing experiences did you have before you played disc golf?
- What drivers do you recommend for new disc golfers?
- What discs worked well for you when you were new to the game? Why?
- What new discs have you seen work well for beginners that you wish you would have had?
- What disc advice would you give to a beginner?
Hopefully, advice from experienced disc golfers will help you select discs that will decrease the learning curve, and help you to get better more quickly.
Summary of Your Responses
After carefully reading all of your posts these are the main tips you’ve shared:
1. Disc golfers come from many different backgrounds including, but not limited to:
Ultimate, Catch-and-throw Frisbee, baseball, discus, catch with the dog, and badminton. Ok, that last one might not be true..
2. Here is a list of the most recommended drivers for beginners according to this post:
- Innova, Leopard: (16 votes)
- Innova, Valkyrie: (10 votes)
- Latitude 64, River: (8 votes)
- Innova, TeeBird: (6 votes)
- Innova, Beast: (6 votes)
- Innova, Wraith: (4 votes)
- Latitude 64, Diamond: (4 votes)
- Avenger SS: (3 votes)
- Innova, Cheetah: (3 votes)
- MVP, AMP: (3 votes)
**22 other discs were mentioned one or two times.
3. Here are some discs that worked well for the experienced players when they were starting:
- Innova, Valkyrie: (5 votes)
- Innova, TeeBird: (4 votes)
- Innova, Shark: (4 votes)
- Innova, Roc: (3 votes)
**20 other discs were mentioned one or two times.
4. Here are some discs that the experienced players wish they had when they started:
Others also mentioned:
- Prodigy, M4
- Latitude 64, River
- Millennium, JLS
- Innova, Katana
- Innova, Roc
- Innova, TeeBird
- Innova, Monarch
- Westside, Underworld
- Innova, Vulcan
- Innova, Leopard
- Discraft, Comet
- Discraft, Stratus
- Discraft, Zombee
5. Here are some common tips from the experienced players for those new to the sport:
- Try driving with a putter, then moving to a mid-range, then finally a driver.
- Play disc with others who are experienced and ask for tips.
- Watch YouTube videos to learn proper throwing form.
- Focus on your form first, not your distance.
- Play often, and practice your throws in an open area.
- Don’t get discouraged, and HAVE FUN!
This summary is a great overview of many posts. Feel free to read more below and find some real gems of advice!
As a big Ultimate Player, I was introduced to disc golf with a Firebird. I could barely throw it because it would fall so hard, and the sport was discouraging.
I wish I would have known about mid-ranges. But let’s be real, I would have wanted something more sleek and faster.
So, to answer the question I would recommend something which is very understable, and/or lightweight.
I got my wife a Latitude 64 Diamond, she loves it. I got my brother a Skyquest Medusa, he can bomb it. The Innova Monarch also worked very well on my backhand before I really started getting some snap with it.
My advice that I would give to a beginner is control. Give your disc a full reach back, keep your stance flat, and throw until a rhythm starts to flow. It feels awkward at first, and you want to be timid, but just go with it! HAVE FUN!
1. playing catch
2. Latitude64 River.
3. 168g Discraft XL. It’s a light, controllable fairway driver.
4. Latitude64 River.
5. Start with a Fairway driver or midrange. Learn speed 6 or 7 discs first, then when they’ve learned those graduate to something a little faster.
1. I had no prior disc throwing experience, except for the discuss.
2. I hardly ever recommend a driver to a new disc golfer, I usually recommend a mid-range so they can learn control and accuracy. However, if someone asks and really wants a driver, I usually stear them in the fairway driver range. The best beginner driver disc in my opinion is the lat 64 River. it has huge glide. is not so fast that it can’t be controlled and it has a natural s-curve when thrown properly.
3.when i was new to the game of disc golf, I had only 2 discs.. a dx shark and a dx viper. the shark was by far the best disc for me. I hadn’t learned all the proper techniques for the time i did play initially. However, when I picked up those two discs again, the shark was able to hold any line I put it on, anny or hyzer, it would fade just a bit and wouldn’t turn unless there was a huge headwind. all in all a great disc to learn how to throw with.
4. I wish I had a prodigy M4 or the FD jackal (s-line) to start with 8 years ago..
5. Don’t worry about distance or how hard you can throw. start with a midrange disc of 160-165 grams and learn to throw it accurately and consistantly. when you start to be able to turn the disc over regularly, move to a more stable mid and continue. once you master being able to throw all the different throws with those two mids. then start expanding to drivers and other discs..
1. Catch with a frisbee
2. Innova Valkyrie
3. Innova Valkyrie, easy to forehand and back hand.
4. Millennium JLS – it goes long and straight and is forgiving of errors.
5. Learn to drive with your putters. Then your mids, fairways, and distance drivers.
1- Frisbee
2- Valkrie, something understable
3- A valkrie(understable), a X-treme (overstable), a putter (SS Omega)Gotta have your clubs.
4- Blizzard- light weight, high speed, easier distance
5- Don’t throw so hard!! Throw a Comet, it will teach everything you need too now about flight.
1. I had No Experience.
2. I recommend a Leopard or Blizzard Champion Wraith.
3. I Started using a Surge. The Reason being is i Sidearm Flick and that’s what my dad used so i watched him and learned how to control it. It was a ESP Flx and Gummy, which worked for my Flick.
4.The Blizzard Champion Discs, They are light weight and great to start people off my brother can throw his Katana an average 200-250ft and is a beginner
5. Focus on Technique and control first, then once you get that down you can work on getting more distance. Also, Don’t go buying every new disc out there, find one or two at first and stick with them till you can control discs well.
1. I was a casual ultimate player who threw catch frisbees all the time.
2. To what driver I would recommend depends on your intentions. If you want to just be casual and want some distance, grab a blizzard Innova disc. I suggest an ape. Pretty easy to control, and it flies. If you want to get better. Grab a TeeBird or a Discraft Xpress.
3. The TeeBird was a gem for me. It came out my hands so well and I couldn’t throw it a mile, but I could hit lanes. Since then I replaced it with a Wham-O Fairway driver. Flies the same but longer!
4. My brother really liked the sidewinder, but I never bought one. He thought it was super easy to throw. Especially at low weights.
5. My disc advice would be simple. First. Buy a Gateway Wizard. Buy an Innova TeeBird. And a prodigy M3. All will be well.
1. I had very little disc throwing experience, aside from playing catch frisbee with family.
2. To newer players, I would recommend slower drivers, Gazelles, Leopards, etc. or even just midranges. At least when I was starting out, midranges were much easier for me to control and place where I wanted.
3 & 4. My Champion Sidewinder and DX Aviar were two discs that I learned with, and I wish I had had a Buzzz or something similar to add to that.
5. Go slow, watch videos and players who are better than you. Just because everyone else is doing a run-up doesn’t mean that you have to. Play a round without keeping score every once in a while, it’s a lot more fun.
I played a lot of Ultimate Frisbee before ever playing disc golf, and had some basic throwing skills, but throwing golf discs is a lot different.
The first discs I used as a beginner were from a Whamoo Frisbee Golf starter set. These were actually pretty good beginner discs, although the plastic grade was terrible and got huge gashes in the rim after only a few rounds. I had best results with the mid range in that set, seemed to fly straighter for me. I liked it better for putting too.
The main key for beginners (at least for backhand throws) is lower speed, lightweight understable discs.
After having tested hundreds of discs, many of them while still developing skills, here are a few drivers I’d recommend for new disc golfers who throw backhand:
1. Latitude 64 Diamond
2. Innova Leopard
3. Latitude 64 River
4. Discraft Avenger SS
If you throw forehand (flick, side arm), a more stable/overstable disc will work better, but still don’t go too fast. Personally I loved the Innova Orc and Innova Starfire for my forehand throws.
Perhaps the best advice for choosing the best discs for beginners is to find someone with lots of discs, and use their discs before buying something that might not be adequate for your skill level. I’ve gone out with a few newbie’s who have a lot of power their first few times out. For these guys, a light weight Leopard isn’t enough disc. They need something more stable. If you go with someone who really understands golf discs, and can see what skills you have throwing, they should be able to recommend some good discs specifically for you. There is no one disc that is perfect for everyone.
1. very little. Had to convert years of throwing a baseball into the technique to throw a disc. (forehand dominant first full year obviously)
2. Beast is the most friendly for new players with stronger arms. For weaker arms, I would recommend trying a midrange or fairway driver like a Teebird.
3.Beast for forehand because it will fly flat and not turn on an overpowered throw. Millennium Polaris LS for backhand, because even on a light throw, it can get good distance and is easy to control.
4. Roc for medium range approach. Teebird for technical lines on approach.
5. Get out in an open field and let them rip until it feels right. Check out the pro videos on youtube if you cant tell what your doing wrong in your technique. Talk to fellow discers, and have them critique your form… this alone is the fastest way to fix a persistent problem.
1. I grew up in the late 70’s early 80’s and my uncle had taught me how to throw a Frisbee at a very young age. The coolest shot that he taught me was to throw the Frisbee at the sidewalk and make it skip up to the person that you were throwing it to. That and throwing a Frisbee in general helped me to be as accurate as I am today playing disc golf.
2. My son just started playing a few months ago and he will be 16 on July 2nd. When we would go to the course, I would let him borrow my brand new Roc3 and my DD Soft Judge. I taught him that he needed to work on his accuracy and then his distance would come later. Needless to say, my Roc3 is now his Roc3 and I bought him a SSS Voodoo because he wasn’t getting my Judge!
3. I had a great mentor when I first started playing in 1995. He let me throw his beat in Shark and a old Roc that he had in his bag at the time. He gave me those two discs and eventually I gave them to my little brother when he first started. Best two discs at that time to learn how to play with.
4. Hands down and without question, the Discraft Buzzz. That disc makes everyone’s game better!
5. Go out and play as often as you can. Don’t be afraid of what anyone may think about the way you throw or play, they were beginners once too. Work on your accuracy and eventually your distance will come. And most importantly, don’t forget to have FUN!
I think the innova valkerie is a solid disc to start with. The reason I say this is because its far from over stable but certainly not under stable, for a beginner. Instead of having a ton of different drivers carrying this one driver, and really learning it, is what will help a beginner get a feel for the game.
Before I started I had only thrown a regular Frisbee a couple times but liked the outdoors and concept so I started with a couple friends and my fiance.
I recommend a Boss Champion as I had the best distance and control with it when I started. I usually had a strong hook that was definitely lessened when I started throwing that disc.
For a beginner, keep to the same course for a while to get your strengths and weaknesses settled and bring a seasoned friend. They can help you by telling you what to adjust. If possible, go to a larger open field and throw for a long time different discs and arm angles until you feel more comfortable.
1. All of my friends play ultimate, so I had a little bit if experience passing with that.
2. I would defiantly recommend a teebird. It’s an amazing main driver for a beginner and as you get better it turns into an amazing fairway driver. I would also recommend the Valkerie. It’s a little bit harder to throw but it is easy to throw it far without a lot of power.
3. The Valkerie and the teebird both really elevated my game when I first got started. I also really enjoyed the aviar and the gateway karma. I still use all of the discs even though I am not a beginner.
4. I wish the Innova blizzards existed when I was a beginner. I’ve seen it work well for so many people and make a lot of people have an easier time playing.
5. Have fun! Do not get discouraged from a bad drive. Go with friends and just have a good time with it. You will get better if you don’t look too much into scores. Try to play as much as you can. These things will make the game more enjoyable and easier.
1. My first disc experience was with my two border collies when I was younger. I loved just being able to watch it fly (and it was nice that the dog would bring it back). Later I started playing ultimate and very casual disc golf. It is a great feeling to watch a disc fly.
2. For a new disc golfer, I would recommend a fairway driver that is slightly understable to help learn control and learn how the discs fly. I would recommend a MVP Amp or an Innova Leopard. If they were eager to try a higher speed disc, I would advise them to get either Blizzard plastic (or its equivalent).
3. When I started I first learned to throw RHFH, so I got some decent S-curves out of the discs I was throwing because I could get good spin on it. I was first throwing an Eagle and pretty much only picked discs on the name, not the disc characteristics.
4. From what I have seen, the blizzard plastic is really good for beginners because it is lighter. Another good disc for beginners is the Monarch. I had one that I brought when I would take people that had never played before and it seemed to work OK. But now I usually give them a midrange (MVP Tangent/Discraft Buzzz) to use.
5. I think it is important for them to understand that they don’t need to try and throw the highest speed disc available. First time out they can probably throw a putter as far as they can throw a max distance driver, but with more accuracy. I also make sure they know that it isn’t important what their score is, because it is the person who has the most fun that wins.
Innova Leopard
I was one of those people that made the mistake of sleek and fast being the way to go!
I was introduced to the game by randomly happening upon the beautiful Tom Brown course in Tallahassee, FL, and went down to the local disc shop and bought discs that looked good. Bought tye dyes, and dye jobs, bought cool names, and sexy rims with no thought to what I was putting together in my bag.
So I learned how to play the game throwing two drivers that were way too big for my beginner arm: An Innova Pro Valk tye dye, and a Champ Banshee. I didn’t even buy a putter, I learned to putt with my Shark.
After moving out of Tallahassee and luckily running into some folks who knew the game, and with a little help from the forums on discgolfcoursereview.com, and discgolfers.us I disced down, worked on my form. I threw nothing but Beasts for drivers and nothing but Sharks for midrange, and re-worked my putting using Avairs. I have cleaned up my game considerably, and have put a few local tourney wins under my belt.
Nowadays, I still throw my Beast fairly regularly, but have disced up to a Wraith for some of the bigger holes, and can get over that 300 foot barrier fairly easily. I still love my Shark for approaches, but I’ve added a River and a couple of fairway drivers to cover some holes, and I putt with Anodes now.
Beginners, get a Shark! There’s lots of folks that will tell you that Roc is the best mid out there, but when it comes to learning, a Shark is about the most forgiving disc out there, and you can get some pretty good distance right away without adding bad form habits!
Happy Discing!
1. The only flying discs I threw before disc golf were those rubbery ring-like frisbees from Aerobie. Those things flew so far and you didn’t have to throw them hard.
2. I recommend fairway drivers that are understable, lightweight drivers, or understable high speed drivers, like an Avenger SS or a Beast.
3. I didn’t know anything about discs when I started out, but once someone introduced me to fairway drivers, that completely changed my game. Other than that, the Blizzard discs really helped me develop more power on my throws.
4. Discs like the Mamba, Diamond, Tursas, Underworld, Northman, the Undertow, and the Renegade would have been great when I was starting out.
5. For a beginner, I would tell them to try a lot of putters until you find the one you like, and then get two or three of that putter. Also do the same with mid-ranges and fairway drivers. If beginners want to try a high-speed driver, get a lightweight driver to start out and work your way up.
1)none
2)I started with cheap innova 150 class starter set but would have really loved to the blizzard series.
3)like I stated I started with cheap innova starter sets 150 class like the cheetah panther leopard because they was at the time the lightest on the market plus wanting to see if I would even enjoy the game.
4)innova blizzard series all I own now 🙂
5)I watched a lot of YouTube videos on tips and how to. I was the first one in my group of friends to try the sport so I did not have anyone to go out with and get pointers but would be really great to do if you have friends that play. HAVE FUN don’t expect great things right off. start on a easier course if there is any in your area. experiment with different type of throws and grips, backhand and forehand, right an left handed throws the more versatile you are the more the game will be enjoyable. buy used discs at first see what you like there are so many to chose from and weights out there it will blow your mind my driver of choice is the innova blizzard boss for relatively straight shots and the blizzard ape for hard turns. visit local venders at first and talk to the peeps there they may even have a driving range there and let you throw different disc to get a feel of the disc you might start with and give you great pointers too. rock the chains!
Throwing tomahawks helps get a beginner into the game. I used it often for longer approach shots or on more technical holes and had success while I was learning to throw forehand and backhand. A Boss was awesome for my tomahawks and forehands, but not my backhand. A Valkyrie helped that. A Valkyrie is a great beginner disc for any throw. It gets a distance with little effort and is controllable as well as versatile. Having any sort of putter in addition to a driver is helpful for scores and learning how different discs work. The first putter I liked was a Soft Magnet. The Buzzz showed me the value of midranges. But beginners should stick with one disc for approach shots and drives just to get comfortable throwing instead of having a bunch of discs with different characteristics.