Review: The Innova Whippet

If you’ve spent any time at all following the Green Splatter Twitter account, you’ve likely seen the love the Innova Whippet’s received. I’m not always the one manning it, but when I do, I consciously look for opportunities to promote one of the game’s wackier utility molds.

Here’s the thing, though …

Next to NOBODY has thrown one.

Perhaps my favorite disc made by innova 😂

— Robert Burridge (@RobertBurridge8) December 14, 2022

Curious as to what all the fuss is about?

Keep reading …

The feel of the Whippet

Odd.

Seriously, that’s the best way to describe this thing …

The Whippet is UFO-shaped – dome for dayz. Like, think of the most domey Star Destroyer you’ve ever felt – double it, and you’ve got the Whippet. On a backhand huck, feel-wise, the dome doesn’t do much. Again, the Star Destroyer is a perfect example – dome isn’t evil.

On a flick line, though?

The Whippet is an acquired taste.

When I forehand anything in the fairway slot, I prefer a flat-top disc to make it happen: Dracos, Felons, Raptors, Firebirds, etc. The first time you line up a sidearm with the Whippet, it feels like you’re working with a cereal bowl – not the most positive comparison, but an accurate one.

Give it some time, though …

It’ll grow on you.

The flight of the Whippet

Flight numbers …

Have at ‘em: 6 (Speed) 3 (Glide) 1 (Turn) 5 (Fade)

* Note #1: The Whippet was approved by the PDGA in 1992 – today’s mold is tweaked, though.

* Note #2: These days, all Whippets are Whippet-Xs. With a concave wing, they’re beefier.

The Whippet was the Tilt before the Tilt was the Tilt. Yeah, it’s less overstable, but the dump’s at least workable – this gives it the nod in my book. Also, I’m a glutton for glide. The Whippet might not offer Scorch levels of the stuff, but it’s got enough to easily get out to 225 feet …

This ISN’T a distance disc.

I’m comfortable with the Whippet on both backhand and forehand tosses. As a speed-six frisbee, you’ll either use it as a slow fairway driver or a fast midrange – paired with my Gator, I prefer the latter. But the beauty of the Whippet isn’t found in traditional, run of the mill play …

Here’s where it shines brightest:

• Use No. 1 – I use the Whippet for all kinds of forced flexes.
• Use No. 2 – I use the Whippet for lawn darts-esque spike hyzers.
• Use No. 3 – I use the Whippet for thumbers – and tomahawks when I crave pain.

Best of all, though …

The Whippet skips – NOTHING does it better.

Also, assuming you can get your hands on a Luster or Champion Whippet, it will literally never beat in. Take a full-blown flamethrower to it, for all I care – she’ll still hook-up like her old self.

The aesthetic of the Whippet

The Whippet is a hard disc to get your hands on …

I’ve only seen it available in the following ways:

• Innova will do random, one-off runs in DX plastic – check Infinite Discs.
• Custom fund-raising (CFR) runs in Luster and Champion Glow polymers exist.
• On the Factory Store site, the Factory-Second (F2) versions of the above pop up, too.

* Note #3: The Star Whippet is a thing, but outside of eBay, I’ve never seen ‘em for sale.

Looks-wise, here’s what I’m getting at …

The Whippet is all over the place.

The DX design is neat – it features a freaking race dog. Event-specific stamps are either the coolest thing you’ve ever seen or dumb beyond belief. And the nature of the beast, F2 frisbees are anything but special. I’ve got a few Innova Air Force-stamped Whippets, though …

They’re unreal.

The price I paid for them is a secret I take to the grave.

Did the Innova Whippet make my bag?

Well, it never really left …

The very first round of disc golf I ever played, a buddy let me borrow his Whippet. This was back in 2005 in Tulsa, so they weren’t near as hard to find. Since that day, I’ve ALWAYS bagged one. Of course, other discs (XXX + Trident) can get the job done, but it’s sentimental for me …

I like the oddity of it all.

If they were readily available, the grade would be higher …

Not too shabby, though.

The Final Green Splatter Grade: A-

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

Editor’s Suggestions:

• Disc golf: What’s a sandbagger? (and 3 signs you are one)
• Disc golf: 3 (acceptable) reasons for switching putting putters
• Disc golf: Ditch circle-two putting (and get better because of it)

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