Contents
  1. Overview
  2. Flight characteristics
  3. Recommended uses
  4. Plastics & variants
  5. History
  6. Notable throwers
  7. Similar discs

The Innova Animal is a 2-speed stable putt & approach. With published flight numbers of 2 / 1 / 0 / 1, it is most often described as suited for short stable approaches on forehand or backhand, headwind putts inside the circle.

Overview

The Innova Animal is a low-speed, low-glide approach putter with 2/1/0/1 flight numbers.[2] Innova designed it as 'a short-range, stable forehand and backhand approach disc' that also works as 'a good putter in the wind and inside the circle,' and fitted it with the company's Thumtrac rim for a secure grip.[2] IsaacSam describes it as 'a slower more neutral version of the Pig or a neutral Rhyno,' built to be extremely torque resistant while staying neutral for both forehands and backhands.[1] Reviewers echo that character: very straight, with little glide, so it drops where aimed.[4]

Flight characteristics

Flight numbers: manufacturer vs. community
SourceSpeedGlide TurnFade
Innova (mfg) 2 1 0 1 Published spec
Discpedia community Loading ratings…

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.

Reach for the Animal on short approaches where control beats carry — stable upshots that hold their line under power, headwind putts, and forehand touch shots where a beadless deep-rim putter would flip.[2][4] Its lack of glide makes it easy to range: throw it at the basket and it will not sail long.[4] The stock plastic is Star in 173–175 g,[2] with limited runs in Nexus (CFR), KC Pro, and XT appearing through Innova's factory-store channels.

Best for:

  • Short stable approaches on forehand or backhand
  • Headwind putts inside the circle
  • Torque-heavy upshots that must not turn over
  • Ranging shots that need to land and stop

Plastics & variants

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

Star, Nexus, KC Pro, XT

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 Animal was PDGA-approved on September 29, 2020 (certification 20-80),[3] but its retail story started later: Innova first released information to the public on November 1, 2021, with a Proto Star first run limited to roughly 25 copies per dealer,[5] and stock Star Animals followed that November. Writing shortly after release, IsaacSam noted the design goal of extreme torque resistance with a neutral finish and judged it 'too soon to tell if the Animal will be a hit.'[1] It has since settled into Innova's lineup as the Thumtrac approach disc between the Pig and the Rhyno in speed, sold primarily in Star plastic.[2]

Notable throwers

Currently no information

Similar discs

References & further reading

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 — u/IsaacSam98 (2020: Animal)
  2. Animal — Innova Disc Golf official product page
  3. Animal — PDGA Equipment Certification (approved 2020-09-29, cert 20-80)
  4. Star Animal — OTB Discs
  5. Innova Star Animal Proto Star — DZDiscs

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