Are you looking for the best disc golf fairway drivers? You have come to the right place, as we will show you some recommendations alongside a buying guide.
Anyone who has played disc golf with regular Frisbees knows just how awful the experience can be. On the other hand, the best disc golf fairway drivers let you enjoy this sport to the fullest.
There are, however, quite a lot of golf discs, not just fairway drivers, available on the market. If you do not have enough experience, it is quite easy to get roped in and buy a less-than-satisfying product.
That is why we prepare this article with 7 of the best fairway drivers, in our opinion. We also put together a buying guide to explain our decision.
Best Disc Golf Fairway Drivers – The 7 Options
Below are the 7 most suitable choices, each of them can be the best under specific conditions.
Dynamic Discs Maximum Distance MyDye American Flag Golf Disc – Best Overall
To be the best overall, it is imperative that an option does not have any apparent weakness. That is exactly what the Dynamic Discs Maximum Distance MyDye American Flag Golf Disc offers. You get all the benefits with no clear drawback while using this golf disc.
The flight rating of this disc is as follows: fade 2, turn 0, glide 5, and speed 5. As you can clearly see, there is no aspect where it holds an obvious lead over the competitors. It, however, has an incredible level of versatility and will go exactly where you want it to go.
The gliding capability of this disc is also nothing to scoff at, as it will not stray from the path you put it on. You can even predict how it will finish right after finishing the throw. Of course, there is a limit to this kind of perfect glide, which is 350’. Anything over this range is uncharted territory.
The plastic material of the Dynamic Discs Lucid is among the most durable and beautiful that we have seen. We believe that the secret behind this combination of strength and beauty is the sequence of polymers.
Naturally, there will always be a drawback, no matter how small it is. For this disc, it’s the fact that it is too stable. It simply does not have what it takes to turn things around, to make the most memorable of plays.
Pros:
- No apparent weakness
- Incredibly versatile
- Offering an unprecedented level of stability
Con:
- Too stable, lacking the playmaking capability
Innova DX Fairway Driver Teebird Golf Disc – Best Speed
Sometimes, we need nothing but the fastest speed possible for our golf disc. If this is exactly what you are looking for, nothing can satisfy you better than the Innova DX Fairway Driver Teebird Golf Disc. This disc is king when we talk purely about speed and nothing else.
This option is the only one on this list with a speed rating of 7. To put it simply, it is two levels above the Dynamic Discs Lucid in the speed department. Thanks to its high-speed nature, you can make use of this disc to combat windy situations.
It utilizes a tech that closely resembles the famous GYRO tech, which allows you to transfer your weight to the outer rim. For this reason, it can easily travel through tight and long fairways. It also has a fade rating of 2, meaning it will provide a slow, penetrating fade during the last few seconds.
Due to it being made from DX plastic, you may notice that this disc offers a comfortable feeling when held. This comfort and the smaller rim will allow you to grip the disc much better. As a result, you can be more confident before each throw.
The only problem that we have against this disc is the fact that there is no color to pick from. You only have one choice, blue, which is quite an oversight, in our opinion.
Pros:
- High speed
- Allowing weight transfer between the thrower and the rim
- Feels comfortable to hold
Con:
- No color option
Latitude 64 Retro Frisbee Golf Burst Disc Starter Set – Best For Beginners
We all must start somewhere, as no one is born a pro golf disc thrower. However, most of the discs on this list are not at all friendly to beginners. That is why we specifically put the Latitude 64 Retro Frisbee Golf Burst Disc Starter Set in.
As you can easily guess from the name, this option is different from the others in that it is a set. You will get not just 1, but the 3 most known discs from the legendary Latitude 64 line. Each of them has its own weight, allowing you to quickly familiarize yourself with disc throwing.
The three discs are, in order, the Saint Fairway Driver, the Fuse Midrange, and Keystone Putter. Of them, the Saint Fairway Driver is the easiest to control, so you should always start with it. The Keystone Putter is the fastest, and the Fuse Midrange has the most versatility.
We are also really impressed with the fact that Latitude 64 offers a full money-back guarantee. With this guarantee, you can return the set if you notice any problem and get the full sum of what you paid for it. We rarely have a chance to be so confident while buying.
We did manage to find an issue with this set of golf fairway discs, though. All 3 discs of this set are not up to par with their competitors in the durability aspect. They are not that flimsy, but the other options are all much more durable.
Pros:
- You get three discs for the price of 1
- Each disc has its own characteristics
- Complete money-back guarantee
Con:
- Not that durable
Discmania Active Fairway Driver Premium Magician Golf Disc – Best Thickness
The Discmania Active Fairway Driver Premium Magician Golf Disc has a thickness that can only be described as “perfect”. Anyone with a fair amount of experience using a golf disc will immediately notice this thickness and know how advantageous it is.
At 0.8 inches, this golf disc is thick enough to be among the fastest on this list. On the other hand, 0.8 inches is also thin enough to fit perfectly into your hand, providing a huge amount of comfort and controllability. You can easily make all kinds of trick shots with it and not worry about it losing steam mid-air.
The thickness is not the only thing contributing to the incredible comfort you feel when holding the disc. There is also the special active premium plastic, which is a huge step up from the usual base-level plastic. This plastic keeps the disc rigid and maintains a glossy, grippy appearance.
If you are capable of putting enough power into the Discmania Active Fairway Driver, it can start an understandable turn while flying. Pro players make use of this feature to perform some of the best hyzer flips. This occurrence is especially common at the 300 feet distance.
This disc being so understable is an advantage, yet also a curse. Understandability makes for some of the best spectacles, but it also severely limits the disc from forehand throws.
Pros:
- Perfect thickness
- Comfortable to hold and throw
- Easier to perform hyzer flips with
Con:
- Not suitable for forehand throws
Dynamic Discs Golf Driver Prime Burst Escape Disc – Best Glide
With a glide rating of 5, the Dynamic Discs Golf Driver Prime Burst Escape Disc has, undoubtedly, the best glide. That is why it works best if you let it fly on a straight line, navigating through low ceiling lines of trees. If you know what you are doing, you can utilize this disc to achieve high scores.
With this kind of glide, you can challenge the “maximum distance” if you would like. As long as you do not go over this “maximum distance” of 400 feet, this golf disc will offer you near-perfect stability. If you are lucky, there is a chance of it making a huge S-curve to improve the distance further.
This golf glider has a smaller rim than any other disc of the same size. For this reason, you will feel much more comfortable holding it if you have smaller hands. The smaller rim also allows you to use both backhand and forehand throws with this disc.
You do need to keep in mind that this disc is actually quite challenging to control properly. The -1 rating on the turn means that it can turn mid-flight if you make any mistake propelling it.
Pros:
- Amazing gliding capability
- Highest distance
- Suitable for smaller hands
Con:
- Not easy to control properly
Prodigy Disc Series Fairway Driver F3 400G Golf Disc – Best Against Wind
One of the biggest issues that you need to face playing golf disc is the weather and its ever-changing nature. There is no guarantee that you will never have to play a game under the heaviest of winds. In that case, you need the Prodigy Disc Series Fairway Driver F3 400GGolf Disc.
No other option can fight back against the wind as hard as this disc. The secret behind this disc’s strength against windy weather lies in its streamlined flare. With this design, the disturbance to the disc is limited to such a small scale it’s practically ignorable.
The Prodigy F3 400G is also quite versatile. Despite its main classification as a distance driver, you can use this disc as a utility one. It is especially useful for creating shorter shots, thanks to its overstable nature. Once it hits the ground, the flare will perform an impressive skip-action.
However, this golf disc is not that easy for beginners to play with. Its overstability means you must know exactly what you are doing to ensure that the flight path is correct. Also, you will need lots of arm strength to throw this disc to its maximum distance.
Pros:
- Good against windy weathers
- Capable of serving as a utility disc
- Also good at creating shorter shots
Con:
- Not friendly to beginners
Innova Champion Teebird Golf Disc – Best Accuracy
The biggest advantage that the Innova Champion Teebird Golf Disc holds over its competitors is its pinpoint accuracy. In fact, Ken Climo, who is holding 12 world titles, named it his preferred fairway driver due to its precision.
This golf disc’s secret ingredient is a perfect balance between quick speed, high glide, and straight flight. When you mix them together, these attributes react with each other and provide a long-flying and accurate driver. They also ensure that this driver can fight both upwind and downwind.
You also get a certain level of versatility with this disc. If it is thrown flat, you can expect a dead straight line and lots of fade at the end of the flight. On the contrary, the disc can create an insane number of hook shots on hyzer mode.
It does require a lot of arm strength to attain the speed needed for maximum stability. As a result, there is no way that a beginner can use this disc to its max potential.
Pros:
- A perfect balance between speed, glide, and flight direction
- Good in both upwind and downwind conditions
- Incredible accuracy
Con:
- Requiring a lot of arm strength
Best Disc Golf Fairway Drivers Buying Guide
We believe that in order to make an informed decision, you must first understand how fairway drivers work. After all, these discs have very specific advantages and disadvantages.
Fairway Drivers Explained
All serious disc golfers look for ways to add more distance each time they throw. This is especially important for beginners, as a disc capable of traveling far without losing control is hard to come by.
Main Characteristics Of A Fairway Driver
The defining attributes of fairway drivers are the following:
Shape
In comparison with midranges and putters, fairway drivers are often of a much lower shape profile. They are also more aerodynamic, which makes them capable of maintaining high speed after reaching a certain point.
You can also notice that fairway drivers are blunter around the edges and the rims are smaller. These features ensure that you will have a firmer grip while holding a fairway driver.
Flight Pattern And Numbers
The common speed rating for fairway drivers is anything between 6 and 10. As such, there are quite a lot of categorizations for fairway drivers. Some of them are understable, only suitable for rollers or left-to-right shots. Some are more akin to aerodynamic midranges with stable flight and high glide.
The last group consists of overstable fairway drivers, meaning they fit hard-turning fairways the most. They can do the same things as blunter midranges, but better.
Typical Distance
The general rule of thumb is that fairway drivers are most suitable for a distance of 250 to 350 feet. Obviously, if you happen to have more power, then this distance will fluctuate accordingly.
You should only use these tools when you don’t care that much for max distance, but controllable distance is vital.
How Should I Throw A Fairway Driver?
Whenever you see a tighter, shorter hole that is simply impossible for a slower disc’s flight pattern, consider fairway drivers. To throw these out properly, the most obvious choice is to use the fan grip to give yourself more release point control.
The best way to do a fan grip is by slightly tucking the index finger inside the disc’s rim. At the same time, fan your middle, ring, and pinky fingers out so that they are underneath your flight plate.
Doing so will allow you to grip the disc much firmer. However, your fingers are also relaxed enough to release the disc at the right time for a controlled and slow throw.
When Should I Throw A Fairway Driver?
The short answer is when you realize that the distance needed for the shot is too far for midranges. To put it bluntly, a fairway driver is the next step for distance after your midrange falls short. For some players, however, this step is the final one, and there is no progression after it.
The reason lies in the fact that few players can generate enough power to use distance drivers effectively. That is why they must consider fairway drivers as their de-facto driver for distance.
You must always remember that high speed is not always good, as your disc has a high chance of fading hard. This occurrence means that you will have to overcorrect the driver’s stability.
We believe fairway drivers can shine the most if they are used on short and specifically shaped fairways.
Conclusion
We believe that the best among the best disc golf fairway drivers is the Dynamic Discs American Flag Lucid disc. It is the best tool for you to learn the rope, as there is no apparent weakness.
You can use this disc to practice all kinds of techniques, preparing yourself for a more complicated one.
Related
Best Disc Golf Podcast: Let’s Check Out My 1 Top Picks
Disc Golf Grip Guide: Instructions And Tips
Best Disc Golf Forum: 8 Top Sites (Reviews & Rating)
