Contents
  1. Overview
  2. Flight characteristics
  3. Recommended uses
  4. Plastics & variants
  5. History
  6. Notable throwers
  7. Similar discs

The Innova Katana is a 13-speed understable distance driver. With published flight numbers of 13 / 5 / -3 / 3, it is most often described as suited for maximum-distance s-curve drives with a tailwind, hyzer-flip bombs for finesse throwers.

Overview

The Innova Katana is a 13-speed understable distance driver rated 13/5/-3/3, with Champion runs flying slightly more stable at 13/5/-2/3.[2] Innova describes it as having the physical characteristics of a Boss with 'the flight characteristics of a Sidewinder on steroids' — a disc built for the finesse thrower and recommended for downwind drives.[2] Thrown with the right angle, it produces a long, sweeping S-curve with a dependable fade at the end.[1][4] IsaacSam sums it up simply: 'The Katana absolutely bombs, and has the potential to outfly a Boss in the right conditions.'[1]

Flight characteristics

Flight numbers: manufacturer vs. community
SourceSpeedGlide TurnFade
Innova (mfg) 13 5 -3 3 Published spec
Discpedia community Loading ratings…

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.

Reach for the Katana when raw distance is the goal: tailwind drives, hyzer-flip S-curves, and big turnover lines.[2][4] Team Innova's Holly Finley recommends light weights between 135g and 150g for newer players and women looking to add distance, and bags a Blizzard Katana as her calm-day distance driver.[2] Champion is the most stable and durable run; Star and GStar are grippier and a touch less stable; DX copies beat in quickly to an extremely flippy flight that suits rollers and turnover specialists.[1][2]

Best for:

  • Maximum-distance S-curve drives with a tailwind
  • Hyzer-flip bombs for finesse throwers
  • Huge turnover and anhyzer lines
  • Rollers from a well-beaten DX copy

Plastics & variants

The Katana is available in the following plastic blends from Innova:[2]

Star, GStar, EchoStar, Champion, Glow Champion, Blizzard Champion, Metal Flake, Pro, DX

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 Katana was PDGA-approved on October 18, 2009 (certification 09-23).[3] IsaacSam frames its birth in the 'wild west of 13 speeds' of the late 2000s: the Boss worked for professionals, but Innova wasn't sure how to make a beginner-friendly 13-speed. Its first attempt, the Groove, 'did not go well at all' — the Katana went better.[1] Early runs varied noticeably in stability, which confused newer players trying to read the disc, but Katanas went far and people like discs that go far — it sold well and remains in production today.[1] IsaacSam notes it has been especially popular among FPO players, with Holly Finley bagging one and Joel Freeman carrying a beat-in DX copy 'just for crazy flippy shots.'[1]

Notable throwers

Holly Finley, Joel Freeman

Similar discs

References & further reading

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.

  1. "Every Single Innova Disc" series (2009 Katana chapter) — u/IsaacSam98 on r/discgolf
  2. Katana — Innova Disc Golf (official product page)
  3. Katana — PDGA Equipment Certification (approved 2009-10-18, cert 09-23)
  4. Innova Katana — Disc Golf Disc Reviews — Infinite Discs

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