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The best disc golf discs for a new player usually aren’t the fastest drivers. They’re a putter, a midrange and a slower fairway driver that are easier to control. Disc golf discs come in four types, and each one does a different job on the course. We picked two discs for each type, eight in all, and explain which ones to buy first if you’re building a bag one disc at a time.
Last updated: October 2026.
Quick picks
- Best putter: Dynamic Discs Prime Burst Judge.
- Best classic putter: Innova DX Aviar.
- Best straight midrange: Innova Champion Mako3.
- Best easy-to-throw midrange: Latitude 64 Retro Burst Fuse.
- Best fairway driver for accuracy: Innova DX TeeBird.
- Best fairway driver for beginners: Innova DX Leopard.
- Best first distance driver: Innova DX Valkyrie.
- Best distance driver for average arms: Axiom Proton Insanity.
Disc golf discs compared
| Disc | Type | Flight numbers (per listing or maker) | Plastic | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dynamic Discs Judge | Putter | 2 / 4 / 0 / 1 | Prime Burst (base) | Putting, approaches |
| Innova Aviar | Putter | 2 / 3 / 0 / 1 | DX (base) | Putting, approaches |
| Innova Mako3 | Midrange | 5 / 5 / – / 0 | Champion (premium) | Dead-straight shots |
| Latitude 64 Fuse | Midrange | 5 / 6 / -1 / 0 | Retro Burst (base) | Beginners, turnovers |
| Innova TeeBird | Fairway driver | 7 / 5 / 0 / 2 | DX (base) | Accurate drives |
| Innova Leopard | Fairway driver | 6 / 5 / -2 / 1 | DX (base) | Beginners, straight lines |
| Innova Valkyrie | Distance driver | 9 / 4 / -2 / 2 | DX (base) | First distance driver |
| Axiom Insanity | Distance driver | 9 / 5 / -2 / 1.5 | Proton (premium) | Average-power throwers |
Flight numbers read speed / glide / turn / fade. The Mako3 listing gives speed, glide and fade but not turn, so we left that blank.
How we chose these discs
We didn’t throw every disc on one course for this article. We picked well-known molds from Innova, Dynamic Discs, Latitude 64 and Axiom, read each Amazon listing, checked stock and ratings on Amazon (US, ZIP 10001) in October 2026, and took flight numbers from the listing or, for the Fuse, from Latitude 64’s own page.
We kept every pick at speed 9 or under. Faster discs are covered in our best disc golf driver guide.
Which disc golf discs should you buy first?
Short answer: start with a putter, then add a midrange, then a fairway driver. Those three give you a disc for putting, approaches and fairway drives, and they’re easier to control than a fast distance driver.
Innova’s flight ratings guide says high-speed discs aren’t recommended for beginners because they need more power to fly properly, and that discs with more glide and more turn are easier for new players. That’s why the beginner picks below lean toward high glide and negative turn.
Pro Tip: Innova also notes that flight numbers shouldn’t be compared between brands, since each company rates discs its own way. Use them to compare discs within one brand, and treat cross-brand numbers as a rough guide.
If you’d rather buy everything in one box, our best disc golf set guide covers starter sets.
Putters
1. Dynamic Discs Prime Burst Judge: best putter
Bottom line: a stable putter with flight numbers of 2 / 4 / 0 / 1, per the listing, built for straight putts and approaches. It was named the 2013 Disc of the Year in the Player’s Choice Awards, according to the listing.
- Dynamic Discs Judge Disc Golf Putter was named the 2013 Disc of the Year in the Player’s Choice Awards for its incredibl…
- Prime Burst Judge: Fantastic throwing disc golf putter, will fly straight while combining the ability to handle high spe…
- Speed: 2 Glide: 4 Turn: 0 Fade: 1, stamp color will vary, with disc weight will be 170g+
The listing says it flies straight to slightly overstable and has enough glide to throw off the tee on short holes. It weighs 170 g or more. It had more than 1,000 ratings at 4.8 stars when we checked. Our full Judge putter review goes deeper.
Limitation: the stamp color varies, so the disc you get may not match the photo.
Who this is NOT for: players who want a beadless putter. The listing title calls it beaded; see our beaded vs beadless putter guide if you’re unsure.
2. Innova DX Aviar: best classic putter
Bottom line: the Aviar is a straight-flying putt-and-approach disc rated 2 / 3 / 0 / 1, per the listing, in Innova’s grippy, low-cost DX plastic. This listing is the 173–175 g weight.
Innova says DX plastic keeps its grip when wet and wears in faster than premium plastic, which changes how the disc flies over time. Read our Aviar putter review for more.
Limitation: Innova says DX changes its flight more quickly with wear than its premium plastics. We hid this card’s bullets because one calls it “the most popular putter of all time,” which we can’t verify.
Who this is NOT for: players who want a putter that holds its flight as long as possible. Innova says its premium plastics retain their flight longer than DX.
Midranges
3. Innova Champion Mako3: best straight midrange
Bottom line: the Mako3 is built for dead-straight shots, smooth hyzers and one-disc rounds, per the listing and Innova’s own page. It’s rated speed 5, glide 5 and fade 0, in Champion plastic.
Innova describes it as the faster, low-profile version of the Mako. Champion is one of Innova’s premium plastics, which Innova says holds its flight longer than DX. It had about 2,100 ratings at 4.8 stars when we checked.
Limitation: a fade of 0 means a straight finish, so it’s less suited to shots that need a strong hook at the end (left, for a right-hand backhand).
Who this is NOT for: players who specifically want a midrange with a strong finishing fade.
4. Latitude 64 Retro Burst Fuse: best easy-to-throw midrange
Bottom line: Latitude 64 rates the Fuse 5 / 6 / -1 / 0, so it glides a lot and turns slightly. The listing says beginners will find it holds a straight line, and that it’s easy to hyzer flip even with a soft throw.
Retro Burst is Latitude 64’s base plastic, which the listing says grips well in any weather. The listing also says it has a straight, predictable flight up to 300 feet; that depends heavily on the thrower.
Limitation: with negative turn and no fade, a strong thrower can turn it over too far. The card didn’t show a price when we checked. We hid its bullets because they rank it against Latitude 64’s other midranges.
Who this is NOT for: players who need a midrange that resists turning over. Look for one described as overstable.
Fairway drivers
5. Innova DX TeeBird: best fairway driver for accuracy
Bottom line: the TeeBird is rated 7 / 5 / 0 / 2, per the listing, so it flies straight and then fades at the end. Innova pitches it for accurate fairway drives and utility shots.
This listing is the light 140–150 g weight, which is easier for newer and younger players to get up to speed. It had about 770 ratings when we checked.
Limitation: a fade of 2 means it hooks at the end, which some beginners find hard to keep in the fairway. We hid this card’s bullets because they call it “the most accurate” driver, which we can’t verify.
Who this is NOT for: players who want less finishing fade. Within Innova’s ratings, the Leopard lists less fade and more turn.
6. Innova DX Leopard: best fairway driver for beginners
Bottom line: the Leopard is rated 6 / 5 / -2 / 1, per the listing. Innova recommends it for straight-line, anhyzer and roller shots, and its flight guide says discs with more turn are easier for beginners.
- Best choice for: Straight Line Driver, Anhyzer Shots and Roller Shots
- Useful for long straight shots, gentle hyzers and turnover shots
- DX material offers widest selection of weights
This listing is the 145–150 g weight, a light option for newer and younger players. It had more than 1,400 ratings when we checked.
Limitation: as your arm speed grows, a -2 turn disc can flip over and not come back. At that point, a more stable fairway driver like the TeeBird is worth a look.
Who this is NOT for: strong throwers who need a fairway driver that resists turning over, unless they want it for turnovers and rollers on purpose.
Distance drivers
7. Innova DX Valkyrie: best first distance driver
Bottom line: the Valkyrie is a speed 9 turnover driver rated 9 / 4 / -2 / 2, per the listing. Innova lists it as a best choice for a first distance driver and for tailwind drives.
Speed 9 is at the slower end for distance drivers, though you still need some arm speed to get it flying. This listing is the 165–169 g weight, and it had more than 1,900 ratings when we checked.
Limitation: Innova says DX changes its flight more quickly with wear than its premium plastics. We hid this card’s bullets because they claim it holds the world distance record, which we couldn’t confirm is current.
Who this is NOT for: players who need a driver that resists turning over in a headwind. Innova pitches this one for tailwind drives.
8. Axiom Proton Insanity: best distance driver for average arms
Bottom line: the Insanity is rated 9 / 5 / -2 / 1.5, per the listing. Axiom says it flies remarkably straight for average-power throwers, while big arms can flip and turn it over.
- AXIOM INSANITY – For average power throwers, the Insanity will be remarkably straight, while high power throwers can exe…
- STABLE-UNDERSTABLE DISTANCE DRIVER – The Insanity is best described as a worn-in MVP Inertia, with slightly more high sp…
- 18.5 MM CLASS – Speed 9 | Glide 5 | Turn -2 | Fade 1.5
Proton is Axiom’s premium, transparent plastic, and the listing says it’s PDGA approved. It had more than 2,600 ratings when we checked, the most of our picks.
Limitation: the card didn’t show a price when we checked on October 10, 2026, so compare the current price for the plastic and weight you want.
Who this is NOT for: players who specifically need a very overstable driver.
How to choose disc golf discs
Match the speed to your arm
Innova says faster discs need more power to fly properly. If your drives don’t go far yet, a speed 6 or 7 fairway driver will usually fly better for you than a speed 12 distance driver.
Look at glide and turn for an easier throw
Innova’s guide says more glide and more turn make a disc easier for new players. The Leopard and the Fuse both have negative turn and low fade; how they actually fly still depends on your throw.
Base or premium plastic?
Base plastics like DX and Retro Burst are low-cost and grippy, per their listings. Innova says its premium plastics, like Champion, keep their flight longer than DX. One common approach is base plastic for putters, where grip matters most, and premium plastic for drivers that hit trees.
Check the weight
Weights vary by listing, from 140–150 g (TeeBird) up to 170 g and heavier (Judge, Aviar, Insanity), so check the weight before you buy. Lighter discs are easier for newer and younger players to throw.
Black Friday tip: single discs make easy gifts and stocking stuffers. US Bing search estimates for “disc golf discs” ranged from about 900 to 1,560 a month over the last year. Check the current price on each listing, and note the weight before you buy.
Frequently asked questions
How many disc golf discs do you need to start?
Three is enough: a putter, a midrange and a fairway driver. Add a distance driver once you can throw a fairway driver straight.
What do the four numbers on a disc golf disc mean?
Speed, glide, turn and fade, in that order. Innova’s guide describes speed as how fast the disc can travel, glide as how well it holds loft, turn as how much it banks right early in flight for a right-hand backhand, and fade as how much it hooks left at the end.
Are Innova discs good for beginners?
Many are. Innova’s DX line, including the Aviar, Leopard, TeeBird and Valkyrie above, is low-cost base plastic in a wide range of weights.
Can you use a regular frisbee for disc golf?
You can play casually with one, but golf discs are made for it: putters, midranges and drivers each have flight characteristics for a different kind of shot.
Our verdict
If you’re starting out, buy the Judge or Aviar putter, the Fuse midrange and the Leopard fairway driver first. Consider the Valkyrie or Insanity as your arm speed grows, the TeeBird for accurate fairway drives, and the Mako3 for straight midrange shots.
Once you have a few discs, you’ll want something to carry them in: see our best disc golf bag picks.