17 Best Disc Golf Control Drivers for Easy Distance and Power!

Back when I first started playing disc golf, I was bad. I mean, really really bad. You know, like hitting-the-one-tiny-tree-in-the-middle-of-the-fairway bad. But eventually I improved a little bit and was able to gain a good understanding of disc golf.

That’s when control drivers came into play.

Some people don’t like ’em, but I’ve grown to really like control drivers. The sad thing is that there just aren’t that many good control drivers out there. But there are a few. And in this post, I’ve compiled a list of the best of them. So what are the 17 all-time best control drivers?

The 17 All-Time Best Disc Golf Control Drivers

1. Innova Teebird

2. Latitude 64 Saint

3. Innova Leopard

4. Latitude 64 River

5. Innova Valkyrie

6. Dynamic Discs Escape

7. Innova Firebird

8. Infinite Discs Exodus

9. Innova Thunderbird

10. Westside Stag

11. Axiom Insanity

12. Westside Underworld

13. Discmania FD “Jackal”

14. Dynamic Discs Felon

15. MVP Volt

16. Discraft Undertaker

17. Prodigy F5

3 Reasons why you need control drivers

1. Control and distance

Control drivers don’t have to be thrown nearly as hard as distance drivers. With that being said, you can get fantastic distance from a control driver without having to throw it ridiculously hard. These drivers are also easier to control on those somewhat long approach shots or drives. They’re “control” drivers and control over your shots is exactly what they give you.

2. Technique

Control drivers allow you to maintain control and get that distance that you want, all while helping you stay focused on playing with good technique.

3. Distance drivers? Nope, not yet

So you can see that control drivers are easy to throw. And that they’re good for getting good distance while helping you still focus on good technique. But there’s another reason why you need to throw control drivers…

You just may not be ready to throw distance drivers yet. Distance drivers need to be thrown hella fast. You might be a good player, but if you don’t have the arm speed, you won’t do well with distance drivers. So work your way up, starting with control drivers.

Your skill level

Real quick…check this out:

When it comes to your skill level, I want you to take the discs that you throw seriously and I want you to judge your skill level as honestly as you can.

With that being said, if you’re a true beginner, you need to be throwing discs at your skill set. So if you’re brand new to the game, I’ve got a couple of posts that you should check out first. ⬇️

“The 17 Best Disc Golf Putters for Beginners”

“The 17 Best Disc Golf Mid-range Discs for Beginners”

And once you’ve played a few rounds and have gotten a feel for disc golf, check out this next post. ⬇️

“The 17 Best Disc Golf Control/Fairway Drivers for Beginners”

Once you move into amateur play and intermediate play, it’s time to move on to better control drivers. With that being said, let’s check out the 17 all-time best disc golf control drivers.

The 17 all-time best disc golf control drivers

1. Innova Teebird (7, 5, 0, 2)

The Teebird is just a phenominal disc. It is by far the most popular control driver in disc golf (and has been for awhile). The Teebird can handle being your go-to workhorse driver, no matter what kind of shots you’re looking to throw. The Teebird rocks on long approach throws and almost all drives. If you’re an intermediate player on up, the Teebird can be a great fit for you. Grab one here on Discgolfunited.com.

2. Latitude 64 Saint (9, 7, -2, 2)

The Saint is a super popular and a really smooth control driver to throw. The Saint is popular for a reason: it’s an all-around fantastic disc to throw. The 9 speed doesn’t require a lot of power to really fly with its 7 glide rating. And the stability allows this disc to stay straight for almost every throw. This is probably the perfect disc for intermediate players. Grab one here on InfiniteDiscs.com.

3. Innova Leopard (6, 5, -2, 1)

I won’t give the Leopard the #1 spot on this list because I don’t believe that it’s the #1 best all-time control driver. It is, however, the absolute best control driver for beginners. If you want to see our best control drivers for beginners list, check that out here. That’s a comprehensive list for new players that can also help you out. If you want to grab a Leopard for your bag, get one here on Discgolfunited.com.

4. Latitude 64 River (7, 7, -1, 1)

I’m a huge fan of the River and recommend it as one of the best control drivers for beginners and newer players. Why? Well, because the glide on this disc is outrageous. It has a 7 glide rating! The River is also super straight-flying and is easy to grip a hold of. Definitely grab one of these off of InfiniteDiscs.com.

5. Innova Valkyrie (9, 4, -2, 2)

The Valkyrie is awesome. Yes, I know that the Valkyrie is a DISTANCE driver. But I’ve included it into this list because it’s one of my all-time favorite “control” drivers. this disc might be labeled as a distance disc, but its control ability is absolutely insane. It’s been extremely popular in many bags because of this. However, the Valk is not shy for distance, though. It once held the distance record for more than a decade and is now a staple driver in many bags. Grab one here on Discgolfunited.com.

6. Dynamic Discs Escape (9, 5, -1, 2)

This disc is the older brother to the Felon (#14 on this list) and is significantly less stable. Dynamic gives you a nice selection of control drivers to choose from and I believe the Escape is the best one. It’s got good glide and flies almost exactly as the flight ratings suggest. Get an Escape here on InfiniteDiscs.com.

7. Innova Firebird (9, 3, 0, 4)

The Firebird is your controlled meathook. If you want something that will get you your distance and a killer fade on the end, grab this disc. You can get one here on Discgolfunited.com.

8. Infinite Discs Exodus (7, 5, -0.5, 2)

The Exodus is an already super popular control driver from the Infinite Discs line. Here’s what they have to say about the Exodus: “The comfortable rim design and manageable speed are perfect for players at all experience levels. The Exodus is a trustworthy disc on the fairway and excellent for navigating wooded courses. It has a precise, long flight pattern with a consistent fade, plus it can also handle all the power you can give it for long-distance flights.” You can get one here on their site!

9. Innova Thunderbird (9, 5, 0, 2)

This disc is a really nice control driver. The Thunderbird, according to Infinite Discs, “comes from strong bloodlines. The stability of a TeeBird with the speed of a Valkyrie; it could be best described as a seasoned Firebird, but with less fade.” It’s an extremely popular disc and is a great option for any intermediate or advanced bag. Grab one here on Discgolfunited.com.

10. Westside Stag (8, 6, 0, 3)

The Stag from Westside is a disc that may first appear very overstable. But then you throw it and realize how straight it goes before a subtle fade on the end. Some players even think that this disc is a bit more understable than the numbers suggest. So grab one here on InfiniteDiscs.com and find out for yourself!

11. Axiom Insanity (9, 5, -2, 1.5)

The Insanity is an interesting disc to throw. This understable control driver is great for beginners, yet is easy to manipulate making it a nice bag addition for intermediate players on up. The Insanity has been compared to the Leopard with it’s small 20 millimeter rim and tends to fly exactly how you want it to. Grab yourself one here on InfiniteDiscs.com.

12. Westside Underworld (7, 6, -3, 1)

The Underworld is a very forgiving control driver great for true beginners as it has a ton of high-speed turn and doesn’t need to be thrown very hard. This is also a great disc for anhyzer shots and it will fade ever so slightly at the end of flight. Grab one here on InfiniteDiscs.com

13. Discmania FD “Jackal” (7, 6, -1, 1)

Oh man, I like the FD. It is really fun to throw and it’s just an all-around straight-flying disc. With a ton of glide (glide rating of 6!), this baby flies forever if you put just a little bit on it. This is one of those discs that not only does everybody like, but that anyone can benefit from. The FD is an absolutely fantastic control driver. Get one here on InfiniteDiscs.com.

14. Dynamic Discs Felon (9, 3, 0.5, 4)

The Felon is a heavily overstable control driver from Dynamic that’s sure to add a meat hook to your game. This disc on a hyzer will dramatically fade for you and is excellent on those dogleg shots. Even though it’s super meaty, it’s also consistent, reliable, and easy out of the hand. If you’re an advanced player, you’ll love the Felon. Grab one here (link to InfiniteDiscs.com).

15. MVP Volt (8, 5, -0.5, 2)

The Volt is a really great control driver option from Maple Valley Plastics. According to InfiniteDiscs.com, this disc is “designed for long accurate placement shots. It holds a line very well, and the GYRO technology gives it a forward penetrating fade that makes it ideal for long, tight fairways.” Get yours here on InfiniteDiscs.com.

16. Discraft Undertaker (9, 5, -1, 2)

This moderately overstable control driver is excellent for headwinds and when you need a decent fade on the end of your shots. Grab yours here on InfiniteDiscs.com.

17. Prodigy F5 (7, 5, -2, 1)

Last but not least on this list is the F5. This disc is a really well-made, popular control driver from Prodigy Discs. The F5 is a straight flier and is a perfect disc for an intermediate player moving into control drivers. Grab one here on InfiniteDiscs.com.

Overall

Control drivers may not be the most important discs in disc golf, but they do serve a purpose and definitely should be in your bag. Control drivers are meant to be used for controlled, accurate flights and normally fly exactly how you want them to. Besides that, there are some pretty sweet control drivers that you can play with. So if you don’t have any of the discs above, go get some and start playing!

Peep the Book!

Before you go, grab a copy of the best beginner disc golf book on the planet, “The Disc Golf Player’s Manual.” This ebook is loaded with over 200 pages of tips, tricks, and advice for newer players. Want to start crushing it on the course? Well here’s your chance. Grab a copy today!

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