The Innova Alien is a 4-speed stable midrange. With published flight numbers of 4 / 2 / 0 / 1, it is most often described as suited for spin putts and long-range putts, short-range approach drives.
Overview
The Innova Alien is one of the strangest-looking discs in Innova's lineup: a midrange-depth rim married to a ridged, fastback putter-style top like the Sonic's.[1][2] Innova rates it 4/2/0/1 and describes the flight as surprisingly stable, maybe a tad overstable, with low glide that sets it down close to where it is aimed.[2] IsaacSam calls it a Jay-style bottom with a fast-back top — in his words the weirdest Innova disc ever made — and notes early reviews split between players who enjoyed its whimsy-plus-function mix and players who could not get comfortable with the grip.[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 pitches the Alien for spin putts, approach shots, short-range drives, long-range putts, and one-disc rounds.[2] The fastback ridges push most backhand throwers toward a fan grip, which suits its short-game role, and IsaacSam found it weirdly natural on forehand releases despite hating the standard backhand grip on it.[1] Its low glide makes it a drop-and-stop approach tool rather than a distance midrange. Available in Star, Nexus, and DX at 165–177g.[2]
Best for:
- Spin putts and long-range putts
- Short-range approach drives
- One-disc casual rounds
- Forehand approaches for players who dislike deep-rim lids
Community notes — how players actually use this disc
Plastics & variants
The Alien is available in the following plastic blends from Innova:[2]
Star, Nexus, DX
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
IsaacSam suggests the Alien was spurred by the popularity of Garrett Gurthie's Sonic throw-ins, with Innova mashing a fastback catch-disc top onto a Jay-like midrange body out of sheer design curiosity — and naming it the Alien because it is just so odd.[1] The original version was PDGA-approved December 12, 2022 (certification 22-228).[3] A retooled version was approved April 24, 2023 (certification 23-122) with a shallower profile and beefier 1.4cm rim, and this is the version Innova's product page documents, listing only the 2023 approval date.[4][2] It saw wide release in August 2023 in DX, Nexus, and Star plastics.[2] IsaacSam reported no touring pros bagging the mold.[1]
Notable throwers
Currently no information
Similar discs
- Innova Shark · 4/4/0/2
- Innova VRoc · 4/4/0/1
- Innova Rat · 4/2/0/2
References & further reading
- How to read disc golf flight numbers — Discpedia primer
- PDGA Approved Disc List — search for "Alien" to find the Innova Alien entry (PDGA-approved 2022)
- 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 (Alien chapter) — u/IsaacSam98 (used with permission; exact post URL not preserved)
- Alien — Innova Disc Golf (official product page: flight 4/2/0/1, plastics, best uses, 2023 approval date)
- Alien from Innova Champion Discs — PDGA Equipment Certification (original: approved 2022-12-12, cert 22-228)
- Alien (new) from Innova Champion Discs — PDGA Equipment Certification (retooled: approved 2023-04-24, cert 23-122, dimensions)
- Innova Alien — Infinite Discs (thumb-track midrange, plastics)
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