The Innova Whale is a 2-speed stable putt & approach. With published flight numbers of 2 / 3 / 0 / 1, it is most often described as suited for driving putter shots inside 250 feet, headwind approach shots.
Overview
The Innova Whale is a deep, blunt-rimmed putter rated 2/3/0/1.[2] Innova describes it as a beefy, Aviar-like putter carrying the stability of the Big-Bead Aviar Driver with close to the low-speed overstability of the Aviar Putt and Approach.[2][4] IsaacSam calls it one of the deepest and beefiest Aviar variants Innova has made, flying like a beadless Aviar but with a small bead and more torque resistance.[1] PDGA measurements list a 21.1 cm diameter, a 2.0 cm height, a 1.5 cm rim depth, and a 175.1 g maximum weight.[3] The depth does not suit everyone; players who prefer a low-profile putter tend to bounce off it.[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 the Whale as a driving putter, a headwind approach disc, and a stable putter, and credits its torque resistance for making sidearm throws easier than most putter molds.[2][4] IsaacSam throws it as both a spin and a push putter and reports dead-straight flights from fresh DX, along with good turnover upshots.[1] The deep rim gives larger hands something to hold, while smaller hands and low-profile putting grips usually do better elsewhere.[1] Innova lists DX, Pro, XT, Champion, and GStar as the available plastics.[2]
Best for:
- Driving putter shots inside 250 feet
- Headwind approach shots
- Forehand approaches that need torque resistance
- Straight putting with a deep, blunt grip
- Turnover upshots
Community notes — how players actually use this disc
Plastics & variants
The Whale is available in the following plastic blends from Innova:[2]
DX, Pro, XT, Champion, GStar
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
Innova had the Whale PDGA approved on December 7, 2014 under certification number 14-90,[3] and announced it through the PDGA the following day as an XT release in 150 to 175 gram weights.[4] IsaacSam's Innova guide dates its arrival to 2015 and opens the chapter running from the Whale to the Shryke with it.[1] He reports that Joel Freeman and Ricky Wysocki have both used the mold for putting and throwing, and that Wysocki picking it up drove a wave of interest in it.[1] Innova's current page lists five plastics, with DX starting at 150 grams and the other four at 165 grams.[2] No designer is credited in any source.
Notable throwers
Joel Freeman, Ricky Wysocki
How it compares
How the Whale 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 Whale | 2 / 3 / 0 / 1 | Stable | 1 cm |
| Innova Aviar | 2 / 3 / 0 / 1 | Stable | 1 cm |
| Innova Aviar3 | 3 / 2 / 0 / 2 | Slightly Overstable | 1 cm |
| Innova Xero | 2 / 3 / 0 / 0 | Stable | 1 cm |
| Innova Rhyno | 2 / 1 / 0 / 3 | Overstable | 1 cm |
References & further reading
- How to read disc golf flight numbers — Discpedia primer
- PDGA Approved Disc List — search for "Whale" to find the Innova Whale entry (PDGA-approved 2014)
- 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.
- "Every Single Innova Disc, Part 11 (Whale – Shryke)" — u/IsaacSam98 on r/discgolf (dedicated Whale chapter)
- Whale — Innova Disc Golf
- Whale from Innova Champion Discs — PDGA (approved 2014-12-07, cert 14-90)
- Whale on It! — PDGA announcement, December 8, 2014
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