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 andturn,but not burn into thegroundyou should try a Leopard3! It's a versatile fairway that you can throwa variety ofshot shapes with by adjusting your release angle!
Innova Leopard3 Review
As Innovasaysthe 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.Thisisprobablybecause we're so used to throwing DX Leopards. Thefact is that theInnova 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 hyzerangleit will flip up and fly ridiculously straight!
When you use a smallhyzerthe Leopard3 will flip up and drift smoothly to the right (rhbh), with asmallfinishbackat 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 comfortableandthe dome is not very noticeable, so if you're looking for an understable forehand fairwaydriverthen try it out, althoughthe 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 extrastabilitytry outChampion 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 tostiffen,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 versionwas introducedto 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 ahugelineup of discs, and this fairway driver stands out as one of their best!
Innova also has a wide range of plasticssoyou 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 thrownsmooth for straightershots,or harder for more turn. Adjusting theangle of releaseallows 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 suggestthough! 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 smoothturnoversyou 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.Thismakes it perfect for advanced players who still crave an understable fairway driver!
Pro-Perhaps a little too understable for major disc golf pros.Althoughsome 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'shad it featuredas her tour series disc for the last few yearsnow.These tour series versionsare madein Halo! They'reniceand stable if that's what you're looking for!
- Ohn Scoggins
Dimensions
Here are the dimensions the Leopard3was registeredwith 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
- Notgreat 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 longsmoothturnovers and very straight hyzer flips!You can trustinits glide to getyouimpressive distance off the tee.Theinsanelycomfortable 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 Leopard3goodfor backhand?
The Leopard3 is a fantastic backhand disc! You can use it to throw dead straight tunnel shots, justhyzer flip it. If you want longsmoothturnoversthrow it with a baby hyzer!
Is the Leopard3goodfor 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 fairwaydrivertry outa Sidewinder!
What arethe Leopard3'sflight 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.
