Having the right disc golf drivers can do wonders for your game. Being able to get more distance and accuracy will shave strokes off your score and put you miles ahead of the competition. However, it’s also important to understand what makes a good disc golf driver and what will work with your game and experience level. What’s best for an advanced player might not be the best choice for someone just starting out.
In this article, I’ll cover the best disc golf drivers for beginner, intermediate, and advanced players. No matter your skill level, I have a driver that will help you launch your disc golf game to a whole new level.
What is a disc golf driver disc?
A disc golf driver is used for very long throws, like the first throw off the tee. They normally have a sharp edge and are thinner than midrange, or putter discs.
Advanced players may throw a disc golf driver up to 400 feet (121m) with enough practice and good form! This might seem overwhelming if you’re a beginner, but don’t worry! With the right disc, you can easily hit 200 ft (61 m) with a bit of practice.
I actually did an entire study on disc golf drive distance vs experience level! Check it out!
How did we choose the discs on this list?
Don’t worry, I didn’t just pull names out of a hat, or look at Amazon reviews to make these recommendations. Every single disc here has earned a place in my, or another writer’s bag – and for good reason. Some we’ve bought, some were gifted, and some were even found along the way, but they have all proven to be essential to our games.
Keep in mind that there are many great discs out there and I haven’t played a round with all of them. However, I truly believe in recommending discs based on performance. So, if a disc didn’t make the list don’t assume it’s inferior. I just might not have used it enough to form a solid recommendation.
Skill Level Rating
It’s important to stick with drivers that fit your player level. A beginner will almost always be able to throw a more beginner-friendly driver further than an intermediate or advanced disc. Likewise, a more advanced player will easily overpower a beginner driver. However, that doesn’t mean you won’t find an advanced player using a “beginner” driver in certain situations
Every disc has its advantages in certain situations because it fits a certain purpose. So, don’t just scroll through the “beginner” disc just because you think you’ve outgrown them. Here’s what we mean by labeling a disc beginner, intermediate, and advanced.
| Beginner Driver | Easy to throw and glides far. They do not have to be thrown hard to get a nice long, straight throw. Throws most like a “traditional” frisbee. Great for straight throws. |
| Intermediate Driver | Requires a little more power and good form to throw far, but can achieve more distance and accuracy when compared to a disc labeled beginner. |
| Advanced Driver | Minimal glide compared to intermediate or beginner discs. Can achieve maximum distance and accuracy, but requires an excellent form, technique, and sometimes maximum power. |
Best Beginner Disc Golf Drivers
Innova Leopard – Beginner
Flight rating: (6, 5, -2, 1)
The Innova Leopard is a true classic! Tons of intermediate or advanced players have fond memories of playing their first round of disc golf with this disc. It’s even the driver Innova decided to include in their iconic starter set!
The thing I love most about the Leopard is that it’s incredibly forgiving and it’s possible to achieve some very respectable distance and accuracy with minimal power and practice. It also has a fairly straight flight path compared to more advanced drivers and it glides very well. If you’re a beginner this is hands down the disc you need to start developing your game and reaching out for those long-range shots.
All of this makes the Leopard my first choice driver in the beginner category! Even for intermediate or advanced players, the Leopard makes a great midrange disc or shorter-range driver.
Innova Teebird – Beginner
Flight rating: (7, 5, 0, 2)
The Innova Teebird is a great step up from the Leopard. The Teebird is one of the most popular discs in disc golf and for good reason! Some advanced players may use it as a fairway driver, but the Teebird was originally designed to be a full-fledged driver disc – and always will be in my opinion.
The Teebird has a slightly higher speed rating than the Leopard and is more resistant to turn. Practically speaking, that means it can handle more powerful throws while still staying accurate! it also glides very well, so it will hang in the air for a long time and help get even more distance on the end of the throw. Overall, the Teebird is an amazing and reliable driver for players of all levels. However, beginners will find it especially easy to throw because of its forgiving flight characteristics.
Best Intermediate Disc Golf Drivers
Innova Valkyrie – Intermediate
Flight rating: (9, 4, -2, 2)
The Innova Valkyrie (or Valk) is another classic. It was the former distance world record holder before being beaten out by the Innova Boss so it has earned some respect. It’s my go-to driver for most long-range situations.
The Valkyrie has an excellent mix of speed and glide. This helps me keep my throws accurate and still get some excellent glide and distance because the disc will stay in the air for an incredibly long time. To me, it’s the go-to driver for almost every drive off the tee and a must-have in the bag. Overall, The Valkyrie is fantastic for both backhand and forehand drives.
The Valkyrie is also a great step up for beginner/advanced players. The extra distance and glide it provides can easily bring your game to the next level.
Axiom Discs Insanity – Intermediate
Flight rating: (9, 5, -2, 1.5)
The Axiom Discs Insanity is a versatile high-speed disc that is perfect for the intermediate player. If thrown with enough arm speed, the Insanity can fly incredible distances due to it’s high glide and moderate fade.;
It’s a personal favorite of mine for both backhand and forehand drives.
Best Advanced Disc Golf Drivers
Dynamic Discs Trespass – Advanced
Flight rating: (12, 5, -0.5, 3)
Flight rating: (12, 5, -0.5, 3)
The Dynamic Disc Trespass is like the big brother to the Sheriff. It is an extremely versatile disc that has excellent flight characteristics. It has a neutral flight path compared to other advanced drivers, and it can handle very powerful throws without any issues.
Overall, the Trespass is great for controlled distance shots and intermediate players just trying out higher-speed drivers. I recommend it to anyone looking for max distance while maintaining control and accuracy.
Innova Boss / Boss Blizzard – Advanced
Flight rating: (13, 5, -1, 3)
The Innova Boss and Boss Blizzard are absolute beasts. The Boss holds the current record for distance on the books at 1,108 feet (338 m). That’s pushing a quarter of a mile! That fact secures its spot on our list if nothing else!
I’ll be honest, because of its flight characteristics the Boss takes some experience to master. However, with proper form and enough power, this disc will absolutely fly! If you’re looking for absolute maximum distance, the Boss is the way to go, but be ready to bring your A-game to the table.
The Bozz Blizzard discs utilize a technology that incorporates microbubbles into the plastic to give discs lighter weights. Maybe I’m cheating by adding this one on here… But the Boss Blizzard is a slightly lighter version of the traditional Boss and it’s a bit more user-friendly.
The Boss Blizzard may have the same flight number as the traditional Boss, but because it’s lighter it tends to throw easier in my opinion. I’ve also noticed that it seems to glide further than my traditional Boss because it’s lighter. Overall, the Boss Blizzard is the practical version of the traditional Boss that will give you incredible distance without having to throw your arm off. It’s my go-to for incredible distance while maintaining decent control.
How many disc golf drivers do you need to play disc golf?
Now that you know the best disc golf drivers the question is how many do you need? The number of drivers carried will vary depending on the person. There really is no “best” answer. Personally, I carry about 3-4 distance drivers. However, all you really need is one overstable driver and one stable driver.
If you’re unfamiliar with those terms, overstable means the disc tends to curve left if thrown like a normal frisbee by a right-handed person and right if thrown by a leftie. A stable disc tends to fly more straight. So, if you have one of each you’ll be ready to curve your drives around obstacles but also throw straight drives if needed.
Advanced players may have a few additional discs for throwing tomahawks, rollers, or even as a backup in case they lose a disc. Overall, I recommend getting a feel for a few different drivers and carrying the ones that work best for your level and style of game. however, if you’re a beginner we recommend sticking with one of the starter drivers on this list and then moving up the Valkyrie as your game progresses.
Final Thoughts
Congratulations on making it this far! If you’ve read this entire article chances are you’re looking to take your game to the next level. Ultimately, the decision of which drivers to use comes down to what works best for you! So, make sure to get out on the course or practice field before expanding your bag.
If you’re new to the site, make sure to check out some of our other outdoor guides before you go!
