The Discraft Colorshift Z Mantis is a stable fairway driver that started life as Discraft's 2013 Ace Race disc, and it still handles wooded courses better than almost anything else in the lineup. Colorshift Z takes Discraft's durable Z blend and adds a color changing effect that shifts hue depending on the light.

Flight Numbers: 8 / 4 / -2 / 2

Z plastic runs a little slick compared to Discraft's grippier blends, but it holds up to years of tree hits and keeps its grip fine in dry weather. This mold's later runs added a slightly domier profile for extra glide, and the flight stays consistent for a long time, it will not burn out even under a lot of power.

The -2 turn is a controllable one, it flips slowly instead of all at once, which is what makes S curves and late turnover shots so easy to shape with this disc. On a flat release with real power it holds a laser straight line and lands flat instead of skipping away. Backhand throwers get a fairway driver that plays like a straighter, glidier version of a Comet, and it is a natural for hyzer flip to turnover lines in the woods. Beginners get an easy, controllable step up from a midrange, while more advanced players lean on it for touch shots into tight gaps where a river or high glide fairway driver would blow through.

Want the same mold in Discraft's tackiest blend? The Z Mantis is the standard version most people started with. Like a tie dyed look? The Z Fly Dye Mantis keeps the same flight in swirled colors. Browse the rest of our stable fairway drivers.

Speed 8, glide 4, turn -2, fade 2. Diameter 21.2 cm, rim width 1.9 cm, max weight 175 g.