What are the four numbers on my disc?
Most Innova Disc Golf discs have four numbers stamped below the disc name. These are called flight numbers, and the modern flight rating system was created by Innova co-founder Dave Dunipace to give you an idea of how a disc is designed to fly before you throw it.
The four numbers describe four characteristics of a disc’s flight: Speed, Glide, Turn, and Fade.
Innova Hawkeye Flight Numbers
Speed
What it means:
Speed describes how fast a disc needs to be thrown to fly as designed.
Higher speed discs are more aerodynamic, but they also require more throwing power to fly effectively. Faster discs tend to go farther than lower speed discs when thrown with enough power. Lower speed discs are often a better place to start for new players.
Range:
Speed ranges from 1 to 14.
Quick takeaway:
Lower number = requires less power to fly as designed.
Higher number = requires more power to fly as designed.
The Glide, Turn, and Fade numbers should only be compared between discs with the same Speed rating. Comparing those numbers across different speeds isn’t how the system is designed to work.
For example, a Racer can be compared to a Destroyer because they are both Speed 12 discs. In that case, you could say the Racer has more glide than the Destroyer.
But a Lynx should not be compared to a Destroyer this way because they are different speeds.
Glide
What it means:
Glide describes how well a disc stays in the air.
Discs with more glide tend to stay in the air longer and carry farther with the same amount of power. Discs with less glide are less easily pushed around by the wind and drop to the ground sooner. Low glide discs can also be useful for approach shots where players want the disc to drop quickly and stay close to the target.
Range:
Glide ranges from 1 to 7.
Quick takeaway:
Higher number = more carry.
Turn
What it means:
Turn describes how much a disc moves to the right early in the flight for a right-hand backhand throw.
Discs with more turn tend to drift right during the fast-moving, initial part of the flight. Discs with little or no turn hold straighter in the early part of the flight. For beginners, discs rated -2 to -5 tend to be easier to throw and get a full flight.
Range:
Turn ranges from +1 to -5.
Quick takeaway:
More negative number = more right movement early in the flight.
Throwing speed also affects Turn. If a disc isn’t thrown fast enough, it may show less turn than the rating suggests. A slower disc thrown very hard may turn more than expected.
Fade
What it means:
Fade describes how much the disc finishes left at the end of the flight for a right-hand backhand throw.
As the disc slows down, it naturally begins to move left. Some discs finish gently or barely at all, while others hook more sharply. Discs with more fade are often more predictable in windy conditions and are useful when you want a reliable finish.
Range:
Fade ranges from 0 to 5.
Quick takeaway:
Higher number = more significant hook at the end of the flight.
Putting It All Together
Innova Wraith
11 | 5 | -1 | 3
Speed | Glide | Turn | Fade
The flight numbers above mean the Wraith is a High-Speed Driver, stays in the air well, has a little right movement early in the flight, and finishes with a noticeable hook.
Flight numbers are guidelines, not exact predictions. Throwing power, wind, plastic type, and disc wear can all affect how a disc actually flies. But once you understand the numbers, they become a simple way to compare discs and choose one that fits your game.
