Check out my list of the best disc golf fairway drivers and you’ll be ready to unlock a whole new aspect of your game. Fairway drivers are a critical part of any disc golfer’s bag. They provide the perfect balance of distance and accuracy to get you from the tee to the basket in the least amount of strokes.
What is a fairway driver in disc golf?
As a general rule, disc golf discs with a speed rating in the range of 6 to 10 are considered fairway drivers. Fairway drivers are very similar to distance drivers, but they don’t fly quite as fast or far. However, they tend to fly straighter and are easier to control than distance drivers. They have a streamlined shape but are also slightly thicker than distance drivers.
Overall, fairway drivers offer a great balance of control and distance, especially for newer disc golf players. Unless you are going for absolute raw distance, a fairway driver is probably the best option for most drives off the tee.
Benefits of using a fairway driver
In my opinion, the best fairway drivers offer an excellent balance of distance and accuracy. They’ll also glide very well, so do not have to be thrown very hard to get a decent distance. Most fairway drivers also have a very straight and predictable flight path which makes them perfect for long, straight throws where accuracy is a must.
Overall, this makes them the best option for the vast majority of drives off the tee.
Fairway Driver vs Distance Driver
I get it, everyone wants to throw far – so why use a fairway driver instead of a distance driver? It’s simple – going for accuracy will almost always lower your score more than going for max distance. So, unless you’re a super advanced player (kudos to you) or you’re driving across a long, open area like a field, a fairway driver is going to give you better results than a distance driver.
Obviously, distance drivers have their place. However, if you’re looking for the best all-around disc golf fairway driver to level up your game, keep reading.
Best Disc Golf Fairway Drivers
Here you have it – my list of the best fairway drivers in the game.
Innova Leopard – Beginner
Flight rating: (6, 5, -2, 1)
The Innova Leopard is a true classic! Many intermediate or advanced players (including myself) have fond memories of playing their first round of disc golf with this disc. It’s even the fairway driver Innova decided to include in the starter set I recommend in this article.
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 the fairway driver you need to start developing your game and reaching out and getting those accurate drives off the tee.
All of this makes the Leopard our first-choice fairway driver! Even for intermediate or advanced players, the Leopard makes a great midrange disc or shorter-range driver.
Innova Leopard3 – Beginner/Intermediate
Flight rating: (7, 5, -2, 1)
The Innova Leopard3 is the big brother of the normal Innova Leopard. It shares the same great flight characteristics as the Leopard but with a higher speed rating. This makes it perfect for players starting to throw longer drives off the tee or for those just looking to fill out their bags.
Latitude 64 River – Beginner/Intermediate
Flight rating: (7, 7, -1, 1)
With a phenomenal glide and gentle fade, the Latitude 64 River is one of the best flying discs around. With a modest speed and glide rating, it can fly very far with even a modest throw.
Overall, the River allows beginners to get the most distance they can with less arm speed which is why it’s another top pick for a beginner driver.
Innova Valkyrie – Intermediate
Flight rating: (9, 4, -2, 2)
The Innova Valkyrie (or Valk) is another classic fairway driver. In fact, it was the former distance world record holder before being beaten out by the Innova Boss so it has earned some respect.
The Valkyrie has an excellent mix of speed and glide-typical of a good fairway driver. This means you can keep your throws accurate and still get some excellent glide and distance because the disc will stay in the air for an incredibly long time. It’s my go-to driver for most tee shots.
Overall, The Valkyrie is fantastic for both backhand and forehand drives. The extra distance and glide it provides can easily bring your game to the next level.
Kastaplast Kaxe – Intermediate/Advanced
Flight rating: (6, 4, 0, 3)
The Kastaplast Kaxe is a very versatile midrange and fairway disc. Even though many people label the Kaxe as a midrange, it can also double as a fairway driver in the right hands. It has a very stable flight and is difficult to overpower. If you already have a higher-speed fairway driver (like a Leopard3 or Valkyrie) in your bag, the Kaxe is the perfect fit to fill out your bag. Use it on shorter holes to drive off the tee or for approach shots on long holes.
Overall, I’m a big fan of Kastaplast and the consistent, high-quality discs they make. The Kaxe checks both those boxes and would make a great addition to anyone’s bag as a multi-purpose midrange/fairway disc.
Innova Firebird – Advanced
Flight rating: (9, 3, 0, 4)
The Firebird is a very overstable fairway driver with a massive fading hook at the end of its flight. This makes it perfect for navigating around obstacles on the course, but less ideal for straight throws. I mainly recommend the Firebird to more advanced players. Newer players can use the Firebird too, they just won’t see the same distance and control that they would with a lower speed disc like a Leopard3.
Overall, The Innova Firebird is a good option if you need more versatility than the typical straight-flying fairway driver.
Best Fairway Driver: Wrapping it up
I hope you found this article helpful! If you feel like your disc golf game isn’t progressing, I’d encourage you to give a few fairway drivers a try. Although you might not be able to throw as far as you would a distance driver, the extra control will pay off!
Thanks for visiting RemixOutdoors.com! Be sure to check out some of my other disc golf guides and gear recommendations before getting started. Disc golf has been growing in popularity at an incredible rate in recent years and for good reason! Make sure to grab a few discs and head to your local course!
