The Innova Sidewinder is an understable 9-speed that's maintained popularity for 20 years! It has great glide, turn, and a controllable speed! It's extremely useful for rollers, turnovers, and hyzer flips.
The Sidewinder is also one of the best beginner distance drivers due to its understability. You won't find many discs better to start learning how to throw sidearm with! You can see all our Innova Sidewinder for sale above
Innova Sidewinder Review
The Sidewinder feels compact in the hand! Beginners will feel the surge of confidence in knowing they have a driver that will always turn and fade for their max distance!
Advanced players will be considering the Innova Sidewinder for rollers, turnovers, and hyzer flips. If you're advanced but lacking a sidearm the Sidewinder is a great disc to learn with!
Backhands
Beginners can throw this flat and expect a full turn and fade. With a little practice, you'll start to learn this flight and adjust your aim point for pinpoint accuracy! When your arm is a little more powerful you can utilize the Sidewinder for rollers and big turnovers.
Forehands
This is perhaps the Sidewinder's strongest trait! The shallow profile and flat top make it an incredible forehand disc! When you're learning to forehand this will help to release smoothly.
The understability means you can throw softer and focus on form and spin while still getting full flight! Being a 9-speed disc the Sidewinder also possesses the torque resistance to handle sidearms!
Feel
The Innova Sidewinder is extremely comfortable in the hand! It has the smaller 9-speed rim, a low profile, and a flat top. It's comfortable in both forehand and backhand grips.
These flight numbers are perhaps a little off. Most players consider the Sidewinder to be less understable than suggested. This is especially true when it comes to the Champion plastic.
Innova Sidewinder Flight Chart
Here's a chart to give you an idea of the Innova Sidewinder's flight path.
Plastics and Special Editions
Champion: Very durable but also the most overstable, a better choice for advanced players rather than beginners.
Star: Solid grip, and great durability. The stability can vary run to run.
Gstar: Very gummy and flexible. This makes it more comfortable in the hand! It beats in slightly quicker and is less stable making it great for beginners!
Pro: More flexible, grippier, and more understable. This plastic beats in a little quicker making it a great choice for new players!
DX: Less durable, but with incredible grip! This will beat in quicker making it great when you're planning on using the Sidewinder for rollers.
The Innova Sidewinder was PDGA approved in November 2004. Innova brought it out to help players with less power achieve distance. Since then it has done just that and more! The Sidewinder is still popular after 20 years thanks to its appeal to newer players and advanced ones alike!
If you thought 2004 was a long time ago how about 1983? That's when Innova started their story that's continued until now! The Sidewinder is undoubtedly one of their success stories along the way!
Here's what Innova has to say about the Sidewinder:
The Sidewinder is a fast flyer with a predictable high speed turn and lots of glide. This disc can add distance to anyone’s drive, but is especially useful for those with less power. The Sidewinder is our best disc for long turnover shots and long distance rollers. Even disc golfers who have never had much success throwing a roller shot, will be amazed at the results they can achieve with the Sidewinder.
Check MJ Gager picking up a birdie with Innova Sidewinder:
Skill Level Recommendations
Beginners - This is a great disc to pick up as your first distance driver! The relatively low speed of 9 and the understability make it easier to manage for slower arms!
Intermediate - This will still be a go-to disc in your bag! Especially in Champion. Use it for long turnovers, rollers, and sidearms!
Advanced - You'll primarily be using this as a roller, or for hyzerflips that continue to turn over.
Pro - Most pros would stick to rollers with the Sidewinder.
Dimensions
Here are the dimensions the Sidewinder was registered with at the PDGA.
Max Weight: 175.1gr
Diameter: 21.1cm
Height: 1.4cm
Rim Depth: 1.2cm
Rim Thickness: 1.8cm
Inside Rim Diameter: 17.5cm
Rim Depth / Diameter Ratio: 5.7%
Rim Configuration: 28.00
Flexibility: 10.43kg
Pros and Cons
Pros
Great beginner disc
Amazing for Sidearms
High glide
Flys far
Controllable
Low profile and flat top
Comfortable in the hand
Cons
Not the best flyer in the wind
Can be more overstable than suggested in premium plastics
Conclusion
Strike now and start using distance drivers with the Innova Sidewinder. If you're a seasoned pro the Sidewinder is perfect for rollers and long turnovers! Struggling with your sidearm game? The Sidewinder is the answer to your troubles. Use it to slow everything down and get smooth yet far!
The Sidewinder is not the best choice in the wind. This is because it is too understable to handle considerable headwinds. It does make a great tailwind driver!
Is the Sidewinder good for backhand?
You can use the Sidewinder to throw long backhand turnovers, hyzer flips, and even backhand rollers. The disc feels great in the hand and instills confidence on the tee!
Is the Sidewinder good for forehand?
The Innova Sidewinder is an excellent disc for forehands! It has a shallow profile and feels great in the hand. This helps you throw with a flutter-free release! The speed 9 rim can handle some torque as well.
What are the Sidewinder's flight numbers?
The Innova Sidewinder has a speed rating of 9, a glide rating of 5, a turn rating of -3, and a fade rating of 1.
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