The Innova Leopard3 is an understable fairway driver perfect for throwing hyzerflips, turnovers, and dead straight tunnel shots! It's the big brother of the standard Innova Leopard, with a little extra speed and stability!

If you're looking for a fairway driver that will consistently flip and turn, but not burn into the ground you should try a Leopard3! It's a versatile fairway that you can throw a variety of shot shapes with by adjusting your release angle!

Innova Leopard3 Review

As Innova says the Leopard3 has a decent amount of turn out of the box. The catch is that it doesn't have too much turn! 

Most disc golfers consider the Leopard a very understable disc. This is probably because we're so used to throwing DX Leopards. The fact is that the Innova flight numbers are accurate when you throw a Leopard in a premium plastic!

The faster version follows this trend! The flight numbers are on track. We don't recommend a DX Leopard3 to advanced players unless you're looking for a roller disc!

Backhand

What does just the right amount of turn mean for a fairway driver? When you release on a decent hyzer angle it will flip up and fly ridiculously straight! 

When you use a small hyzer the Leopard3 will flip up and drift smoothly to the right (rhbh), with a small finish back at the end. You can release it flat to have it turn all the way to the ground.

Forehand

We don't recommend the Leopard3 as a forehand disc due to its understability. It does feel comfortable and the dome is not very noticeable, so if you're looking for an understable forehand fairway driver then try it out, although the Innova Sidewinder may be a better option!

Feel

The Leopard3 has such a comfortable rim you'll fall asleep on the tee pad! It's a great size and is very smooth with no sharp edges! It feels great in a fan grip or a power grip. It has a small dome that feels great for backhands, and you'll barely notice it forehand!

Image source: PDGA

Innova Leopard3 Flight Numbers

Flight Numbers 

Speed: 7

Glide: 5

Turn: -2

Fade: 1

In our experience, Innova's flight numbers are correct here.

Innova Leopard3 Flight Path Chart

Here's a chart to give you an idea of the Innova Leopard3's flight path.

Plastics 

Champion: These are the most overstable. If you're looking for one with some extra stability try out Champion or Glow.

Star: A Star Leopard3 is one of the best-feeling golf discs on the market! The grip is considerably better than Champion. They're slightly less stable than Champ and beat in a little quicker.

Gstar: These ones are grippy and flexible! Use them when cold weather causes your other discs to stiffen, or just for the grip! They beat in a little quicker than the previous plastics mentioned. They're also generally more understable.

DX: These will be the flippiest and stiffest out of the box. Beginners will enjoy them once they've beaten in to a more understable flight. Advanced players can make use of them as rollers!

See this Innova plastics guide to learn more!

History 

The Innova Leopard3 is a relatively new disc from Innova. It was PDGA approved in 2017. The original Leopard debuted all the way back in 1999! The faster version was introduced to perfectly fill the understable 7-speed slot in the Innova lineup.

See the PDGA-approved Leopard 3 here.

Manufacturer - Innova

Innova was around long before the Leopard3. They're the oldest dedicated disc golf manufacturer in the sport! As a result, they have a huge lineup of discs, and this fairway driver stands out as one of their best! 

Innova also has a wide range of plastics so you can experiment and find your favorite run!

See all our Innova discs for sale here.

Learn more about the Leopard3 on Innova's site here!

Here's what Innova has to say about the Leopard3:

The Leopard3 has a nice controllable turn right out of the box. It can be thrown smooth for straighter shots, or harder for more turn. Adjusting the angle of release allows the Leopard3 to be an incredibly versatile fairway driver.

Here's a video on their YouTube channel that features it!

 

 

Skill Level Recommendations

Beginners - This is a great beginner disc! Don't expect to get as much turn as the flight numbers suggest though! It should be a stable and straight disc rather than understable when you don't have the arm speed.

Intermediate - If you're looking for straight drives and smooth turnovers you can start and end your search with the Leopard3! Your arm will be able to get a variety of lines from this disc!

Advanced - The Leopard3 still has some stability to it. This makes it perfect for advanced players who still crave an understable fairway driver!

Pro - Perhaps a little too understable for major disc golf pros. Although some may utilize it as a roller!

Pros Who Throw The Innova Leopard3

The most notable pro to use the Innova Leopard3 is Ohn Scoggins. She's had it featured as her tour series disc for the last few years now. These tour series versions are made in Halo! They're nice and stable if that's what you're looking for!

• Ohn Scoggins

Dimensions

Here are the dimensions the Leopard3 was registered with at the PDGA.

Max Weight: 176.0gr

Diameter: 21.2cm

Height: 1.7cm

Rim Depth: 1.1cm

Rim Thickness: 1.7cm

Inside Rim Diameter: 17.8cm

Rim Depth / Diameter Ratio: 5.2%

Rim Configuration: 29.25

Flexibility: 9.30kg

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Beginner friendly
• Long smooth turnovers
• Great for tunnel shots
• Great glide
• Not "too" understable
• Very comfortable in the hand

Cons

• Not great for sidearms
• Not the most reliable in the wind

Conclusion

The Leopard3 is the understable fairway you've been looking for! It has the optimal flight path. Use it for long smooth turnovers and very straight hyzer flips! You can trust in its glide to get you impressive distance off the tee. The insanely comfortable rim will give you the confidence you need for every shot!

Characteristics

Ratings are on a scale of 1-10.

Stability: 4

Consistency of Flight: 7

Consistency in Wind: 6

Beginner Friendliness: 8

Distance Potential: 8

Control: 7

Utility: 9 

Fun Factor: 9

Comparable Discs

• Innova IT
• Discraft Sting
• Streamline Discs Drift
• Prodigy F5
• Lone Star Discs Mockingbird
• Westside Discs Underworld

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Leopard3 good in the wind?

The Leopard3 is not the best choice for windy rounds. While it may perform well with a tailwind, headwinds will cause it to turn over. The high glide also makes it more susceptible to the wind.

Is the Leopard3 good for backhand?

The Leopard3 is a fantastic backhand disc! You can use it to throw dead straight tunnel shots, just hyzer flip it. If you want long smooth turnovers throw it with a baby hyzer!

Is the Leopard3 good for forehand?

We don't generally recommend the Leopard3 as a forehand disc. The high glide, moderate dome, and understability make it less torque-resistant than other options. If you're looking for an understable forehand fairway driver try out a Sidewinder!

What are the Leopard3's flight numbers?

The Leopard3 has a speed rating of 7, a glide rating of 5, a turn rating of -2, and a fade rating of 1.