What is the difference between a fairway driver and a distance driver

This makes fairway drivers capable of reaching and maintaining higher speeds than putters and mids. However, when compared side-by-side with a distance driver, the fairway driver will have a much blunter edge.

The rim will also be much smaller, allowing for a more comfortable grip. Fairway drivers range from speeds 6 to 10 and cover a wide variety of flight patterns. There are understable fairway drivers used for holes that call for left-to-right shots or for rollers. Some are very similar to a more aerodynamic midrange, with high glide and a stable flight. Others are very overstable and great for hard-turning fairways or when a skip is needed that a blunter midrange just wouldn't be capable of.

Sometimes there's a shorter, tighter hole where the flight pattern of a fairway driver is just more appropriate than that of a slower disc. In these situations, some players use a grip that gives them more control of their release point: the fan grip.

Carey is one of these players, and he fan grips by tucking his index finger slightly inside the rim of the disc and fanning the pinky, ring, and middle fingers out underneath the flight plate. This allows for a firm grip, but one that is also relaxed enough to let the disc to leave the hand at the right time during a slow, controlled throw.

With this grip, the pinky, ring, middle, and index fingers are stacked together and wrapped tightly inside the rim. This is a tighter grip, meaning a player needs to generate more force for the disc to release than with a fan grip. A fairway driver is the next progression for distance after a midrange, but for some the fairway driver is or should be the final progression. There are many players who can't generate the power needed to effectively use a distance driver, and a fairway driver becomes their de-facto distance driver.

Flight numbers, stabilities, and flight characteristics are only relevant when they are thrown to match the intended arm speed. If a player has a slower arm speed, then a fairway driver is going to fly just as far for them, if not farther, than a distance driver. An additional benefit is that most fairway drivers will also fly straighter and more predictably than distance drivers.

A specific situation where a fairway driver could be useful is on a shorter, specifically-shaped fairway. You can see this concept in action in the clip below from Central Coast Disc Golf , where pro Nathan Queen uses a fairway driver on a hole that's distance would typically have most professionals reaching for a mid or even a putter. He does this to utilize the fairway driver's quicker turn and ability to carry the distance on a hole with a low ceiling.

Weir also mentioned that sometimes fairway drivers can be good options when wind becomes an issue. I have definitely chosen a fairway driver over a midrange in certain instances when the wind or the shape of the fairway have come into play. He uses it for shots that need a late flip or that need to carry dead straight. He credits the Leopard with helping him learn how to throw far. Weir has three fairway drivers that she reaches for a lot. Help to increase confidence through added control and consistency.

Offered in several distinct models, weights and plastic types. We have heaps more product in-store. Ph: email: sales smallplanetdiscsports. Dependable distance control for consistent fairway driving Valuable discs for shorter controlled drives and long approaches Easier for beginners to use than distance drivers Help to increase confidence through added control and consistency Offered in several distinct models, weights and plastic types All of the Fairway Drivers on our website can be orgenised by their Flight Speed Rating:.

Quick view View Options. User Name Remember Me? What is the difference between a fairway driver and a distance driver? I tried searching for the answer to this and could not find anything to help. All of the drivers I own say distance driver on them. I have seen people on here talking about fairway drivers though and was wondering if there is something I am missing that I may need.

What makes a driver a fairway driver. Is it the speed? The stabilty? Mostly the speed. Going by Innova's speed ratings, they're almost always speed discs. Most of the discs faster than that either require more speed than most players can generate or are understable to the point where they are a bit too difficult to control to be in this category. I seriously never read those descriptions. There are no rules that say the disc you approach with must be in the approach disc category.

Find all posts by chrishysell. Thanks for the response. My follow up question: What is the best fairway driver to get? I usually throw g in all my discs. I have no problem getting my distance drivers out to the ' range. I throw RHBH. Connor Jones.