Innova Monarch Review – The Long Distance Ranger!

The Innova Monarch is a high-speed distance driver and overall a great disc golf disc, and it is suitable for all players. Being an excellent disc for forehand throws, it has incredible glides which make it the most accessible driver to shape your control drives.

In this Innova Monarch review, we’ll break down all of the critical features of the disc, as well as the flight path and what kind of player the Innova Monarch is designed to suit.

Overview of the Innova Monarch

innova monarch review

The Monarch is an understable distance driver made by Innova discs. Excellent for beginners seeking a long-distance driver and veteran players who are seeking an out-of-the-box roller.

It’s excellent as a fairway driver and will hold any line it is put on. As for the flight, it does seem to be a greatly consistent turnover driver. This disc has a reliable turn and fade and cuts through the wind like a hot knife through butter.  

Innova Monarch is a creation of Innova Champion Discs Inc., known simply as Innova and established in 1983. Innova is the most well-known disc golf brand and manufacturing firm in the United States. The company is one of the first firms to create disc golf-specific equipment and Monarch is the first ten-speed disc to be made available in weights below 160 grams in champion plastic.

Specifications for Innova Monarch

Innova Monarch is an excellent disc with relatively fast corners, designed with an indented groove in the rim, making it feel better in hand. Below are its ratings and dimensions.

  • Flight Ratings: Speed 10, Glide 5, Turn -4, Fade 1
  • Primary Use: Distance Driver
  • Stability: Understable
  • Recommended Skill Level: Intermediate
  • Plastic grade(s): Durable, Premium
  • Beadless: Yes

Monarch Dimensions

  • Diameter: 21.1 cm
  • Height: 1.6 cm
  • Rim Depth: 1.2 cm
  • Rim Width: 2.1 cm
  • Max Weight: 186.00 g

Pros and Cons of Innova Monarch

Pros

  • Significant high-speed turn 
  • Great for roller shots
  • Fast distance driver
  • Excellent choice for long turnover drives
  • Averaging over 350 feet
  • Best choice for the first driver

Cons

  • Under-stable.
  • Turns over prematurely and crash into the ground
  • Not very wind-friendly due to the rim.
  • It never seems to be consistent.
  • Not good for backhand

Types of Plastics

Over the years, Innova has developed many different plastics to cater to disc golfers’ needs, from beginners to professionals. Each of the other plastics offers unique characteristics and advantages to match the various needs of throwers and the diverse environments encountered on different disc golf courses. 

The Monarch comes in different plastics; Innova Champion Plastic, Blizzard Champion Plastic, and the Champion Glow Line Plastic. Before you decide which plastic-type is best for your game, let’s give you some insight into their differences.

  • Innova Champion Line Plastic

Monarch is made from champion plastic, high-quality plastic providing superior durability and reliable performance. This plastic gives it a firmness suitable for the increased throwing speeds. The champion’s plastic retains flight characteristics longer than other plastics such as DX or Pro Plastics. Champion plastics are produced with high-tech plastic. Whether in highly forested areas or on challenging courses, they will continue to perform predictably and avoid damage better than any other plastic.

  • Blizzard Champion Plastic

The tech behind Blizzard works by embedding lots and lots of microbubbles into very solid plastic. What you get in the end is a driver that is not only authentic but also comes with high speed, weighing around 130 grams. Despite its smaller weight, it still puts in the same flight performance as heavier modes.

  • The Champion Glow Line Plastic 

This plastic is a high-tech, long-lasting plastic like the Champion Line, but it glows in the dark. The transparent greenish-yellow color of Champion Glow discs makes them identifiable. It is ideal for Glow Disc Golf since it is incredibly resilient and straightforward to locate.

Innova Monarch Flight Ratings and Flight Pattern

The Monarch is a severely under-stable disc, which means it will spin over at high speeds, somewhat staying flat in the air like a stable disc. 

But don’t be fooled; this disc is still a long-distance driver thrown forcefully to have the desired impact. This disc’s typical flight pattern is flat at release, turn at maximum velocity, then fade as it slows. The finish is reasonably straight for a driver, and there aren’t many tricky skips at the ending of the Monarch’s flight.

We have found this disc to be instrumental when shooting off the tee at a 350-400 foot range and needing a slight bend around an obstacle. However, because it will stay stable in the air longer than other drivers at the same speed, this disc might be a suitable entry point for beginners to reach the 300+ range. 

Monarch is very flippy and will snap to roller angle after a full-power shot from flat. To get any other throw out of this disc, you’re going to have to put some hyzer on it.

Who’ll Benefit The Most From Monarch?

The flight of Monarch is excellent for beginners as it has a lot of turns to it. This disc is great for beginners looking for a fast-distance driver and advanced players looking for an out-of-the-box roller. 

For rookie players with slower arm speed, we’d ask you to not allow the speed ratings to get you intimidated because that has been compensated for with the disc’s stability. It is a perfect disc for people who can’t throw past 100 ft.

Final Thoughts on Innova Monarch Review

We’d like to wrap up our Innova Monarch Review by saying that this is a good disc, period! So if you are in search of a long-distance driver with relatively fast corners, Monarch is a good one to go for. 

Monarch, as a solid long-distance driver, will provide top performance and help you play with confidence. More importantly, the high speed and quick turn of the disc also make it an excellent disc choice for starters

It might just be the most recommended disc for anyone who wants a straight and consistent long-distance driver. So if you are a slow-arm player, you should have the Monarch in your bag. Now that you have read our Innova Monarch review, get out there and grab this great long-distance driver to boost your gameplay!

James

About James

My name is James Francis, and I’m an avid disc golf player ever since I was introduced to the sport by my brother in 2008.  I fell in love with the sport because of the laid back & casual attitude, the ability to enjoy the great outdoors, and the technique needed to master the sport.

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