The Innova Viking is a 9-speed stable fairway driver. With published flight numbers of 9 / 4 / -1 / 2, it is most often described as suited for long line drives down narrow fairways, turnover shots that still land flat.
Overview
The Innova Viking is a speed 9 fairway driver rated 9/4/-1/2.[2] Innova describes it as a low-speed distance driver that flies straight with great glide and little fade, and recommends it for both backhand and sidearm throws because of its easy grip and neutral flight.[2] The PDGA records a 21.2cm diameter, a 1.4cm height and a 1.9cm rim, with a maximum weight of 176.0g.[3] IsaacSam sums it up as a less stable Thunderbird and a good point-and-shoot driver.[1]
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
Innova lists narrow fairways, accurate distance and tailwind drives as the Viking's best uses.[2] It holds a long, flat line without the turn of a Valkyrie, so it suits controlled tunnel shots and placement drives more than maximum distance. Team Innova player Jay Reading says he finds it more controllable than the Valkyrie and can throw a long turnover with it and still get the disc down flat.[2]
Best for:
- Long line drives down narrow fairways
- Turnover shots that still land flat
- Tailwind tee shots
- Sidearm drives that need a gentle finish
Community notes — how players actually use this disc
Plastics & variants
The Viking is available in the following plastic blends from Innova:[2]
DX, 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 Viking was PDGA approved on June 2, 2003 under certification number 03-10.[3] IsaacSam describes it as a more stable Valkyrie that never caught on, to Dave Dunipace's surprise, because Innova's lineup already held too many similar molds; he argues the Thunderbird finished off whatever market the Viking had and sent it out of production.[1] Innova still keeps a product page for it listing Champion at 160-175g and DX at 150-175g.[2] Disc Golf United's Viking page states a PDGA approval date of May 26, 2000, which contradicts the PDGA's own record of June 2, 2003; the PDGA date is the canonical one.[3][4]
Notable throwers
Jay Reading
How it compares
How the Viking 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 Viking | 9 / 4 / -1 / 2 | Stable | 1.9 cm |
| Innova Valkyrie | 9 / 4 / -2 / 2 | Stable | 1.9 cm |
| Innova Thunderbird | 9 / 5 / 0 / 2 | Stable | 1.9 cm |
| Innova TL3 | 8 / 4 / -1 / 1 | Stable | 1.8 cm |
References & further reading
- How to read disc golf flight numbers — Discpedia primer
- PDGA Approved Disc List — search for "Viking" to find the Innova Viking entry (PDGA-approved 2003)
- 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.
- "A quick guide to every single Innova disc" series — u/IsaacSam98 on r/discgolf (Viking chapter)
- Viking — Innova Disc Golf
- Viking from Innova Champion Discs — PDGA Approved Discs
- Innova Viking Fairway Driver Disc — Disc Golf United
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