The Discraft Ares is a 12-speed overstable distance driver. With published flight numbers of 12 / 6 / -1 / 2, it is most often described as suited for hard headwind drives that need to resist torque, flex shots and s-curve lines.
Overview
The Discraft Ares is a 12/6/-1/2 distance driver that grew out of Zeus 2.0 test discs.[4][5] Infinite Discs says it offers more torque resistance and stability than the original Zeus with the same hand feel.[4] The PDGA lists a 21.1 cm diameter, 1.8 cm height, 1.1 cm rim depth and 2.3 cm rim width.[1] Discraft calls it Paul McBeth's newest distance driver, with a stronger, more overstable flight than the Zeus.[2]
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
Skyline Discs lists power drives, flex shots on S-curve lines, forehand throws and headwind reliability as intended uses.[5] Discraft says the Ares is built for confident full-power throws, backhand and forehand, and for throwing hard into the wind without drifting off line.[2][3] Infinite Discs rates it for intermediate and advanced players.[4]
Best for:
- Hard headwind drives that need to resist torque
- Flex shots and S-curve lines
- Forehand power throws
- Maximum-distance drives with a confident finish
Community notes — how players actually use this disc
Plastics & variants
The Ares is available in the following plastic blends from Discraft:[2]
ESP
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
The PDGA approved the disc on February 23, 2026 (certification 26-27) under the name "Ares (PM-0226-D)", noting it was renamed from Zeus 2.0.[1] Discraft's team blog says the Ares was built off the Zeus and that the two offer different advantages: the Zeus emphasizes controlled distance, glide and workable power, while the Ares adds confidence in wind.[3] Skyline Discs describes it as the signature disc of Paul McBeth and says it launched in Proto ESP.[5] Discraft lists the First Run for retailer ordering on June 19, 2026 and online release on July 10, 2026.[3]
Notable throwers
Paul McBeth
How it compares
How the Ares 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discraft Ares | 12 / 6 / -1 / 2 | Overstable | 2.3 cm |
| Discraft Zeus | 12 / 5 / -1 / 3 | Overstable | 2.5 cm |
| Discraft Force | 12 / 5 / 0 / 3 | Very Overstable | 2.5 cm |
| Discraft XL | 7 / 4 / -2 / 1 | Understable | 1.7 cm |
References & further reading
- How to read disc golf flight numbers — Discpedia primer
- PDGA Approved Disc List — search for "Ares" to find the Discraft Ares entry (PDGA-approved 2026)
- Discraft 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.
- Ares (PM-0226-D), renamed from Zeus 2.0 — PDGA Equipment Certification (approved Feb 23, 2026)
- Paul McBeth First Run ESP Ares — Discraft (official product page)
- The First Run Ares: Power Takes New Form in Paul McBeth's Lineup — Discraft Team
- Discraft Ares — Infinite Discs (flight numbers, plastics, dimensions)
- Discraft Ares — Skyline Discs
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