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

The Innova Tern is a 12-speed understable distance driver. With published flight numbers of 12 / 6 / -3 / 2, it is most often described as suited for long shot-shaping throws that maximize glide, hyzer-flip distance drives that ride out flat.

Overview

The Innova Tern is — per IsaacSam — 'a Sidewinder with the rim stretched out': an understable 12-speed distance driver for long throwers, and a neutral Destroyer-like driver for intermediate arm speeds.[1] Innova bills it as 'a fast, slightly understable disc designed for long shot-shaping throws with a flight path that maximizes glide.'[2] Stock Pro/Star Terns fly 12/6/-3/2,[2] while Champion and Glow Champion Terns are slightly more stable at 12/6/-2/2 — Innova explicitly notes this on the product page.[2] Chris Sprague describes a 'unique lift' at the end of the flight that yields more distance than other long-range drivers.[2]

Flight characteristics

Flight numbers: manufacturer vs. community
SourceSpeedGlide TurnFade
Innova (mfg) 12 6 -3 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.

The Tern excels on hyzer-flip distance drives where the disc flips up to flat and rides long, big tailwind anhyzers that flex back, and out-of-the-box rollers.[2] Strong-arm players use it as a turnover specialist; intermediate arms get a near-neutral Destroyer-substitute that's easier to shape.[1] Pro and Star Terns play at the stock -3 turn; Champion and Glow Champion Terns play more stable (-2 turn) and hold that flight longer; StarLite goes as light as ~130g for max distance from slower arms; Halo Star offers a flatter, slightly more overstable premium option.[2]

Best for:

  • Long shot-shaping throws that maximize glide
  • Hyzer-flip distance drives that ride out flat
  • Big tailwind/downwind anhyzers
  • Out-of-the-box rollers
  • Neutral 'Destroyer-like' line for intermediate arms

Plastics & variants

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

Halo Star, Star, GStar, StarLite, EchoStar, Champion, Glow Champion, Pro

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 Tern was PDGA-approved on December 3, 2012.[3] Within the Innova lineup it has been described as 'the step below a Destroyer' — and per IsaacSam, 'whenever 'like a Destroyer' is mentioned in one of these guides, rest assured that the disc will become a smash hit.'[1] The Tern has been particularly successful in the FPO field — Juliana Korver and Callie McMorran (tour series) are notable throwers; in MPO it sees less use because most MPO players prefer understable Destroyers in the same slot.[1] The Tern has been released in essentially every premium Innova plastic, with the Halo Star Tern being a particularly popular collectable run.[1]

Notable throwers

Juliana Korver (FPO), Callie McMorran (tour series)

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 10 (Daedalus – Thunderbird)" — u/IsaacSam98 on r/discgolf (dedicated Tern chapter)
  2. Tern — official manufacturer page (Innova Disc Golf)
  3. Tern — PDGA approved-disc database (approved 2012-12-03)

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