Category: Best Discs

This post is designed to help you find some lightweight disc golf drivers to incorporate into your bag. We sincerely hope it helps you find that just-right disc for you. 

Ever since lightweight discs became a presence in disc golf (most notably with Innova’s release of Blizzard plastic in 2010), they have been going in and out of vogue.

A lightweight driver can obviously benefit your game significantly on the course, but there are a fair amount of factors to consider when choosing the right one for you.

In this post we dive into those factors and try our very best to get those of you interested in incorporating lightweight drivers into your game some great options to choose from.

Let’s start by understanding what effects a lighter weight can have on a disc and why you might reach for one on the course…

How Lighter Weights Affect Flight

When choosing a lightweight driver it’s usually not as simple as choosing your favorite driver and just getting it in a lighter weight.

The lighter weight can significantly affect the flight characteristics of a disc and dramatically change how it flies for you.

Most notably, a lighter weight disc is usually less stable. And typically, the lighter you go with the disc, the less stable it becomes.

This means that the disc is more likely to turn in the air, and if you are not careful it could be more inclined to keep on turning and burning right into the ground (especially in a headwind (where we don’t generally recommend lighter drivers)).

But, if you find that right balance of plastic (which can also affect stability) and lighter weights, you can put that extra turn to your advantage and get a full flight out of the disc that you might not get if it were full weight.

This has some obvious advantages…

Why Choose A Lighter Driver?

If we were to poll 100 disc golfers (with a little truth serum) on why they choose a lighter weight driver, it’s not outrageous to think 100% of them would say that they want more distance.

More distance is the logical reason most people get that lighter disc. Within reason, it’s usually easier to throw a lighter object farther than a heavier one.

This is why discs for kids are lighter as well.

It’s also why most of the lighter weight discs are drivers instead of putters, mids or approach discs.

And, once you find the right one for you, it can definitely add that extra distance you crave.

The trick is to find the just-right disc for you that combines, speed, glide, stability, plastic-type and weight so you can maximize your distance and keep control of your disc in the process!

In addition, please note that many disc varieties do not come in lighter weights so the field is narrowed that way as well.

It’s no small feat, but we’re going to try! Let’s continue…

What is Considered Lightweight?

A typical disc comes in at 175 grams so thought we thought it would be worthwhile to define what is considered “lightweight”.

For our purposes, “lightweight” is considered anything 165 grams or less.

But, with that said, remember that not all lightweight discs fly the same.

The same disc at 165 grams and 135 grams will have vastly different flight characteristics (with the lighter one being significantly less stable and more susceptible to wind).

Just be sure to remember, as you go down in weight, your flight characteristics will change.

Infinite Can Organize by Weight!

Infinite is the biggest online disc golf retailer in the world!

And with so many discs you might be wondering how exactly you will find these lightweight discs in a sea of tens of thousands.

Well, we’ve got you covered. When you select a disc you can organize it by weights (low to high or high to low).

Just Click on The Disc –> Then press “Select Your Disc” –> In the top right of the red display box (near the X) is a “sort by” drop-down menu.Click that drop-down menu and select “Weight: Low to High”.

Now all of your discs are organized from lightest to heaviest and you’ll know very quickly if we have the weight you are looking for.

How We Ranked The Discs…

Grandma doesn’t just give away her prized meatball recipe does she? If your grandma is like ours, she guards that thing with her life!

We aren’t that protective, so we’re happy to share some ingredients and we’ll keep the portion sizes (percentages) to ourselves…

In Essence, our ranking system came down to a few key components.

We factored in ratings from other disc golfers, our personal experiences, longevity in the game (is it a tried and true disc?), and a few other minor variables (that may or may not include personal bias (we tried to leave it out but we’re only human!)) to come up with our ranking system.

It is by no means perfect, but we do hope it puts you in a position to get the right lightweight disc for you.

We also tried to create a lot of useful categories to help you identify some great lightweight driver options that will fit your specific game.

Let’s get into it!

Best Lightweight Drivers for the True Beginner!

For our purposes, we are defining a true beginner as someone who has been in the game for less than 3 months (welcome!) and/or consistently throws less than 200 feet (about 61 meters) on a max distance throw.

These are just general parameters and we encourage you to take them loosely and explore the categories that best fit you personally! Here’s our beginner list…

1. Innova Leopard – Factory Flight Numbers: 6, 5, -2, 1 (Avg. Rating: 4.46 stars)     The Leopard is perhaps the most classic of beginner disc golf drivers!
2. Westside Underworld – Factory Flight Numbers: 7, 6, -3, 1 (Avg. Rating: 4.52 stars) Another classic for beginners, with big glide and easy turn.
3.  Latitude 64 Diamond – Factory Flight Numbers: 8, 6, -3, 1 (Avg. Rating: 4.59 stars) A very beginner-friendly disc for easy distance off the tee.
4.  Axiom Crave – Factory Flight Numbers: 6.5, 5, -1, 1 (Avg. Rating: 4.71 stars) A do-it-all, straight-flying, beginner disc that stays in your bag for life!
5.  Divergent Discs Tiyanak – Flight Numbers: 8, 5, -5, 1 (Avg. Rating: 4.6 stars) Perfect for true beginners. It Flips up easily and goes! Comes at a great price.
6.  Innova Roadrunner – Factory Flight Numbers: 9, 5, -4, 1 (Avg. Rating: 4.49 stars) Easy distance for the true beginner with plenty of fun and utility as you improve!
7. Innova Mamba – Factory Flight Numbers: 11, 6, -5, 1 (Avg. Rating: 4.32 stars) An 11-speed with the glide and turn to justify it’s spot on a true beginner’s list.
8.  The Tex from LSD – Factory Flight Numbers: 6, 5, -3, 1 (Avg. Rating: 5.0 stars) A newer disc where the early returns for beginners are very favorable!

Top Lightweight Drivers for Advancing Beginners!

Our advancing beginners category is loosely defined as a player that has been playing somewhat regularly for at least 3 months and/or can drive the disc just over 200 feet (about 61 meters) pretty regularly and sometimes approaching 250 feet (76 meters).

For this player, our lightweight disc recommendations will add a bit more stability and/or speed so you can count on a more consistent flight on any given throw and still get the distance you seek!

1. Discraft Heat – Factory Flight Numbers: 9, 6, -3, 1 (Avg. Rating: 4.47 stars) Another classic gliding beginner disc for distance and eventually finesse.
2. I-blend Infinite Centurion – Factory Flight Numbers: 7, 5, -1, 2 (Avg. Rating: 4.87 stars) A do-it-all workhorse of a disc that holds many lines and has a place in any player’s bag. I-blend is a high-quality, affordable plastic perfect for beginners.
3.  Innova Leopard3 – Factory Flight Numbers: 7, 5, -2, 1 (Avg. Rating: 4.6 stars) Another consistent classic that stays in the bag as your game evolves.
4. Discraft Cicada – Factory Flight Numbers: 7, 6, -1, 1 (Avg. Rating: 4.8 stars) A straight-flying, high-glide, consistent disc with a high approval rating.
5. Lone Star Mockingbird – Factory Flight Numbers: 7, 5, -2, 1 (Avg. Rating: 4.81 stars) Another do-it-all, hold-many-lines, easy throw equals easy distance disc!
6. Lone Star Tumbleweed – Factory Flight Numbers: 10, 6, -3, 1 (Avg. Rating: 4.58 stars) This 10-speed is easy to launch and has high-glide for easy distance.
7. Prodigy F3 – Factory Flight Numbers: 7, 5, -1, 2 (Avg. Rating: 4.54 stars) This disc is easy to control with a consistent flight that is easily repeated.
8. Innova Sidewinder – Factory Flight Numbers: 9, 5, -3, 1 (Avg. Rating: 4.53 stars) Easy hyzer-flip distance and fun flight paths are what this disc is all about.
9. Axiom Virus – Factory Flight Numbers: 9, 5, -3.5, 1 (Avg. Rating: 4.42 stars) This disc gets up and goes for easy distance right out of the box.
10. Discraft Avenger SS – Factory Flight Numbers: 10, 5, -3, 1 (Avg. Rating: 4.32 stars)  A classic easy-distance pioneer that has good glide and keeps its utility as your game evolves.

Great Lightweight Drivers for Intermediate Drivers!

Once again we are going to loosely define this “intermediate driver” of the disc as someone who is consistently driving over 250 feet (76 meters) and can get up to 300 feet (91 meters).

With this category (and the next one) we know we are talking about a higher percentage of players and we are adding a little more speed and little more stability to counter-balance the lighter weights on the discs.

We also know that if we get the right ones in your hands, you’re going to get a nice boost in distance. Here’s what we’ve got!

1. Infinite Maya – Factory Flight Numbers: 11, 5, -3, 1 (Avg. Rating: 4.69 stars) This disc helps achieve consistent and reproducible distance and accuracy.
2. Infinite Sphinx – Factory Flight Numbers: 9, 6, -3, 1 (Avg. Rating: 4.88 stars) The Sphinx is a gliding do-it-all phenom of a disc for almost any skill level!
3. Axiom Insanity – Factory Flight Numbers: 9, 5, -2, 1.5 (Avg. Rating: 4.72 stars) This workhorse of a disc gives consistent results and holds many lines.
4. Latitude 64 Jade – Factory Flight Numbers: 9, 6, -2, 1 (Avg. Rating: 4.87 stars) A hyzer-flip gem of a disc that is great for easy distance and holding long lines.
5. Millennium Orion LF – Factory Flight Numbers: 9, 5, -1, 2 (Avg. Rating: 4.89 stars) A no-nonsense workhorse that goes straight with a consistent fade.
6. Discraft Undertaker – Factory Flight Numbers: 9, 5, -1, 2 (Avg. Rating: 4.72 stars) Another very consistent flyer that can stay in your bag for life.
7. Innova Valkyrie – Factory Flight Numbers: 9, 4, -2, 2 (Avg. Rating: 4.48 stars) A throwback big distance disc that can be used for many shot shapes and lines.

Lightweight Discs for Advancing Intermediate Distance Throwers!

Now we have entered the realm of throwers that get to 300 feet (91 meters) with their regular discs and sometimes push it further by approaching 375 feet (114 meters).

Hopefully, with the right lightweight disc in hand, these players can find that extra boost in distance they seek and still maintain the consistency to help them maximize their scoring potential on the course.

Here’s what we’ve got for you…

1. I-blend Infinite Pharaoh – Factory Flight Numbers: 13, 6, -1, 2 (Avg. Rating: 4.72 stars) A distance cheat code. The speed and glide combined with lighter weights and I-blend plastic have this disc take off and never come down.
2.  Innova Wraith – Factory Flight Numbers: 11, 5, -1, 3 (Avg. Rating: 4.68 stars) An absolute all-timer with consistent flights. Great for forehand and backhand.
3.  Discraft Drive – Factory Flight Numbers: 11, 5, -1, 2 (Avg. Rating: 4.75 stars) The drive is an extremely straight driver for easy distance forehand or backhand.
4.  Innova Racer – Factory Flight Numbers: 12, 6, -1, 2 (Avg. Rating: 4.75 stars) A fun, gliding, easy-distance, nice hand-feel, newer entry from Innova.
5.  Prodigy D4 – Factory Flight Numbers: 13, 5, -3, 2 (Avg. Rating: 4.32 stars) Author’s personal bias weighed heavily here. 161g Prodigy Air is my farthest flying backhand disc (along with Pharaoh). Maybe, it’s similar for you?
6.  Discraft Surge SS – Factory Flight Numbers: 11, 5, -2, 2 (Avg. Rating: 4.63 stars) A distance classic that is a consistent forehand or backhand driver.
7.  Viking Discs Ragnarok – Factory Flight Numbers: 11, 5, -1, 2 (Avg. Rating: 4.63 stars) A fun, easy-distance, try-something-new driver with consistency.
8.  Innova Tern – Factory Flight Numbers: 12, 6, -2, 2 (Avg. Rating: 4.64 stars) This is a wide-rim, sleek, fast, easy-turn, big glide, distance-gobbling driver!
9.  Finish Line Era – Factory Flight Numbers: 10, 5, -1, 1.5 (Avg. Rating: 4.58 stars) This disc is a straight shooter that feels nice forehand or backhand.
10.  Lone Star Curl – Factory Flight Numbers: 11, 5, -1, 2 (Avg. Rating: 4.66 stars) A nice, consistent 11-speed that holds it’s line and goes long distances.
11.  MVP Wave – Factory Flight Numbers: 11, 5, -2, 2 (Avg. Rating: 4.41 stars) Nice hand feel and easy to launch. Promoters get big distance. Detractors can’t get consistent turn.

Lightweight Drivers for Advanced Distance Throwers!

Advanced Drivers can mean a lot of things. But if you are consistently pushing over 375 feet (114 meters) or 400 feet (122 meters), then you are putting a move on the disc. It’s probably also safer to say that you’ve been playing for some time and you understand how flight numbers, disc speed, spin rate, plastic types, disc weights, etc. affect a disc’s flight.

With that in mind, we present some lightweight discs that may be a good for you when you are trying to squeeze every last bit out of your drive. Here goes…

1. Innova Destroyer – Factory Flight Numbers: 12, 5, -1, 3 (Avg. Rating: 4.66 stars) No surprise here. The Destroyer is used by top pros to get consistent, repeatable distance backhand or forehand.
2.  Prodigy D2 – Factory Flight Numbers: 12, 6, -.5, 3 (Avg. Rating: 4.66 stars) The D2 gives nice glide and distance and can hold up to big throws!
3. DD Trespass – Factory Flight Numbers: 12, 5, -.5, 3 (Avg. Rating: 4.51 stars) Not as stable as the numbers suggest but a big distance disc once you dial in!
4.  Discraft Nuke – Factory Flight Numbers: 13, 5, -1, 3 (Avg. Rating: 4.41 stars)  Always a lightning rod, but there’s no denying the distance potential of this disc!
5.  Innova Charger – Factory Flight Numbers: 13, 5, -1, 2 (Avg. Rating: 4.71 stars)  A trustworthy, consistent, distance-eating driver for big throwers!
6.  Lat. 64 Havoc – Flight Numbers: 13, 5, -1, 3 (Avg. Rating: 4.63 stars)  Less stable than the numbers suggest but with more glide as well. Once you get the angles right, you can send this disc big distances.

Great Lightweight Disc Golf Drivers for Forehand Drives!

As you might expect, some of the discs that we’ve already listed are also great for the forehand. Discs like the Wraith, Era, Destroyer, Charger, Pharaoh, Drive, Nuke, and Racer are all great candidates for forehand distance drivers.

In addition to those, here some more lightweight discs that are excellent for forehand drives as well. Many of these are overstable to help them withstand the higher torques that are usually put on a forehand drive. This combined with the lighter weights can add to some nice distances when you find the right one for you.

1. Discraft Force – Factory Flight Numbers: 12, 5, 0, 3 (Avg. Rating: 4.5 stars) The Force breaks the typical forehand mold with its big dome, but when you connect on it you can expect nice glide and reliable fade even at lighter weights.
2.  Finish Line Daytona – Factory Flight Numbers: 12, 4, 0, 3 (Avg. Rating: 4.79 stars) A very consistent disc that handles power well with a just-right stability.
3. Millenium Quasar – Factory Flight Numbers: 13, 5, 0, 3 (Avg. Rating: 4.76 stars) This disc cuts through the air and fights out of steep angles for big distance.
4.  Infinite Slab – Factory Flight Numbers: 12, 3, 0, 4 (Avg. Rating: 4.71 stars) With a name like “Slab” you’re not getting this disc for graceful big distance, but it’s a smooth release and a reliable flight which can be perfect for controlled shots.
5. Innova Shryke – Factory Flight Numbers: 13, 6, -2, 2 (Avg. Rating: 4.53 stars) This disc is far less stable than others on this list, and it takes a little practice to master the angles. But once you do the glide is real and can mean big distance.
6. Lat. 64 Ballista Pro – Flight Numbers: 14, 4, 0, 3 (Avg. Rating: 4.64 stars) Even at lighter weights this 14-speed disc can handle big power. But if you’ve got that power this disc can take you places far, far away.
7.  Innova Boss – Factory Flight Numbers: 13, 5, -1, 3 (Avg. Rating: 4.47 stars) Another disc that needs big power to reach its full potential, but rewards big throws with long, impressive drives.

Lightweight Disc Golf Drivers – In Summary

The way we see it, that is lightweight lists of discs with some big distance potential! Matching discs to individuals can be a tricky proposition given all the variables. Throwing lighter weights into the mix is yet another one that can greatly affect flight.

But when you find that right disc for you, the results can be immediate and the added distance can be real. This is what we wish for anyone reading this.

May your weights be small and your distances big!

Thank you for reading. We sincerely hope this helps you find your best driver yet. Also, if you have a lightweight disc that you swear by, let us all know in the comments.