The Innova Lycan is a 4-speed stable midrange. With published flight numbers of 4 / 5 / 0 / 1, it is most often described as suited for straight midrange lines off the tee, controlled approach shots with a soft finish.
Overview
The Lycan is a beadless Innova midrange rated 4/5/0/1.[1][3][4] Infinite Discs calls it stable and describes a straight-flying midrange driver with a great feel, very similar to the Mako but with slightly more fade, a wide and deep rim and a high dome for glide.[3] The PDGA lists a 21.8 cm diameter, 2.1 cm height, 1.4 cm rim depth and 1.5 cm rim thickness, with a 180.9 g maximum weight.[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
Infinite Discs lists the Lycan for everyone and describes a straight midrange flight that is close to the Mako with a little more fade at the end.[3] u/IsaacSam98 points out that the Coyote has the same 4/5/0/1 flight numbers, so the Lycan is best thought of as an alternative to Innova's other straight midranges rather than a unique flight.[1]
Best for:
- Straight midrange lines off the tee
- Controlled approach shots with a soft finish
- A Mako-style flight with a wider, deeper rim
Community notes — how players actually use this disc
Plastics & variants
The Lycan is available in the following plastic blends from Innova:
Star, Protostar
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 Lycan on November 13, 2011 under certification number 11-42, and the Flying Disc Museum gives the same date.[2][4] u/IsaacSam98 covers it in his 2009 to 2011 chapter and says Innova already had the Roc, Stingray, Cobra, Mako, Panther, Cro, Wedge, Wolf, Shark, Gator, Skeeter, Kite and Coyote in full production, so people were confused about why the Lycan existed.[1] He says it got good reviews but sold poorly and went out of print quickly, that Innova still makes limited runs for the small group that throws it, and that it is the cheapest Protostar disc.[1] The Flying Disc Museum documents a Star example and Infinite Discs lists Star.[3][4] No source consulted names a designer.
Notable throwers
Currently no information
How it compares
How the Lycan 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Innova Lycan | 4 / 5 / 0 / 1 | Stable | 1.5 cm |
| Innova Mako | 4 / 5 / 0 / 0 | Stable | 1.2 cm |
| Innova Coyote | 4 / 5 / 0 / 1 | Stable | 1.2 cm |
| Innova Roc | 4 / 4 / 0 / 3 | Slightly Overstable | 1.3 cm |
References & further reading
- How to read disc golf flight numbers — Discpedia primer
- PDGA Approved Disc List — search for "Lycan" to find the Innova Lycan entry (PDGA-approved 2011)
- Innova 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.
- u/IsaacSam98 — A Quick Guide to Every Single Innova Disc, Part 9 (Dart–Lycan, 2009–2011; used with permission)
- Lycan — PDGA Equipment Certification (approval date, dimensions, max weight)
- Innova Lycan — Infinite Discs (flight numbers, plastics, description)
- Innova-Champion Lycan (Star) — Flying Disc Museum
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