If you are new to disc golf, you are in for a steep but manageable learning curve. Throwing a golf disc is not at all like throwing a Frisbee, and many beginners fail to understand this and get quickly frustrated. One of the most common mistakes is for a new player to buy random golf discs and start trying to play. Disc descriptions such as "long, straight distance driver" can be misleading, and a new player will quickly lose hope as they watch their "distance driver" fly for 30 or 40 feet, bank sharply to the left, and nosedive into the gound again and again. The Innova beginner's set takes much of the guesswork out of learning the sport. The set includes three discs that are selected especially for beginners. The Leopard sets the standard for begginers' drivers, and for good reason. Its flight pattern is straight with a gentle left fade (for right-handed players) when thrown at beginner speeds. As the player gains experience and develops their throw, the Leopard will turn slightly right before fading back to the left, and once the player has enough speed and power behind their throws and has outgrown the Leopard as a regular driver, it will still see use as a right-fading or rollover disc. Innova's midrange offering, the Shark, is in my opinion the best beginner disc made by any company. I have been playing disc golf for 15 years, and there has never been a time when I did not have a Shark in my bag. Simply put, it goes where you throw it, and it is minimally affected by variables such as wind speed and direction, how fast it is thrown, etc. Additionally, it is very resistant to rolling over at higher speeds, and as such it is a disc that you will not outgrow as your skill and power increases. The Aviar is Innova's putter for this set. The Aviar is a pretty average putter, but not spectacular in any way. The included disc is optimal for shots 20 feet and shorter; longer shots at the basket would probably be better handled by the Shark. Like all discs, the Aviar fades a little left at the end of its flight, but if thrown too fast or too far, it will curve to the right before doing so. This changes the point of aim at various distances, and so makes it a bit difficult for beginners in my opinion. Regardless, for shots less than 20 feet, it behaves fairly consistently. Beginners will appreciate that the profile is very similar to a Frisbee in the way that it feels, which lends some intuitiveness to throwing the Aviar. If I could make one change to this set, it would be to include some better how-to instructions for new players. As it is, Innova has some very helpful and informative articles on their website, and dozens of helpful videos are available on YouTube to help new and seasoned players alike improve their game. Spending a few minutes using these resources will pay bigger dividends than months of going to a disc golf course and trying to figure things out on your own.
