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

The Innova Rat is a 4-speed overstable midrange. With published flight numbers of 4 / 2 / 0 / 2, it is most often described as suited for forehand and sidearm approaches, headwind approach shots.

Overview

The Rat is Innova's forehand-specific approach midrange: a low-profile, flat-topped, beadless Speed 4 disc that flies fast out of the hand and finishes with a dependable fade.[2] Innova currently rates it 4/2/0/2, though early runs and most 2017–2018 sources carried a fade of 3, so expect a firmly overstable finish either way.[1][2][4] The beveled underside of the rim sits naturally in a sidearm grip,[4] and it has been produced in Star plastic (150–175 g) since release.[2][4] It is Innova's closest analog to the Discraft Zone and Westside Harp.[1]

Flight characteristics

Flight numbers: manufacturer vs. community
SourceSpeedGlide TurnFade
Innova (mfg) 4 2 0 2 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.

Throw the Rat wherever you would reach for a beadless overstable mid: sidearm approaches, headwind upshots, and straight lines that must not turn over.[2] It handles torque well and offers real forgiveness on forehand releases, holding a straight line before a forward-skipping fade that suits precise approach golf.[4] Note that it punishes nose-up throws more than most mids and rewards clean power, so it is better suited to intermediate and advanced players than to beginners.[4]

Best for:

  • Forehand and sidearm approaches
  • Headwind approach shots
  • Straight upshots with a predictable finishing fade
  • Torque-heavy throws that flip other mids

Plastics & variants

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

Star

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 Rat was PDGA-approved on June 26, 2017 (certification 17-77) during Innova's busy 2017 release wave.[3] IsaacSam98's Innova guide describes it as Innova's attempt at an 'approach Firebird': after the once-beadless Gator became a beaded disc, Innova had no beadless overstable midrange, and the Rat filled that void with a design aimed squarely at sidearm approaches.[1] He also notes the design borrows from the Discraft Zone and Westside Harp — companies borrowing from Innova in reverse — and that the Rat was used by Nate Sexton and by Paul McBeth before his move to Discraft.[1] Sexton's association continues today: Innova released a Nate Sexton Tour Series Proto Glow Champion Rat in 2026.[4]

Notable throwers

Nate Sexton

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, Part 12 (Manta – AviarX3) — u/IsaacSam98 (used with permission)
  2. Rat — Innova Disc Golf (official disc page)
  3. Rat — PDGA Equipment Certification (approved 2017-06-26, cert 17-77)
  4. Innova Rat Review — Disc Golf Puttheads

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