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

The Innova Savant is a 9-speed slightly overstable fairway driver. With published flight numbers of 9 / 5 / -1 / 2, it is most often described as suited for long fairway shots that need a straight line with a smooth finish, stepping up from an eagle for more speed and distance.

Overview

The Innova Savant is a speed 9 fairway driver with plenty of glide and a predictable, smooth fade — Innova describes it as flying 'like an Eagle, only faster.'[2] Its 9/5/-1/2 flight ratings put it in the stable to slightly overstable fairway slot, with a touch of high-speed turn that straightens the flight before a gentle, dependable finish.[2] IsaacSam describes the Savant as essentially a longer version of the Thunderbird — a Thunderbird with extra glide and less fade.[1]

Flight characteristics

Flight numbers: manufacturer vs. community
SourceSpeedGlide TurnFade
Innova (mfg) 9 5 -1 2 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 Savant on long, open fairway shots where you want driver-class distance without distance-driver fade. Innova pitches it directly at players who throw an Eagle as a primary driver and want a disc that can take more speed and power for more distance, and notes that Wraith throwers get a similar flight from the Savant at less power.[2] Its modest 1.9 cm rim keeps it comfortable for controlled backhand lines.[3]

Best for:

  • Long fairway shots that need a straight line with a smooth finish
  • Stepping up from an Eagle for more speed and distance
  • Controlled distance drives at less than full power
  • Predictable backhand hyzer lines off the tee

Plastics & variants

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

Halo Star, Star, Champion

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 Savant was PDGA-approved on September 5, 2014 (certification 14-71).[3] IsaacSam's Innova series describes it as 'essentially the L mold of the Thunderbird' — a Savant flies like a less stable Thunderbird or a 'fast Eagle.'[1] He notes the disc was never massively popular and faces a crowded Innova 9-speed field, but that Ricky Wysocki is a fan of the mold, even if he does not seem to bag it often.[1] Innova continues to produce the Savant in Halo Star, Star, and Champion plastics in 165–175 g weights.[2]

Notable throwers

Ricky Wysocki

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, Part 10 (Daedalus – Thunderbird)" — u/IsaacSam98 on r/discgolf (dedicated Savant chapter)
  2. Savant — Innova Disc Golf (official product page)
  3. Savant — PDGA Equipment Certification (approved 2014-09-05, cert 14-71)

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