The Innova Star Firebird is a very overstable control driver built for players who already have the arm speed to make a disc fight back. Star plastic gives it a firmer, grippier feel than the Champion runs most people learn on, and this mold has been a forehand staple for as long as I've been selling discs.

Flight Numbers: 9 / 3 / 0 / 4

Star beats in slower than Champion, so a Star Firebird you buy today still fights a headwind the same way three seasons from now. It takes a tree hit without cracking, and the grip stays reliable in wet grass and cold mornings.

Thrown flat it turns over just slightly before hooking hard left, and on a hyzer it locks in and refuses to flip, even into strong wind. That combination makes it one of the most dependable forehand discs on the market. Backhand throwers get a reliable, big fading finish on windy holes where a stable fairway driver would blow off line.

Slower arms and new players should skip this one for now, a 9 speed at very overstable needs real power to open up or it just dumps early. Intermediate and advanced forehand throwers get the most out of it, along with anyone replacing a beat-in overstable driver that's finally gone flippy.

Throwing into wind a lot? The Innova Nate Sexton Firebird flies from the same mold with a slightly softer Champion Color Glow feel. Want the beat-in version out of the box instead? The Innova Halo Firebird flips a touch easier. Browse the full Firebird lineup.

Speed 9, glide 3, turn 0, fade 4. Diameter 21.1 cm, rim width 1.9 cm, max weight 173 g.