The Innova Champion Metal Flake Teebird carries the Reaper flame vortex stamp on Innova's original fairway driver, and Champion Metal Flake is Champion plastic with a metallic sparkle mixed in that doesn't change how the disc flies. Teebird is the control driver every other fairway driver still gets compared to.

Flight Numbers: 7 / 5 / 0 / 2

Champion Metal Flake keeps the stiff, glassy feel of standard Champion plastic underneath the shine, so it holds its overstable flight for a long time and shrugs off tree hits without chunking. It takes longer to break in than Star, which means the fade you get on day one is close to the fade you get a season later. Grip stays consistent in cold or warm weather, and the flecks in the plastic do not affect release.

Thrown flat, the Teebird holds dead straight through most of the flight and finishes with a short, dependable fade instead of dumping hard. On a hyzer it stays on hyzer, which makes it the disc I reach for on a tunnel shot where I cannot afford a surprise. It handles headwind well for a 7 speed and does not want to turn over even with extra snap.

Good for a new player learning what a clean release looks like, and just as useful for an advanced player who wants a reliable straight line off the tee or a controlled forehand. If your bag is missing a stable to overstable fairway driver, this is the one to start with.

Want something with more glide and turn instead? The Star Teebird beats in faster and picks up a little more turnover. Prefer a beefier, longer-lasting version? The Champion Teebird in the same Reaper Edition stamp flies almost identically. Browse the full Teebird lineup.

Speed 7, glide 5, turn 0, fade 2. Diameter 21.2 cm, rim width 1.7 cm, max weight 175 g.