Innova: What’s a ‘plus’ (+) mold?

Do you remember when the Innova Toro dropped?

Calvin Heimburg started the 2022 Las Vegas Challenge with a Star version of the approach putter in his bag – he’d teased it on social media, too. So when the disc dropped in early April, it wasn’t much of a shock. Still, the “Innova fanboy” within me had to pick one up – and so I did.

The Toro looks like a Zone. And while I’m no Discraft expert, it certainly feels like one, too. It’s a beadless, low-profile, high-speed “putter” with a puddled top. If you like to approach with the flick or consider yourself “forehand-dominant,” the Toro’s a great option for your game.

Mine’s one of the “limited, pre-release” Star runs of the disc. While some sounded off on Twitter, complaining about the overall feel of the plastic, I love it – it’s soft, without being too soft.

SOMETHING was off about the disc, though …

I could tell it immediately.

I couldn’t put my finger on it – that is, until I discovered THIS YouTube video:

Though it’s not advertised as such, the Toro is another one of Innova’s “plus” molds.

Within Innova’s lineup, plus (+) molds are discs with an inner rim that’s slanted outwards. For most discs, there’s no slant along the edge of the inside rim – the entire thing’s straight up and down. I don’t like it, but the Polecat is a prime example of this – again, most discs follow suit …

The Toro isn’t one of them.

Now this might seem like a REALLY small detail to gripe about, but if you’re anything like me, the outward-slanting inner rim leads to the disc slipping out of my hand – early releases are the end result. And when I try to compensate for it, the problem swings the other way with griplock.

Though a big-time fan of the Roc, it’s for this reason I never took to the Roc+.

To be fair, my experience with plus molds isn’t that of many disc golfers. Plus molds exist for the purpose of providing for cleaner throws – they’re intended to combat late releases. Smaller hands like mine, however, need all the “pinch” they can get – plus rims don’t help with that.

To ensure buyer satisfaction, you’d think Innova would give the “+” label to all discs with the uniquely shaped inner rim, but that’s not the case. In fact, randomly, certain runs of your favorite molds come with the “plus stuff” sprinkled in: XDs, TLs, Eagles, Firebirds, Valkyries, etc.

Other manufacturers do this, too: Some FDs, PDs and Undertakers have “plus” rims, as well.

* Note: The term “plus” (+) comes from Innova, of course – something to be aware of.

Now, with ALL of this in mind …

There’s no need to take a magnifying glass to each and every disc in your bag – if they’re not giving you problems, who cares if the inner rim has any angle to it? However, if there’s a disc that feels “off” to you for some reason you can’t explain, it might be worth taking a look at …

Plus molds aren’t evil – they’re just not for everybody.

Have anything to add? Take to Twitter to let us know – we’ll actually (for real) get back to you.

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