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

The Innova Ape is a 13-speed very overstable distance driver. With published flight numbers of 13 / 5 / 0 / 4, it is most often described as suited for headwind distance drives, power sidearm / forehand flex lines.

Overview

The Innova Ape is a very overstable speed-13 distance driver with flight numbers of 13 / 5 / 0 / 4.[2] Built for the biggest arms, it pairs a fast, wide 2.4 cm rim with strong, dependable fade and excellent torque resistance, making it a favorite for headwinds and sharp doglegs.[1][2] IsaacSam describes it as a Tee-Rex with a stretched-out rim, arguably even more overstable than the legendary Max.[1] With less high-speed turn than a Boss, Innova does not recommend it for players who throw under 300 feet.[2] It is especially popular with power sidearm throwers for long flex lines.[1][4]

Flight characteristics

Flight numbers: manufacturer vs. community
SourceSpeedGlide TurnFade
Innova (mfg) 13 5 0 4 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.

The Ape is at its best on headwind drives, distance hyzers, power sidearm throws, and long forehand flex lines that need a disc that won't turn over.[1][2] Its torque resistance lets big arms load it hard without flipping it, and it holds an overstable line through wind.[1][2] Champion and Star are the durable premium runs; DX is the cheaper baseline; Blizzard offers lightweight versions for added distance.[2] It is strictly a power-thrower's disc — without high arm speed it will simply fade out early.[1][2]

Best for:

  • Headwind distance drives
  • Power sidearm / forehand flex lines
  • Distance hyzers
  • Sharp dogleg shots that need a hard finish
  • Wind-fighting bombs for high-arm-speed throwers

Plastics & variants

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

DX, Star, Champion, Blizzard

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 Ape was PDGA-approved on February 18, 2011 (certification 11-04).[3] Innova designed it as an ultra-overstable, high-speed driver for power throwers, slotting it among the brand's most stable distance molds.[1][2] IsaacSam recounts that pros were enthusiastic at launch, with players such as Steve Brinster and Christian Dietrich bagging it, and notes that Ezra Aderhold has carried one as well.[1] Brinster, a Team Innova pro, praises the Ape for delivering 'both distance and predictability even in the strongest winds.'[2] IsaacSam is candid that the disc is not for beginners and that he himself lacks the raw power to throw it well — a common refrain about the Ape's demanding speed.[1] It remains in production in DX, Star, Champion, and Blizzard plastics.[2]

Notable throwers

Steve Brinster, Christian Dietrich

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. "Every Single Innova Disc" series (2011 Ape chapter) — u/IsaacSam98 on r/discgolf
  2. Ape — Innova Disc Golf (official product page)
  3. Ape — PDGA Equipment Certification (approved 2011-02-18, cert 11-04)
  4. Innova Ape — Distance Driver | Flight Numbers & Info — Disc Golf Dojo

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