FLIGHT RATING SYSTEM
Each of Innova's disc golf discs has a distinct "personality" - the flight characteristics that make the golf disc unique. These Flight Characteristics describe a disc's Speed, Glide, High Speed Turn, and Low Speed Fade. Each category is given a numeric Rating.
Once you have thrown one disc model, you can use the flight rating numbers to compare it to any other disc model. Flight ratings are based on a right handed backhand throw (RHBH).See Throw Charts by Dave Dunipace.
 Speed (first number) is the ability for a disc to cut through the air. Speed ratings are listed from 1-13. Discs with higher numbers are faster. Altho faster discs go farther into the wind with less effort, they require more power to achieve their potential. Slower discs with lower numbers offer better distance control, take more power to throw far, and have less chance to fly past the target.
 Glide (second number) describes the property of the disc being able to maintain loft during flight. Ratings are from 1-6 with having the most glide. The higher the number, the better a disc can ride the air. More glide is better for new players and producing maximum distance especially downwind.
 High Speed Turn (third number) refers to the initial part of the flight when a disc has a tendency to turn or bank to the right for right handed back hand (RHBH) throwers, left for LHBH thrower. Ratings are from -4 to +1. A disc with a -4 rating will turn the easiest while a +1 rating is most resistant to turning . Disc rated -4 to -2 make good roller discs.
 Low Speed Fade - Refers to the end of the flight. All discs tail off or hook to the left for right handed back hand (RHBH) throwers, right for LHBH throwers, but some will hook harder than others. Ratings go from 0 to 5 with 0 meaning almost no fade (a disc rated 0 will finish straightest with the least fade) while a disc rated 5 will fade or hook hardest at the end of the flight.
PLEASE NOTE:
Innova's flight ratings are not meant to describe the exact flight of any disc model. They are to be used to compare between models. For instance, a Wraith at 11, 5, -1, 3 is a faster type than the 10 speed models and slower than the 12 and 13 speed models. The Glide, Turn, and Fade cannot be compared to other speeds, but can be compared to other discs at the same speed. This way the Wraith can be compared to an Archon, TeeRex and Max in the same line of plastic.
The exact flight for any model is dependent on the particular material with which it is made, such as DX, Pro, R-Pro, Champion or Star . It is also dependent on the thrower's style and speed. Champion plastic tends to produce the most high speed stable discs (other than special runs of Star Lite), followed by Star, DX, Pro, and R-Pro.
The disc ratings are an average for the different types of plastics, although the ratings most closely resemble the flight characteristics of the Champion plastic.
Champion and Star will retain their flight ratings characteristics for a longer period of time.
Pro will start slightly less overstable and the driver models will have more glide.
DX will start more overstable and with use will match the ratings. With continued use, the DX will eventually become more understable than the ratings.
For more info on plastics, see Plastics Comparison. |