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

The Innova Rhyno is a 2-speed overstable putt & approach. With published flight numbers of 2 / 1 / 0 / 3, it is most often described as suited for putting into headwinds, short-to-medium overstable approaches that stop on a dime.

Overview

The Innova Rhyno is an overstable putt-and-approach disc with flight numbers of 2 / 1 / 0 / 3.[2] It is a deep-rimmed putter built around Innova's Thumtrac® grip channel for sure releases in any weather.[2] Released in 1998, the Rhyno was one of the first dedicated overstable, near-glideless approach molds, and it remains a staple for wind play.[1] Big arms favor it because it resists turning over and stops quickly near the basket, and its torque resistance makes it popular for forehand approaches.[1] Reviewers group it with the Discraft Zone, Westside Harp, and Kastaplast Berg as a go-to wind-fighting putter.[3]

Flight characteristics

Flight numbers: manufacturer vs. community
SourceSpeedGlide TurnFade
Innova (mfg) 2 1 0 3 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 Rhyno excels at putting into headwinds, short-to-medium upshots, and accurate approaches that need to fade and stop rather than glide long.[2] Its torque resistance makes it a reliable forehand utility disc for power throwers.[1] R-Pro is the soft, grippy 'Soft Rhyno' for cold and wet conditions; DX is the cheapest baseline; Champion, Star, and GStar are the durable premium runs that hold the overstable flight longer.[2] It is not a distance disc — its low glide pulls it down early.[1]

Best for:

  • Putting into headwinds
  • Short-to-medium overstable approaches that stop on a dime
  • Forehand utility upshots
  • Spike-hyzer approaches near the basket
  • Wind-fighting touch shots

Plastics & variants

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

DX, R-Pro, Champion, Star, GStar

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 Rhyno was PDGA-approved on November 9, 1998 (certification 98-12).[4] Designed by Innova, it was among the first overstable, glideless approach putters — a category IsaacSam notes barely existed before it, later joined by molds like the Zone, Berg, and Pig.[1] It revolutionized the overstable upshot and became popular across all skill levels, especially for sidearm shots thanks to its torque resistance.[1] Certain runs are highly collectible, including old Champion 'Zippertop' Rhynos and XXL Rhynos.[1] Pros including Calvin Heimburg and Gregg Barsby have bagged the Rhyno.[1] Innova later released a more overstable variant, the Rhyno X, approved in 2020.[2] The disc remains in production in DX, R-Pro, Champion, Star, and GStar plastics.[2]

Notable throwers

Calvin Heimburg, Gregg Barsby

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, Part 4 (Python – Rhyno)" — u/IsaacSam98 on r/discgolf (dedicated Rhyno chapter)
  2. Rhyno — Innova Disc Golf (official product page)
  3. Innova Rhyno Flight Chart — Disc Golf Puttheads
  4. Rhyno — PDGA Equipment Certification (approved 1998-11-09, cert 98-12)

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