The Gateway Apex is a 12-speed stable distance driver. With published flight numbers of 12 / 6 / -1 / 2, it is most often described as suited for maximum-distance tee shots with a straight-to-stable finish, open-fairway rollers and turnover shots for beginners.
Overview
The Gateway Apex is a workhorse distance driver built for a straight flight path and maximum distance with only moderate fade.[2][3] PDGA-approved on June 21, 2018,[1] it carries manufacturer flight numbers of 12/6/-1/2 — high speed and generous glide paired with a stable-to-slightly-turning flight that Gateway markets as suitable for players of all skill levels.[2][3] It is sold in a wide range of plastics, including Diamond, Hyper Diamond, and Platinum, in both standard and X-Out runs.[3] Since its approval, the Apex has become one of Gateway's more broadly appealing distance drivers alongside longtime staples like the Wizard and Voodoo.[2][4]
Flight characteristics
Flight numbers describe the published behavior of the disc when thrown at its design speed. Real-world flight varies with plastic, weight, age, and thrower power. The community-averaged numbers above reflect crowd-sourced observations from real throws — typically slightly more understable than the manufacturer's published values, which is the most consistent pattern across nearly every commercial mold.
Recommended uses
With 12 speed and 6 glide, the Apex is built for maximum-distance tee shots that hold a straight-to-stable line before a moderate finishing fade.[2][3] Its beadless, stable flight makes it usable by newer players seeking easy distance as well as advanced throwers wanting a dependable roller or headwind driver.[2][3] The generous glide also makes it a workable option for hyzer-flip lines and open-fairway rollers where a disc needs to hold its flight through the middle of the shot.
Best for:
- Maximum-distance tee shots with a straight-to-stable finish
- Open-fairway rollers and turnover shots for beginners
- Headwind drives needing a stable, glide-heavy disc
- Hyzer-flip lines for players learning distance control
Community notes — how players actually use this disc
Plastics & variants
The Apex is available in the following plastic blends from Gateway:[2]
Diamond, Diamond X-Out, Evolution Dyed, Hyper Diamond, Hyper Diamond X-Out, Platinum
Plastic blend significantly affects flight character. Premium plastics like Champion, Z, or C-Line generally fly more overstable when fresh and hold their stability over time. Base plastics like DX, Pro, or Active beat in faster and become more understable workhorses with use.
History
Gateway Disc Sports, founded in 1994 by David McCormack, spent its early years focused on putters — the Sabre (1999) and the breakout Wizard (2002) — before broadening into the driver market.[4] Now headquartered in Maryland Heights, Missouri, with more than 50 PDGA-approved molds to its name, Gateway added the Apex to its distance driver lineup on June 21, 2018.[1][4] Marketed as a workhorse, straight-flying high-speed driver accessible to players of all skill levels, the Apex reflects Gateway's push to compete in the distance driver category long dominated by brands like Innova and Discraft.[1][2] It remains part of the company's current driver rotation, sold in Diamond, Hyper Diamond, and Platinum plastics.[3]
Notable throwers
Currently no information
How it compares
How the Apex lines up against the discs players most often weigh it against, using each manufacturer's published flight numbers.
| Disc | Speed / Glide / Turn / Fade | Stability | Rim width |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gateway Apex | 12 / 6 / -1 / 2 | Stable | 2.3 cm |
| Innova Destroyer | 12 / 5 / -1 / 3 | Overstable | 2.5 cm |
| Innova Wraith | 11 / 5 / -1 / 3 | Stable to Overstable | 2.3 cm |
| Innova Krait | 11 / 5 / -1 / 2 | Stable | 2.3 cm |
References & further reading
- How to read disc golf flight numbers — Discpedia primer
- PDGA Approved Disc List — search for "Apex" to find the Gateway Apex entry (PDGA-approved 2018)
- Gateway official site — manufacturer product page
Sources
Content on this page has been cross-checked against the following sources. Numbered citations in the prose above link to the matching entry here.
- Apex — PDGA Equipment Certification (approved Jun 21, 2018)
- Apex — Gateway Disc Sports (official product collection)
- Gateway Apex — Infinite Discs (flight numbers, plastics, dimensions)
- About GDS — Gateway Disc Sports (company history)
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