Thinking about picking up your first disc golf driver? I get it, when you’re new, it’s tempting to grab a driver and start hucking for max distance. But here’s the thing: just grabbing a driver won’t automatically make you throw farther. In fact, if you choose the wrong one, it can actually make your throws less consistent and shorten your distance compared to midranges and putters. If you’re just starting out, stick with mids and putters for now. When you’re ready to take the leap to your first driver, I’ll help cut through the confusion so you know exactly what to grab for longer, smoother throws next round.
Flight Numbers
When telling the difference between all of the drivers on the market, it is important to understand flight numbers. Flight numbers are the four numbers on the bottom of the disc that tell you its speed, glide, turn, and fade. These numbers are a reference point to help you generally understand how the disc is going to fly on the course compared to other discs and help make sure you have the right one in hand.
Speed
The first flight number is the "speed" of the disc. This is controlled by the rim width. Essentially, this is how wide the disc is from the part your fingers wrap around to the outside edge of the disc. The wider it is, the higher the speed rating. All drivers typically fall between speeds 7 and 14+.
The mistake to avoid here is thinking that a higher speed means the disc will go farther. What it actually means is that the disc requires you to throw it with more speed for the rest of the flight numbers to be accurate.
Glide
The second number is the disc’s "glide." This number is the most confusing one and can mostly be ignored. It is supposed to represent how much a disc wants to stay in the air during its flight, but we have discovered that glide is much more dependent on the overall flight of the disc rather than one arbitrary number. Do not worry about this number when looking for your first driver.
Turn
The third number represents the "turn" of the disc and is arguably the most important flight number for you. It is represented by a negative number, and the lower the number, the more the disc will turn off its initial flight path or flip up off the release angle. This is important because this number helps the disc fight the tendency to dive into the ground for beginners, which, if you have thrown on the course, I am sure you have experienced. Typically, you are looking for something in the range of -2 to -4 for your first driver.
Fade
Last but not least, we have the "fade." This number represents how much a disc wants to fight back and dive to the ground at the end of its flight. This is a positive number, and for your first driver, you want to keep it close to 0. The scale of fade typically goes to 4, so I would try to keep it between 0 and 2 for your first driver.
Arm Speed
The big outside factor that makes this choice a little bit different for each individual player is arm speed. As briefly mentioned above, the speed number on the disc is directly correlated to how fast you can throw it with correct form.
For example, an Innova Boss has flight numbers of 13 | 5 | -1 | 3. If you cannot throw a disc over 400 feet, you will not see the -1 turn at all. Instead, the disc will go straight for a little bit and then nose dive to the ground. You have to be able to get the disc up to speed for that turn number to be accurate.
Because of this, you need to be realistic with yourself and either choose a slower disc closer to the 7 speed range or go with a much more understable disc closer to the -4 turn range. A good example on the other end of the spectrum is the Discraft Crank SS, which has flight numbers of 13 | 5 | -3 | 2. Because of that -3 turn, some slower arm players can still get meaningful turn before the disc fades out.
Best Options
Now that we have a good idea of the different flight numbers and what to look for based on our specific games, let’s take a look at which drivers will fill this slot best in your bag.
Diamond
The Latitude 64 Diamond is one of the only drivers I would recommend to someone who has literally never played disc golf before. This disc is lightweight and offers a very understable flight path, which makes it perfect for new players to get a straight flight out of. If you are a bit more experienced and looking for your first driver rather than your first disc, I would probably avoid this one.
Heat
The Discraft Heat is a great option for pretty much all beginners. It is an easy-to-throw 9 speed that comes in a variety of weights and plastic types. Being a 9 speed, it is the perfect hybrid between the midranges you typically throw and the faster distance drivers you are working toward.
As you progress in your game and improve your arm speed, the Heat will become a workhorse roller disc and hyzer-flip turnover disc in your bag.
It
The Innova It is a newer release that has quickly become a staple for new players. This disc is extremely easy to throw while still having enough stability to be usable for more advanced players. It is similar to the Heat in that I would recommend it to nearly any player reading this list.
For brand new players, it is going to dive to the ground a bit but still have more push than you are used to seeing out of a driver. For players who have been playing for a few months to a year and are looking to step up to a driver, this disc will be very controllable and either give you full flights or slow, panning ones that never quite come back.
Gorgon
Now we are stepping up the speed a bit. I would not recommend picking up this disc or the next two suggestions unless you can throw consistently over 250 feet with your midranges or one of the above drivers.
The Gorgon flies a lot like a 10 speed version of the It. This makes it a little harder to control since it takes more speed, but it also means it has much more distance potential. A lot of players who are stuck around the 300 foot mark will quickly find the Gorgon to be one of their go-to drivers.
Mamba
The Innova Mamba is a slow arm player’s dream. This disc has the speed of a faster disc with the understability of the It or the Diamond, making it a phenomenal choice for players looking to add a distance driver to their lineup. It breaks the turn scale with a -5, which I would say is a bit much, but this disc definitely offers an extremely understable and easy-to-throw flight.
Thrasher
Rounding out the list, we have the least beginner-friendly driver to make the cut. This is the disc to grab when you get stuck at the 300 foot mark, which every player does at some point. If you are there now, then it is time to grab a Thrasher.
If you are not quite there yet, you can still pick one up and use it for reliable flights on the course, but it probably will not give you the straight or distance flex line you are looking for quite yet.
Summary
Choosing your first disc golf driver doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Hopefully I was able to break down what flight numbers actually mean, why arm speed matters more than raw disc speed, and how understability can help newer players get longer, more controllable flights. By focusing on realistic expectations and proven beginner-friendly drivers, new can players avoid common mistakes and confidently pick a driver that will grow with their game instead of holding it back.