Best Disc Golf Drivers for Beginners

Beginner Picking out first Disc

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:

  1. What prior disc-throwing experiences did you have before you played disc golf?
  2. What drivers do you recommend for new disc golfers?
  3. What discs worked well for you when you were new to the game? Why?
  4. What new discs have you seen work well for beginners that you wish you would have had?
  5. 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:

**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:

**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:

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!
One common theme among beginners is the desire for drivers that can provide maximum distance. However, it’s noted that beginners often assume that high-speed discs will automatically lead to longer throws, which experienced disc golfers know is not necessarily the case. Until a player develops the necessary technique, high-speed drivers may not be the best choice.
Based on the responses from the disc golf community, several drivers have emerged as popular choices for beginners.
Additionally, there were mentions of 22 other discs that were recommended one or two times, highlighting the wide variety of options available to beginners.
Experienced players also shared their experiences with discs that worked well for them when they were starting out. Some of the mentioned discs include the Innova Valkyrie, TeeBird, Shark, and Roc, among others.
Furthermore, there were mentions of discs that experienced players wished they had when they were beginners. The Discraft Buzzz was a popular choice with 7 votes, even though it’s not a driver. Latitude 64 Diamond received 3 votes as well. Several other discs were mentioned in this category, showcasing the diversity of options available to disc golfers.
Finally, the experienced players offered some common tips for those new to the sport. These tips included starting with a putter, then transitioning to a mid-range disc before moving on to a driver, playing with experienced players to seek guidance and tips, watching instructional videos on platforms like YouTube to learn proper throwing form, emphasizing form over distance, practicing frequently in open areas, and maintaining a positive attitude and having fun on the course.

This summary is a great overview of many posts. Feel free to read more below and find some real gems of advice!

 

74 comments

  • 1) I threw an ultimate disc before I found out about disc golf.

    2) I recommend throwing slow fairway drivers. Lower speed discs allow for better control that new players will surely lack. Innova’s Leopards, Gazelles, and Cheetahs are great for beginners because they don’t need a lot of power to launch into the air compared to distance drivers. I believe that it’s equally important to buy the lowest grade plastics to begin with. Innova’s DX plastic is the cheapest, but also provides a decent grip. As they breaking the flight path changes, which forces new players to adapt and become more methodical with their throws. If nothing else, low grade plastic is the cheapest and easiest to replace if it becomes lost or you simply decide to try something different. Lower weight discs a require less effort to throw, but heavier discs provide more control and predictability.

    3) When I was a bustling young man there were not as many options as there are today. Innova and Discraft were the only discs I’d ever heard of and deciphering Discraft’s chart was like trying to read a foreign language. Needless to say, I decided to go with an Innova DX Leorpard at 163ish grams. I threw it so much that eventually I ripped a crack all the way through the rim.

    4) I wish I had discovered the Discraft Buzzz and the Gateway Wizard earlier than 5 years into playing. They are now the two most used discs in my bag.

    5) I would advise new players work on their form. Some of the best players I have seen couldn’t fight their way out of a wet paper bag, but could beat me like a drum on the course.

  • I am new to disk golf. I have been playing for about six months. I started with a dx innova wraith. I had no prior history throwing disks before I started to play. My favorite driver now would be a champion firebird or champion leopard. This disk fly great and are easy to control. The best advice that I could give to a new player would be have fun and play and practice often. Don’t be afraid to get onto your local disk golf clubs website and ask if some of the pros or semipros want to play a round and teach you technics and some times they will even let you throw some of there disks. Have fuuuuuunnnnnn!!

  • 1. I had no disc throwing experience before i got started, which i think helped me because i watched videos of the pros and learned technique that way, ie i had no set style holding me back or that i had to work to correct.
    2. Lots of others have said a midrange would be best for beginners, which while i think my Comet is a great overall disc to have, if you have that rare power arm, they will be left wanting from a midrange. I stick to my guns as i have mentioned before, the Valkrie is the best beginner driver in my opinion and its such a good disc that if you get good at throwing it, it will stay in your bag for a long time. But for those new players with truly weak arms, i would say a fairway driver would be the way to go, probably a Lat 64 River or a Firebird.
    3. The Valkrie was amazing for me when i started out and i only got it because it was the world record holder at the time.
    4. I wish i had my Comet when i first started, it is the disc that showed me control. I got that disc about a year and a half after i started playing.
    5. I would say watch a lot of videos on instruction, learn all the terms that go along with disc descriptions, learn them, know them, use them, do not be brand loyal. You really need an overstable putter, midrange and driver as well as an understable putter, midrange, and driver and then you need some super straight discs. Learn all of the throws and use them all, a well rounded approach is best. Try and throw as many discs as you can from friends before you buy and when you go to buy be honest with yourself, know your game and habits, do your research and understand what you are buying. Try lots of different grips til you find one that works for you. If you are on this site you are already way ahead of the game. Until you really learn how to throw, buy some used discs in cheap plastic, but once you feel confident, buy in premium plastic! You will want to keep a disc a long time once you find some that work for you. Put your name and phone number on your discs!!! If you find one, and it has a number, call it!!!

    Thats all from me, happy throwing!

  • I’m very glad I was introduced to disc golf at an early age. Before playing disc golf I was a casual ultimate player and then heard about disc golf and gave it a try. Now I’m still only 18, but have been playing disc golf for 3 years and went on to college to play for a D1 ultimate frisbee team and still love playing both ultimate and disc golf!

    When I started playing, I used a Valkyrie. Something kind of stable and not too fast so I could get the fundamentals down. I progressively moved to higher speed drivers.

    What I recommend for new players is an Innova Beast. Popular and reliable Innova. A beast isn’t one of the fastest drivers, is really stable, and will ride whatever line you put it on so beginners can manipulate and throw the disc with good results.

    Some advice I would give to beginners is don’t get frustrated at first! Learn the fundamentals and a good and level throw. Then get into over stable and under stable once you have a good level release to then start getting discs to do different things.

  • 1. Catch with a “frisbee”.
    2. I usually recommend a mid for beginners. They are comfortable to grip, and tend to be pretty forgiving of bad form. I think an X Buzzz is a great beginner disc. If they have been playing for a little while and are looking to actually move into a true driver, think something understable and/or light weight. My wife has an X Buzzz, and I picked up a 150g DX Cheetah for her. That is a pretty good disc for her. It is cheep, light, moderatly understable, and just a little faster than a mid. I have never thrown one, but Leopards seem like they would be a great disc to introduce as a driver also, and Leopards are available in a greater variety of plastic if the person really likes the disc. I want to suggest the Latitude 64 River or a Teebird as maybe a 2nd step on the driver chain. Those discs are just a little faster than the Leos and Cheetahs, and a little more stable. The River would probably yield more distance thanks to the glide, but is very frustrating in the wind and not the greatest at learning to shape different lines.
    3. When I started discing (10 years ago…yikes!) the only disc shop around had mostly Innova and Lightning discs. I only threw the Lightning discs for probably 2 years; #3 Driver, #3 Flyer, #1` Helix, Rubber Putter. The reason was because I had no idea what the different discs did, and Lightning had names and stamps on the discs that suggested what they were for. That was VERY helpful since the Innova discs had intimidating names and different plastic types and all that crazy stuff. So with that line of thought, Prodigy and Discmania should be pretty easy to get into and figure out as well.
    4. I REALLY wish I would have picked up a Buzzz a long time ago. Or at least educated myself about flight ratings and the purpose of different discs. I jumped into high speed drivers too soon and kept getting frustrated because they all went hard left and I couldn’t get any good distance. So a few years ago I disced down to mids and basically started learning from scratch.
    5. Keep the disc flat, don’t worry about looking silly, worry less about not throwing as far as everyone else, and just keep it smooth. Most players that I have run across would be happy to give you tips or advice if you ask them how to improve. And lastly, it’s all about having fun!

  • As a beginner I found it best to watch videos of how to throw online and talking with other players around my local course. I recommend playing a few games with a cheaper driver/midrange and get a feel to throwing. Ask some friends or watch a few videos about power grips/hiezers and tomahawks to find out which throw you like best. Buy discs made for you favorite throws and try to have a fun time. If you enjoy it, you’ll discover more methods to improve your game.

  • 1- Playing frisbee as a child has been my only disc experience.
    2- Being a new player myself, I can only say I was given a shark
    mid-range as my first disk for all throws.
    3- The shark mid-range has worked well for me. The weight is
    175 and it is fairly easy to throw and control.
    4- A putter. Any putter as a matter of fact. They fly straight
    and I have been able to make more shots…successfully 🙂
    5- Find somebody that has played for a bit and ask them. The
    heavier weights have been better for me as far as being able
    to control my throws.

  • chad springstube

    I have had no experience with throwing discs before starting to play with my friends but its become a thing we get together and do on a regular bases. Its hard to remember my first disc i think it was a wraith which worked well for starting out. One think i can recomed to anyone starting out is get a bright disc like orange or pink and a floater is a must lol also dont try to over power your disc and the tomahawk works well in tight spots. My favorite at the moment is the destroyer it never lets me down and have yet to lose it cross my fingers. The lake monster doesn’t like to spit them out

  • Hey all! The Review Grandmaster weighing in on this important subject. I’ve been playing since I was 7 years old and we are all chucking Wham-O 86 softies, so I like to think my opinion matters a little bit. So here we go!

    1. None! Believe it or not, my first disc sport was disc golf (or “folf” as it was known back then) I actually got into Freestyle and Ultimate from Disc Golf, which is totally opposite of most folks.
    2. Anything understable. The reason for this is that an overstable disc will strive to reach the ground, and an understable disc will strive to stay aloft. It actually has very little to do with turn and fade. As such, a begginer should use an understable driver as it will go farther and be more accurate for them. My suggestions are always the Innova Leopard or the Legacy Patriot, though there are other options like an Opto Saint, a Roadrunner, an XL or a Sidewinder. No need for distance drivers…yet.
    3. Wham-O ’86 Softies and Wham-O heavyweights! That’s all we had! When I first saw beveled-edge discs (modern golf discs) the Eagle was the King of the Castle. So the Eagle.
    4.I already had a solid base from playing with those big lids for years and years. because of that, the Eagle, with it’s good glide, turn and healthy fade gave me distances I’d only ever dreamed of. Plus I could now shape lines that Wham-Os just couldn’t. It allowed me to play a more serious game of golf, when before it had been about throwing Frisbees in the woods.
    5. Two immediately jump to mind: the Legacy Patriot and the Vibram Trak. Both are awesome, awesome discs. I’ve gushed enough about the Patriot (a Leopard with glide and a more comfortable rim) but the Trak is another good choice. Though it’s expensive, it’s darn near indestructible. It has some good turn, and some healthy fade, making it a true “do all” disc. It even forgives a lot of beginner mistakes in throwing form, which is something that most Vibram discs do not do. If I had discs like these when I started, I just might be a Pro today.
    6. PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE! It doesn’t matter what discs you have…master them. Make them your own. beat them up, throw them often, and love the heck out of them. Make the discs work for you, not you work for the discs. Also, don’t get distracted by the latest plastic blend or hot new company or amazing new distance driver. Stick with the basics, the tried-and-true Buzzzes and Rocs and Leopards and Aviars and Eagles and Polecats and Birdies and XLs. There’s no need to be fancy. And above all else: HAVE FUN!

  • Jake Kirkendall

    1. My prior experence was with Ultimate Frisbee, playing catch, and spinning discs (Spin Jammer).

    2. I would reccomend the Vakkyre, Lepoard, Stratus, or Buzzz. All of those discs are fairly forgiving and for the most part stable or under stable. I would also recommend the Orc or Starfire for someone who wants a sidearm or tomahawk disc.

    3.When I first got to the game, the Buzzz was my go to disc. It would follow most lines I gave it and wouldn’t fade too hard. It also has a great S curve for sidearm throwing. It is great for someone who doesn’t have a super strong arm, but wants to try the game.

    4.The discs I wish I had as a beginner are the Stratus and the Condor. The Condor is a great disc for transitioning from ultimate to disc golf because it is bigger, but has a more disc golf like rim. It will teach you how to throw flat, hyzer and anhyzer because it follows any path you give it. A great training wheels disc and if they don’t care for the game after, it makes for a great catch disc as well. The stratus is nice for the beginner that has problems with hyzer because it is so under stable it will be more forgiving to players who still hyzer.

    5. My advice is to get out and have fun. Also, learn your discs before you buy more. Find out how to throw them and what kinds of discs work best for you. I remember I picked up my first boss and hated it. I kept playing and learned to throw faster and flatter and now I never leave home without my boss.

  • I would say a good starter distance driver for the new player would have to be the innova valkyrie, in the champion plastic. can throw it just about every way and can do what you want with it.

  • 2. Lattitude 64 river, Millenium Orion LS, Innova Beast for a bit more distance…
    5. My advice to beginners is to warm up before you play and have fun and stay loose/ relaxed throughout the game. You will perform a lot better that way. Also, if something hurts you after playing, you’re probably doing something wrong.

  • 1 no prior experience
    2 for a beginner I recommend the buzz and the beast. Putters are definitely not necessary
    3 I definitely don’t recommend using the wraith for a beginner but the leopard and buzz are good cause they go so straight and have good distances. But for advice I’d say don’t worry about distance cause that comes later
    4 I wish I had started with the buzzy but another one I’d have liked is the Orc or the roc
    5 the best advice I could give is to work on one disk and try to get control over it and eventually move on to other ones that you believe could improve your game. Having many disks while starting out can be confusing and this worked because my brother learned on a Valkyrie I lent him and he sunk a while in one on his 3rd round ever!!!

  • Landon Lockhart

    1. Before I really started playing my serious disc golf I had only thrown a regular frisbee and maybe a disc a couple of times. I was however a pitcher in baseball until I injured my rotator cuff and I was the quarterback for my football team. I was throwing 93mph fastballs when I was 18-19 yrs old, even after my injury, but I couldn’t sustain it for very long before the pain became too intense. I can to this day throw a football 70+ yards and over 60 yards from one knee….so my experience translated to disc golf as a big right arm. Also I’m 6’4 225, so that helps with power a bit too.

    2. As far as what Drivers I would recommend to new disc golfers, it varies tremendously depending on many factors. Male or Female? Strong arm, medium arm, or weak arm? Athlete or non athlete? Good form or do you look like you doing some very awkward dance? Taking things like this into account I would suggest different drivers. One of my favorite drivers for new female disc golfers is the latitude 64 Diamond. It will turn for even a fairly weak arm player and it is very easy to control. My fiancé currently throws this driver and loves it. If you have a little bigger arm, but you’re still new how about a Nuke SS or an Avenger SS. A medium an arm…how about a Latitude 64 fury. Perhaps you’re new but your almost a natural, try a Latitude 64 Bolt. It’s not too overpowering, yet it can still be thrown far even by big arms.

    3. When I first started, one of my favorite discs to use was a latitude 64 fury. It glides for days and It was very easy for me to throw straight. For a brand new player, this has to be one of the farthest flying discs on the market. Another disc that worked very well for me was a discraft impact. It was a far flying, very straight disc that was easy to throw and very reliable for me. Actually, a Buzzz worked really well for me as well. It is an over stable disc, but even if you are new, as long as you have a little snap, you can control this disc with the right angles. My Buzzz was one of the first discs I got and it remains in my bag and is heavily used to this day.

    4. Almost every disc I saw someone who I deemed to be close to my skill level use and be successful with, I purchased. But, I would have liked to have a Buzzz SS when I started just to see if it would have helped me develop my straight shots faster. For the most part, however, if I wanted it, I bought it from this very website.

    5. The main advice I would give to a beginner is a two part piece. I would tell them to not worry so much about throwing 500 ft right off the bat, because its probably not going to happen and it’s not very helpful to your development. Don’t choose discs that are made for advanced players when you have just started. I see too many player who have the power for a Buzzz. Yet are throwing a surge or a boss. Just take it slow. Develop your form. Focus on accuracy and shot selection. This is easier said than done as I know we all want to throw the bombs, but try to resist for the good of your game.

    Secondly, the biggest piece of technical advice I can give to any player is simple…nose angle, nose angle, and nose angle. Most discs will go where you throw them. If the nose of the disc is angled up, you will never throw a 450 ft laser beam. It will rise and rise and stall and hyzer out. Disc will fly on the angle you release them. Most of the time when a beginner throws a wildly bad shot, it’s because they did not control the angle of release. Keep that nose down and you will keep your scores down.

  • I used a Wraith when I started. I would recommend this disc for any beginner.

  • 1 What prior disc-throwing experiences did you have before you played disc golf?
    I began playing ultimate Frisbee In highschool. When i went to college i joined the team there. I broke my toe playing and took up this great sport to keep ion “throwing” condition’. eventually i dropped ultimate all together as it is p[plainly inferior as a sport.

    2 What drivers do you recommend for new disc golfers?
    I recommend fairway drivers to start out with. Typically something that is mildly understable, or just super stable. Avoid extremes until your technique begins to shape itself.

    3 What discs worked well for you when you were new to the game? Why?
    My first disc was an Innova teebird. Flies straight and consistent but it is also responsive to the throwers will. It will help hone is a flick or a backhand until your technique improves. PS 6 years later is still use this very same disc regularly.
    4 What new discs have you seen work well for beginners that you wish you would have had?
    I have heard good things about the Zombee
    5 What disc advice would you give to a beginner?
    Dont get frustrated, half of this game is mental, and the learning curve is full of plateaus

  • 1.Your basic catch and throw. Beach game called Beersbie. A little Ultimate Frisbee.

    2.I am so new I am not sure I could recommend anything to anyone, but my Innova discs (Destroyer and Domminator) that I have are pretty sweet. Feel great sweet colors (for finding them in the heavy Brush). I have a couple differnt ones that I use.

    3. I am still super new, but like I said above my Innova discs are great discs.

    4. I am still green behind the ears, but I went out and got a Discraft Nuke and it is really working out well for the two styles of tee shots.

    5.Find something that feels comfortable in your hand. Work on mechanics, and don’t try to do too much. The most expensive discs aren’t going to help you any if mechanics are all wrong.

  • I really can only answer question one since I’m extremely new to the sport. The previous disc throwing experience I’ve had is in playing Ultimate. While throwing an ultimate disc and golf disc is completely different I am enjoying both sports and trying to get a better handle at throwing golf discs.

  • I played pick up ultimate games in college and could throw a disc further than anyone. When I started playing dg I was very frustrated because all my friends were outdriving me. With some practice and choosing the right discs I’ve been able to turn it around in over a year. Now I out drive them all, setting me up for a nice approach shot. Now I just have to work on my putting!

  • Caitlin Hoffman

    Growing up my dad collected Frisbees and discs. We would always play wherever we went and would have contests to see who could throw the farthest or most accurate. Of course he would let us win. He even hung them on the wall as art in our basement. I now play daily with my fiance and our friends. We even use some of the discs my dad collected. This will always be a hobby of mine and will pass it down to my children. It’s a great way to bond and compete in a friendly way 🙂

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