7 Best Disc Golf Fairway/Control Drivers in 2022

Wow, guys, I can’t believe that’s it’s finally 2022! It feels pretty weird because just a few short years ago, we were talking about 2020. Then 2021. Now we’ve already rung in another year.

But I’m glad we’ve hit 2022, because 2020 and 2021 were pretty rough for everyone. I mean, disc golf was one of the few things that helped me (and a lot of others) get through the Covid Pandemic. Covid is still hanging around, but we’re all starting to come out on the other side a little better.

As we continue on, the one thing that has remained pretty stable is this awesome sport that we all love. So today, we’re going to look at a few of the best control drivers to help you take your game to the next level.

But before we look at those discs, I want to go over a couple of things really quick ⬇️.

3 reasons why you need a control/fairway driver

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 somewhat 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. Even if you are skilled enough to use distance drivers, control drivers give you more options in the course.

What’s the difference between control and fairway drivers?

While there are arguments for the differences between control, fairways, and even power drivers, there is no difference. They are all medium-range drivers in between mid-range discs and distance drivers and are called fairway drivers or control drivers based on a person’s preference or what a company wants to call the disc.

The debate

So as you see in the title, it says “best control/fairway drivers.” When I first started playing, I was curious why these drivers had multiple names. Well, upon researching a little bit, I came upon a debate in the disc golf community. That debate surrounded whether or not there were two different types of drivers in the control and fairway categories of drivers.

One side of the argument states that control and fairway drivers are different. That fairway drivers are slower and that control drivers are a step up under distance drivers. Fairway drivers are speed 6-8 and control drivers are speed 9-11.

The other side of the argument says that control/fairway drivers are called both names and sometimes just differentiate because of how the disc is labeled (i.e. the disc might say control driver but also be called a fairway driver). Whatever speed the disc is doesn’t matter.

Technically, there are discs called fairway drivers. There are others called control drivers. And then there are a few that are called power drivers or hybrid drivers. There is a good argument for differences in all of these discs.

But the two sources for my belief that there is no difference between control and fairway drivers are two of the biggest disc golf companies in the world. Let’s check them out really quick:

Dynamic Discs: if you look at their Beginner’s Guide to Disc Golf post here, you’ll see that they only list “Fairway Drivers” under “Distance Drivers” and above “Mid-range.” There is no separate category for Control Drivers.

Infinite Discs: if you go to their site and perform a disc search on their “advanced disc search” tool, you’ll see that the only option listed for the category is “Control Driver.”

So you can see, there really isn’t a difference between control and fairway drivers. It’s just a preference on what you want to call them.

But I, personally, am just on the side of simplicity. I don’t overthink my game and my discs. I don’t think it matters all that much anyways so I call discs both control and fairway drivers. As a disc golfer, this is how you should think. You need to learn the game and build your skills up – from putters to mid-range discs to control/fairway drivers and distance drivers.

Don’t worry too much about the fine details until you become a highly-skilled, competitive disc golfer. Once you get to that level, then you can choose to differentiate the discs or not.

The 7 Best Disc Golf Fairway/Control Drivers in 2022

Our #1 Pick – Discmania Tilt (9, 1, 1, 6)

The Tilt is a brand new disc from the creative geniuses at Discmania (and with the input of disc golf pro Simon Lizotte). It’s official name is the Simon Lizotte Creator Series Meta Tilt. Wow, that’s pretty epic in itself. But I absolutely love how this disc looks right off the bat. Discmania created new plastic for this – the stunning Iridescent Meta plastic – and it looks awesome.

The disc itself was created for Simon, seeing as he wanted something very overstable. So the Tilt was “specifically designed to suit Simon Lizotte’s needs” and is considered as “Simon’s dream disc,” according to the Discmania website.

As for the flight ratings, the Tilt comes in at 9, 1, 1, 6, which is insane. Discmania markets the Tilt as “the most overstable disc golf disc ever made,” and I’m inclined to believe it. While I haven’t thrown this disc yet, reviews that I’ve read list this disc as the meatiest meathook you’ll ever throw and as the most overstable disc on the market right now.

So if you’re looking for a Tilt, you may not be able to simply grab one off of Infinite Discs. This may have to be specially ordered off of Amazon, EBay, or from a collector who’s bought one already. You’ll probably also pay $50-100 plus dollars for a disc. Still, you can check out the following links below to see if it’s in stock.

Check it out here on InfiniteDiscs.com.

You can also look this disc up on EBay, but you’ll probably be paying a premium for this disc.

2. Discraft Paige Pierce Passion (8, 5, -1, 1)

The Passion is another really awesome looking control driver that has just recently come out. The Passion is one of the the newest discs in Discraft’s Paige Pierce lineup of discs and this thing surely aims to please.

It is a well-designed disc that doesn’t need to be thrown that hard to fly correctly. It has a 5 glide, which is good, and turn/fade ratings that allow it to stay straight through most of its flight. This disc is designed mostly for the ladies, but it’s still a cool disc and deserves some attention.

If you’re looking to get this disc, grab one here on InfiniteDiscs.com.

3. Dynamic Discs Maverick (7, 4, -1.5, 2)

The Maverick has been out for a couple of years, but I decided to put it on a couple of lists this year just because I’ve thrown it and I’ve really liked it a lot. Honestly, I’m just a huge fan of Dynamic Discs in general so I was surprised when I realized there were a few discs from the Dynamic line that I hadn’t tried before. The Maverick was one of them and so I picked it up.

First thought was, “hmm, interesting disc.” It’s not hard to throw at all with a 7 speed. It’s also not quite a distance disc, and I knew that before I even looked back at the 4 glide rating. Flies decently straight. The -1.5 turn will show you just a little bit of what it can do at first and then the +2 fade came in just as advertised. Overall, this is a good disc and can serve you well in the control driver spot.

Grab yourself a Maverick here on InfiniteDiscs.com.

4. Discraft Anax (10, 6, 0, 3)

The Anax, pronounced “Onyx,” is one of the most recent discs from Discraft’s Paul McBeth lineup of discs. It is primarily Paul’s signature driver of choice. This disc is fun to throw but very tough for a control driver.

It’s a 10 speed, so it’s close to being a distance disc, especially with the 6 glide rating. It has basically no turn. And as for fade, the 3 fade rating makes it very overstable. So don’t expect to be able to throw this as a newer player. This is easily an advanced level disc and can really get you some good distance on the course.

If you’d like to try the Anax, grab one here on InfiniteDiscs.com.

5. Dynamic Discs Evader (7, 4, 0, 2.5)

The Evader is a relatively new disc from the Dynamic Discs lineup. At a 7 speed, this disc might fool you into thinking it’s an easy disc to throw. Wrong. With absolutely no turn, and A LOT of fade, the Evader is tough. I think this disc could be a go-to driver after working your way up from easier discs. But I would not choose the Evader as your first control driver. The fade of this disc would be too much. But that fade is super reliable if that’s what you’re looking for.

Get yourself an Evader here on InfiniteDiscs.com.

6. RPM Discs PekaPeka (9, 5, -3, 1)

The PekaPeka is a disc that I’ve been very curious about since I first started reading about it. It almost sounds like a Pokémon disc. But it’s not. The name actually comes from a seaside locality/beach in New Zealand, the same country RPM Discs is located.

I’ve really liked all of the discs that I’ve tried from RPM so far, so I’m hoping to test out this one soon. From everything I’ve heard, the PekaPeka flies pretty close to the stated flight ratings. So this would either make a good beginner control driver or an advanced players utility tool for anhyzers, rollers, or hyzer flips.

If you’d like to try it out, grab one here on InfiniteDiscs.com.

7. Infinite Discs Sphinx (9, 6, -3, 1)

The Sphinx is a really fun control driver from Infinite Discs. It’s also VERY highly rated and reviewed on the Infinite website and I can see why. It’s not hard to throw and is somewhat understable. All skill levels can benefit in some way from the Sphinx, so I would highly recommend this disc to you.

Here’s what Infinite has to say about the Sphinx:

“The SPHINX is the perfect disc for new players who want a distance driver / control driver crossover that won’t fade too soon while covering as much distance as possible. With an understable release and manageable speed rating, the Sphinx can fly with accuracy and ease. For experienced players the Sphinx is a wonderful, understable utility disc for hyzer-flips, long anhyzer throws, or power rollers. The Sphinx will stand the test of time as a disc that earns a spot in any bag.”

Grab yourself one here on their site.

Honorable Mention – Innova Leopard (6, 5, -2, 1)

I put the Leopard on this disc as an honorable mention because I think it’s just a great little fairway driver that I think everybody should throw at least once (even if you’re a skilled disc golfer). That doesn’t mean I don’t think any less of this disc. It is hands down the best control driver for beginners. But as for best discs of 2022, I would rather show you a few other different control drivers. The Leopard definitely deserves a mention, though. It’s easy to throw, has good glide, and doesn’t really turn or fade too much. Overall, great starter driver.

If you want to try it out, grab it here on InfiniteDiscs.com.

So that’s it, disc golfers

We’ve gotten through another best control/fairway drivers of the year list and I couldn’t be more pleased. Hopefully this list has given you some good ideas on how to expand your disc golf collection and take your game to the next level. If not, I appreciate you taking the time to read this post and I’ve put a few other related posts in the section below ⬇️.

Check out the book!

Before you go, don’t forget to check out the best beginner disc golf book on the planet, “The Disc Golf Player’s Manual.” This ebook is packed with over 200+ pages of the best tips, tricks, and advice for new players. This book is Epic. So don’t miss out!