Innova Zephyr

The Innova Zephyr is a 2-speed stable putt & approach. With published flight numbers of 2 / 3 / 0 / 0, it is most often described as suited for short, straight approaches that need to stop flat, accuracy and discathon events in overall competition.

Overview

The Innova Zephyr is a lid, and a big one: 24.1cm across with a rim only 0.7cm thick.^[3] Innova rates it 2/3/0/0 and describes the flight as very straight and true.^[2] The PDGA lists it in both the Super Class and Vintage Class, with a maximum weight of 200g.^[3] A raised Thumtrac ring around the rim adds grip, which Innova points out helps most on sidearm throws.^[2] Infinite Discs files it under putt and approach and rates it stable.^[4] IsaacSam calls it an extremely accurate lid that never caught on for golf and was remarketed as a catch disc.^[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

Throw the Zephyr on short, flat approaches where a normal putter would skip or roll away, and in Overall-format events, where it has been a long-running choice for Accuracy and Discathon.^[2] Innova lists straight approaches, Super Class shots and placement as its best uses, and notes that the 160g weight is the one favored in accuracy competition.^[2] It doubles as a catch disc for players coming to golf from Ultimate or recreational frisbee.^[2]

Best for:

• Short, straight approaches that need to stop flat
• Accuracy and Discathon events in Overall competition
• Super Class play at 200g
• Throw and catch at the park or beach

Plastics & variants

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

DX, Star, Blizzard, DX Classic Glow

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 Zephyr was PDGA approved on July 6, 1992 under certification number 92-03.^[3] IsaacSam places it as the last large-diameter disc Innova built specifically for disc golf, meant to be the putter in a wide-diameter set that also included the Lynx and Jaguar drivers and the Condor midrange.^[1] Golfers never took to it, so Innova sold it instead as a catch disc, and by IsaacSam's account it became the company's most successful catch disc even though it drops in and out of production.^[1] He also notes that prototype Zephyrs made without the Thumtrac ring flew very understable.^[1] The mold has since been run in Star and Blizzard as well as DX, and Infinite Discs has listed DX Classic Glow and a Proto Glow Halo Champion run alongside them.^[4]

Notable throwers

Currently no information

How it compares

How the Zephyr lines up against the discs players most often weigh it against, using each manufacturer's published flight numbers.

References & further reading

• How to read disc golf flight numbers — Discpedia primer
• PDGA Approved Disc List — search for "Zephyr" to find the Innova Zephyr entry (PDGA-approved 1992)
• 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.

1. "A quick guide to every single Innova disc, part 2" — u/IsaacSam98 on r/discgolf (Zephyr chapter)
2. Zephyr — Innova Disc Golf
3. Zephyr from Innova Champion Discs — PDGA Approved Discs
4. Innova Zephyr — Infinite Discs

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