Best Midrange Disc of 2020
Our quest to find the most popular discs of 2020 continues this week by examining the data to find the best midrange disc. We’ve looked at the best drivers as a whole, distance drivers, control drivers, and now midrange discs. A usual, we’ll look at the sales for 2020 so far, and compare that to the reviews and ratings for the year. Then, we’ll count your votes by looking at the comments on this blog. We’ll add up all of these categories and declare a winner.
Best Disc Golf Midrange Discs
| Sales Rank | Star Rating | Fan Vote | Average | |
| Discraft Buzzz | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Innova Mako3 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2.7 |
| Innova Roc3 | 4 | 7 | 2 | 4.3 |
| Innova Roc | 3 | 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Discraft Buzzz SS | 6 | 3 | 8 | 5.7 |
The Discraft Buzzz Swept all three categories to take the title of the best midrange disc. Discraft also took six of the top ten spots, with Innova sporting three molds in the top ten. Dynamic Discs’ Emac Truth fills the number six spot, and is the lone non-Discraft/Innova manufacturer.
Midrange discs, or mid’s, fill the ‘gap’ between putters and fairway drivers. Not quite as easy to control as putters, their ability to be thrown slower than a fairway driver makes them a great choice for technical shots, shot shaping, and controlling the ground action once they touch down. The rim of a midrange feels slightly more ‘meaty’ in your hand than a putter. The flights, like all categories of discs, range from flippy to very overstable.
Most people have a few different mid’s in their bag for a variety of needs. The midrange disc is probably one of the easier discs to shape. I’ve heard many people say that if they played a one-disc round, they would choose a midrange as their single disc. That shows the versatility of this class of disc.
The Perfect Combination
In addition to choosing a disc for its flight, the feel of the disc can vary from disc to disc. Some are beaded, while others are beadles. Some have a sharper rim, while others are rounded. The depth of the rim can vary a bit, adding to the feel of the disc. And of course, the plastic type affects the feel. All of those factors go into how we choose our discs. One manufacturer has apparently found the best of all of these characteristics to create an amazingly successful mold: the Buzzz.
Top Sellers of 2020
When we look at the top sales for each category (Distance driver, control driver, midrange, and putt/approach) there are molds that are clearly in first place. Meaning, significantly ahead of the next closest competitor. In no other category was this gap between first and second place as big as the midrange disc. The Discraft Buzzz was not only way ahead of the second place Mako3 in sales, it was ahead of the next four molds combined!
Keep in mind, we separated the sibling discs, the Buzzz OS and Buzzz SS, into their own sales numbers. That means the sales domination is held by the Buzzz, and the Buzzz alone. We have sold more Buzzz’s than the bottom half of the top 20 molds! Let’s take a look at the top 20 midrange discs according to sales.
| Rank | Midrange Brand and Mold |
| 1 | Discraft Buzzz |
| 2 | Innova Mako3 |
| 3 | Innova Roc |
| 4 | Innova Roc3 |
| 5 | Discraft Comet |
| 6 | Discraft Buzzz SS |
| 7 | Discraft Malta |
| 8 | Dynamic Discs EMac Truth |
| 9 | Discraft Buzzz OS |
| 10 | Discraft Meteor |
| 11 | Discraft Archer |
| 12 | MVP Reactor |
| 13 | Discraft SOL |
| 14 | Discraft Wasp |
| 15 | Innova Shark |
| 16 | Prodigy M4 |
| 17 | Infinite Discs Anubis |
| 18 | Kastaplast Kaxe Z |
| 19 | Innova Gator |
| 20 | Dynamic Discs Truth |
The Discraft Domination
Discraft dominates the category, with six of the top ten discs manufactured by them. Innova has a few molds in the mix, with the Dynamic Discs’ EMac Truth the sole mold in the top ten that is not an Innova or Discraft disc. Then next ten spots contains molds by MVP, Prodigy, and Kastaplast, in addition to Innova, Discraft, and Dynamic Discs.
The Buzzz was approved as a mold in 2003, so it has had time to gather a following. Its straight flight makes the Buzzz popular among all skill levels. The gentle turn and equally soft fade make the disc shapeable and able to meet a large variety of shot needs. Throw in a variety of plastic types, with a dash of swirly colors, and mix in the names of a world champion or two to get an undisputed winner of the most midrange sales of 2020.
Rating and Reviews
You, the customer, spoke volumes in voting with your wallet. And you made it equally clear with your reviews and ratings how you felt about the mold. The Buzzz was, again, above the competition in ratings and favorable reviews. Here are the top molds and their ratings.
| Disc Mold | Star Rating | # of 2020 Reviews | Weighted Score |
| Discraft Buzzz | 4.8 | 70 | 5.44 |
| Innova Mako3 | 4.74 | 40 | 4.95 |
|
Discraft Buzzz SS
|
4.72 | 20 | 4.65 |
|
Kastaplast Kaxe Z
|
4.92 | 6 | 4.65 |
| Innova Roc | 4.71 | 19 | 4.62 |
| Discraft Archer | 4.81 | 9 | 4.58 |
| Innova Roc3 | 4.55 | 27 | 4.58 |
|
Dynamic Discs EMac Truth
|
4.7 | 16 | 4.57 |
|
Discraft Buzzz OS
|
4.68 | 17 | 4.57 |
| MVP Reactor | 4.83 | 6 | 4.56 |
| Discraft Comet | 4.63 | 17 | 4.52 |
| Prodigy M4 | 4.77 | 4 | 4.47 |
| Discraft Meteor | 4.69 | 9 | 4.46 |
| Discraft Malta | 4.65 | 10 | 4.44 |
| Innova Shark | 4.46 | 21 | 4.40 |
|
Infinite Discs Anubis
|
4.66 | 6 | 4.39 |
| Innova Gator | 4.55 | 9 | 4.32 |
|
Dynamic Discs Truth
|
4.54 | 7 | 4.28 |
| Discraft Wasp | 4.44 | 5 | 4.15 |
| Discraft SOL | 4.16 | 4 | 3.86 |
Best Midrange Discs of 2020
Combining the top ten of each list we have the following discs in the running for the best midrange:
- Discraft Buzzz
- Innova Mako3
- Innova Roc
- Innova Roc3
- Discraft Comet
- Discraft Buzzz SS
- Discraft Malta
- Dynamic Discs EMac Truth
- Discraft Buzzz OS
- Discraft Meteor
- Kastaplast Kaxe Z
- Discraft Archer
- MVP Reactor
This Year Compared to All-Time Sales
I wanted to see how the list of the top sellers for 2020 compared to the top sellers since Infinite started, so I pulled up the sales records for all midrange discs sold by Infinite and compared the two lists. I added the year that the all-time best sellers were approved, so we can see how some of the newer molds compare to some of the older molds. The oldest mold on the top 10 all-time discs is the Roc, which was approved in 1987. The newest discs on the all-time list is a tie between the Roc3 and the Mako3. Both were approved on the same date in 2017. Here is the comparison.
| All-Time Sales Rank | Mold | Year Approved | 2020 Sales Rank | Mold |
| 1 | Discraft Buzzz | 2003 | 1 | Discraft Buzzz |
| 2 | Innova Roc3 | 2017 | 2 | Innova Mako3 |
| 3 | Innova Mako3 | 2017 | 3 | Innova Roc3 |
| 4 | Innova Roc | 1987 | 4 | Innova Roc |
| 5 | Discraft Comet | 1995 | 5 | Discraft Comet |
| 6 | Dynamic Discs EMac Truth | 2016 | 6 | Discraft Buzzz SS |
| 7 | Discraft Buzzz SS | 2008 | 7 | Discraft Malta |
| 8 | Discraft Buzzz OS | 2014 | 8 | Dynamic Discs EMac Truth |
| 9 | Discmania MD3 | 2013 | 9 | Discraft Buzzz OS |
| 10 | Innova Gator | 2000 | 10 | Discraft Meteor |
Although the total number of sales for a given mold may not indicate how popular it will continue to be in the future, it does show how big of an impact the older discs have made over time. It also shows how the newer discs have started out in popularity.
Average Yearly Sales
Although it isn’t necessarily an even comparison, I took an average yearly sales number for each mold in the top all-time molds to see how that changed the rankings. Here is what I found.
| Rank, Average Yearly Sales | Mold | Year PDGA Approved |
| 1 | Innova Roc3 | 2017 |
| 2 | Discraft Buzzz | 2003 |
| 3 | Innova Mako3 | 2017 |
| 4 | Dynamic Discs EMac Truth | 2016 |
| 5 | Innova Roc | 1987 |
| 6 | Discraft Comet | 1995 |
| 7 | Discraft Buzzz OS | 2014 |
| 8 | Discmania MD3 | 2013 |
| 9 | Discraft Buzzz SS | 2008 |
| 10 | Innova Gator | 2000 |
Fan Voting Results: Best Midrange Disc 2020
| Mold | Percentage of Votes |
| Discraft Buzzz | 26.1% |
| Innova Roc3 | 7.2% |
| Dynamic Discs EMac Truth | 7.2% |
| Innova Mako3 | 5.8% |
| Discraft Comet | 4.3% |
| Westside Tursus | 2.9% |
| Westside Warship | 2.9% |
| Latitude 64 Fuse | 2.9% |
| Discmania MD4 | 2.9% |
| Discraft Meteor | 2.9% |
The fan voting for the best midrange disc was certainly lopsided. Although there were votes that were cast for dozens of different molds, the Discraft Buzzz was easily the fan favorite. The Buzzz flight has a little turn and a soft fade making it a shapeable, controllable, straight flying disc. A voter with username Tay pretty much summed up the Buzzz:
– The Buzzz “really can do any shot. My new favorite (shot) with it is the forehand flex. Wow!”
A few Trilogy molds made the top 10 in fan voting, but were not in the top ten for sales nor star ratings. Westside’s Tursus and Warship made the fan-favorite list. Also, the Latitude 64 Fuse received about 3% of the votes. Numerous smaller manufacturers received one or two votes. Even Vibram received one vote with their Obex.
Best Midrange Discs for Beginners
While many of the recommended best mids are great for players of all skill level, more understable discs work better (and fly straighter) for beginners. From our top mids above, these are the five best midrange discs for beginners:
- Westside Tursus
- Latitude 64 Fuse
- Discraft Meteor
- Infinite Discs Anubis
- Innova Mako3
What do you think is the Best Midrange Disc of 2020?
We want to hear what you think is the best midrange disc. And we want to hear why you like that disc. What makes your favorite disc so valuable to you? If your favorite mid didn’t make the list, we still want to hear what it is. Comment below to help our readers select the best midrange disc.
Ted Hegemann
Ted is the Chief Writer at Infinite Discs. He is responsible for the State of Disc Golf Survey articles and most of the "best discs" posts. Ted runs all kinds of local disc golf leagues and tournaments and tournaments in Northern Utah.
I gotta go with the Latitude 64 claymore. It’s by far my most used midrange. I’ve had an opto line for years and now I can get it to turn over beautifully every time.
I find myself reaching for my Gateway Element quite a bit more than anything else so I’m going to have to go with the Element
Best mid-range disc? Innova Caiman. Hands down one of the most versatile mids out there. While its low glide limits its max distance, there isn’t a single line you can’t hit between the tee and how far you can throw it. Moderate over-stability and a fade of 4 means that after nice hard rip, it flys straight for 200′ and a real nice hook for the last 50′. Forhand, backhand, anny, flex, hyzerbomb, it does not matter how you throw it, because it knows your line better than you do. Wind? What wind? Caimans eat wind for breakfast, and asks for another serving. Look past the gator and on to the Caiman, then never look back.
I am more or less a disc golf beginner as of June 2020. I have thrown a few other mid-ranges that I am borrowing from a friend (including the Buzzz and the VRoc) but my favorite midrange is still the one from my starter pack: the Innova Champion Panther. I just like the way it feels when I grip it. I am somewhat surprised that it isn’t on the above list. Great starter midrange.
My favorite, because it has been the most consistent with my throw, has been the MD5. But the Buzzz is making a run for the top spot.
I have bagged the EMac Truth, Mako3, Buzzz, Roc3, Gator, and Archer, among many others, and I’ve loved them all. However, if I could only choose one, it would probably be the Buzzz. It flies so straight no matter how much power you put into it, and that’s not something many other discs can do.
SInce I am not limited to only one mid, I bag two Buzzzes, an EMac Truth, and a Mako3; the Roc3, Gator, and Archer all make occasional appearances here and there based on conditions and how I’m feeling that day.
A Pyro I recently found is getting a trial run in the coming weeks, so I’m very interested to see how it performs.
For me it’s the Innova Roc3
I love them all but my Roc3 does the trick.
I would sacrifice my little brother to the pond that I lost my first Buzzz in, if it meant getting that disc back. And, like, my brother is a good kid. So, I think that speaks wonders about how good the Buzzz is and not at all about how warped my priorities are.
I love my Westside Discs Warship. Straightest disc I’ve ever thrown and I can always rely on it to finish stable.
I bag an ESP Buzzz and a Malta and I love them both. I also have a DX buzz that weighs like 150 with a pop top and it’s the most under stable disc I’ve ever thrown.
Depending on the shot, my go-tos are the Roc3 and the Mako3, both in champion plastic. The Mako3 thrives on straight and turn-over shots, and the Roc3 is pin-point accurate for hyzer lines, straight shots with a beautiful fade, or head-wind shots. My whole mid game would be a mess if I lost either one!
I love my Buzzz but I find myself reaching for the EMac Truth more often especially during tournament/league play. I find it more consistent, reliable, and slightly more glide. However the Buzzz is more versatile than the EMac, it can do everything the EMac can but takes more touch.
its a shame the Discmania MD3 isn’t on this list. Probably because there are not enough produced. Especially in color glow, which if you know, you know. Best mid-range without question. Holler at me
Kaxe for the win!
Nothing like it, plastic or feel.
No love for the Lat64 Fuse? I can get one of those to flex around 250 feet. Makes for a great woods disc!
The Buzzz is by far my favorite mid…also one of my favorite overall discs. So versatile, can shape any shot. I have a buzzz in almost every available plastic, but esp is by far my favorite and most consistent
EMac Truth, hands down. I’ve been playing since before the Buzzz was released. The Roc and Shark ruled the course. The Buzzz made quite a splash but never kicked the Roc from my bag. The EMac took over my midrange slot immediately after my 1st throw with it. I now bag 3.
Best overall mid-range of 2020…or just best mid-range ever? I’m gonna go with the Discraft Buzzz. Perfect disc for all skill levels and only seems to keep getting better. The new ESP Buzzz looks nice and flies even better.
I have been throwing the Buzzz since about 2009. It was the first disc I really fell in love with I hit my first 3 aces with one and have since hit 11 out of my 17 aces with a Buzzz. It is the most dependable mid I’ve ever thrown. Very accurate and predictable flight. I currently bag 6 of them.